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God Is An Octopus: Loss, Love and a Calling to Nature
Struggling to comprehend the shocking death of his teenage daughter, Ben Goldsmith finds solace in nature by immersing himself in plans to rewild his farm.
In July 2019, Ben Goldsmith lost his fifteen-year-old daughter, Iris, in an accident on their family farm in Somerset. Iris's death left her family reeling.
Grasping for answers, Ben threw himself into searching for some ongoing trace of his beloved child, exploring ideas that until then had seemed too abstract to mean much to him. Missing his daughter terribly and struggling to imagine how he would face the rest of his life in the shadow of this loss, Ben found solace in nature, the object of a lifelong fascination. As Ben set about rewilding his farm, nature became a vital source of meaning and hope.
This book is the story of a year of soul-searching that followed a terrible loss. In an instant, Ben's world had turned dark. Yet, unbelievably to him, the seasons kept on turning, and as he immersed himself in the dramatic restoration of nature in the place where it happened, he found healing.
In God is an Octopus, Ben tells a powerful, immersive and inspiring story of finding comfort and strength in nature after suffering loss and despair.
In July 2019, Ben Goldsmith lost his fifteen-year-old daughter, Iris, in an accident on their family farm in Somerset. Iris's death left her family reeling.
Grasping for answers, Ben threw himself into searching for some ongoing trace of his beloved child, exploring ideas that until then had seemed too abstract to mean much to him. Missing his daughter terribly and struggling to imagine how he would face the rest of his life in the shadow of this loss, Ben found solace in nature, the object of a lifelong fascination. As Ben set about rewilding his farm, nature became a vital source of meaning and hope.
This book is the story of a year of soul-searching that followed a terrible loss. In an instant, Ben's world had turned dark. Yet, unbelievably to him, the seasons kept on turning, and as he immersed himself in the dramatic restoration of nature in the place where it happened, he found healing.
In God is an Octopus, Ben tells a powerful, immersive and inspiring story of finding comfort and strength in nature after suffering loss and despair.
246 pages, Hardcover
Published May 11, 2023
58 people are currently reading
1055 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
May 28, 2023
Beautiful! Such loss coupled with such hope, with a sauce of honesty and rawness that I did not expect. I learned a lot about different conservation and rewilding efforts too.
June 23, 2023
I'm always hesitant about star rating memoirs, so this is down to preference of writing style and helpfulness towards my own experiences.
I appreciate the raw and heartbreaking nature of this book. Ben is open about the pain and struggles he faced, following the sudden loss of his beloved daughter.
Although the first part is definitely a memoir, I would say that some parts read as a recollection of facts and research.
Throwing his heart into nature in order to find himself and a purpose, Ben explores the world and its natural beauty. I really enjoyed reading about the great improvements the world has made in terms of rewilding and reintroducing many lost species back into the natural world. It's incredible to hear that after hundreds of years, there are birds and wildlife living wildly that have never been seen in our or our families' lifetimes. It was also nice to read about the positive impact lockdowns of 2020 had on the natural world, too.
I personally found the spirituality and religious aspects of this book more difficult to get into, but that's due to personal beliefs. Although I did find it interesting to read about other practices in cultures I was unfamiliar with.
God is an octopus may be a huge comfort for readers who are seeking meaning and purpose through nature, religion, or spirituality. It's an insightful read of one man's journey exploring all these aspects. Reading this book has made me appreciate the beauty of wildlife again and enjoying the life around us.
I appreciate the raw and heartbreaking nature of this book. Ben is open about the pain and struggles he faced, following the sudden loss of his beloved daughter.
Although the first part is definitely a memoir, I would say that some parts read as a recollection of facts and research.
Throwing his heart into nature in order to find himself and a purpose, Ben explores the world and its natural beauty. I really enjoyed reading about the great improvements the world has made in terms of rewilding and reintroducing many lost species back into the natural world. It's incredible to hear that after hundreds of years, there are birds and wildlife living wildly that have never been seen in our or our families' lifetimes. It was also nice to read about the positive impact lockdowns of 2020 had on the natural world, too.
I personally found the spirituality and religious aspects of this book more difficult to get into, but that's due to personal beliefs. Although I did find it interesting to read about other practices in cultures I was unfamiliar with.
