Steve & Me

by Terri Irwin

Few celebrities touched the world as Steve Irwin did. Beloved by people from all walks of life, his vast efforts at conservation continue to make a difference all over the globe. His wife Terri's commitment to carrying on his legacy is not only admirable, but inspirational to so many others who can benefit from her strength and conviction.

Their story is not just one of taking a noble cause to new heights of success and recognition, it is also a fairytale love affair. When Terri, and American tourist in Australia, first laid eyes on Steve, she saw a real-life action hero. When she tried to get a date, she was disappointed to learn that his heart already belonged to another. Steve offered to introduce her to his girlfriend, whistled, and presented his best a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Sui.

Later, he took Terri on the kind of date every girl dreams of--a canoe ride through the swamp at night. Terri describes the luminescent eyes of the crocodiles flashing in the beam of her flashlight in the otherwise total darkness. When Steve then confidently climbed out of the boat and into the water, she knew she would never feel unsafe again. The two married in June 1992, in Eugene, Oregon. The footage of their crocodile-trapping honeymoon became the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter.

The two of them went on to change the world. Their hit show was broadcast in over 137 countries, reaching 500 million people, and they founded the Australia Zoo in 1992, as well as the conservation foundation Wildlife Warriors Worldwide Ltd. in 2002. On September 4, 2006, Steve Irwin was fatally pierced in the chest by a stingray spine while snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, at Batt Reef, which is located off the coast of Port Douglas in Queensland. Irwin was at the time filming his own documentary, Ocean's Deadliest.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Animals, Australia, Biography Memoir, Autobiography

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Terri Irwin is an Australian-based, American-born naturalist, author, the widow of Australian naturalist Steve Irwin and owner of Australia Zoo at Beerwah, Queensland, Australia. She co-starred with her husband on The Crocodile Hunter, their unconventional television nature documentary series along with its spin-off series, Croc Files and The Crocodile Hunter Diaries. She has lived in Australia since 1992, when she married Steve Irwin.

Reviews

[Sarah ♡ (let’s interact!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lately I have been finding a lot of comfort in watching Crikey, It’s The Irwins (Terri, Bindi, and Robert Irwin’s show all about Australia Zoo) and reruns of The Crocodile Hunter. Steve was a childhood hero to so many of us, and his untimely death in 2006 was tragic. I had to pick up this book all about Steve and his wife Terri’s love story - told from Terri’s perspective. This was written/published in 2007, one year after the tragedy.
She often tells the story of how she met Steve and subsequent little stories about their relationship during documentaries and interviews since his passing, and they were, completely, wildly in love.

Their love story started as a chance encounter, as Terri decided to visit the Beerwah Reptile And Fauna Park (Now Australia Zoo) with some friends whilst holidaying in Australia’s Gold Coast. She first saw Steve doing one of his crocodile demonstrations, he was filled with knowledge and enthusiasm about them. She knew that she had to meet this man, to deeply converse with him, and the rest is history.

Their shared passion for wildlife conservation and a true understanding for the well-being of animals really seemed to bring them together. She loved helping cougars, he loved helping crocodiles. As a team, they were selfless and compassionate.

Upon having their children, Bindi and Robert, it was Steve’s dream for them to one day carry on his legacy as wildlife warriors and that is exactly what has happened. Terri, Bindi and Robert still own and live in Australia Zoo to this day, doing the crocodile feeds and shows just like Steve did. 🐊

These quotes by Terri really sums up her and her family’s philosophy towards wildlife conservation:
”When you help an animal, do your absolute best to make sure you don’t harm it at the same time.”
”Never walk past a problem with an animal — fix it.”

[Caity · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
“When your hero dies, everything he stood for does not end. Everything he stood for must continue”.
This book was really heartwarming, refreshing and awe-inspiring. It was satisfying to read about Steve’s life from Terri Irwin’s perspective, it felt authentic.
Reading about the early stages of Terri and Steve’s relationship was captivating as it exemplified how genuine their love was for each other.
The last part of the book that touched on Steve’s death really hit me hard and I think I cried for a good hour. I just can’t understand, why bad things happen to such good people but that question is for another time and place.
Steve’s wildlife legacy is continuing on in the hands of his incredible family. Terri, Bindi and Robert are the definition of a family making the very best out of terrible situation. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who was touched by Steve. We owe a lot the Aussie crocodile hunter who will remain eternally young, strong and brave in our eyes.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who often watched Animal Planet in the late '90's and early aughts, Steve Irwin's death hit me hard. I remember waking up on Labor Day 2006 and hearing the sad news; it's still shocking to think he is gone.

