The World According to Kaleb: Worldly wisdom from the breakout star of Clarkson’s Farm

by Kaleb Cooper

The star of Clarkson's Farm shares his worldly wisdom on life's big issues, from the difference between straw and hay to the importance of having a hair perm.

Chipping Norton's Kaleb Cooper has strong views on lots of sheep ('suicidal morons'), Jeremy Clarkson ('there are two types of farming, unless you count whatever it is Jeremy thinks he's doing'), goats ('they're a proper good clear-up animal, they eat everything - no wonder they taste horrible'), New York ('if it's like London, where there are no tractors, that's no good').

In his true, deadpan, and down-to-earth style, the beloved celebrity farmer shares his unique observations on topics such as philosophy, celebrities and why farming is the best job in the world. And, he even tells us why the chicken crossed the road.

Utterly hilarious, this is Kaleb as you've got to know and love him on the hugely successful television series.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Autobiography, Biography, Humor, Comedy, Memoir

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2022

Reviews

[Ian Rhodes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Utterly rubbish. I liked Kaleb on Clarksons farm and he seems a decent hard working bloke. However, writing is not his forte, if he farmed like he writes his crops wouldn't grow and all the animals would be dead. Avoid, its like he's trying to be Karl Pilkinton without the natural grumpy humour. The book is half pictures too and even they don't detract from the nonsense it is. Best saved for relatives you don't like. Wait, I was bought it as a present.....🙄

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what it says on the cover. A view of the world from Kaleb Cooper unsung hero of Clarkson farm. Enjoyable if you liked him on the show.

[Guy Strangways · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an enjoyable read but didn’t find it as funny as all of the clarkson farming books and personally would have found it more enjoyable if there sections related to the farm as well as personal things about Kaleb.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing read in places, however it is a bit contrived.

[Siobhan Mackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kaleb Cooper, the breakout star from ‘Clarkson’s Farm’ (aka the one who did the actual farming) discusses all angles of life, from cities to sports; celebrities to parties. Part informative book about farming, part love letter to farming, part humorous memoir… about farming! This book is an enjoyable romp through the countryside, as seen through the eyes of a country boy, laying bare all the good and bad moments of life. This book is guaranteed to teach you something, whether big or small, and make you laugh along the way.

Kaleb really does just seem like a sweet guy! His hatred of sheep speaks to me on a molecular level- if you’ve ever farmed sheep I’m sure you’ll agree it’s like he’s looking into your soul and reading out what’s written there. Because of the mix of pictures alongside the short anecdotes, it’s a book you can end up flying through- and even as someone who literally lives on a farm, I found myself learning things! (Although, granted, most of the stuff I learnt was about random famous people). Farming is a lifestyle. One that I’m cursing as my cousin wakes me up at 5:30 on a Sunday morning as he drives the telehandler past my door on the way to knock the house next door down. And yet, with the simplest words, Kaleb shows the beauty of what can be a hard and punishing occupation.
I will leave you with my favourite quote from the book: ‘You give a sheep a choice between life and death, and it’ll look at one, and then at the other, and then it’ll run towards death every time. Every day, their main objective is to die.’
3.5 ⭐️

[Emily Pankhurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 4.5

The writing was light and entertaining. I haven't read much non fiction, but if some of it was more like this then I would read more of it.

There were lots of pictures with amusing captions on them and bold colours throughout the book. It was fun to read and I got through it fairly quickly.

There was some structure to it, with the book being split up into different themed chapters, but the chapters themselves were pretty random. There didn't seem to be any sort of flow between the chapters, it just seemed to be random topics and the author gave his thoughts on them. Despite this odd flow and randomness, it didn't affect the pace of the book and I got through it with ease.

There was only one "character" and that was the author. It was as the title said. One person's views on the world and the people in it. It was very entertaining and you didn't need anyone else involved.

Lastly the settings. As it was based on a farmer's point of view on worldly matters, there was no specific setting. There were however pictures of people, places and farming equipment throughout, so you got to learn a bit about farming and the farmer's themselves.

Overall a light, enjoyable read.

[Vanya Prodanova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ясно е защо тази книга въобще съществува, защото Kaleb стана известен и всеки дори малко известен човек трябва да има книга. :)

Книгата не претендира да е нещо повече от леко, приятно четиво за отмора. Мъничка е, с много снимки. Чете се за отрицателно време и е забавна. Идеална е ако човек просто иска да се изключи от света. И даже се намираха моменти на сериозно надъхване и вдъхновение, така че от всичко по-малко си имаше.