God is an octopus may be a huge comfort for readers who are seeking meaning and purpose through nature, religion, or spirituality. It's an insightful read of one man's journey exploring all these aspects. Reading this book has made me appreciate the beauty of wildlife again and enjoying the life around us.
May 21, 2023
A moving story about Goldsmith fathoming the sheer grief of losing his 15 year old daughter, to an accident on their farm.
His call to nature was his path to enlightenment, leading to the rewilding of the farm.
Beautiful writing.
His call to nature was his path to enlightenment, leading to the rewilding of the farm.
Beautiful writing.
June 24, 2023
A beautiful and emotional search for meaning and traces of a dearly departed child. Ben Goldsmith and Kate Rothschild, from famed banking and financial families, lost their first child, daughter Iris, in an accident at Cannwood farm. Ben, a lifelong advocate of nature, turns to its beauty and healing powers to help his journey through grief. He searches for answers and / or traces of Iris all around. He also explores different religions, rituals, and rites to see if that brings him.any closer to the truth of what comes next or any closer to his daughter. These aspects are wonderful. The majority of the book focuses on his rewilding plans and restoring as many species back into the natural environs as a means of spiritual and physical healing. It almost becomes a manifesto of types. It is also obvious that Ben comes from a background of immense privilege and finances are no object in his pursuit for truth and enlightenment. Whilst many suffered hardships in the pandemic, he enjoyed a commune of sorts on his land and a bubble of time to heal. This chasm between his journey and the ordinary reader is quite wide at times, but also at the heart of the story is the loss of a beloved child, and that grief is universal. No amount of money can change that loss. His journey through that grief, whilst buffeted by financial means, is still a journey many of us experiencing loss, can understand- the questioning of where our loved ones have gone and whether we will see them again and trying to maintain a sort of connection to them is all very real. Whilst most of us do not have acres of land to rewild, we do have a little slice of nature around us that is free to enjoy. Many of us were able to spend more time in nature during the pandemic, and it had a restorative effect on so many people. Whether it is treating our environment more kindly or rewilding your own garden to allow nature to flourish, there is something we can all take from the book. It will benefit generations to come, as well as having a positive effect on our own lives. Knowing the power of wild swimming as a balm in my own life, I can see why Ben feels.such a spiritual connection with nature. This has been a thought provoking and moving read. #godisanoctopus #bengoldsmith #TandemCollectiveUk
October 22, 2023
On the one hand I was thinking gosh, Ben Goldsmith is so wealthy, what could he possibly have to say that might connect to my life - with his enormous privilege. But he won me over with his open and honest memoir about the loss of his beloved young daughter Iris, in an accident, and his account of grief, and a search for meaning. It’s a wide ranging study of what’s gone wrong with the natural world in the UK, for sure. The devastation of the Scottish highlands in the pursuit of game hunting and grouse shooting is clearly described, as well as the poisoning of the landscape by short sighted farming practices. Goldsmith’s commitment to restoring nature grows as he explores different faiths and responses to loss. There are lots of points where a reader can go off at a tangent. I’m drawn to further exploring the Hindu concept of non-duality, for example. I’m not so sure I would ever be persuaded to take the psychedelic substance that Goldsmith takes at the end of the book - not once, but twice. I was surprised that he recounted his visit to a spiritual medium - so honest - but I was compelled to tread along the path of discovery with him as he sought solace in myriad ways. A beautiful book, and a true tribute to the spirit of Iris, which I shall hold with me for some time.
I have also got hold of a copy of Thoughtful Gardening by Robert Lane Fox as mentioned in the book by the author.
Oh, and the explanation for the title of the book on the last page is well, well worth waiting for.
I have also got hold of a copy of Thoughtful Gardening by Robert Lane Fox as mentioned in the book by the author.
Oh, and the explanation for the title of the book on the last page is well, well worth waiting for.
June 24, 2023
Starting off with a father clearly mourning the loss of his young daughter following a tragic accident on the family estate (an extensive area of land in the country, usually with a large house, owned by one person, family, or organisation).
Throughout the first half of the book Goldsmith talks candidly of daughter Iris and how much her death has impacted on him and his family. I loved how he found strength and solace in nature to help ease the pain and hurt he was feeling, whilst also restoring (rewilding) nature.
