The World of Poo

Discworld, Book 39.5

By: Terry Pratchett

Narrated by: Helen Atkinson-Wood

From Snuff:

Vimes looked at the cover. The title was The World of Poo. When his wife was out of eyeshot he carefully leafed through it. Well, okay, you had to accept that the world had moved on and these days’ fairy stories were probably not going to be about twinkly little things with wings. As he turned page after page, it dawned on him that whomever had written this book, they certainly knew what would make kids like Young Sam laugh until they were nearly sick. The bit about sailing down the river almost made him smile. But interspersed with the scatology was actually quite interesting stuff about septic tanks and dunnakin divers and gongfermors and how dog muck helped make the very best leather, and other things that you never thought you would need to know, but once heard somehow lodged in your mind.

Helen Atkinson-Wood is an actress and presenter. She is probably best known as Mrs. Miggins in Blackadder the Third. She has been twice nominated by The British Comedy Awards - Best Female Performer - for BBC's Radio Active and KYTV. She starred in Ben Elton's West End play Silly Cow and guests on QI and Have I Got News for You. Helen enjoys poo picking in Suffolk, where she has a horse and a home.

©2012 Terry and Lyn Pratchett and the Discworld Emporium (P)2012 Random House Audiobooks

A Necessary Discworld Compendium

The World of Poo is a necessary guidebook for any hopeful tourist to the Discworld. We follow young Jeffry as he travels to the bustling city of Ankh Morpork for the first time. Along the way, Jeffry discovers the amazing world of Poo in all it's many forms. We examine the poo of some of the Disc's most fascinating animals, from the elephants of Hawandaland to the Gargoyles of the great city. We even journey into Harry King's personal poo empire.


The World of Poo is a creative piece of "children's literature" and draws upon many of the characters and places we are familiar with from other Discworld novels. Pratchett captures the viewpoint of a six-year-old boy who has a curiosity for poop... as do all little boys. Especially interesting is his description of the changing digestive system of the Ankh Morporkian gargoyles.

One cannot help but wonder... what kind of poop does great Atuan produce?

Disc poo

Excellent addition to Discworld series!!
Side story from Commander Vines' family & documented adventures and characters!
Wonderful insight to mind of young people.

Excellent children's book for adults

A rarity in that this is a book from within the Discworld series that is actually in the Discworld series.
it is one that I am going to be sure to share with my grandkids who I am sure we'll find it as fun and entertaining as I did.

Light hearted and informative

Good for fans everything Discworld and also for buddying scientists who what to explore all things in nature.

Absolutely Charming

What did you love best about The World of Poo?

Although it's probably more intended as a children's book, it still has all of Terry Pratchett's wit and appeal for adults. I may have snickered to myself throughout the book, but this was based more on the humour than anything juvenile.

What did you like best about this story?

It treats the subject matter a lot more maturely than one might think, and makes one think more about poo than they normally would. Also, the book has little consistencies with the other Discworld books, so you definitely feel that it adds to the setting.

What does Helen Atkinson-Wood bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The contrast between her voice and the subject matter adds to the experience, and the voices were done very well. I think if I were to have read the book rather than listened to it, some of the characters may not have seemed so 'real'.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The grandmother encouraging her grandson's interest in discovering more about the world around him & how it works, albeit through "The World of Poo" is moving, especially contrasted with the other lady's reaction upon finding the boy's collection.

Its about Pooh without an h, but with humor

I usually don't start with the narrator of an audio book, but in this case I must! After listening to Stephen Briggs, Nigel Planer and Tony Robinson bringing the Discworld to life, I thought that no other narrator can ever be in the same class as the three of them. Helen Atkinson-Wood has proven me wrong. What an excellent narration of "The World of Poo"! She didn't only bring the characters to life, she sketched them vividly and in full colour on the canvass of your mind.

That brings us to "Miss Felicity Beedle's The World of Poo." In "Snuff", Terry Pratchett's last Discworld novel, Commander Samuel Vimes' son becomes entranced by Miss Felicity Beedle's "The World of Poo." Thus starting as a parody on books like "The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business" (Werner Holzwarth), this book got a life of its own, starting of as an idea in a novel and becoming a Discworld story on its own.

Starting of with Miss Beedle's Foreword, Pratchett opens up the importance of poo to those who would ordinarily only laugh at it in some or other crude joke. Geoffrey is a little boy visiting his grandmother in Ankh Morpork where he becomes interested in this smelly subject. This ensures not only a heartily laugh or a chuckle here and there, but envelops the reader on a new take things like recycling, money, the yellow river Ankh and well... you know... poo. With Geoffrey you will meet some well-known Ankhmorpork characters from a different angle, even gargoyles are given a chance to show what they've got!

I really enjoyed the story, even if it left some odour behind. What type of Discworld book is it? It is short, with enough of a pong for adults to enjoy, but I am sure that I will wait for my daughter to grow up a lot more, before I might read it to her. ... In the mean time, my wife can listen to it.

More Please

I miss new Terry Pratchett books like I miss life before lockdowns and international crazy.

This was a very sweet tale. Young Sam adored it, I can't remember how old he was when he was reading it though.

I hope my Sam enjoys it when he's old enough too.

Not what I expected but wonderful

I frankly love Terry Pratchett's Disc-world series it is hard to have a longer conversation with me with at least a small quote slipping in to the conversation and I have someone that definitely fits the target audience for this book, so I wanted to listen to it make sure and well it is hard to anticipate where Pratchett will take the journey what are granted it will be an interesting journey that will be enjoyable and if you are inclined to reflect and think it will give you food for thoughts.

Opps its for kids

We grabed this thinking it wold be fun typical Terry Pratchett, nope its for children.
It was well read and im sure there is some sort of fun and learning about poo for kids but its not for adults

Visiting the World of Poo

Would you listen to The World of Poo again? Why?

This is a book I would listen to again and recommend to parents. Many interesting facts are woven into the story of the young boy and easily understood by all ages.

What did you like best about this story?

I have wanted to read this book because it was written by my favourite author, and also because I wanted to see how he presented the material. It is mentioned in "Snuff".

Which character – as performed by Helen Atkinson-Wood – was your favorite?

I liked the Grandmother's attitude. Though proper, she had an understanding of what fascinates young boys.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

n/a

Any additional comments?

n/a