Burn: A Story of Fire, Woods and Healing

by Ben Short

I came to the woods over a decade ago. I came to the woods because there was a fire in my head.

On the outside, Ben Short looks like he has it all - a successful career in advertising, a flat in a trendy area of London, an expensive motorbike ... But inside, he's a wreck. Years of suffering with an anxiety disorder and depression have broken him, and his 'creative' career has become sterile and suffocating. A drastic change is needed.

Like his neighbour's rescue hawk, he acts on instinct and escapes the city. For a time, he takes on odd jobs - gardening, hedge-laying and labouring in the Cambridgeshire Fens and in the Devon countryside, trying to find somewhere he belongs. That is until he feels the call of the furnace: a glowing charcoal kiln in the West Dorset woods, where he can re-forge his thoughts, put the years of suffering behind him and start afresh by immersing himself in the ancient ways of woods and fire. He lives in huts and old wagons in the woods, hauling water from wells and foraging for his supper. But this is no idyll - the road is hard, the work back-breaking, the woods dark and brimming with powerful energies.

Exquisitely written and laced with folklore and the history of burning, the right way to lay a hedge and the age-old wisdom of the woods, Burn is a hopeful story of transformation, a celebration of manual work and craft, and a love letter to the English landscape.

Genres: Nature, Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography

256 pages, Hardcover

Published April 28, 2022

Reviews

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben’s story resonates with me on a visceral level. Our disconnect with nature is making us sick. Suffering from crippling anxiety he takes the terrifying and brave decision to leave his life and job in London to pursue a more down to earth existence. This transition is neither easy, nor idyllic, but over time, and with input from some key supporters he eventually settles on a simpler life in the woods, burning charcoal part of the year, and acting as woodsman and forest observer at other times. His descriptions of this were pure poetry to me and his reclaiming of his instinctual senses, particularly moving. I loved every syllable and joyfully absorbed his gradual return to his real sense of self and happiness in the most elemental of ways.

[Louise Jutson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I do not usually write reviews as I get worried I haven’t written the right thing 🤣 however this is the first one I want to start with.

Ben has written a book that calls to so many of us, if not all of us with the overwhelm of contemporary society and the toll it can take on our mental health.

A book of deep truth, sadness, grief, joy, friendship and connection to nature and self.

Thank you Ben for sharing your journey with the world.

[Robin Hargreaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very fine book. It’s evocation of life lived immersed in the woodland traditions of southern England reads like a modern Laurie Lee. Deserves to be as successful as “English pastoral”
The journey from mental health crisis and a metropolitan London professional life to off grid woodsman is both fascinating and emotionally engaging.
Thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Chris Quiney · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and honest account of a life transformed through a brave decision to give up the humdrum and comfort of urban city life to pursue a hard but fulfilling life as a woodsman. Something I'm sure many fantasise of doing, but few actually do.

I felt he gave a transparent and open account of what it was like. It wasn't easy and in fact he faced some extremely difficult days especially during winter months. Also not easy going from being financially comfortable in his London advertising job to living from the outputs of the woods. Clearly a sacrifice that gave a tranquility of mind and clarity of purpose that I found a fascinating concept.

I found he painted a vivid and visceral picture of what it was like to be exposed to the elements and the risks of his occupation. The characters that he encountered along the way brought this to life, each with their own story within a story.

A book that is food for thought for anyone that has ever daydreamed about a more simple life.

[Patrick Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well written book, which I suppose you'd expect from an ex-ad man? However what Ben is ultimately describing is, as Iain McGilchrist notes, ‘Capitalism and consumerism, ways of conceiving human relationships based on little more than utility, greed, and competition, came to supplant those based on felt connection and cultural continuity.’

Many of us can resist the pressures of an increasingly capitalist world however rising mental ill-health may indicate that despite material "satisfaction" many of us lack the the natural connections to the world and those around us. Small truly is beautiful and leads to greater health. Ben doesn't present his decisions as a panacea for everyone, we all have different needs and living in the woods isn't physically or mentally easy but different and what suits him. Ultimately life isn't a zero sum game and it's time we learnt that. Capitalism relies on us believing that buying things and experiences will make us happy, when perhaps it's connection to others and meaningful (to the individual) work that leads us to that?

[Emma Goldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable book, telling the story of stress and burn-out in advertising being abandoned for a life in the countryside, learning to live in the open, basic but healing. Ben Short learned to restore hedges, cut trees, coppice, and run a charcoal kiln. In the process, he gained a dog, learned to be alone, how to make do and mend, and how important meditation was in controlling anxiety and mental overload. Plus a bit of bell ringing, impromptu first aid, and why the first thing to do is light the fire.

[Hannah Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much to savour in this book from the precision of the prose to the celebration of the fringes. Land needs space just as humans do. I loved this book but gave four stars for the uncomfortable scene in the pub and the physical description of the one female member of the bellringing group. I desperately wanted Ben to intervene on her behalf but maybe his mental health wasn't good enough at that time to allow.

[Michelle Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisitely beautiful prose. My copy is filled with underlined sentences, highlighted passages, and dog-eared pages. Mr. Short’s story is fascinating and hope-filled as it relates to the healing balm of the woods. The memoir is a companionable melancholy as he weaves a nuanced story of beauty inside brokenness. His writing often reminded me of Cormac McCarthy and I’m grateful for the experience.

“Nature had blessed me and showed me a stillness which was the crux of staying well.”

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed listening to this book with it’s description of woods and life in rural Dorset and the history of coppicing and charcoal burning. I appreciated the honesty and vulnerability with which this story was told and enjoyed the writing style and attention that was obviously paid to how the prose was laid down.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t want it to end so I’ve been taking it slowly, dipping in and out over the weeks. Towards the end Ben describes himself as a fledgling writer … well he's the best fledgling writer I’ve ever read, his prose is exquisite. I have a short shelf on which the few books that truly speak to or heal my heart reside, this book is now among them.

[Dean Dickinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little to do with charcoal, more bell ringing and felling. Was interesting none the less

[Charlotte Wild · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quiet book that unravels & exposes the true beauty of finding your path can be. The added benefit of making me pine for home, back to the Shire.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

what an absolutely beautiful book!
so well written, i felt like I was there every step along Ben's journey experiencing it by his side.
a truly lovely and inspiring story, that nature can heal all.

[Mark R · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book about what is essential

…for mental health. It is one individuals story and applies to me and likely most. There is a connection with nature and people we all need to be fulfilled and at peace.

[Finley Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite book of all time. Loved.

[Paul Forrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating story, especially for those who share a love of the outdoors.

One star was withheld because of the narration. I wish authors wouldn't assume they're also narrators and just pay someone to do it properly. No matter how much emphasis and intonation an amateur thinks they're using, it will arrive in a more monotone fashion than they'd imagine.

[Doug Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, really enjoyed it