Terri, his widow, does a great job of showing us who her late husband really was. Sure, everybody saw him on television...but, what was he like behind the scenes? His dedication to wildlife and his family is evident in every story she shares here.

Unfortunately, some suggestive details and occasional profanity get thrown into the mix. Talking about the things Steve did to make his second child be a boy is simply too much information. Still, those content issues are minor and infrequent; most adults won't be bothered by them, and this remains a superb portrait of a late great champion for nature.

[Philbeert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough good things about this book. It was truly one of those reads that you want to put your life on hold for and just lose yourself in. But I guess with a life and a persona like Steve's, that would be missing the point.

Terri's acknowledgements mention a 900 page first draft...where can I find that??

[Buggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

~8 years ago today we lost Steve Irwin so I'm rebooting my review~

Opening Line:"The name of the zoo was the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park."

You will really get a feel for the Crocodile Hunter's spirit and zest for life with this memoir but also a continuing feeling of urgency on his part to experience everything and get things done as quickly as possible. Its as if he knew that he wasn't long for this earth. Steve also had a strong sense of family and longed for children to carry on his work after he was gone.

Terri Irwin has written a wonderful love story with this tribute to her late husband. Encompassing her life in Oregon before she met Steve on that fateful day in Australia and their many adventures together afterwards. She has managed to capture the spirit of this Wildlife Warrior perfectly and although not full of personal revelations this is still a well written memoir that I couldn't put down. Including 12 pages of photographs and a glossary of Australian terms, fans of the Crocodile Hunter and Steve in general will be swept away in the adventure and enthusiasm that was his life.

When Terri was 27 years old she took a vacation to Australia. While there she visited a small wildlife park and in a chance of fate met the tall blonde force of nature named Steve Irwin. The two maintained a long distance relationship over the following year but were soon married. In fact their honeymoon escapade became the very first episode of the Crocodile Hunter.

At first Terri had a tough time adjusting to life in Australia, it was quite different from what she was used to back in Portland Oregon. The snakes and spiders, the language barrier and the heat. She gives us many great stories of her newlywed years; working at Australia Zoo and their adventures in the bush where Steve was happiest. There's also some background about Terri's life before she met Steve and I was interested to learn that she'd also worked with animals back in the States, in particular a cougar rescue facility. She even had a pet cougar named Malina who she tried for years (unsuccessfully) to get into Australia. There are a few stories of Steve's childhood, working alongside his father as they perfected the art of capturing and relocating crocodiles. Steve often spent months alone in the bush and his capture of "the black ghost" helped shape him into the man he became.

Even though we all know what happened the ending of this book is still absolutely heartbreaking. I would suggest that you have some tissues handy as Terri unknowingly describes in detail the last time she and the children saw Steve and the last words she said to him.

Steve Irwin always felt a need to hurry yet he lived his life full of joy and enthusiasm. We miss you mate but our world is a better place because of your work. I now catch myself rescuing spiders from the bathtub and think of you, thanks.

[Shaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It is a very easy read and mainly filled with stories about Steve and Terri.

A friend was reading Steve and Me at school and remarked at how good it is. I borrowed it during the beginning of class to read a few pages. The word "kindred spirit" jumped out at me. Terri calls Steve her kindred spirit. I am very interested in how much Terri talks about the energies Steve had, and how he drew animals to him. He seems so connected to the animals that he not only studied them but knew them. Like the incident where he thought he'd see a fierce snake two minutes after he said he would. I also found it interesting that he thought he would die young and in action.

I cried at the end of the book. But the book doesn't focus on his death, it celebrates his life. Terri provides lots of great stories to really bring Steve Irwin alive. I'd seen some of his TV shows on Animal Planet but hearing from Terri that he was truly as passionate, energetic, and loving as he seemed without an ego was really powerful.

[Breanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

"One crowded hour of glorious life is worth more than an age without a name."

That quote made me re-think what I'm doing. Steve Irwin packed so much into everyday of his life, and I can't remember what I did two weeks ago.

I realized while reading this that it wasn't so much an homage to the amazing person that Steve was, but another way of continuing the message of wildlife conservation that he fought for every day of his life.

The other amazing thing was the relationship between Steve and Terri. They had a marriage like no other. One of their first dates was a trip into the wilderness on a canoe looking for crocs. Their honeymoon was the filming of the first Crocodile Hunter. They were both totally committed to wildlife preservation, and worked side-by-side making their conservation dreams into realities. The book is full of stories from the Australian bush, encounters they had with amazing wildlife, and moments they shared as a family that touched them.