Moving on to the second half of the book it began to veer into unnecessary territory and rather than continuing as the grieving father, it started to became increasingly evident that Daddy was rather a rich man and he seemed it was something we needed to know, several times over. For me it completely changed my perceptions of the book and it became more of a power trip rather than a memoir.
I also found myself doing a lot of research into the Goldsmith empire and saw that Goldsmith has also been arrested for assault against his wife which was another reason that made him more of an unlikeable person to me, having wealth does not give you the power to do whatever you please.
Throughout the first half of the book Goldsmith talks candidly of daughter Iris and how much her death has impacted on him and his family. I loved how he found strength and solace in nature to help ease the pain and hurt he was feeling, whilst also restoring (rewilding) nature.
Moving on to the second half of the book it began to veer into unnecessary territory and rather than continuing as the grieving father, it started to became increasingly evident that Daddy was rather a rich man and he seemed it was something we needed to know, several times over. For me it completely changed my perceptions of the book and it became more of a power trip rather than a memoir.
I also found myself doing a lot of research into the Goldsmith empire and saw that Goldsmith has also been arrested for assault against his wife which was another reason that made him more of an unlikeable person to me, having wealth does not give you the power to do whatever you please.
June 13, 2023
Interesting book but unfortunately really not my cup of tea. This is probably my own fault as I went into the book expecting a lot more content about nature and the rewilding process than I found in the book. There was a much heavier emphasis on religion, spirituality, and life after death. Considering the subject matter this is perfectly understandable however it just wasn't for me so I found those bits a very hard slog. I'm sure for the right reader this book would be a great read but it wasn't what I was expecting and I didn't really enjoy it.
February 15, 2024
I implore you to read this book, to experience this wonderful, poetic, heartbreaking, inspiring work written by Ben Goldsmith, who is able to translate his love for nature in such a delicate and special way I’ve almost never read before. A new favorite that I will return to many times.
May 19, 2023
The stuff about sudden loss of his daughter was well done but the nature & rewilding stuff I’d heard before from other books in last year or two.
September 12, 2024
Last non fiction book i read
I just dont like it
I just dont like it
July 3, 2023
It's such a moving story of loss coupled with the journey of grief. We read about Ben's year of immersing himself within nature and his quest to find solace and meaning.
I've always been one for being in nature myself, but after reading this, I have already planted some wildflower seeds in my garden. I think sadly we're conditioned to have neat and tidy gardens, but hopefully, this memoir will encourage people to leave a little space for the wildlife.
I've never been a religious person, but I was really intrigued in the Jewish way of thinking.
The thing about the book that sadly disappointed me was how through covid Ben talks about having a little community. I felt triggered by this as most of us were either alone or with only one or two people using video calls to keep in contact with close family.
Despite the minor disappointment, I really enjoyed hearing about Ben's journey and about all the re-wilding and I would recommend this book to others
Thank you to @tandemcollectiveuk & @bengoldsmith @bloomsburypublishing for having me on the readalong.
I've always been one for being in nature myself, but after reading this, I have already planted some wildflower seeds in my garden. I think sadly we're conditioned to have neat and tidy gardens, but hopefully, this memoir will encourage people to leave a little space for the wildlife.
I've never been a religious person, but I was really intrigued in the Jewish way of thinking.
The thing about the book that sadly disappointed me was how through covid Ben talks about having a little community. I felt triggered by this as most of us were either alone or with only one or two people using video calls to keep in contact with close family.
Despite the minor disappointment, I really enjoyed hearing about Ben's journey and about all the re-wilding and I would recommend this book to others
Thank you to @tandemcollectiveuk & @bengoldsmith @bloomsburypublishing for having me on the readalong.
February 8, 2024
Incredibly powerful read. As hard a read as this was emotionally, I absolutely loved this book.
February 29, 2024
Iam not sure how to rate this book…
The book is full of rewilding nature, the history of the places he visited. About places that have done some or a lot of rewilding. This book is about his own piece of land where he does his best to rewild, you will learn what happens when you do. Wildlife and plantlife returns to places they have not been seen for years and years. There is a lot of this. With a little sprinkle of his grief and religion (what happens when we die).
