12 Birds to Save Your Life: Nature's Lessons in Happiness

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By just living in their most natural state and going about their daily lives while singing throughout them, these unusual, almost extinct, and other domestic birds that Charlie Corbett writes about inspire him to write about his family and his relationship with himself. When he discusses life, overcoming fears, and remembering that nature has all the answers if we just stop, close our eyes, and listen, I could see similarities between his ideas and mine. A wonderful blend of the lyrical and practical. Charlie shows us that our relationship with birds and the natural world is not only healing, but an important part of our cultural heritage worth protecting Adam Henson By reconnecting with the wildlife all around him, through learning to understand, love, and begin to move with the rhythms of the natural world outside his door, Charlie discovered nature's powerful ability to heal.

Grief is an intensely personal thing that people cope with, in their own way. When Charlie Corbett lost his mother after a short but aggressive cancer he began to realise that his perspective on life was slipping away. A lyrical and life-affirming book that teaches us as much about birds as it does ourselves - a balm for the soul Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path Such is the power of these creatures to raise you from life's periodic depths. Through twelve characterful birds, Charlie show us that there is joy to be found in the very smallest of events - if we know where to look, and how to listen. From solitary skylarks to squabbling sparrows, he explores the place of these birds in our history, culture and landscape, noting what they look like and where you're most likely to meet them. Honest, uplifting and written from the heart, this is a rediscovery of life inspired by a re-discovery of birds Tim Birkhead

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Through twelve characterful birds, Charlie shows us there is joy to be found if we know where to look, and how to listen. From solitary skylarks to squabbling sparrows, he explores the place of these birds in our history, culture and landscape, noting what they look like and where you're most likely to meet them.

This is no ordinary ornithology, but one that portrays the very essence of each bird through a very human lens and shows us that both solace and joy can be ours by merely observing with an open eye and an open heart' John Wright, author of The Forager's Calendar Suddenly he hears the song of a skylark - that soaring, tinkling, joyous sound echoing through the air above - and he is transported away from his dark thoughts. Grounded by the beauty of nature, perspective dawns. No longer the leading role in his own private melodrama, merely a bit part in nature's great epic. From dawn choruses to the first chiffchaff calls of spring, Charlie Corbett shows how the changing seasons can bring happy natural rhythms to times of hardship National Geographic Traveller Each chapter is dedicated to a different bird - such as robin, skylark, wren, magpie, to name but a few - and has a wonderful viewpoint behind it about how seeing different birds elicit a different emotion in him as he watches them and goes to show how nature is always there to comfort, distract and focus the mind elsewhere! Totally absorbing and completely engaging on so many levels . . . Charlie has opened my eyes to the constant joy of the sights and sounds of the birds that surround us. It is a book that really will save lives' Dr Richard Shepherd, author of Unnatural CausesBy reconnecting with the wildlife all around him and learning to move with the rhythms of the natural world, Charlie discovered nature's powerful ability to heal. Reading this book made me so happy that I was greeting folks who arrived at work at 8 a.m. with "Top of the morning to ya." If you live in an extremely industrial location, it's possible that you won't hear a single bird's song during the entire reading of this book. Alternatively, it's possible that this book may make you nostalgic for birds and your hometown, which one must leave in pursuit of better-paying prospects. In this life-affirming and joyful guide to the birds living all around us, it might just heal you too. A lyrical and life-affirming book that teaches us as much about birds as it does ourselves - a balm for the soul' Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path Find solace, hope and happiness this winter through 12 fascinating birds whose song is never far away - if only we know where to look . . .

I really enjoyed his personal anecdotes throughout and seeing how he never felt alone when he was in nature - it was a way to find escape, and learning the joy of never chasing nature! Letting it come to you makes it even more special, and as a keen birdwatcher myself I totally understand that feeling. An important book, woven with the countryside and catharsis. Also instructive into which birds to look for and how to recognise their calls and song. Written by a true countryman and loving son The Field This is a book about connecting with nature and how it helped the author through some very troubled times and that feeling of being distracted from the day to day goings on of the world are a wonderful healer and it was fascinating to sense his joy and comfort that he found from seeing various birds in the world around him.

Word Up: How being close to nature helped author tackle grief

Can you recognise the cheerful chirrups of the house sparrow? A song thrush singing out at winter's darkest hour? Or the beautiful haunting call of the curlew? Can you recognise the cheerful chirrups of the house sparrow? A song thrush singing out at winter's darkest hour? Or the beautiful, haunting call of the curlew?