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Tuco and the Scattershot World: A Life with Birds Hardcover – Oct. 13 2015

by Brian Brett (Author)

4.0 36 ratings

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A BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick

For thirty years, Brian Brett shared his office and his life with Tuco, a remarkable parrot given to asking such questions as Whaddya know?” and announcing Party time!” when guests showed up at Brett’s farm. Although Brett bought Tuco on a whim as a pet, he gradually realizes the enormous obligation he has to the bird and learns that the parrot is a lot more complex than he thought.

Simultaneously a biography of this singular bird and a history of bird/dinosaurs and the human relationship with birds, Tuco also explores how we other” the worldabusing birds, landscapes, and each otherincluding Brett’s own experience with a rare genetic condition that turned his early years into an obstacle course of bullying and nurtured his affinity for winged creatures. The book also provides an in-depth examination of our ideas about knowledge, language, and intelligence (including commentary from Tuco himself) and how as we learn more about animal languages and intelligence we continually shift our definitions of them in order to retain our superiority.” As Brett says, Whaddya know? Not much. I don’t even know what knowledge is. I know only the magic and

Review

"Tuco is, at its heart, an account of survival, of the life of the Other, whether in its human or avian form. It’s a beautiful book, rich in both information and emotion, anchored in Brett’s rich, accessible prose and his humble, plain-spoken strength."Toronto Star

"A wonderful gyre of a journey into the mind of man and bird, Tuco is an avian feast of astounding nuggets, tales, and insights. It is also a deep meditation on our place in time and nature: moving, funny, personal yet universal."Ronald Wright, author of A Short History of Progress

"Tuco is an avian odyssey, an homage to strange birds, both feathered and human. The path winds through the gardens of life, through adventure and heartache, with Brett as your eloquent guide, his delightfully mischievous parrot perched on his shoulder. A remarkable story of interspecies companionship.Charlotte Gill, author of Eating Dirt

About the Author

Brian Brett is the author of Trauma Farm: A Rebel History of Rural Life, which won the Writers’ Trust Non-Fiction Prize, and Uproar’s Your Only Music, a Globe and Mail Book of the Year. He has also written numerous books of poetry and fiction. He lives with his family on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada.

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Print length

320 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Greystone Books
Publication date

Oct. 13 2015
Dimensions

15.88 x 2.54 x 23.5 cm
ISBN-10

9781771640633
ISBN-13

978-1771640633
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1771640634
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Greystone Books (Oct. 13 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781771640633
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1771640633
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 637 g
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.88 x 2.54 x 23.5 cm

Best Sellers Rank: #612,405 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #305 in Bird Care (Books)
- #329 in Ornithology (Books)
- #486 in Animal & Pet Care Essays (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.0 36 ratings

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Jack Pine

If you ever spoke to an animal, or tried to, or want to, read Tuco

Reviewed in Canada on December 9, 2020

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Brett stuffs a lot into this book, though it's not especially long. A lifetime of personal experiences with birds - eagles, chickens, crows, Archaeopteryx (yes, in person), and parrots of course. Myth, history, evolution, ecology, trade, exploitation, religion, philosophy, and speculation, all centred on birds. But the core of the book is his 30 year personal relationship with one Tuco - an African grey parrot. Tuco at the core of his recollections of childhood bullying and rape, and what it means to have friends, enemies, companionship, exclusion and scapegoating ("othering").

Maybe it's a bit too much; maybe it follows too many tangents; maybe it would be even more powerful if more focused. But not to complain. If you ever spoke to your dog or cat or parrot, or a crow or bird on a branch, or listened to what they are saying, or ever wanted to, or wonder about animal intelligence language or society, then you must read Tuco.

Helpful

Olivia Jennings

A book to be savoured.

Reviewed in Canada on June 9, 2016

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What a funny, moving, thought-provoking odyssey this book is! I've not shut up about it since I started reading it and I loved it just as much when I finished it. Brian Brett has had many challenges in his life. The reader is amazed at his tenacity and the empathy he writes so profoundly of and says he learned by watching Tuco and other animals, both avian and land-based. His body has not always been a good friend to him, but his brain and his heart make me wish he could be hale and hearty for years to come. I highly recommend this fine book.

2 people found this helpful

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Brent Boyd

A Thoughtful Book for Thoughtful People

Reviewed in Canada on December 14, 2020

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I loved pretty much everything about this book. There is nothing I have read lately that goes from Zeus to Abacus and ends up with entropy. Well written and compelling.

Reviewed in Canada on September 11, 2020

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I really liked the anecdotes about Tuco, but also the interesting facts about birds in general. Also interesting how the author connected the life of Tuco to his own life experiences.

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Lorna Dowling

Amazing book...a keeper

Reviewed in Canada on October 4, 2020

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Again the author combines excellent factual reporting within an interesting autobiographical story. I will keep this book, along with Trauma Farm, which I already have.

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Dave the Rave

The killing of birds and other topics about life

Reviewed in Canada on September 22, 2016

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For a guy who claims to be so sensitive to the nuances of life, I counted three wanton killing of three birds in the first fifteen pages. Perhaps the author could have come up with a betterange way of expressing his unhappiness with life.

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L. Ainslie

The book provided great insights into the wonder

Reviewed in Canada on June 10, 2017

Verified Purchase

A very interesting account of how we tend to "Other" those who are different from us. The book provided great insights into the wonder, beauty & intelligence of the animal world. The author is well-researched and refers to many studies & books about animals. This is a story about Tuco the parrot but it is so much more.

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Amazon Customer

More than a memoir.....

Reviewed in Canada on September 1, 2016

Verified Purchase

A brilliant, multi-layered memoir. Mr. Brett is a gifted writer and I was captivated from page one. The book is thought-provoking and educational. Apart from the classics. I rarely re-read a book. I definitely shall read this one again. Highly recommended.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

J.E.

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2018

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Brian Brett is a great writer - and Tuco is one of my favourite books written by him.

Evets

Just a great read

Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2016

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I really like this book. It might not be for everyone but I really enjoyed it.

Stephanie Philp

Poignant and memorable

Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2016

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I loved this book! It was my role as a parrot companion and an all round bird lover that initially drew me to the book. However I found the other aspects of this memoir to be poignant and was easily able to connect to Brian Brett's 'Othering' and relate it to various aspects of my own life. Funny and memorable with great depth of feeling and much food for thought - especially about what we, as supposedly 'superior' beings are doing to the other species that share our beautiful, blue planet. As a long time student of language I also found the discourses on language particularly interesting.

One person found this helpful

Murray Brown

As complicated as the author

Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2016

Verified Purchase

A good but difficult read. I think "scattershot" best describes it. Almost too much information to absorb.

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Tuco and the Scattershot World: A Life with Birds Hardcover – Oct. 13 2015

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Tuco and the Scattershot World: A Life with Birds Hardcover – Oct. 13 2015

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