Becoming Wild

“[Safina] shows us something too often overlooked in research and in conservation: who animals are, and how they live . . . [And] it’s the stories of Safina’s days with these animals that move us.”—The New York Times

"Fascinating . . . [Becoming Wild] gives the reader a sense of being near these creatures and experiencing some of the most seductive environments on Earth . . . Safina's prose achieves the elusive goal of being both informative and luminously evocative."—The Wall Street Journal

"Engrossing . . . In addition to fascinating dispatches from the ecological front lines [and] first-rate nature writing . . . Safina imparts a naturalist’s sense of unending wonder."—The Christian Science Monitor

“Combining the knowledge of a seasoned scientist with the skills of a good storyteller, Safina invites us to leave our cultural worlds and enter animals’ ones . . . Becoming Wild deserves to be remembered.”—NPR

“[A] bracing and enlightening book . . . Safina’s writing on the watery depths and its denizens is sublime . . . [challenging] us to be more acutely aware of species whose social lives have much to teach us.”—Science

“[A journey into] the wonder of life itself . . . Becoming Wild is a warm and beckoning paean to our natural world.”—The East Hampton Star

"Safina writes with passion and a sense of humor . . . reminding readers to contemplate the natural world as they think about their own points of vulnerability and resilience.”—Washington Monthly

"An immersion in nature."—AARP The Magazine

“Seminal . . . By drawing attention to the importance of regional variation and acculturated behavior, Safina raises important issues for environmentalists.”—Natural History

"[Safina] turns the human view of animal cultures on its head . . . Becoming Wild demands that we wake up and realize that we are intrinsically linked to our other-than-human neighbors."—The Telegraph (UK)

“Engaging and eye-opening . . . Safina’s enthusiasm for the animal kingdom is contagious, and his clear writing makes his wide-reaching subject both approachable and tangible.”—Shelf Awareness (starred review)

“Full of rich observations . . . Becoming Wild offers readers a window into the complex and curious lives of the three species it depicts and invites [us] to observe the beauty and joy of each species’s nuances.”—BookPage

"Safina's lovely account of his travels with researchers . . . reveals majestic, closely knit communities . . . And few readers will doubt that these magnificent creatures need urgent attention. Enthralling."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Eloquent . . . This revelatory work sheds as much light on what it means to be human as it does on the nature of other species."—Publishers Weekly