Book Review: ‘The Birds of ’ by Abdullah Alsuhaibany

Book Review: ‘The Birds of ’ by Abdullah Alsuhaibany
The collection is published by Aramco, showcasing their dedication to advancing knowledge in environmental research and conservation. (Supplied)
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Updated 05 December 2024

Book Review: ‘The Birds of ’ by Abdullah Alsuhaibany

Book Review: ‘The Birds of ’ by Abdullah Alsuhaibany

“The Birds of ” offers a comprehensive exploration of the diverse avian species in the Kingdom, showcasing the expertise of its authors.

For bird enthusiasts, nature lovers, and researchers, the two-volume set is an exciting compendium that explores the diverse bird life found in the Kingdom, written by Abdullah Alsuhaibany, secretary-general of the Saudi Environmental Security Coordinating Council, and Chris Boland, director of Arabian Biodiversity Consultancy. 

The collection is published by Aramco, showcasing their dedication to advancing knowledge in environmental research and conservation.

The books are available in Arabic and English, titled “The Lives of Birds” and “Species Accounts.”

Together, these volumes provide valuable information about the various bird species that inhabit .

The first book provides a broad overview of different bird families in . 

It introduces readers to groups of birds, such as colorful passerines, or songbirds, like warblers and sparrows and impressive raptors like eagles and hawks. 

Each chapter is written in a way that is easy to understand and interesting for both beginners and experienced birdwatchers. 

The book describes essential topics such as mating rituals, feeding habits, and migration. 

For example, it highlights how some birds use as a vital stop during their long journeys each year, shedding light on the country’s significance for global bird migration.

The conservation status of birds is also a key focus in this volume. The book discusses different challenges, such as habitat loss and climate change, that threaten bird populations and encourages readers to take action to protect these species. 

Additionally, the volume offers practical birdwatching tips, such as the best places and times to observe different species and what gear to bring along.

The second book focuses on specific bird species. This volume is perfect for serious birdwatchers and students of avian sciences, featuring detailed descriptions of each bird. 

Each entry includes information about the bird’s appearance, sounds, and where it can be found.

For instance, the section on the Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) discusses its colors and seasonal behaviors. 

The book also covers the Sooty Gull (Larus hemprichii), explaining its coastal habitats and feeding habits. 

The entry on the Arabian Partridge (Alectoris melanocephala) provides insights into how this bird interacts with others and its unique calls.

This volume also includes maps and descriptions that help readers visualize where different birds live in . 

The conservation information included for each species highlights the need to protect these birds and their habitats.

“The Birds of ” is more than just a reference book; it celebrates the Kingdom’s amazing bird life and encourages conservation efforts. 

With both volumes, readers can learn about birds in a clear and engaging way, making it suitable for casual birdwatchers, seasoned ornithologists, and anyone interested in nature.

By facilitating access to this vital resource, Aramco not only helps to highlight the ecological wealth of but also engages a wider audience in the discussion of biodiversity and the importance of protecting fragile ecosystems.

This initiative underscores the vital connection between corporate responsibility and the preservation of our ecosystem. 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Beyond Anxiety’

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Updated 12 October 2025

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Beyond Anxiety’

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  • The book suggests that personal regulation and social well-being are intertwined: Cultivating creativity and connection at the individual level contributes to healthier communities and more humane institutions

Martha Beck’s “Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity and Finding Your Life’s Purpose” examines why modern life leaves so many people on edge and proposes a clear, practical route out of chronic worry.

Rather than treating anxiety as a defect to eliminate, Beck reframes it as a misdirected guidance system. She contrasts the “anxiety spiral,” a loop that keeps the body in threat mode, with a “creativity spiral” that restores flexibility, connection and purposeful action.

The book’s strength lies in its accessibility. The author distills neuroscience into plain language and focuses on short practices that fit into daily routines.

It invites readers to interrupt worry loops through curiosity, sensory grounding and playful problem-solving. These micro-exercises shift attention from scanning for danger to exploring options, gradually teaching the nervous system how to settle.