И напълно сериозно, след "Megathreats" имах нужда от нещо, което да е пълната противоположност и това определено беше идеалното лекарство. Та, ако някой има нужда просто да блокира за малко света и да изтрие малко черни картини от главата си, книжката е идеална.

[Ray O'Hare · Rating 3 out of 5]

A must for the TV farm followers but it is what it is - well done Kaleb

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited when I saw this for sale! I loved Kaleb when he appeared on Jeremy Clarkson's Farm and was so gutted when it finished. The show had me crying with laughter and Kaleb's book was no different. Such a genuine and funny guy but also so inspirational. I truly have no idea how they do it. I love farming, but as in 'watching it from my sofa under a blanket', so hearing about how hard he's worked and what he's acheived already is astonishing. Highly recommend this book. So heartwarming and funny!

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although he adds a great element to the series Clarkson’s Farm - he shouldn’t have dabbled into a memoir. Read via audio 🎧 and his narration is entertaining - but it’s pointless musings and you just feel like he was keen to earn extra casgh off the sucess of Jeremy Clarkson’s show. Author, he ain’t.

[Peter Megyeri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a kid's picture book or a sum of some blog posts, not a real non-fiction book in it's most strict sense. But it's not a problem, because the format suits Kaleb and his humour perfectly. I was a bit annoyed about the text/picture balance at first, but very quickly accepted the format. It was a very easy read and I will probably buy the next one too.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

Really easy light-hearted read that I couldn't help reading in Kaleb's farmer accent. Lots of fun sections on the world with Kaleb's interpretation of them all... and, of course, bringing it back to farming. No incredible literature, but it's still a fun read.

[Emma Minazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew starting this, I would love it! I love Kaleb's straight talking, his innocence with the world outside Chipping Norton and he shouldn't change at all!

This is insightful into his experiences from different parts of his life, mainly revolving around tractors but nothing wrong with that! I admire him for being honest in this book, wanting to encourage your children to become farmers when they grow up and to make them consider the animals and the hard work a farm takes.

I'm glad this didn't really mention Clarkson's farm, although Kaleb's fame came from it, he's known around the village anyway but now his wisdom is further afield. He sounds like such a nice guy, down to earth and doesn't mind getting stuck in, although, it's all he's known so he's the expert in it.

[Alex Cotterill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly annoyed with this book. I bought it because it was primarily centred around agri/ business and also had comedy; also he was brill in Clarkson’s Farm. When buying, I thought it would be a proper autobiography or an account like Jezza’s 2 Diddly Squat books. However, it is just short paragraphs with many pictures and small captions. I mean it’s funny, but repetitive. Fav sections being cities; parties and celebrities 😂. YFC parties are proper hardcore

[MKF]

DNF.
I love Jeremy Clarkson's farm in both tv and book form but that's because I am a huge Clarkson fan. I couldn't believe that someone gave Kaleb his own show and books because I knew they'd suck. Since they're mentioned in season 4 I decided to finally try the book first to prove I was right. Kaleb shouldn't write because it makes him sound like he's an ignorant, idiot and that he's actually proud of it. He should definitely stick to farming because at least he's pretty smart in that area.

[Izzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars really. A very quick read (there were lots of pictures!). Quite funny, and an interesting insight into farming although not much personal to Kaleb, which was a downfall I think.

[Graham Brownett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kaleb Cooper has made a name for himself on the Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm and he is understandably cashing in where he can. This book is well designed and well produced hence the two stars, but I have to take issue with the blurb on the back cover that says it is ‘hilarious’, I will go as far as ‘slightly amusing in places’.

It is difficult to tell how much input Cooper had regarding its content but as a 23 year old author, he is a very good farmer.

[ashley colley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Kaleb but not what I was expecting or hoping for

I have to say I enjoyed the tongue and cheek of this book and quite quickly read the first 3 chapters with no issues but it became quite apparent at the “hair” chapter this is all this book was. Kaleb giving his opinions on elements of life in a Kaleb way, for him and because of him I enjoyed it but the concept not so much. Small parts included his background or knowledge but instead different hairstyles and philosophers - not for me.

I had high hopes for this book as from what I’ve seen he’s very down to earth and funny (which elements to this book were and his personality shines through) but the concept and main elements of this book were not for me. It had more of a podcast feel and I’d be there for it but as I book I don’t felt it worked. If Kaleb did a podcast of him sitting in his tractor just talking I’d listen to it but this was a boring read.

