We Bought a Zoo [WE BOUGHT A ZOO M/TV] [Paperback]

by Benjamin Mee

We Bought a Zoo <> Paperback <> BenjaminMee <> WeinsteinBooks

Paperback

Published November 30, 2011

About the author

Benjamin Mee, a former bricklayer and decorator, returned to education in his early twenties in order to investigate animal intelligence. Ben studied psychology at UCL and wrote his dissertation on dolphin intelligence, after which his first article appeared in the Independent, while he was a student on the MSc in Science Journalism at Imperial College.

As the world preferred articles on health and DIY, Ben subsequently made his living as a contributing editor to Men’s Health magazine on the former subject, and as a Guardian columnist on the latter, until commissioned by Penguin to write a book on the Evolution of Humour in Man and Animals. It was whilst living in France and writing this book that the Dartmoor Zoological Park came up for sale…

Ben currently divides his time between running the busy zoo and raising his two children, Ella and Milo.

Reviews

[Taylor Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a rare occurrence that I prefer the movie over a book, but in this case, it is unfortunately true.
The book was boring, and it jumped the timeline a lot, so it was hard to follow.

[Glinda Swaner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. I would recommend reading the book before watching the movie.

[Maverick Stenger · Rating 3 out of 5]

The movie We Bought a Zoo has always been my favorite. I’ve tried reading the book multiple times over the years, but I’ve always struggled to get through it! The book version of We Bought a Zoo is pretty dense and not the easiest to follow. Mee does an excellent job of showing his vulnerability, revealing the hardships of purchasing a rundown zoo, losing his wife, being a single dad, and facing the challenges of life.

As someone who has seen the movie hundreds of times, I was able to pick up on many similarities between the book and the film, from quotes to characters. But I can also see where the movie took creative liberties to add to the story and the impact it could have. Overall, it’s a fun read that shows courage and the drive to make a meaningful impact in the world we live in via conservation.