A social perspective complements the individual guidance. Drawing on ideas akin to Max Weber’s “iron cage,” Beck argues that systems built on speed, metrics, and profit amplify vigilance and crowd out meaning.

The book suggests that personal regulation and social well-being are intertwined: Cultivating creativity and connection at the individual level contributes to healthier communities and more humane institutions.

I appreciate how practical it is — offering prompts for five-minute experiments, reflections that encourage noticing small changes and gentle checkpoints that prevent perfectionism from derailing progress.

Newcomers will find plain language and doable routines; experienced readers may recognize familiar ideas but will appreciate the renewed emphasis on creativity as a regulatory tool.

Those well versed in mindfulness, somatic work or habit change may still welcome the way Beck links curiosity to nervous-system flexibility, giving an immediate lever to pull when worry spikes.

The message is ultimately hopeful. “Beyond Anxiety” does not promise a life without fear; instead it shows how to transform anxious energy into fuel for discovery, relationships and purpose.

Readers who want steps they can try today — without jargon or heavy time commitments — will find the approach inviting. As a field guide for overwhelmed beginners, it is clear, humane and designed for real life.

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Costa Rica’s Rainforests’

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Updated 12 October 2025

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Costa Rica’s Rainforests’

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  • This lavishly illustrated book provides a fascinating, up-to-date, and accessible introduction to the natural history of this forest and its flowering plants

Author: SCOTT WESLEY SHUMWAY

The lowland rainforest of Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet.

This lavishly illustrated book provides a fascinating, up-to-date, and accessible introduction to the natural history of this forest and its flowering plants, ferns, fungi, birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, fishes, and insects.

The book focuses on La Selva Research Station, one of the best-studied tropical forests in the world, but it applies to all of Costa Rica’s lowland rainforests and the species it covers are common throughout much of Central America and the Neotropics.

 


What We Are Reading Today: The Life of Violet by Virginia Woolf

What We Are Reading Today: The Life of Violet by Virginia Woolf
Updated 11 October 2025

What We Are Reading Today: The Life of Violet by Virginia Woolf

What We Are Reading Today: The Life of Violet by Virginia Woolf

In 1907, eight years before she published her first novel, a 25-year-old Virginia Woolf drafted three interconnected comic stories chronicling the adventures of a giantess named Violet — a teasing tribute to Woolf’s friend Mary Violet Dickinson.

But it was only in 2022 that Woolf scholar Urmila Seshagiri discovered a final, revised typescript of the stories.

The typescript revealed that Woolf had finished this mock-biography, making it her first fully realized literary experiment and a work that anticipates her later masterpieces.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Try to Love the Questions’

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Updated 10 October 2025

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Try to Love the Questions’

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  • This invaluable guide explores the challenges facing students as they prepare to listen, speak, and learn in a college community and encourages students and faculty

Author: LARA SCHWARTZ

“Try to Love the Questions” gives college students a framework for understanding and practicing dialog across difference in and out of the classroom.

This invaluable guide explores the challenges facing students as they prepare to listen, speak, and learn in a college community and encourages students and faculty alike to consider inclusive, respectful communication as a skill—not as a limitation on freedom. 

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘The First King of England’ by David Woodman

What We Are Reading Today: ‘The First King of England’ by David Woodman
Updated 09 October 2025

What We Are Reading Today: ‘The First King of England’ by David Woodman

What We Are Reading Today: ‘The First King of England’ by David Woodman

“The First King of England” is a foundational biography of Æthelstan (d. 939), the early medieval king whose territorial conquests and shrewd statesmanship united the peoples, languages, and cultures that would come to be known as the “Kingdom of the English.” In this panoramic work, David Woodman blends masterful storytelling with the latest scholarship to paint a multifaceted portrait of this immensely important but neglected figure, a man celebrated in his day as much for his benevolence, piety, and love of learning as he was for his ambitious reign.