The book starts with the telling of how he lost his teenage daughter. When you have reached that point, you will read a lot about rewilding and his plan of what to do with his own land. He has a few acres and friends who have the same and do the same. The projects he starts and wants to start in the future. Here and there are a few pages about religion, he will visit some key persons and talk about death with them. There are some lines along the way where he gets back to his grief by telling how much his daughter would have liked something.
I do find his memoriam of her beautiful. And if I had a few acres and stones I would do the same thing.
There are big gestures towards her and nature. The challenge is to find something small for yourself you can do. By reading about these big gestures and his plan/purpose I felt like I had to do something to, something extra, something bigger. But those are not my resources. It makes it difficult to rate this book.
If you are looking for a book on rewilding and what the effects may be, then this is the book. When you want to read about grief like I did, there is not much of it. Having a purpose, a goal or a plan is pretty much the summary of dealing with grief. Although I find it interesting to read about nature and that even a small thing can make a big difference. This was a little overkill for the brain that wanted to read about grief and dealing with that. Searching for some experience stories so I could get some inspiration from that.
The book is full of rewilding nature, the history of the places he visited. About places that have done some or a lot of rewilding. This book is about his own piece of land where he does his best to rewild, you will learn what happens when you do. Wildlife and plantlife returns to places they have not been seen for years and years. There is a lot of this. With a little sprinkle of his grief and religion (what happens when we die).
The book starts with the telling of how he lost his teenage daughter. When you have reached that point, you will read a lot about rewilding and his plan of what to do with his own land. He has a few acres and friends who have the same and do the same. The projects he starts and wants to start in the future. Here and there are a few pages about religion, he will visit some key persons and talk about death with them. There are some lines along the way where he gets back to his grief by telling how much his daughter would have liked something.
I do find his memoriam of her beautiful. And if I had a few acres and stones I would do the same thing.
There are big gestures towards her and nature. The challenge is to find something small for yourself you can do. By reading about these big gestures and his plan/purpose I felt like I had to do something to, something extra, something bigger. But those are not my resources. It makes it difficult to rate this book.
If you are looking for a book on rewilding and what the effects may be, then this is the book. When you want to read about grief like I did, there is not much of it. Having a purpose, a goal or a plan is pretty much the summary of dealing with grief. Although I find it interesting to read about nature and that even a small thing can make a big difference. This was a little overkill for the brain that wanted to read about grief and dealing with that. Searching for some experience stories so I could get some inspiration from that.
December 19, 2024
The most beautiful and moving pages.
November 3, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this book with a respect and admiration for how Goldsmith grieved and worked through the loss of his daughter. She sounds like an extraordinary child.
At the risk of sounding cynical, I was, at all times, very aware that the Goldsmiths are a wealthy family which have a deep history of building their wealth through banking. This means that they have dealt with the top richest percent of businessmen around the world. It was very obvious in his recounting of his upbringing, shuffling from one family property to another, to enjoy the beauty of nature on each private estate, how much of his life is not relatable if you didn't grow up with generational wealth.
What loomed over me while going through this book was the reality of our current time, and how around the world the wealthy are snapping up land and turning it into their own personal family havens, and fallout bunkers, where they plan to escape to when the ecological collapse reaches its worst stages. Meanwhile, the majority of the world will sink into a concrete laden nightmares, as we are crammed into about 5 percent, or more in other countries, of developed land. The prospect of a homesteading is now so out of reach to the average person, that the simple choice to rewild your land in order to honour your beloved deceased seems to be a mythical concept.
I was surprised by Goldsmiths openness to so many cultures and ideas about the afterlife and meaning of life on his search to connect with his daughter. I began this book with the idea of this memoir as an insight into how the wealthy process death, as I have this perspective that is shared amongst others in my class, that when you have wealth you can buy yourself distractions from pain. That is, you can skate through life feeling that you are pretty lucky, or that there is a hedge of protection around all that you know because of power and influence. However, the reality is that death is the great equalizer of all. Both the poor man and the rich man will know death. The death of their loved ones, and the feeling of unfairness of a life gone.
Great read for perspective. When I now see Yellow Irises out on my nature walks I will think of the deep love of a father for his lovely child.