His death was tragic, but rather than dwell on the loss, she celebrates his life and everything that he lived for. Inspirational.

[Jessica Halleck · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Steve told me the story of the capture, I got the sense that he felt sorry he had to catch the crocodile at all.

"It seemed wrong to remove the king of the river," Steve said. "That croc had lasted in his territory for decades. Here I was taking him out of it. The local people just seemed relieved, and a couple joked about how many boots he'd make."

Steve was very clever to include the local people and soon won them over to see just how special this crocodile really was. Just as he was dragged into his crate, the old croc attempted a final act of defiance, a death roll that forced Steve to pin him again.

"I whispered to him to calm him down," Steve said.

"What did you say to him?" I asked.

"Please don't die."

Terri Irwin has done a remarkable job capturing the charismatic and larger than life, force of nature spirit of her husband, Steve. His earnest passion for conservation and innate, almost supernatural connection with the wildlife he championed absolutely comes alive in this memoir.

Terri's account of their 14 years together is engaging, humble, and infused with a sweet warmth that shifts as easily into mirth (and cheekiness!) as it does into the quiet strength of a partner, wife, and mother co-helming the creation of one of the world's most significant conservation legacies.

The book itself is at its strongest describing the Irwins' time spent exploring the Australian bush together. That was Steve's element, the place he returned to regroup after tragedy, the place where his magical connection with and deep love for the land and its fauna was most alive. Terri captures that beautifully in anecdote after anecdote--some recognizable from filmed episodes of their show, some private--in a way that simultaneously feels loving and personal and yet always gets to the point of their joint mission together: taking that bush magic and applying it to the greater goal of education and conservation. Steve's gifted ability to demystify the dangerous and misunderstood and make it accessible to others was the vehicle through which we, the public, learned to love him. Terri, side by side with him at ground level, shows just what it took on very human level to make that possible.

To her credit, she doesn't shy away from addressing the Irwins' side of the controversy that plagued their family in Steve's final years. She also doesn't linger on it, keeping the focus always, as they did, on their family, the flood of positivity and love that rose up around them from the public to combat the media witch hunt, and their mutual decision to fight all the harder for wildlife in response.

Because that is their goal, first and foremost: conservation, education, and love. That current ran through their lives with Steve, through their lives now that he's gone, and Terri's purpose in sharing the more personal side of their story on this memoir.

I hope she knows how much the world and all its species appreciate them.

Crocs rule.

[Mary Ann C]

I never really was a Crocodile Hunter fan (mostly just squeamish from looking at how scary some of the animals were.) But after Steve Irwin died, I saw a Barbara Walters TV interview with his wife Terri. I was impressed with how well she carried herself, but also showed her emotions as well. So I picked up this book based purely on the fact I was impressed with Terri Irwin.
There are definitely some times where I felt the book had a fairy tale like quality to it but it was also really cool to get background on their lives and see how everything worked behind the scenes. Overall, it was an enjoyable read for me.

[Lorraine Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually give 4 1/2 stars, Terri, his wife and author, said she had over 900 pages of stories for this book and was thankful for the guy who helped her narrow it down to less than 300 pages....I think that guy should be kicked in the head. I could not get enough stories of this very real, unpretentious man and his love of wildlife and family. 5 full stars if she kept more stories in the book. Even in her grief there is SOOO much faith and hope, it really is a beautiful story.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steve Irwin was such a conservationist icon and I admired him so much that I experienced his death in 2006 as a kind of blow to the stomach, feeling a sense of loss out of all proportion for someone I never personally knew. I think it's because he took more positive action for wildlife in his short life than most of the other people I know put together. Reading Steve & Me, I guess wanted to feel like he was alive for a little longer by walking through his memories. Terri Irwin succeeds in providing some moving stories of the life that she and Steve built together and of the kind of man that he was. The problem I have with this text is that it feels very uneven and the language is clumsy in places. Maybe I'm assuming too much here, but I get the sense that the original manuscript must have been much, much longer and that some meaningful content and continuity got lost in the editing. (Steve's best friend Wes, for instance, with whom he worked before Steve and Terri even met, is only mentioned in the last couple of chapters.) I can understand how that might happen, given the huge amount of material that Irwin's life entailed. I just wish that I could have been the one to choose which stories to tell. That said, I had tears in my eyes when I reached the final chapters, including Terri's description of going home to their house for the first time without her beloved Steve. The world is indeed a sadder place without his immense enthusiasm for the animals he defended.

