What an Owl Knows Book Review

​​Title: What an Owl Knows
Author: Jennifer Ackerman
Genre: Nonfiction, Nature
Published: 2023
Pages: 293
Goodreads Rating: 4.21
Rating: 8/10

“I like to imagine that he’s shaken off his obligation to teach people things they should already understand about the ways of owls and the value of nature…” 

I’ve never seen an owl in person. But that has not deterred my absolute obsession with owls. From the Crested Owl with its unique eyebrows to the Greater Sooty Owl that looks like the night sky, I find all owls extraordinary and fascinating. Now, thanks to Ackerman, I can appreciate them for their personality and behavioral uniqueness as well. If you are a fellow owl lover who’s curious to learn more about these mysterious creatures, check out What an Owl Knows.

Pros:
Interesting facts 
Do you want to learn how to imitate the Flammulated Owl call? Check out the chapter called Who Gives a Hoot. Interested in how the Burrowing Owl decorates? Go to the chapters called Owling and What it Takes to Make an Owl. Curious about their opposable thumbs or asymmetrical ears? Read the chapter called What It’s Like to be an Owl. Those insights and many more fascinating facts are scattered throughout this book. 

Writing style
It is not easy to research owls. We still have so much to discover and Ackerman’s writing style serves the purpose of emphasizing the challenges, limitations, and obstacles that restrict our ability to easily learn about these mysterious creatures. 

Inspiring 
Just think about what we’ll learn about owls in the future. In some ways, we’re still trying to figure out how to research them. Scientists are regularly coming up with innovative ways to gather data and as technology continues to improve, it’ll only get easier. It’s inspired me to get involved in my area to see how I can help! 

Cons:
Repetitive
Ackerman’s repetitiveness in The Genius of Birds continues to rear its ugly head in What an Owl Knows. 

Wish it covered more owls 
It’s odd to say she was repetitive but in the same breath say that I wish the book was longer. There were some owl species that were never mentioned including the Crested Owl that I mentioned earlier. But that goes to show you how much more research is needed to better understand the variety of owl species. 

Overall…
What an Owl Knows is equally amazing and infuriating. What we’ve learned so far gives us some insight into what we could discover in the future but owls are notorious for throwing a wrench into a data set. I look forward to reading another book on owl research in the future to see what more we’ve gathered! If you want to keep learning about owls, check out the Stuff You Should Know podcast episode on owls!