Really enjoyed this! Great behind the scenes stuff on the BBC and interesting what it takes to get his shows to air! He was obviously enthusiastic about writing about it all and that came across in the reading of it. He's an inspriational bloke thats for sure...also he had a very dry humour. I smiled quite a lot while reading it!
I loved it too. He certainly knows how to tell a story. His humour and warmth are very evident throughout. I think he would make a great dinner guest.
I listened via audio book. I love to hear to hear people read their own biographies but I think he is one of the best. It feels like I have grown up listening to his voice. It's no wonder that so many have a great affection for him.
Well this one took me a while to read and I'm glad I read it.
I'm not really into natural history and have watched very few of his documentaries and this is a book I would normally not have picked up.
It's a very well written book. I assume that he has kept detailed journals throughout his trip as he has great attention to detail.
There is a real sense - especially in the early years - of adventure. Visiting places no Europeans had been before for example. Its hard to imagine what is was like in those early days wthout the communicaions we have today and when many parts of the world were truly remote.
The book also has an interesting sub plot about the advances in technology in filming and sound recording and the start of BBC2.
My criticisms of the book are probably petty. The book had considerable detail about the 1950s and 1960s but raced at great speed after that.
Also - I know the title is Life on Air - and we got what it said on the tin - but I would have liked to have known more about the man himself. In some ways he was incredibly selfish with his long trips when he had a wife and 2 young children at home - fantastic adventures for him but it must have been very hard for them.
Clearly in this book he was protecting his family's privacy but I think there would have been a lot more to say other than the trips and the television.
In summary though I very much enjoyed it and for me this book illustrates why it is good being a part of a book club - from time to time you are "forced" to read something you wouldn't normally pick up and it enriches you
I loved it too. He certainly knows how to tell a story. His humour and warmth are very evident throughout. I think he would make a great dinner guest.
I listened via audio book. I love to hear to hear people read their own biographies but I think he is one of the best. It feels like I have grown up listening to his voice. It's no wonder that so many have a great affection for him.
I've not read it, but as I was lucky enough to attend an awards ceremony for/with Sir Attenborough on monday (yes, really - and I got to shake hands with him and have a quick chat - which consisted of me saying 'mmmmsmusgsbgdoshtesnbkts thanks huh huh bsbleshteshtpe ) I can honestly say he really would make a fantastic dinner guest, he was just as engaging as he is on the shows, very funny, humbling and so inspiring its incredible. We came out feeling part elated part deflated at how our lives are nothing in comparison, but with the inspiration to go and make them better!
Really cannot stress how wonderful this guy is, he's actually far more conservation focussed than I realised, and very 'in zoo conservation is a last ditch attempt' type rather than pro-zoo (which I'd expected for some reason). One memory I'll never forget, just wish I'd got a picture.
I've not read it, but as I was lucky enough to attend an awards ceremony for/with Sir Attenborough on monday (yes, really - and I got to shake hands with him and have a quick chat - which consisted of me saying 'mmmmsmusgsbgdoshtesnbkts thanks huh huh bsbleshteshtpe ) I can honestly say he really would make a fantastic dinner guest, he was just as engaging as he is on the shows, very funny, humbling and so inspiring its incredible. We came out feeling part elated part deflated at how our lives are nothing in comparison, but with the inspiration to go and make them better!
Really cannot stress how wonderful this guy is, he's actually far more conservation focussed than I realised, and very 'in zoo conservation is a last ditch attempt' type rather than pro-zoo (which I'd expected for some reason). One memory I'll never forget, just wish I'd got a picture.
Wow! :eek: I am so envious! And it's great to hear that he is a genuinely nice guy, not just playing some role for the cameras.:D
Wow! :eek: I am so envious! And it's great to hear that he is a genuinely nice guy, not just playing some role for the cameras.:D
Yes that's what I was a little worried about tbh, but he was lovely and seemed genuinely perplexed as to why we were all rendered speechless around him definitely one of my top moments in life, even if I made a complete numpty out of myself when speaking t him!
Comments
I listened via audio book. I love to hear to hear people read their own biographies but I think he is one of the best. It feels like I have grown up listening to his voice. It's no wonder that so many have a great affection for him.
I'm not really into natural history and have watched very few of his documentaries and this is a book I would normally not have picked up.
It's a very well written book. I assume that he has kept detailed journals throughout his trip as he has great attention to detail.
There is a real sense - especially in the early years - of adventure. Visiting places no Europeans had been before for example. Its hard to imagine what is was like in those early days wthout the communicaions we have today and when many parts of the world were truly remote.
The book also has an interesting sub plot about the advances in technology in filming and sound recording and the start of BBC2.
My criticisms of the book are probably petty. The book had considerable detail about the 1950s and 1960s but raced at great speed after that.
Also - I know the title is Life on Air - and we got what it said on the tin - but I would have liked to have known more about the man himself. In some ways he was incredibly selfish with his long trips when he had a wife and 2 young children at home - fantastic adventures for him but it must have been very hard for them.
Clearly in this book he was protecting his family's privacy but I think there would have been a lot more to say other than the trips and the television.
In summary though I very much enjoyed it and for me this book illustrates why it is good being a part of a book club - from time to time you are "forced" to read something you wouldn't normally pick up and it enriches you
I've not read it, but as I was lucky enough to attend an awards ceremony for/with Sir Attenborough on monday (yes, really - and I got to shake hands with him and have a quick chat - which consisted of me saying 'mmmmsmusgsbgdoshtesnbkts thanks huh huh bsbleshteshtpe ) I can honestly say he really would make a fantastic dinner guest, he was just as engaging as he is on the shows, very funny, humbling and so inspiring its incredible. We came out feeling part elated part deflated at how our lives are nothing in comparison, but with the inspiration to go and make them better!
Really cannot stress how wonderful this guy is, he's actually far more conservation focussed than I realised, and very 'in zoo conservation is a last ditch attempt' type rather than pro-zoo (which I'd expected for some reason). One memory I'll never forget, just wish I'd got a picture.
Wow! :eek: I am so envious! And it's great to hear that he is a genuinely nice guy, not just playing some role for the cameras.:D
Yes that's what I was a little worried about tbh, but he was lovely and seemed genuinely perplexed as to why we were all rendered speechless around him definitely one of my top moments in life, even if I made a complete numpty out of myself when speaking t him!