A Short History of the World According to Sheep
£8.70£9.50 (-8%)
‘This book deserves a place in your bookcase next to Harari’s Sapiens. It’s every bit as fascinating and is surely destined to be just as successful’ Julian Norton
From the plains of ancient Mesopotamia to the vast sheep farms of modern-day Australia, sheep have been central to the human story. Since our our Neolithic ancestors’ first forays into sheep-rearing nearly 11,000 years ago, these remarkable animals have fed us, clothed us, changed our diet and language and financed the conquest of large swathes of the earth.
Sally Coulthard weaves this fascinating story into a vivid and colourful tapestry of engaging anecdotes and extraordinary ovine facts, whose multiple strands celebrate just how pivotal these woolly animals are to almost every aspect of human society and culture.
This title was published also in the United States under the title Follow the Flock.
‘A snappy, stimulating book, and certainly not just for shepherds’ Mail on Sunday
‘Full of fascinating social history’ Independent
‘You won’t look at a sheep in the same way again’ Country Living
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Additional information
| Publisher | Apollo (11 Nov. 2021) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 320 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1789544211 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1789544213 |
| Dimensions | 19.9 x 2.7 x 13 cm |
by Kindle Customer
There is a lot covered in this book however I frequently felt that a bit more work and thought could have been done on how it was organised. It felt sporadic, chaotic in places (esp in the first half of the book).
by Chris
Fantastic read, well-written and extremely well-researched whilst remaining light and with a strong narrative hook. I hope it doesn’t get missed by those interested in textile history as it has so much to say about wool. The chapter about the exploitation of the poor by the rich in service of Britain’s wool-industry was particularly sobering.
by Tillysmam
Must admit I didn’t think I would enjoy this as much as I did . Have been reading it on and off during a bout of flu . I only read a few pages at a time , but it was so easy to follow . A lovely read .
by Amy Temple
I purchased this book as a gift for my son-in-law. He had been wanting the book for some time, so I was very happy that I was able to send this to him.
by Miranda M
This is an excellent brief vernacular social history of the world through woollen textiles, sheep meat and sheep dairy products. It is absolutely fascinating. It’s a long time since I have enjoyed such a good read. The style is fast and witty and very entertaining. Thoroughly recommend it.
by Ken
Did not hold my attention. In my opinion it contains lots of information about sheep in human history strung together. I donated it to a charity shop.
by Amazon Customer
Fun, easy to read. Great book
by Ian Tilly
Brilliantly written and easy to read book about the role sheep have played in our lives, and ours in theirs. It may seem like an odd topic but it is a fascinating read.