This is the first Sy Montgomery book that I have read. I loved it. She has such a compelling way to write about animals that just draws me in. After finishing this, I immediately sought out her other titles and read through those. I have been suggesting this--and all her books--to my fellow animal lovers.

I love exploring new nature writing. This was a treat and pleasure to read. How I have discovered Montgomery's writing is wonderful.

The Hawk’s Way is a super short and sweet read that focuses mostly on hawk falconry! It’s lightly educational on the subject, but not overly.
What stands out to me most is Sy’s extremely…personal descriptions of her emotions and soul while spending time with the birds. As a long-time birder myself, it’s too much for me. Hawks are very cool apex predators, but that’s about as far as my heart goes.
The author also flips the coin frequently and emphasizes how dangerous and volatile hawks are, and that forgetting it can be deadly. It’s a weird mix of emotions she’s asking us to feel with her. 🤷‍♀️
Anyway, I wouldn’t recommend this read if you’re curious about falconry! There are more comprehensive guides out there :)

As someone who has worked in wildlife rehabilitation, this is a book I wish everyone would read. Montgomery does an admirable job of detailing human history with hawks, our obsession with them, our conflict and misunderstandings with them. While Montgomery's writing can lend itself to an overly flowery narrative voice that can become grating, the information she provides is excellent, especially for any reader unfamiliar with the species.

Another “chapter” in Sy Montgomery’s bird books. I found this fascinating! I never could get into H is for Hawk (unpopular opinion/ shocking even to me!) but this one’s talons sunk in. I really didn’t know a lot about hawks and I found myself happy to follow in Sy’s shadow and let her risk her safety while I lived vicariously through her. I definitely have a greater appreciation for hawks and surprisingly enough, a hawk’s companion/falconry teachers. It is not a job for the faint of heart.
I will gladly continue in with these short books, although wish they were a little longer!

This short but informative book provides fascinating information about birds of prey in particular hawks.
The author describes her introduction to falconry as well as facts about the natural behaviors of hawks.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

In The Hawk’s Way, Sy Montgomery captures the essence of why people pursue falconry for the right reasons. It is to experience a connection with a wild animal unlike any other in which the human becomes the servant to the hawk. Montgomery takes readers along as she learns how to work with hawks, how to understand their body language as well as their moods. And yet, it is their unpredictable wildness that keeps hawks from being fully knowable.

Montgomery has a way of making readers feel they are companions on her journeys. Her writing flows like a comfortable conversation between longtime friends. Her natural curiosity and quest for knowledge in order to forge deeper connections with animals is contagious.

The Hawk’s Way is a short book adapted from a chapter in her previous book, Birdology. For this reason, it is difficult to recommend purchasing The Hawk’s Way when Birdology offers more bang for the buck, unless a reader’s sole interest lies with the hawks. Either way, the reading experience is sure to please.

Thank you, Sy Montgomery, NetGalley, and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this book! It was released on May 3rd, 2022.

“Our fellow animals teach us lessons about the delights of sameness and difference. They immerse us in wonder. They lead us to humilty; they inspire us to reverence. They teach us the many facets of love.”

THE HAWK’S WAY
The Hawk’s Way by Sy Montgomery is a book I would have shared with my Dad. My Dad’s favorite bird was a hawk. He would get so excited whenever he would see one. In fact, after he passed, we found an index card that my Dad wrote some notes about some local hawks. He wrote about how many were flying together, their flight patterns, and which direction they were flying in. He admired them. Now, whenever I see one, he just feels near.

When I saw that Sy Montgomery wrote this book, I knew I needed to read it. She wrote one of my favorite nature books, The Soul of an Octopus. Sy Montgomery has a beautiful connection with animals of all kinds. When she studies an animal, she puts all of her passion into it. That is the same for hawks. While hawks are not animals that can be kept as pets. They are intelligent but much more instinctual. The author often refers to hawks as dinosaurs. They are birds of prey, also called raptors.

I loved learning about these birds. While this book is only 90 pages, it is short and sweet. It also made me a little sad because these creatures require large amounts of territory in order to survive. The area where my family lives are being developed at an alarming speed and I do fear that it won’t be long before hawks are a rarity in our area. I rate this selection 5 out of 5 stars.

Beautifully written, though slight, Montgomery gives us a glimpse into the sport of falconry. Working with falconer Nancy Cowan, Montgomery learns the basics of partnering with wild raptors to hunt. Hawks do not bond with humans in the manner of pets or even domesticated working animals. They consent to cooperation in the activity the hawk craves above all others, hunting prey.

Montgomery is a vegetarian and the bloodiness of hunting with falcons gives her some pause but the beauty and wildness of a creature formed for that purpose overcomes her misgivings. I would only wish that the book would have been longer. I understand that Nancy Cowan passed away in January of 2022 so I must assume that Montgomery didn't have the opportunity for more experiences with raptors.

Recommended if you have enjoyed Montgomery's other books.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this!

What a lovely and loving look into falconry. It was surprising to me to see a vegetarian and lover of animals reconcile that with the love of these wild hunters. I definitely wouldn’t be able to do it myself and I am not even a conservationist or vegetarian, but through the author’s eyes I could see the excitement and beauty of it all. This was extremely short, but didn’t feel like it was lacking in any way, as the author’s decision onto whether or not to pursue falconry more really decided the length and it was full of descriptions that felt like you were getting the whole story.

