Author:David Attenborough,David Attenborough
David Attenborough reads his own bestselling memoir
'An enthralling autobiography from one of the linchpins of television' Good Book Guide
David Attenborough is the acknowledged voice of nature, loved and revered worldwide for his groundbreaking wildlife documentaries. Over the course of his long BBC career, David has risen from trainee producer to award-winning film-maker, and in Life on Air, he tells the extraordinary stories of the people and animals he has met along the way.
We hear of his earliest days in television; his stint as Controller of BBC2, during which he introduced colour TV to Britain; and his encounters with luminaries such as Montgomery, Anthony Eden, Benjamin Britten and the Queen. Here, too, are tales of his travels to some of the most far-flung corners of the globe, including New Guinea, Borneo, Paraguay and the Australian outback, and the rare creatures he captures on film: from the exotic birds of paradise and the elusive Indri lemurs to the endangered Komodo dragon.
Featuring behind-the-scenes accounts of the making of his landmark natural history series, beginning with the pioneering Zoo Quest and concluding with Life in Cold Blood, this wonderful memoir - read by David Attenborough himself - recounts the highlights of a remarkable life in broadcasting.
Production credits
Read by David Attenborough
© 2010 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2010 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.
What shines through most of all is his enthusiasm
—— Sunday TelegraphDavid Attenborough wears his achievements lightly and there as many laughs here as there are animals
—— Michael PalinWright captures the fun of the countryside perfectly
—— THE SUNDAY TIMESThis moving tale is simply lovely
—— SunDee's extraordinary, beautifully written account of a life spent watching birds is a fine addition to the flourishing genre of British nature writing
—— Sunday TimesLyrical...sure to become a genuine addition to the literature of birds
—— Daily ExpressWhat makes his book wonderful is his passion... He captures the thrill and puzzlement of watching birds as I have never previously seen it captured
—— Sunday HeraldThrillingly original memoir ... extraordinary
—— Lynn Barber , The Sunday TimesTo write a book about a year's bird-watching as keenly observed as this, you have to be dedicated to the point of obsession; to write one as transcendent, you must be a poet
—— Christopher Somerville , The Times, Christmas BooksAs unexpected as it is brilliant... A moving, powerful meditation on the natural world that envelops us, even in the heart of our cities
—— Helen Dunmore , Guardian Summer ReadingHaunting and passionate.... in graceful, poetic prose, compels us to look again and marvel at the 'storm of life over our heads
—— Huon Mallalieu , Country Life, Christmas round upThe year's most unusual travel book
[An] eye-opening and hugely enjoyable book
—— Daily TelegraphWritten in a delectable prose that scatters flashes of poetry over a sardonic undertow of social comment, Edgelands is a lyrical triumph. On Britain’s grotty margins, the duo trace “desire paths” to find beauty and mystery in the rough darkness on the edge of town
—— Boyd Tonkin , Independent