[Shazza Maddog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember the first time I saw Steve Irwin on TV. I was visiting my parents, prior to heading further north to Wisconsin. My mother decided to set me in the basement with the 100-year-old-plus loom to make rugs so I wouldn't be completely bored out of my mind. She also pointed out the TV. "You should watch Animal Planet," she said, "You'll like The Crocodile Hunter." It wasn't the first time I'd heard that title mentioned; two of my best friends had told me about this guy named Steve who wrestled crocs. I watched an episode.

I was hooked.

I was severely disappointed to find out he was married.

Yeah, I was hooked.

Reading Terri Irwin's book, it's easy to see why she was hooked, too. Steve's sheer exuberance comes through on nearly every page. Even at the distance of reading it through her eyes, Steve comes across as almost a power of nature, a force to be reckoned with. While many of the little stories that Terri tells are ones that fans of Steve have heard many times, there are some that are not so well-known. Stories about them going to bush, tracking down crocs without camera crews. Running after feral pigs. Bathing with a decomposing cow. Bindhi's first croc capture.

With the joys also come the sorrows; Steve's premonitions that he wasn't going to live past forty; his realization that his mother had died long before the news came; the loss of so many of their precious animals as well as Steve himself.

As a memoir, it's only a small taste of what life with the Irwins was like. It still makes a very good read for fans.

[William Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's a book that brought tears of sorrow and joy. Terri's Irwin's description of Steve and the blooming of their love was beautiful. While this is no literary masterpiece, it is a simply written memoir that gets right to the heart of who Steve Irwin was and what his legacy will be for decades to come.

[Shelby Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all better hope I don’t see a stingray in Australia……..
The best family ever and this book was so sweet. My constant urge to state animal facts stemmed from this family and this book was perfect for this urge.

[Meg Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a family 😭

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has completely salvaged my faith in romance, so much more so than the so-called 'romantic' novels I've read recently. I think the problem has not been a lack of belief in love but rather in the heroes I've encountered. Not so with Steve Irwin.



He was one of the most watchable people on television. Quite aside from his obvious physical advantages (yum!), his passion and enthusiasm leapt from the screen. And his widow does a great job of translating this to the page, as well as their mutual adoration, trust and respect.



Although when you're reading it, you are of course gearing up to the tragedy at the end, the sadness permeates the whole book and you know it's not just for dramatic effect. This family did face the grim reality of death every single day. But look at what they've achieved as a result.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, man, I was totally in tears finishing it this morning. Terri Irwin's story of her life with Steve and their conservation work is well told and very compelling, and, just as Steve always tried to do, she does an excellent job of keeping a lot of the focus on the animals they worked with. Steve's love for wildlife shines though on every page. I liked seeing their son Robert, now six, in the news this week for following in his father's footsteps. I will definitely be visiting Australia Zoo whenever I finally make it over to Australia, and look forward to seeing the results of the conservation work that the Irwin family has been engaged in first hand.

[Halley Hopson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve Irwin was my actual childhood hero. While most kids grew up watching cartoons and kid tv shows, I spent my entire childhood from preschool to high school with animal planet on 24/7, The Crocodile Hunter being my favorite show. I have never been so devastated by a 'celebrity' death as I was by the loss of Steve and I couldn't be more proud of all that Bindi and Robert and Terri have accomplished since that tragic day.

I somehow had missed the fact that Terri had written a book about how she and Steve met and their whirlwind courtship and marriage and life together. This books brought me so much joy and I flat out cried so many times reliving episodes of The Crocodile Hunter that I still vividly remember as Terri recounted them in this book. The Australia Zoo and the Irwin family will always hold an incredibly special place in my heart. I hope to someday be able to travel to the other side of the world to experience, in person, the legacy Steve left through both his zoo and the Steve Irwin Wildlife reserve that was named in his memory.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would be on my keeper shelf if I had purchased it instead of borrowing from the library. I don't know if Terri Irwin wrote this book as a way to work through her grief over Steve's death, or as a tribute to him, or for a way to tell their love story. Whatever her reasons, this book is a touching, exciting, emotional account of her life with Steve. The stories she tells about him and their adventures are amazing and (almost) unbelievable, and the respect and love she had for him are so evident in every word she wrote. I feel like I got to know her and she gave us a glimpse into her larger than life husband. I loved this book. It took me about an hour to read the last chapter because I kept having to walk away to stop crying. I commend her for her strength, honesty and integrity, and am deeply saddened for her that her soul mate was taken from her so young.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this book wasn't quite a 4 stars for me...more like a 3.75, but I rounded up because it deserved it. The book wasn't flawless, or perfectly written, but I found myself swept up in the story nonetheless. While I might not be the biggest Crocodile Hunter fan or much of a wildlife enthusiast, I really learned to love and appreciate the man behind the hype. If I could sum him up in one word it would be passionate. Steve Irwin exuded passion: about life, his family, and especially wildlife. I also enjoyed reading about the love story between he and his wife...it was so real. The joy, the heartache...you could feel how much Terri loved Steve. It was a much better book than I expected and I'm glad I read it.