At the risk of sounding cynical, I was, at all times, very aware that the Goldsmiths are a wealthy family which have a deep history of building their wealth through banking. This means that they have dealt with the top richest percent of businessmen around the world. It was very obvious in his recounting of his upbringing, shuffling from one family property to another, to enjoy the beauty of nature on each private estate, how much of his life is not relatable if you didn't grow up with generational wealth.
What loomed over me while going through this book was the reality of our current time, and how around the world the wealthy are snapping up land and turning it into their own personal family havens, and fallout bunkers, where they plan to escape to when the ecological collapse reaches its worst stages. Meanwhile, the majority of the world will sink into a concrete laden nightmares, as we are crammed into about 5 percent, or more in other countries, of developed land. The prospect of a homesteading is now so out of reach to the average person, that the simple choice to rewild your land in order to honour your beloved deceased seems to be a mythical concept.
I was surprised by Goldsmiths openness to so many cultures and ideas about the afterlife and meaning of life on his search to connect with his daughter. I began this book with the idea of this memoir as an insight into how the wealthy process death, as I have this perspective that is shared amongst others in my class, that when you have wealth you can buy yourself distractions from pain. That is, you can skate through life feeling that you are pretty lucky, or that there is a hedge of protection around all that you know because of power and influence. However, the reality is that death is the great equalizer of all. Both the poor man and the rich man will know death. The death of their loved ones, and the feeling of unfairness of a life gone.
Great read for perspective. When I now see Yellow Irises out on my nature walks I will think of the deep love of a father for his lovely child.
Read
July 4, 2023Following the death of his 15 year old daughter Iris, Ben Goldsmith takes us on his journey of heartbreak and hope.
The start of this book is an upsetting and difficult read, making you cling to your children a little tighter when you hug them good night or wave them off to school. What Ben experienced is a parents worst nightmare and it's hard to imagine how you could continue with life after.
As the book continues, Ben explains how nature played a huge part in his grieving and recovery process, planning ways of rewilding the land around him. By helping to restore species back into their natural environment, Ben began to heal spiritually and physically.
This book is written beautifully, and was an enlightening insight into rewilding. The love Ben has for Iris is blindingly obvious and as a nature and animal lover herself, l'm sure she's so proud of the things her Dad has achieved.
With the content based on Ben's personal experience of loss and grieving, I have decided not to give a star rating.
Thank you @tandemcollectiveuk for having me on this readalong, there were several really interesting discussions within our group chat which added to the reading experience.
The start of this book is an upsetting and difficult read, making you cling to your children a little tighter when you hug them good night or wave them off to school. What Ben experienced is a parents worst nightmare and it's hard to imagine how you could continue with life after.
As the book continues, Ben explains how nature played a huge part in his grieving and recovery process, planning ways of rewilding the land around him. By helping to restore species back into their natural environment, Ben began to heal spiritually and physically.
This book is written beautifully, and was an enlightening insight into rewilding. The love Ben has for Iris is blindingly obvious and as a nature and animal lover herself, l'm sure she's so proud of the things her Dad has achieved.
With the content based on Ben's personal experience of loss and grieving, I have decided not to give a star rating.
Thank you @tandemcollectiveuk for having me on this readalong, there were several really interesting discussions within our group chat which added to the reading experience.
June 16, 2023
Gripende bok om mennesket og naturen, om "rewilding", og om livets mening når man mister et barn.
Ben Goldsmith mister datteren i en tilfeldig ulykke, og skriver seg gjennom sorgen etter ulykken for tre år siden. Han søker i naturen, i myter, religioner og gamle skikker etter svar - og finner det: Gud er en blekksprut.
Sorgreisen er rørende lesing, samtidig som jeg ofte spør meg selv om hvorfor forfatteren er så selvopptatt. Han skriver fint om barna, om den døde datteren Iris' mor og mor til Iris' halvsøsken. I faser fremstår alle de andre som kulisser, og jeg skulle ønske redaktøren hadde hjulpet Goldsmith med litt avstand - men det er kanskje fordi det er vanskelig å takle nærgående den smerten han må leve seg gjennom, og fordi perspektivene blir annerledes når livet ikke lenger er "vanlig".
