Summer World Audiobook By Bernd Heinrich cover art

Summer World

A Season of Bounty

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Summer World

By: Bernd Heinrich
Narrated by: Mel Foster
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As the snow melts and the spring approaches, the animal kingdom awakens. In Summer World, Bernd Heinrich, the best-selling author of Winter World, brings us an up-close and personal view of that awakening and rebirth.

Almost all life on the surface of the earth derives its energy from the sun, either directly through photosynthesis or indirectly by consuming plants, making summer the time when nature is most active - feeding, fighting, mating, and nesting. From frogs, wasps, and caterpillars to hummingbirds and woodpeckers, Heinrich explores these animals' adaptations for surviving and procreating during the short window of summer, and he delights in the seemingly infinite feats of animal inventiveness he discovers there.

Infused with his inexhaustible enchantment with nature, Summer World encourages a sense of wonder and discovery for the natural world and its busiest season.

©2009 Bernd Heinrich (P)2009 Tantor Animals Biological Sciences Biology Ecology Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science

Editorial reviews

Bernd Heinrich has astonishing powers of observation. In great detail, the awakening of summer in the natural world in New England is described - the migrations, mating, budding, metamorphoses from tadpole to frog, and multiple other transformations taking place in our backyards. Mel Foster's deep voice is clear, and his pacing is accurate. But this is the season of bounty and wonder and joy, yet Foster's narration remains inexpressive. Heinrich conducts backyard experiments to figure out whether flower blooms stay open due to light or warmth and tempts fate with hornets, resulting in an unfortunate but predictable outcome. Foster may be able to effectively translate Heinrich's ecological concerns for the future, but he's less successful with Heinrich's almost-boyish enthusiasm.
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Bernd Heinrich has no living equal in his ability to convey the joys of becoming intimate with the natural world. He has a child's open wonder and curiosity combined with the mind and experience of a brilliant scientist. With his compellingly constructed real-life stories, Bernd will draw you into a world that is better than magic--it's real, available to you, and you'll learn how to access it just by listening and being entertained. Start now and see the world anew!

Listen and See the World Anew!

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A natural history book with some specific observations on a summer in the northeast. The narrator is also excellent.

Well Read and Unique Read

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Naturalist Bernd Heinrich has allowed us to glimpse the natural world he studies in an informative, entertaining, and inspiring way. He accomplishes this by sharing interesing observations about the flora and insect life near his home in Maine and Vermont. This book has motivated me to be more observant of the world around me in general and the natural world in particular.

Parenthetically, this book does for Summer what Heinrich did earlier for winter in "Winter World." Unfortunately the rich illustrations are not available to listeners in either his first or second volumes. Don't let that keep you from listening to his words - your mind will make up the difference.

If you are a novice to naturalism, let Heinrich gently walk you through lane and woods. Yield to his intimate interest in that world and you will not be disappointed.

The Natural World Beats the Virtual for Sure!

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Bernd Heinrich is a fascinating and gifted writer. More than this he is a keen observer, scientist and an educator able to instill awe and wonder in others. I love all his books and find myself returning to reread Summer World often in the early spring. It reminds me to slow down and reopen my eyes to the miracle of the seasons happening right under my nose. Often without this type of reminder life hurries by unnoticed.

Highly recommended listening for nature lovers or people interested in learning about nature and connecting with the natural world. I also recommend Heinrich's memoir, The Snoring Bird, which is fantastic and my favorite of his books. Not yet available here on Audible--but hopefully soon.



The Amazing World Revealed All Around You

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i first read Heinrich's extremely good "Mind of the Raven," & was surprised this was by the same author partway in

to be fair, back in the 2000s when this was written, i too believed in Newtonian physics & heliocentrism; so i give Bernd a pass when he repeats the completely farcical notions that rotten philosophy has borne us [this is to say, Earth is a flat/plane realm; totally different than what we're commonly taught]

​​​​​​​i loved his observations of plant & animal life as the seasons move from winter into spring & summer, which is the time-window this book focuses on

he details so many interesting insect, bird, tree, flower, etc. behaviors that i do recommend this book

next i shall try his "Winter World," thinking i know what to expect

really good -- my second of his

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Summer world sounds exciting, and this book is probably better read not listened to. The narrator makes this interesting book sound more boring then the worst most boring text book. I feel bad saying it, but it’s true. I haven’t been able to get myself to finish it.

Dull Summer World

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