Author:John Lewis-Stempel
Set in Glasgow in the 1930s, Young James Herriot is the fascinating story of Herriot’s formative years at veterinary college, recounting the tales behind his calling to work with animals and his early friendships. With no modern drugs, and a lot of trial-and-error, James sets about learning how to treat the local farm animals and the pets of city folk.
Accompanied by a cast of eccentric professors and an ensemble of aspiring veterinarians, this book reveals a world now lost to us, showing how life in pre-war Britain changed an enthusiastic young student named Alf Wight into the man who would charm millions of readers the world over.
A delightful dollop of nostalgia and a reminder of the joy of Herriot's antics.
—— Daily MailAdmirers of Herriot's best-selling novels will find much to enjoy here.
—— ChoiceA fascinating look at Herriot's childhood and student days.
—— Shari Low , Daily RecordHerriot learnt his trade when animal medicine was a profession that 'trialed the faint miasma of witchcraft' about it. It's that hint of magic that made Herriot so famous.
—— The LadyScattered with attractive particles, sparkles with redolent names... A solid, well-researched compendium of information
—— TLSA fascinatingly different account of the history of art
—— Scotland on SundayA mine of information...a fascinating book about art and science that is packed with anecdotes
—— Contemporary PhysicsBright Earth proves that many of the world's greatest artists owe a great debt to the questing colourmen behind them
—— Artists & IllustratorsA delightful book
—— Sally Morris , Daily MailThis book may be exactly what's needed to increase science literacy for readers of all ages
—— Publishers WeeklyThis book is primarily aimed at teenagers, but plenty of adults will get a kick out of it too...McKean's drawings bring the text to life brilliantly ... Dawkins writes convincingly about everything from chemistry to statistics
—— Independent on SundayDawkins uses a simple, brilliant technique highly appealing to young and old
—— The Washington PostFew scientists manage to reach a huge popular audience. Even among them Richard Dawkins is distinctive for the clarity and elegance of his prose. The Magic of Reality... will be appreciated by inquisitive children while illuminating much for the adult general reader.
—— The TimesThis is not a book about the end of the world but about an imagined beginning ...The results of this huge thought-experiment are both fascinating and surprising. Fascinating for what they tell us about the impermanence of the works of man, and surprising for the simple reason that it soon becomes clear that our world would carry on regardless, indifferent to our demise
—— Daily MailWeisman's gripping fantasy will make most readers hope that at least some of us can stick around long enough to see how it all turns out
—— New York TimesEngrossing
—— New York MagazineAn idea that is so lateral and clever, so powerfully evocative and masterfully executed that the only appropriate response is fervent envy
—— New StatesmanA wonderful idea ... a hugely enjoyable and thought-provoking book
—— ScotsmanFascinating, absorbing
—— Good Book GuideA quick, absorbing read - a summer beach book with brains
—— BloombergIf you can stomach only one end-of-the world-as-we-know it story this summer, none is more audacious or interesting than Alan Weisman's The World Without Us
—— The Boston GlobeHis is an extraordinary story laced with tragedy
—— Mail on Sunday[Root's] life story, vividly related here, is crammed with incident and adventure. Curious, creative and fearless, he has diced with death on numerous occasions and been mauled several times in his efforts to capture the daily lives of everything from silver-back gorillas to leopards in the wild on film. A gripping account of a life well lived
—— Good Book Guide