Med dette lille unntaket: En bok meget vel verd å lese, den gir mye til naturelskere, til oss som vet lite om å gjenreise naturen, om sorg, om søken etter mening, og om det fins en gud.
Ben Goldsmith mister datteren i en tilfeldig ulykke, og skriver seg gjennom sorgen etter ulykken for tre år siden. Han søker i naturen, i myter, religioner og gamle skikker etter svar - og finner det: Gud er en blekksprut.
Sorgreisen er rørende lesing, samtidig som jeg ofte spør meg selv om hvorfor forfatteren er så selvopptatt. Han skriver fint om barna, om den døde datteren Iris' mor og mor til Iris' halvsøsken. I faser fremstår alle de andre som kulisser, og jeg skulle ønske redaktøren hadde hjulpet Goldsmith med litt avstand - men det er kanskje fordi det er vanskelig å takle nærgående den smerten han må leve seg gjennom, og fordi perspektivene blir annerledes når livet ikke lenger er "vanlig".
Med dette lille unntaket: En bok meget vel verd å lese, den gir mye til naturelskere, til oss som vet lite om å gjenreise naturen, om sorg, om søken etter mening, og om det fins en gud.
May 14, 2023
I have never suffered the kind of loss that Ben Goldsmith has, but I think I can far better imagine it having read this book.
The author spares no details in describing the moments of his daughter's death, hearing the news, and the aftermath. The prose itself is sparing and deft. There could easily have been something clunky about the way Goldsmith sought out experts from various different religions and explored different beliefs about death and the afterlife, but these events are all woven into a compelling story of a father trying to find a way to live again. Perhaps even more fascinating and beautiful are the changes that Goldsmith began to implement on his Somerset estate as a result of his daughter's death, in a kind of mirror to what happened at Knepp as described in Isabella Tree's book 'Wilding'.
The book is probably a perfect length - I was sad to finish it, but I'm not sure my heart could have borne more.
The author spares no details in describing the moments of his daughter's death, hearing the news, and the aftermath. The prose itself is sparing and deft. There could easily have been something clunky about the way Goldsmith sought out experts from various different religions and explored different beliefs about death and the afterlife, but these events are all woven into a compelling story of a father trying to find a way to live again. Perhaps even more fascinating and beautiful are the changes that Goldsmith began to implement on his Somerset estate as a result of his daughter's death, in a kind of mirror to what happened at Knepp as described in Isabella Tree's book 'Wilding'.
The book is probably a perfect length - I was sad to finish it, but I'm not sure my heart could have borne more.
March 7, 2024
This one made me cry, which is very rare for books. It's truly an incredible story and well-written.
I feel bad criticising (even lightly) such an intensely personal, tragic story but I did feel that there were some times the themes of nature and healing Iris' death could have been integrated better, because there were some slightly choppy transitions. I also would have liked just a quick acknowledgement of how Goldsmith's wealth and privilege may have helped him in the grieving process; I don't begrudge him those advantages and obviously losing a child is still an incredibly traumatic event, but I thought it felt odd how little it was acknowledged even as he was clearly able to use coping mechanisms that relied on having quite a lot of free time and money (building the stone circle, general rewilding projects and not needing to worry about holding down a job). These are both very minor aspects though, and didn't detract from the overall impact of the story.
I feel bad criticising (even lightly) such an intensely personal, tragic story but I did feel that there were some times the themes of nature and healing Iris' death could have been integrated better, because there were some slightly choppy transitions. I also would have liked just a quick acknowledgement of how Goldsmith's wealth and privilege may have helped him in the grieving process; I don't begrudge him those advantages and obviously losing a child is still an incredibly traumatic event, but I thought it felt odd how little it was acknowledged even as he was clearly able to use coping mechanisms that relied on having quite a lot of free time and money (building the stone circle, general rewilding projects and not needing to worry about holding down a job). These are both very minor aspects though, and didn't detract from the overall impact of the story.
August 13, 2025
"God Is an Octopus" is a powerful memoir by Ben Goldsmith. My heart ached alongside his as he navigated the grief following the tragic death of his beautiful teenage daughter, Iris, in a farm accident on his Somerset farm in July 2019. 💔
I was fascinated by his exploration of the wisdom offered by various religious faiths and spiritualism, and the personal solace he found in them. I also loved hearing about the diverse rewilding efforts across the UK and how this work provided him with a raison d'être—a reason for being—in the aftermath of such a terrible loss. I believe I'll revisit the chapters on rewilding to re-listen to Bubb's gentle, evangelical narration about the importance of these fragile ecosystems to our world and our very souls.