[REB · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would never had read this in a million years, but its a book club book.

And I was pleasantly surprised.

I don't think it was terribly well written, sometimes the stories were a bit flat, but it was easy to read and shed new light onto the excentric character I've seen on TV loads of times.

Before reading the book, I saw Steve Irwin as a quirky showman, but it was interesting to read about his passion for wildlife.

This book is EXACTLY why I like bookclubs - I would never had read it out of choice, but I enjoyed the story and learned a lot.

[Nicole Cipri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! To be honest I was never really a huge fan of Steve or interested in reading this book. My mum purchased it for me whilst visiting Australia Zoo. OMG. this book had me from the very first few pages. I never knew how much Steve had done for the wildlife and how much of a truly humble and caring person he was. He was definitely put on this earth for a reason. Remarkable book. Captured the life of Steve and his family at its best. I believe he has gained another fan. 10/10

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always have loved Steve Irwin and his show, Crocodile Hunter. I really appreciate how his wife writes about their lives, she instills the essence of who he was in this book. He died too soon, he definitely will be missed.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing isn't to die for, but it really gave me an appreciation for Steve Irwin. I found out he wasn't just a big ham for TV but rather a person who was really dedicated to preserving wildlife.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book written by Terri Irwin which details the life she and Steve had together and all their wildlife conservation adventures. I've highlighted some of my favourite quotes from the book on my kindle and shared them here.

[Jon Chef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly moving, but also emotionally devastating. Not ashamed to admit I had a good cry while reading this😂 Steve Irwin was a real one. RIP

[Emileigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new hero 😭 Steve’s passion for life and all things living is so inspiring.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wonderful, true, story of a long time hero, Steve Irwin, written by his wife. It tells of their quest to rescue animals, to protect them, even though they were dangerous. It tells of their struggles and their triumphs, and assures that the work will continue! A truly wonderful biographay!

[Olivia Hamlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bawled my eyes out the last 20 minutes of the book
I grew up watching the Crocodile Hunter and so much of my love for animals came from Steve Irwin. This book reignited that flame.

[Lata · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say I am much fond of reptiles- particularly, crocodiles freak me out. I start shivering if I see even a small house lizard.
Animal Planet used to keep playing Steve Irwin's 'Crocodile Hunter' in a loop, that it was hard to miss. That's how I have ended up watching a few episodes of this program and have been in awe of this man who (seemingly) effortlessly rescued so many crocodiles with his bare hands. His death was so sudden and ironical when he was killed by a stingray barb. (The reported deaths by stingray attacks till date is in double digits while over 1000 people are killed by crocodiles every year). Even the casual viewers like me were shaken by this event.

This biography by his wife, Terri, gives very good insights into the Steve Irwin's life, and his remarkable efforts in wildlife conservation. Terri was also an animal activist in her own right even before she met Steve. Her accounts of the rescue of the cougar, Malina was hair raising. Her meeting with Steve was serendipitous and I can't think of any other couple who is better-matched. Who else would agree to go crocodile-hunting on her honeymoon !
Some of the things he did almost felt supernatural - like predicting the exact time when a venomous snake would appear, the location to find a crocodile or sitting very close to a nursing orangutan.

Terri mentions some of the controversies where Steve dangled meat at a crocodile while holding his 1 month old baby son in the other hand. This did seem like a dangerous stunt. Terri clarifies how this was a very natural thing for Steve and he was very much in control as he always was.

There is no mention of Steve's father, Bob, after his mother, Lynn's death, not even after Steve's death. From the internet searches it seemed that Bob did not approve of the way Terri ran the zoo.

Terri talks at length about their efforts to have a baby boy, like following a ' Baby boy diet'. I sincerely hope that some people in my country (where the gender-ratio is already skewed) don't get ideas and try these things.
(Prenatal sex determination was banned in India in 1994 as this was seen as the cause for female feoticide)

Though this book doesn't inspire me to jump into a crocodile enclosure and hug it, I appreciate Steve Irwin's hard work and perseverance in conserving wildlife and teaching important lessons on ecological balance. It is heartening to know that Bindi Irwin is continuing her father's legacy.