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Loading... David Attenborough: Life on Airby David Attenborough
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will love Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. One of the more enjoyable autobiographies that I have read. I was quite unaware of how much professionally he risked when he turned towards his first love of nature from that of a high flying executive. Made me wish I could fit in a half of what Sir David has in his life so far. A great read (  )BookMarkMe | Jun 8, 2009 |   A throughly enjoyable book, full of laugh-out-loud moments and even some sad ones. Don't expect to find out a huge amount about the great man as this book can best be described as his memoirs, rather than his autobiography. David Attenborough's on-screen enthusiasm isn't lost here and his obvious interest and passion shine through. Very highly recommended. (  )fmnemonic | Jun 29, 2008 | (My review from http://www24.brinkster.com/srineet/re...) This is a delightful book - the autobigraphy of David Attenborough. It is one of my favourites now. There is so much to it that I am afraid I might not capture it all. Beginning with how David Attenborough first joined the BBC, you learn about the very early days of television, and the thinking and methods of the time. Then as he found his calling as a producer of natural history programmes, you are led into fascinating accounts of travel to exotic places, tales involving various animals, plants, geology and what not; anecdotes involving very interesting people, the wonderful techniques developed in filming as years went by, adventures and thrilling moments, wise observations, many achievements like first-time filming of certain species and first time contact with certain tribal people, and a lot more. There is also fun childhood and family life, and the period as a BBC employee making his mark on the corporation that gives you an insight into that life, people and industry. It is wonderful to imagine the events as you read about them, and you really like the author's thinking and points of view. I heard this as an audiobook and that's what I'd suggest you do. Expertly narrated by David Attenborough himself, you enjoy every bit of it. And of course, there is the characteristic British understatement and humour sprinkled all over, that will keep you smiling. One of those books you would want to re-read. ( )srineet | Feb 23, 2008 | I haven't given this book a star rating. It's difficult to rate the way somebody remembers their life, and what they choose to share. I found this a really interesting book. It's a well written, fascinating account of David Attenborough's career. Through the course of the book, it is easy for the reader to get a sense of Attenborough's growing passion for wildlife, and for sharing this passion with others. His work is very much the centre of the book. The anecdotes are about his trips, how his documentaries were made and the politics within the BBC. It provides some insights into the man behind the onscreen presence, but only in regards to how he felt about his work. This brings me to the reservations I have about the book. I actually wanted to know more about David Attenborough the man. His family and private life only get a few brief mentions at the beginning and end of the book. As I was reading it I wanted to know how he felt about the long absences from his family, how his family felt about one room of his house becoming a menagerie, and how his career influenced the career choices of his children. This book of memoirs is exactly what it is titled - a story of his life on air. It is interesting while still allowing the author to remain a very private man. Sassm | Nov 20, 2006 | 1  0.038 seconds to build listing  no reviews | add a review
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0691113238, Hardcover)For fifty years David Attenborough has entertained, educated, and generally enchanted millions worldwide with his pursuit of the secrets of life in its many guises. For such groundbreaking television series as Life on Earth, The Private Life of Plants, and The Life of Birds, he has traveled to the ends of the earth to give viewers their first (and often only) close look at some of nature's wonders--from the great wildebeest migration to the blooming of desert cacti. Now Attenborough invites readers to travel with him once more, as he reflects on a life at least as interesting as any he's managed to capture on camera. Life on Air begins when, at twenty-four, Attenborough throws over what looks to be a staid future as a "gentleman publisher" for an uncertain position in the BBC's fledgling television service. An adventure in itself (with primitive equipment and unpredictable personalities), broadcasting work involves the Cambridge-educated naturalist in hilarious attempts to improve the upstart Talks Department. Then the discovery of a coelacanth fish off the Comoro Islands offers him his first chance as a producer, and his career introducing wildlife to the public takes off in earnest. From his first expedition--a junket to Sierra Leone to find the elusive Bald-headed Rock Crow--to his most recent, Attenborough conducts readers on a life journey as instructive as it is enthralling. Rich with insights into nature and behind-the-scenes glimpses into broadcasting history, it is also filled with adventure and humor. Attenborough's storytelling powers are legendary, and they don't fail him as he recounts how he came to stand in rat-infested caves in Venezuela, confront wrestling crocodiles, abseil down a rainforest tree in his late sixties, and wake with the lioness Elsa sitting on his chest. His story ranges from British Guinea to the Zambesi, from Borneo to Madagascar, from the darkest depths of caves to the canopies of the loftiest trees. With quiet erudition, searching curiosity, and generous wit, the world's best-known and most beloved naturalist documents a life that reflects his changing time and our natural world as well as his own irrepressible character. (retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:58:09 -0400) The first test round has been closed. Visit the Open Shelves Classification group for details. |
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