This book encompasses several genres, including:
* Memoir
* Spirituality
* Environmentalism
* Grief and Loss
Ben Goldsmith's honesty, pain, and resilience throughout this poignant memoir deserve a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating.
July 12, 2023
(Have finished with - not finished)
Unfortunately, I don't think I will be finishing this book.
It had a really strong start detailing the immediate aftermath of Iris's death, but as commented by other Goodreads reviewers, turns into a bit of an overly factual nonfiction read about the specifics of rewilding.
I really struggle when books do this. Managed to get through Jay Griffiths's Wild because it was worth it for the personal accounts.
I don't like reading info in a book that I could easily research myself if I wanted to. I'm here for YOUR story, author, not the minute details of facts you've learned.
Just not for me. But I'd certainly read a cut that was just the personal stuff !
Unfortunately, I don't think I will be finishing this book.
It had a really strong start detailing the immediate aftermath of Iris's death, but as commented by other Goodreads reviewers, turns into a bit of an overly factual nonfiction read about the specifics of rewilding.
I really struggle when books do this. Managed to get through Jay Griffiths's Wild because it was worth it for the personal accounts.
I don't like reading info in a book that I could easily research myself if I wanted to. I'm here for YOUR story, author, not the minute details of facts you've learned.
Just not for me. But I'd certainly read a cut that was just the personal stuff !
February 3, 2024
A beautiful and moving love story
Having a sister who suffered the agony of suddenly losing her son, my nephew, this book was especially poignant. I also live nearby in Somerset and know how shocked and sorry we were by this terrible event when it happened.
Ben writes beautifully about his journey past the torrid grief to finding ways of being where there is a place for acceptance. His journey of self discovery through the healing power of nature is incredibly moving and the love he expresses for his beloved daughter Iris will of course never die...
Thank you for writing such a brave book Ben I got a huge amount from it - blessings to you and your family. I hope like nature's rewilding you grow fresh shoots of recovery. To everyone else - this is a gem - read it!
Having a sister who suffered the agony of suddenly losing her son, my nephew, this book was especially poignant. I also live nearby in Somerset and know how shocked and sorry we were by this terrible event when it happened.
Ben writes beautifully about his journey past the torrid grief to finding ways of being where there is a place for acceptance. His journey of self discovery through the healing power of nature is incredibly moving and the love he expresses for his beloved daughter Iris will of course never die...
Thank you for writing such a brave book Ben I got a huge amount from it - blessings to you and your family. I hope like nature's rewilding you grow fresh shoots of recovery. To everyone else - this is a gem - read it!
May 18, 2024
The story of the loss of his daughter is deeply moving, and the author’s longing for his child rolls overwhelmingly off the pages. As he describes how he comes to seek refuge in nature (and attempts to restore it more and more), he sometimes goes off on long tangents - and the further away from himself they are, and the larger the scale, the more difficult I found it to keep reading. I read this book over the course of five months and I never really looked forward to returning to it. The personal bits are at times very beautiful, the “general” bits felt a bit preachy and explainy.
Nonetheless the author comes across as a kind and sensitive person, who has suffered a horrifying loss, and who has a true passion for nature restoration, which one can only be very respectful of.
Nonetheless the author comes across as a kind and sensitive person, who has suffered a horrifying loss, and who has a true passion for nature restoration, which one can only be very respectful of.
July 26, 2023
Written with generous honesty, this book takes us on the journey of grief with Goldsmith and a search for answers and meaning in the face of such tragedy.
Woven through all of this is the solace of nature and an exploration of rewilding set against a backdrop of beautifully described and inspirational projects.
Despite the subject matter, I found this book immensely readable. I would call it a page turner but there were times when I wasn’t turning the page because I was reflecting instead.
I was wondering throughout about the title of the book. The actual reason is a plot twist I wasn’t expecting.
Woven through all of this is the solace of nature and an exploration of rewilding set against a backdrop of beautifully described and inspirational projects.
