A Short History of the World According to Sheep
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A Short History of the World According to Sheep
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Narrated by:
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Karen Cass
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By:
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Sally Coulthard
About this listen
An addictively free-ranging survey of the massive impact that the domesticated ungulates of the genus Ovis have had on human history.
From the plains of ancient Mesopotamia to the rolling hills of medieval England to the vast sheep farms of modern-day Australia, sheep have been central to the human story.
Starting with our Neolithic ancestors' first forays into sheep-rearing nearly 10,000 years ago, these remarkable animals have fed us, clothed us, changed our diet and languages, helped us to win wars, decorated our homes and financed the conquest of large swathes of the earth. Enormous fortunes and new, society-changing industries have been made from the fleeces of sheep and cities shaped by shepherds' markets and meat trading.
Sally Coulthard weaves the rich and fascinating story of sheep into a vivid and colourful tapestry, thickly threaded with engaging anecdotes and remarkable ovine facts, whose multiple strands reflect the deep penetration of these woolly animals into every aspect of human society and culture.
©2020 Sally Coulthard (P)2020 Head of ZeusListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"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)
What listeners say about A Short History of the World According to Sheep
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 13-02-25
Fascinating and really well told
I really enjoyed this fascinating book. It covered so much, was entertainingly told and had a really good narrator too.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Cat W
- 20-04-22
fascinating insight into sheep and anthropology
I found this book absolutely fascinating, listening while spinning. Learned loads and will listen again
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- DRM
- 21-01-25
Great book
If you live here - on planet Earth - then you will enjoy this fascinating journey from then till now with Sheep at our side.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Rosie
- 01-02-25
A history of (mostly) English sheep
It was very England centric given the title. More a history of England and sheep than sheep in the history of the world. Interesting despite that, but I was expecting more international sheep! Also the pronunciation of the Scottish placenames and words were wildly out. Fortunately there weren't many of them!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 13-02-25
An outstanding book and performance
This is a fascinating compendium of stories,ideas, and fact . it is similar to Bill Bryson at his best. Very wide ranging in scope there are many opportunities to take a reference and learn more. After listening, I bought my own hard copy.
It was good to hear a talented narrator with a regional accent - never dull.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- J M Brown
- 06-02-24
loved the book.
I really enjoyed the book.
Comprehensive for so small a read and
I learned a lot.
The Narrator redeemed her pronunciation of Soay eventually.
Other pronunciations were a bit strange but her performance was overall really good.
I'd happily listen again.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jack
- 20-01-25
Incredibly interesting & unique
I never thought listening to a history book told through the intertwined relationship humans have had with sheep would be something I’d be interested in. However, the entire seven hours of this book were enthralling, interesting, engaging and something I will recommend to many people for years to come.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Richard Tol
- 07-08-23
Few sheep, mostly English
... and not much history either, it is little more than a loose collection of anecdotes, really.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- bootneedle
- 29-11-23
Ovine odyssey
Thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating history which outlines the influence sheep and humans have had on each other. Full of interesting facts. As a knitter, I was surprised by just how much I didn’t know. An easy listen and well-narrated, though the mispronunciation of place names did grate - hence the lower rating for this.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- nicole kym westhead
- 03-04-24
Throughly enjoyed this book
I really enjoyed the humour that was brought to this book, it kept me throughly engaged. I also enjoyed the production of the audio book, there was just one issue with the recording where it jumped and missed half a sentence.
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