"Birding Under the Influence is an adrenaline hit for birders and adventure junkies. It’s also a surprisingly tender story of redemption, as Dorian Anderson faces down his addictions and reinvents his career.  . . I read it in a blissful, all-out binge—as will anyone with a taste for birds and inspiring journeys."—Noah Stryker, Associate Editor of Birding magazine and author of Birding Without Borders

"A story led by the bike and fueled by his tenacity, Dorian colorfully articulates the depth to which putting in the work—both physically on the bike, and emotionally on oneself—reaps infinite rewards."—Tiffany Kirsten, birding guide 

"What an incredible story! Dorian’s adventure is an inspiration for birders and non-birders alike."—David Lindo, author of The Urban Birder

"Birding Under the Influence is an incredible story. This has to be the best Big Year book since Kingbird Highway. . .  It is a journey through the mind and the soul. It is a coming-of-age story unlike anything I’ve read before. I know what it takes to do a big year—the sacrifices, the willpower needed, the risks involved, and the stress on yourself and your relationships. To do this on a bike and put your academic career behind you while recovering from alcohol and drug addiction is something else. I read this incredible story in one go, and I think you will too."—Arjan Dwarshuis, author of The (Big) Year That Flew By

"Dorian is a big personality with an even bigger story. His epic tale of recovery and perseverance will inspire any birder, whether or not their big year dreams involve cycling across the continent."—Nate Swick, American Birding Association podcast host and author of The Beginners Guide to Birding

"So often birding is a quest, and in this memoir Dorian Anderson seeks birds but also some sense of self. At times throwing himself on the mercy of his fellow Americans, he finds his way through and across the country, enlisting a colorful cast of characters as he goes. For this one year his only commitment is to his bicycle. His bike both frees and imprisons him simultaneously, but eventually it delivers him, along with a unique story."—George Armistead, founder and guide, Hillside Nature

"This is no ordinary big year birding book, as Dorian’s story supersedes birds and reveals how a year of contemplation, biking, and birding helped him to overcome his inner struggles of addiction and broken relationships that are all too relatable for many of us."—Luke Safford, Director of Engagement and Education, Tucson Audubon