Despite the subject matter, I found this book immensely readable. I would call it a page turner but there were times when I wasn’t turning the page because I was reflecting instead.
I was wondering throughout about the title of the book. The actual reason is a plot twist I wasn’t expecting.
June 17, 2025
So beautiful. It cracked me open and made me weep, in the best way. Even with the depth I somehow felt lighter each time I read it. In the face of such loss, he was able to so richly illustrate the healing potential and power of nature, and our role as humans on this planet. He articulated perfectly insights I’ve glimpsed around death and life, but couldn’t quite put into words myself. This book has re-connected me to my own sense of life after death, bringing with it ever so slightly more acceptance. I feel a renewed connection with the people I’ve lost, and renewed ability to smile with the pain. I can’t really explain it, it’s just beautiful.
September 20, 2025
Having had the opportunity to walk with Ben Goldsmith last week to witness the vibrant rewilding he applies to his Domaine is amazing. So are the different parts on rewilding in this novel.
The beginning and the end of the book gives us only a little indication on how terrible it must feel to lose a daughter. What to do? How to deal with this?
However the major part of the book is a sum up from Umwelt over Einstein to many titles of books. A rabbi enters as well as Waldo Emerson and the multiple sidesteps gives the reader the feeling that we haul in all kinds of vegetables to make that one soup.
But what Ben does for bringing different species back to the UK is great.
The beginning and the end of the book gives us only a little indication on how terrible it must feel to lose a daughter. What to do? How to deal with this?
However the major part of the book is a sum up from Umwelt over Einstein to many titles of books. A rabbi enters as well as Waldo Emerson and the multiple sidesteps gives the reader the feeling that we haul in all kinds of vegetables to make that one soup.
But what Ben does for bringing different species back to the UK is great.
June 1, 2024
3.5/5
The beginning and end of this book were great; the middle was something I kind of trudged through. I found myself really drawn into his descriptive scenes about his own experiences and his vulnerability with his grief, and less so enthralled by his nature writing, which is less of a critique of his own writing style and more so my own opinion about nature writing. I read this book more so to interact with grief and less so to learn about rewilding, which is why I’m not quite sure how to feel about it. Overall, I do think it was a valuable read for me for the parts that I did enjoy.
The beginning and end of this book were great; the middle was something I kind of trudged through. I found myself really drawn into his descriptive scenes about his own experiences and his vulnerability with his grief, and less so enthralled by his nature writing, which is less of a critique of his own writing style and more so my own opinion about nature writing. I read this book more so to interact with grief and less so to learn about rewilding, which is why I’m not quite sure how to feel about it. Overall, I do think it was a valuable read for me for the parts that I did enjoy.
December 6, 2024
Extremely emotional start - powerfully conveyed the loss.
Unfortunately, as others have much more eloquently described, I rapidly found the book unreadable. Many people love this book and give it 5stars, but I saw it as primarily a cathartic exercise for the author. The wilding stuff is probably interesting but I have read a number of books on this subject. I guess his belief in the mystic and religion coupled with an absence of references for objective research to back up emotional statements made me decide not to spend further time with this book.
Unfortunately, as others have much more eloquently described, I rapidly found the book unreadable. Many people love this book and give it 5stars, but I saw it as primarily a cathartic exercise for the author. The wilding stuff is probably interesting but I have read a number of books on this subject. I guess his belief in the mystic and religion coupled with an absence of references for objective research to back up emotional statements made me decide not to spend further time with this book.
July 24, 2023
This book was amazing from start to end. Very insightful, many reflections upon death and the meaning of life. It examines various religious views on the afterlife, reflecting upon grief and how one undergoes the recovery of the death of a child. That being said, it also includes many ties to nature, analyzing how it is changing and how to get it back to the way it was. I plan on reading this book many times again.
July 4, 2025
I enjoyed what the author had to say in many places of the book, particularly when he talked about Iris & memorializing her. I also found his information on some wildlife fascinating particularly the beavers. However, his writing meanders, repeats the same ideas, & takes too long to get to the point. I was even disappointed in the meaning behind the title. Nevertheless, I’d still recommend reading this book, because despite my complaints, there are some really bright shining bits.
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