I soon found myself skipping through paragraphs, then pages and then chapters. Ultimately I paid 99p for this on kindle and I’m rather glad I didn’t spend anymore as it would have been a waste in its entirety.

Sorry Kaleb.

[Sander · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found The World According to Kaleb to be a fun, light read and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Clarkson's Farm on Amazon Prime, as well as to farmers and people who enjoy reading about unique perspectives on the world. After seeing Kaleb on Clarkson's Farm, I was curious to see what he'd write about, and his book doesn’t disappoint—it's exactly what you’d expect from him!

Kaleb’s strong opinions and down-to-earth humor are as present here as they are on the show. From his distaste for city life to his surprising dedication to his hair (maybe a bit too much for a "typical" farmer), he’s a unique character who brings a refreshing view to farming life. Kaleb’s passion for farming and his self-made achievements shine through in every chapter, and it’s clear why he's an inspiration for young farmers. I'm glad Clarkson's show has given him a platform to reach a wider audience; he seems like a genuinely nice guy, and I hope his story reaches even more people. If not, I hope he grows old and happy doing what he loves: farming.

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am honestly not sure what the point of this book was. Other than to make money.

Like most fans of Clarkson's Farm, I utterly adored Kaleb but this book was... well, it was exactly what you'd expect of a sheltered young man who's never left the village he's grown up in or experienced any kind of life outside of his circle.

There were a couple of points that were really interesting, and the bits of the book where he was talking about farming, the tone totally changed and you could feel his love. But as an overall reading experience, it fell flat

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was bought for me as I'm a fan of the TV show, Clarkson's Farm, in which sidekick farmhand Kaleb Cooper is portrayed as a clueless idiot who knows nothing about anything other than farming. The book (which is evidently ghost-written) plays endlessly on this portrayal, delivering Kaleb's views on a riveting range of topics from philosophy to celebrities to haircuts. I'm sorry to say it is nothing more than a cheap cash-in that became a chore to finish. Not recommended.

[Hannah Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very funny look into the mind of Kaleb. He’s definitely has some great logic to things and his continuous hate for sheep does make me chuckle each time. Very good light hearted book! He also writes the way we see him talk on TV. Which is brilliant. No trying to be someone he’s not. Overall loved it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty much what I expected when I brought the book. It was a fun lighthearted read that I easily read before bed. I didn't have to concentrate too much which always helps me to sleep better. I enjoyed his stories but of course it was a bit random in places and very Kaleb! Still love him and think he's a great inspiration to farming and agriculture.

[Michael Arnold · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know why I read this.

As a fellow country boy who knows the difference between hay and straw, this was funny, especially when talking about sheep. But there's an air of Karl Pilkington about this, and Kaleb is not really like that. Nothing against the guy himself, I just don't know why this book exists really. But I can't say a bad word about the guy himself.

[Nina .c · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely has to be the audiobook version, so much better to hear the man himself reading it. So funny .

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMFG!!!! Love this book so much. Can relate to alot of the things he talks about. Such a funny book is an understatement. This had me laughing tears. If you haven't read, what are you doing

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall an ok quick read. You can tell he's never written a book before and it's style is very similar to Jeremy Clarksons the world according to series. But Kaleb's is more uneducated guessing to Jeremy's knowledge. He does go on a lot about his love of tractors. I wouldn't say it was laugh out loud stuff, but it wasn't too bad a read. I'd be more interested in hearing his story about farming than this though.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

About what you'd expect from a 23 year old who rarely leaves the confines of Chipping Norton. Can spot the difference when he actually talks about farming as the word count increases, versus something he's looked up to bulk out a chapter.
Half the brief page count is pictures with accompanying amusing captions, felt like they had a challenge bulking it out to get past 200 pages.
Worth the 99p I paid for it in Kindle Daily Deal, glad I didn't waste money on the hardback.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was skeptical when Kaleb Cooper announced a stand-up tour, but judging by this book, he has great comedic chops. Although it's true that it contains a surprising number of pictures, Kaleb's insight into everything from celebrity culture to travel is highly entertaining. If you want a light read where you can just sit back, unwind, and not think too hard about what you are reading, then this is the book for you.

[Jess Stopps · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this and Kalebs other book as I was a fan of his from Clarkson's Farm but I was quite disappointed by the book, to a point where I couldn't even finish it. I was thinking it might be along the lines of the Diddly Squat books but it was just small paragraphs captioning some pictures. Some parts were funny but it was a really difficult read and I couldn't concentrate on it or take it in. I can't bring myself to read his second book which is a shame.