The View from Lazy Point: A Natural Year in an Unnatural World

I would have to say that this is one of the new classics of natural history writing, in line with "A Sand County Almanac", "Silent Spring", and even that most hallowed of texts, "Walden". Carl Safina is probably my very favorite natural history writer, so I will admit a touch of bias, but this book merits all the praise I am about to bestow upon it. Part meditation on time, tides, and the cycles of nature at a small beach house on Long Island known as "Lazy Point", part travelogue to various locations around the planet, from coral reefs in Belize to a discussion of the intricate ecological web of grizzly bears, salmon, and forests in Southern Alaska and the precarious struggle for survival in an ever warming world of polar bears in Svalbard, Safina imparts to all these a grace, beauty, and just simply outstanding natural history reporting and writing. Another component of the book consists of what almost could be termed as an environmental and human manifesto on how we could and should be living in and with our natural world. Many truly thought provoking and inspiring ideas, concepts, and pearls or wisdom come through in these particular sections of the text and were often my favorite parts of the entire book. "The View From Lazy Point" can and should be read more than once and absorbed as deeply as possible and offers many deep thoughts and ideas to ponder about our relationship to nature and how the natural world, while assaulted at every turn by the greed and avarice of man, can still be resilient, sustaining, and truly healing and inspiration for those willing to do the right things for all life and creatures we share this small blue planet with. A very remarkable and wonderful read, I would give it my highest recommendation.

Carl Safina is a lover of life, spirit, intellect and reason, and his voice speaks as clear and true as the lighthouse beacon once spoke to ships at sea enshrouded in fog. As a magnificent wave rises and curls, then shatters to multitudes of droplets and foam splashing high and wide, so does he portray life in these times as the natural world breaks and shatters on human ignorance and desires. With empirical wisdom laced with facts, compassion for human failing as well as the beasts and future children who have neither choice nor voice, Safina lets us know where we stand in the sands of our time on earth. The secret, silent struggles of the times in which we live, the obliviousness in our actions upon the interwoven textures of life on Planet Earth are related through personal experiences and observations like your good neighbor the down-to-earth scientist in this exquisite and elegantly written book.I've lived on the planet for 65 years, and am a prolific reader, writer and book lover. Throughout my life, I've been asked what is my favorite book, what might I recommend, and those have never been easy questions until I read The View from Lazy Point. There are many, many great books, but for content, urgency and clear-mindedness, The View from Lazy Point stands head and shoulders above. I think this book should be required reading for everyone on the planet. I urge my friends, even the not-so-literary, to read it. It may well be the holiday gift for everyone this year. Reading this book is one of the kindest favors one can do for oneself, for our children's children and also, perhaps, our lovely Planet Earth.

Carl Safina's new book, The View From Lazy Point, centers on a little spit of land near near the end of Long Island and reaches out to remote places worldwide to broaden our understanding of the interrelationships of all creatures in the natural world. He interweaves his personal experience with descriptions of our environment today, how it got that way, and the direction we are headed. His writing style is easy and informative - never preachy or dry. It's a book you look forward to picking up as entertainment as well as education.

This book should fit snugly in the cannon of great American literature on nature, America, and humankind within it.

"The View from Lazy Point" is an amazing book which should be required reading by every student in every high school, college and university. It should be read and reread by every teacher, and it should be required reading by everyone holding political office not only in the USA but also in every nation on earth.The author, Carl Safina, has done us all a remarkable service in alerting us, once again, to the incredible amounts of damage mankind is inflicting on nature - issues that must be addressed now to save our fragile planet. He is very factual,not shrill; he just lays out the observable facts in front of us - uncomfortable facts and facts which most of the time lie beyond most peoples' consciousness. And he writes with such a fluid grace that many passages read more like poetry than prose. This book will touch everyone who has any concern for the earth, the creatures who share it with us, and the future of humane existence. In the face of certain, impending doom if we fail to change our ways, Dr. Safina shines a ray of hope as he tries to educate us to our folly and tries to motivate us to change our ways before it is too late."The View from Lazy Point" is a MUST READ for everyone!!!

I think everyone should read this book. It's more than just a nature read, it combines interesting perspectives from all over the globe and ties them together with political insights and a philosophical peek into the human existence. And of course, Safina writes beautifully and poetically with subtle humour. Another complete win from one of the best authors of the decade. This should be a mandatory high school read :)

Carl Safina is, I believe, one of the most expressive and gifted writers I have ever encountered. His deep love of Nature illuminates every page of this book. It is a love made even more poignant by his awareness and his thorough understanding of the damage our species has already done--and is still doing--to our fragile, endangered planet. This is a book worth reading again and again.

Great book to read about troubled times. Most of all it contains important information regarding our world and where we is headed. This may be the most important book you will ever read.

Great reflections on ecology. I enjoyed his writing, both the personal and the political comments.