Alfie and Me

What Owls Know, What Humans Believe

By: Carl Safina

Narrated by: Carl Safina

When ecologist Carl Safina and his wife, Patricia, took in a near-death baby owl, they expected that, like other wild orphans they'd rescued, she'd be a temporary presence. But Alfie's feathers were not growing correctly, requiring prolonged care. As Alfie grew and gained strength, she became a part of the family, joining a menagerie of dogs and chickens and making a home for herself in the backyard.

Alfie & Me is the story of the remarkable impact this little owl would have on their lives. The continuing bond of trust following her freedom—and her raising of her own wild brood—coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a year in which Carl and Patricia were forced to spend time at home without the normal obligations of work and travel. Witnessing all the fine details of their feathered friend's life offered Carl and Patricia a view of existence from Alfie's perspective.

One can travel the world and go nowhere; one can be stuck keeping the faith at home and discover a new world. Safina's relationship with an owl made him want to better understand how people have viewed humanity's relationship with nature across cultures and throughout history. Interwoven with Safina's keen observations, insight, and reflections, Alfie & Me is a work of profound beauties and magical timing harbored within one upended year.

©2023 Carl Safina (P)2024 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Our need to recognize our interconnectedness with all of nature

The author's story of the owls and our need to see differently our relationship with all of nature was compelling.

What was author's main focusing?

Dislike--- too much time explaining history and referencing other authors and their theories. Owl was minor character.

gentle and poetic

Carl Safina is such an outstanding author. I highly recommend this book, and all of his books!

Who Knew?!

I am abundantly grateful for Carl Safina's compassion for all life and the delightful, insightful, and engaging ways he's shares about the living world for which he so deeply cares.

This book is especially touching, as we too are blessed by (currently) resident owls in the trees that stand directly adjacent to our home. The owls truly feel like family. To be clear, the feeling is of family at its very best - all resonant with one another in comforting, familial love.

I also appreciate the wonderful ways that Carl reminds of and teaches about how many of us modern humans lost our awareness of our interconnectedness with nature - and ways we can restore our compassion for Mother Earth and all of life.

Loved the Author’s Kindness and knowlege.

Great story. I enjoyed the way the author qualified his beliefs by bringing knowledge into the discussion to support them. I have a little guilt right now though. It’s 114 outside and the air conditioner is set at 86. I did hang out my laundry today though. I think we could all do more to help Mother Earth. I believe stories like this help to raise awareness. I’m glad the heroine …don’t want to give away the ending❤️