The Accidental Naturalist

by Ben Fogle

The Accidental Naturalist [Hardcover] Fogle, Ben

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Nature

352 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Ben Fogle is a presenter, writer and adventurer. His achievements include racing 160 miles across the Sahara desert in the notorious Marathon Des Sables.

He has rowed the Atlantic Ocean in 49 days and crossed Antarctica in a foot race to the South Pole.
He has presented numerous programmes including BBC’s Animal Park, Wild In Africa, Countryfile, Crufts, One Man and His Dog and Extreme Dreams.

He writes regularly for the Sunday Telegraph and the Independent and has written four bestselling books. Ben’s latest book, The Accidental Adventurer will be published by Transworld in 2011.

He is an ambassador for WWF, Medecins Sans Frontier and Tusk, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the President of the Campaign for National Parks.

Ben is a special correspondent for NBC News in the United States, reporting from all over the world for Today, Dateline and MSNBC Nightly News.

http://www.benfogle.com/biography

Reviews

[Aimee Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring book. The last chapter 'the conclusion' was tough considering I went through a week ago. However the entire book spoke to me and caused me to examine my own relationship with animals and the natural world. I could never be as involved as Ben Fogle but how I wish I could!

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading another one of Ben Fogle’s book. This is a tale of his encounters with animals across the world but it is also informative, so I learnt quite a lot along the way. His passion for animals and nature is very apparent and his writing flows, keeping one entertained throughout. Would recommend this book to animal lovers

[R.J. Southworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed all of Ben's animal-related stories, and his honestly written examples of human-nature conflicts where there are no easy answers. The parts where he talks about losing his dogs make for hard reading.

[Vicki Hindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book, you can tell Ben's passion for nature and the environment from beginning to end.

[Katie the book worm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read full of interesting stories that bring the places he has visited alive

[Louise Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't like Ben Fogle on TV, and wondered if I'd like him more in print. Well, not much, but I realised that the secret of his success is that he says what the chap in the pub would say about anything that is put in front of him. I prefer to watch educated people with interesting world views. What is encouraging is that he seems to be a nice chap - I think people must like him because he's nice.

He's not afraid to stand up for what he thinks is right (the rights of dispossessed Chagos Islanders) even if it means opposing his best friend Kate Humble and the environmental movement that he basically owes his livelihood to, who support the marine sanctuary that replaced the military testing site. As it happens, I agree with him. Why not allow the islanders to return home and work on co-existence schemes such as those in the Yorkshire Dales? But I always respect people who will say what they think is right.

I noticed yet again that a supportive family background is rather helpful!

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved and hated this book. I don't know. Ben Fogle might be the nicest and most interesting person imaginable in person, but at least once every chapter in this book I wanted to smack him. His stories about traveling all over the world to see animals in their habitats, the amazing scientists he has met, his work with conservation, his love for his dog and his family (probably in that order), all great. His continual soul searching about whether or not to eat meat (if you think about it that much, be vegan already) and his own internal conflicts over the relationship between humans and animals and the environment, while they are internal conversations most thoughtful people have at least once in their lives, should probably be limited to the introduction or one appropriate place in the book. Not. Every. Chapter.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first this book was promisingly funny and very truthful. But as I got further in the book took a more serious and almost too factual in the role Ben Fogle took in the Animal World.
I learnt about a lot of new species not only of different breeds of dogs, but also pink dolphins.
The ending of the book was heartbreaking as was the beginning of the book as dogs lost their lives. I'm such a soft touch when it comes to dogs.
I loved the camaraderie between Ben and Kate Humble - never realized that they did so many programs together.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as good as his last book I don't think but he comes across as a lovely bloke - and the part at the end with Inca made me cry.

[Greg Neumann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple read with some real warm moments. Enjoyed it overall ... but he does meander all over the place