The Secret Life of Cows

By: Rosamund Young

Narrated by: Rosamund Young

"Within a day of receiving this book, I had consumed it.... Absorbing, moving, and compulsively readable." (Lydia Davis)

In this affectionate, heart-warming chronicle, Rosamund Young distills a lifetime of organic farming wisdom, describing the surprising personalities of her cows and other animals

At her famous Kite's Nest Farm in Worcestershire, England, the cows (as well as sheep, hens, and pigs) all roam free. They make their own choices about rearing, grazing, and housing. Left to be themselves, the cows exhibit temperaments and interests as diverse as our own. "Fat Hat" prefers men to women; "Chippy Minton" refuses to sleep with muddy legs and always reports to the barn for grooming before bed; "Jake" has a thing for sniffing the carbon monoxide fumes of the Land Rover exhaust pipe; and "Gemima" greets all humans with an angry shake of the head and is fiercely independent.

An organic farmer for decades, Young has an unaffected and homely voice. Her prose brims with genuine devotion to the wellbeing of animals. Most of us never apprehend the various inner lives animals possess, least of all those that we might eat. But Young has spent countless hours observing how these creatures love, play games, and form life-long friendships. She imparts hard-won wisdom about the both moral and real-world benefits of organic farming. (If preserving the dignity of animals isn't a good enough reason for you, consider how badly factory farming stunts the growth of animals, producing unhealthy and tasteless food.)

This audiobook, which includes an original introduction by the legendary British playwright Alan Bennett, is the summation of a life's work, and a delightful and moving tribute to the deep richness of animal sentience.

©2018 Rosamund Young (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Clever… [Young] affectionately details veterinary crises, inter-bovine bonds, and the quirks of Ditch-Hog, Charolais Charlotte, and other residents of her family’s farm, in Worcestershire. She makes a passionate case against high-yield farming and in favor of a personalized approach.” (The New Yorker)

“This little book is a charmer.” (People Magazine)

“Rosamund Young’s The Secret Life of Cows deserves its sudden reputation as a first-hand account of unutterable charm… Young describes her own work as simply a string of anecdotes and observations grouped around certain themes (example: ‘Bovine friendships are seldom casual’), but the musings reveal things far more profound… The extraordinary sensitivity she exhibits towards their idiosyncrasies puts our understanding of the minds of cattle onto a completely different plane - an anecdotal accompaniment to the scientific work that scientists like Temple Grandin have already done… Young’s personal approach gets the message across gently, but no less urgently. Spending a few hours in their company…will certainly teach you a loving lesson about animal dignity, and the value of kindness.” (Vogue.com)

Animal People Know

Delightful stories about the quirky personalities antics and adventures of these cows. I work with horses who are quite similar. Gonna have to have a salad for dinner.

The Real World

As a degreed former farm and ranch manager from Texas, my contemporaries were more concerned with cowboying and shambling along than in understanding both their role and that of the land and creatures we were raising. This book puts a sharp definition without feeling in your face, describing in a plain and entertaining way how animals really are, including the human variety.

Amazingly observations!

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. Having personal experience with livestock added to the listening pleasure. Animals raised in environments suited suited to their natures are truly happy and healthy creatures.
Thank you for sharing this book.

Enjoyed these observations and stories very much

I have horses, goats, chickens and have raised pigs - and of course, have dogs and cats. No experience at all with cows, or sheep (there's a bit about sheep in this book too.) Many animal-lovers enjoy observing how they interact with each other and with us humans. So, these stories and observations were naturally enjoyable to me. The depth of observations and making of connections, the noticing of patterns, is what made this book an extra special experience.

The author's own narration of her stories and essays is perfect.

I have, and will, recommend this audio book to people who have an interest in animals, but especially to those interested in animal intelligence.

Thank you, Rosamund!

What delightful insight into the thoughts, emotions, personalities and preferences of cows, sheep, pigs and chickens! So enlightening and enjoyable to listen to.

Interesting Perspective

I like the author’s recount of her personal experiences of her life as a farmer and gives some overview of how to better treat most living creatures in general. Though if you’re looking for more a charts and graphs account of what is mentioned, this book doesn’t have much of it. With only a few references to the idea she mentions.

A short and thoroughly enjoyable listen

Written and read by a woman with decades of experience letting the family's livestock live on their own terms, backed by observation of their personalities and habits. I loved her stories, loved her animals, and loved the naming schemes for the offspring. I suspect that many family farmers have similar stories and perhaps are envious of the acreage at Kite's Nest Farm. I've just recently gotten pigs for the first time of a gentle and friendly breed that mainly graze in pasture and am having a wonderful time getting to know them, so I was delighted to find "20 things you ought to know about pigs" as one of her lists at the end.

A similar book is Jon Katz's Soul of a Dog, which has stories not only about his dogs but also some of his other memorable farm animals, such as Elvis the steer who loved Snickers bars.

Awesome insight and adventure

This book was great to listen to. I could just imagine what the cows and other animals look like on the farm. You can understand them and enjoy their lives and it encouraged me to continue to always do what’s right for my animals even if others think it’s excess

a honest review about a beautiful story

a beauty story that has touched my heart and the heart of everyone I sent this book to. really changes the way you view animal and the factory farming industry...
ill be honest I didn't think this story would effect me or how eat at all but when I tell you I was at the supermarket with tears in my eyes thinking about the life cut up and packaged before me I couldn't do it. I couldn't buy it, I couldn't eat it and I don't know if I these feelings are right or wrong or if they'll ever go away.

Beautifully done

Such a heartfelt recount of Ms. Young’s treasured interactions with the animals on their family farm. I do not think this is a book that ALL people would appreciate due to its sensitive nature and ability to capture the essence of mutual respect for living creatures. Those that do appreciate this aspect will relish in the tales told and the anecdotes noted. I will listen to this again. I was able to imagine the stories unfolding as they were told.