Birding Under the Influence: Cycling Across America in Search of Birds and Recovery

"One hell of a ride."—Nick Offerman, actor, woodworker, New York Times bestselling author “Birding Under the Influence is an adrenaline hit for birders and adventure junkies. It’s also a surprisingly tender story of redemption, as Dorian Anderson faces down his addictions and reinvents his career. Having eagerly awaited this book after Anderson’s 2014 Big Year, I read it in a blissful, all-out binge—as will anyone with a taste for birds and inspiring journeys.”—Noah Stryker, Associate Editor of Birding magazine and author of Birding Without Borders "Candid and often moving reflections . . . make for absorbing reading. . . . [This is] a memoir of a journey that was more than just a chase after numbers."—Booklist (starred) “A story led by the bike and fueled by his tenacity, Dorian colorfully articulates the depth to which putting in the work—both physically on the bike, and emotionally on oneself—reaps infinite rewards.”—Tiffany Kirsten, birding guide and past Lower 48 U.S. Continental Big Year record holder “What an incredible story! Dorian’s adventure is an inspiration for birders and non-birders alike.”—David Lindo, author of The Urban Birder “Birding Under the Influence is an incredible story. This has to be the best Big Year book since Kingbird Highway. Of course, being a Dutchman, a bicycle Big Year really appealed to me, so I was already looking forward to this book. But this story proved to be so much more. It is not just a cycling journey of 17,800 miles across the US(!), a country that has, unlike the Netherlands, hardly any cycling paths and a lot more relief, but it is a journey through the mind and the soul. It is a coming-of-age story unlike anything I’ve read before. I know what it takes to do a Big Year—the sacrifices, the willpower needed, the risks involved, and the stress on yourself and your relationships. To do this on a bike and put your academic career behind you while recovering from alcohol and drug addiction is something else. I read this incredible story in one go, and I think you will too.”—Arjan Dwarshuis, author of The (Big) Year That Flew By “Dorian is a big personality with an even bigger story. His epic tale of recovery and perseverance will inspire any birder, whether or not their Big Year dreams involve cycling across the continent.”—Nate Swick, American Birding Association podcast host and author of The Beginner’s Guide to Birding “Dorian tells it like it is: don’t let life happen to you, no matter what your tendencies and what well-worn grooves you slide into. Life is what you create, accepting your faults and challenges, and realizing that the path forward is not how you plan it—instead, it happens how you least imagined it. And as in any wonderful, gripping story, great birding was involved!”—Alvaro Jaramillo, owner and guide, Alvaro’s Adventures “Recounting a starkly different kind of ‘Big Year’ Dorian details an unlikely saga that takes a toll on him, physically and mentally. So often birding is a quest, and in this memoir Dorian Anderson seeks birds but also some sense of self. At times throwing himself on the mercy of his fellow Americans, he finds his way through and across the country, enlisting a colorful cast of characters as he goes. For this one year his only commitment is to his bicycle. His bike both frees and imprisons him simultaneously, but eventually it delivers him, along with a unique story. America’s sweetest wildlife spectacles light a path that would otherwise be strewn with 40-ounce bottles of malt liquor and rails of cocaine. From Snowy Owls in Boston to Yellow-footed Gulls in California’s Salton Sea, saddle up for a modern journey that harkens back to classic birding adventures, like those of Pete Dunne in The Feather Quest or to Wild America by Roger Tory Peterson and James Fisher.”—George Armistead, founder and guide, Hillstar Nature “This is no ordinary Big Year birding book, as Dorian’s story supersedes birds and reveals how a year of contemplation, biking, and birding helped him to overcome his inner struggles of addiction and broken relationships that are all too relatable for many of us. Many of us are reluctant to hit the ‘pause’ button on life, afraid of what that might lead to, but Dorian’s example of setting aside a year to process his thoughts, relationships, and future is an example for us, and birding might just be the adventure we need, even for a day or two.”—Luke Safford, Director of Engagement and Education, Tucson Audubon "Birding Under the Influence is a fresh memoir filled with insights into addiction, recovery, and birding—a story about how taking a closer look at the earth helped to recalibrate a man’s struggling soul."—Foreword Reviews "There are many big year novels, as birders tell how they tried to see as many species of birds in a year as they can, but Anderson’s self-powered attempt covers novel challenges and encounters. Among the physical and mental challenges of birding and biking across the country, Anderson also recounts his experience finding sobriety – another tale of nature’s many cures."—Portland Press Herald "[Anderson] is a marvelous writer and, boy, does he have a tale to tell."—The Denver Post "In the Know" "An uplifting and hopeful memoir and social commentary about healing . . . [Birding Under the Influence] is an interesting exploration of the extreme ends that one man went to to overcome his twin demons of alcohol and drug addiction by redirecting his addictive Type-A personality into more healthy pursuits. . . . [It also] provide[s] an interesting glimpse into regional American subcultures."―Forbes "With a fresh infusion of adventure, danger, and personal growth. . . .[Anderson brings] a story that is both a joy to read and fodder for reflection. . . . [and] it has inspired me to new hopes for my birding."—Birding Magazine, American Birding Association