I love the way Montgomery writes about animals. In this very short book, she writes about both the hawk and its wild fierceness, and the unique relationship falconers have with the birds. It's a very short read, but I loved the way it comes across how unlike humans, hawk's are with their incredible instincts.

THE HAWK'S WAY :: Sy Montgomery

Sy Montgomery's The Soul of an Octopus is one of the most magnificent books I've ever read, so it was with great anticipation I cracked the e-cover of her new work: The Hawk's Way: Encounters With Fierce Beauty. Although Montgomery writes about nature and its creatures in a manner that resonates with me, and I admire that she considers multiple facets of her encounters (i.e., man's impact on the natural world), I was not as enamored with this account as her others.

At the outset, it was surprisingly brief, shy of 100 pages including photos. Which is really of no import unless the book doesn't feel complete. It did seem odd in some ways, as Montgomery realizes the time and commitment involved in falconry (a two-year apprenticeship) doesn't fit with her current circumstance, so this brief foray into the mystical ways of the hawk is, well, brief.

I also admit to having some of the same hesitations as Montgomery, a known animal lover. Could she "in good conscience" take a bird from the wild (or support a breeder)? Does she really want to involve herself in a sport that uses "quail launchers" to aide in teaching a youngster to hunt?

Yet learn she does, and though brief, her descriptions of the "sport" and partnership between bird and human are fascinating. This is no normal people/pet relationship. As her mentor tells her, "If you want love out of this, you're too needy. Don't be a falconer." Rather, the falconer is training the bird "to accept you as her servant," and breaking the rules can be a bloody affair. And while you may forge a working association, your bird may never like you. In fact, it may hold a grudge for the rest of its life and will not hesitate to punish you.

Montgomery is a master at putting words to hard to describe events, emotions and connections. It's what made The Soul of an Octopus so spectacular. Here, she's done that again, on an albeit much smaller scale. And while I cannot get entirely on board with the "sport," reading about the birds themselves is well worth the time.

A great informative read and while I really like the authors writing I sometimes find her style to be overly emotive and more about her than her subject matter.

With raptor enthusiasts in the family, I couldn't resist this book. After reading and loving "Soul of an Octopus," I also couldn't resist this author! Sy Montgomery, through her heart, soul, and beautiful writing, transports the reader into the often perplexing mind of the hawk. It is clear these birds touch her deeply. I only wish the book had been longer!

“Hawks can teach us how to love like a god” SO grateful to NetGalley and the publisher who gave me the chance to read an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review! Here it is!

This short novella is a meandering tale about Sy's love of Hawks, she shares the history and biological info about various species but for the most part, this is a book about her own experience loving these magical birds. (And they do seem kinda magical.)

The author's perspective on working and hunting with hawks, and training them by feeding them chunks of other birds while being a vegetarian was very interesting to me. The issue of loving animals enough to not want to eat them, but supporting them in eating one another is tricky to think about but I think her exploration of the issue does it justice and certainly doesn't take over the narrative. Overall this was a deeply respectful love letter to these birds, and a delight to read in just one sitting. It has certainly sparked my interest in hawks and I'll be looking for some further reading. I did find that there were some errors in my E-book, and several times I found myself stumbling over a sentence that was just a bit clunky, not what I expected after the lovely prose of Soul of an Octopus.

This is a section from Sy Montegomery's book Birdology with an updated intro. To be fully honest, I have read almost every book from Sy Montegomery ever since reading Soul of an Octopus - I love the author's writing voice and passion.
While writing about a predatory bird while being a vegetarian could make the book feel awkward, it instead illustrates the ways the animals cannot be forced into human contexts and morality. This is a great short book that is a glimpse into falconry and hawks in general. While I have read it before I still enjoyed the writing, and thoughtful treatment of these fascinating, but alien animals.
This is a great short story for those who think they might not like non-fiction, and for any animal lovers to learn more about hawks and falconry from one of the best animal writers. It also reminds me and makes me want to read H is for Hawk to compare falconry/hawk writing.

This short non-fiction work is the republishing of the chapter “Hawks: Birds are Fierce” from the author’s 2010 book "Birdology: Adventures with a Pack of Hens, a Peck of Pigeons, Cantankerous Crows, Fierce Falcons, Hip Hop Parrots, Baby Hummingbirds, and One Murderously Big Living Dinosaur". This work focuses on the author’s lessons with falconry and her developing love, awe, and understanding of birds of prey. Similar to the personal portions of Helen McDonald’s "H is for Hawk" (which was published after "Birdology"), it is more personal story than natural history. It was a pleasurable read and short enough to make you want more of the story as well as more time with hawks. For those who enjoy nature writing, this book is a lovely bite sized morsel.

I enjoyed this book, but it was not nearly as good as The Soul of the Octopus (her previous work). However, hawks are still an interesting subject matter and she still has a captivating way of writing a story. I will continue to read her books, but I hope the next one brings us back to the ocean!

There is no doubt that Sy Montgomery has a way with animals of every kind. I learned a lot about hawks, and falconry, that I really had no clue about whatsoever. Told through her own personal experiences, this short, easy read of a book was educational and eye opening and I am glad that I read it. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

A wonderful look into the world of the stunningly fierce raptor, the hawk. Absolutely recommended for any birder--studded with information and stellar photos.