The Wisdom of Sheep

Observations from a Family Farm

By: Rosamund Young

Narrated by: Rosamund Young

“Elegiac, funny, warm and wise, The Wisdom of Sheep will delight country folk and city dwellers alike.” —Katherine May

A touching, wise and surprising chronicle of the rich inner lives of animals, drawn from Rosamund Young’s extraordinary lifetime as an organic farmer

We talk a lot about sheep: following the herd, counting sheep to fall asleep and looking out for wolves in sheep’s clothing. But, just like people, animals don’t always follow the pack. Some are affectionate while others butt heads; some follow the leader while some guide the whole flock home. With startling beauty and tenderness, Rosamund Young reveals the remarkable emotional and intellectual complexity of the animals she lives with on her family farm, and the story of her life’s work, with the intimacy of a personal diary.

Just as she did in her acclaimed book, The Secret Life of Cows, Young transports listeners to the wild meadows of Kite’s Nest Farm, where she has worked as an organic farmer for over forty years, at the beck and call of the abundant wildlife, living in direct contact with the consciousnesses of her beloved animals. Through tender portraits of her sometimes eventful but always rewarding days at Kite’s Nest, Young recounts a multitude of discoveries, such as how cows converse with one another, why sheep are so strongheaded—and why you should never, ever text whilst milking. That’s a lesson you need learn only once.

This is a story of joy, discovery, cooperation and, sometimes, heartbreak. But through it all, The Wisdom of Sheep is a fresh and delightful tribute to the miraculous inner worlds of the animals all around us and what we can learn about them, and about ourselves, by watching them more closely.

©2024 Rosamund Young (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Elegiac, funny, warm and wise, The Wisdom of Sheep will delight country folk and city dwellers alike.” —Katherine May, author of Enchantment

“Rosamund Young has been shovelling muck since she was a child, always carries a penknife and can be found delivering hay in the “stolen hours after midnight” . . . The joy of Young’s writing is in her observations . . . The Wisdom of Sheep is a pastoral. It is a testament to the power of slow observation, and that’s a lesson for us all.” —Helen Davies, Sunday Times

“Made up of short chapters on aspects of farm life, from the sheep and cows to the abundant wildlife, this is a delightful book. . . One thing is certain: after reading this book, you will look at sheep in a different way.” —Daily Mail

Loved this book

Great reader. Lovely personal story about the author and her cows and sheep on a farm.