David Attenborough - Life on Air

Memoirs of a Broadcaster

By: David Attenborough

Narrated by: David Attenborough

Length: 19 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

David Attenborough reads his own bestselling memoir

David Attenborough is the acknowledged voice of nature, loved and revered worldwide for his groundbreaking wildlife documentaries. Over the course of his long BBC career, David has risen from trainee producer to award-winning film-maker, and in Life on Air, he tells the extraordinary stories of the people and animals he has met along the way.

We hear of his earliest days in television; his stint as Controller of BBC2, during which he introduced colour TV to Britain; and his encounters with luminaries such as Montgomery, Anthony Eden, Benjamin Britten and the Queen. Here, too, are tales of his travels to some of the most far-flung corners of the globe, including New Guinea, Borneo, Paraguay and the Australian outback, and the rare creatures he captures on film: from the exotic birds of paradise and the elusive Indri lemurs to the endangered Komodo dragon.

Featuring behind-the-scenes accounts of the making of his landmark natural history series, beginning with the pioneering Zoo Quest and concluding with Life in Cold Blood, this wonderful memoir - read by David Attenborough himself - recounts the highlights of a remarkable life in broadcasting.

Production credits

Read by David Attenborough

©2010 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2010 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Critic reviews

'An enthralling autobiography from one of the linchpins of television' Good Book Guide

An absolute delight!

I grew up watching Attenborough's wildlife documentaries on PBS, and found this book an absolute joy to listen to--fascinating and frequently-hilarious anecdotes of his globetrotting adventures, skillfully-narrated by the man himself.

He's a man who loves animals and people, and his joy in his experiences and discoveries, as well as his deep respect for the various people he met, really came across in this memoir.

One of the best books I've listened to this year--I was actually disappointed on the days when my commute ran smoothly, because it meant less time with David Attenborough in Africa, or Australia, or South America, or Tonga, or...

Every Chapter Fascinating!

David’s curiosity and enthusiasm for all things in the natural world is wonderful! I could listen to his voice and did) endlessly! He teaches while being entertaining. Such a gift!!!

Wonderful from beginning to end!

David Attenborough is engaging and has lived a life like no one else. Well worth the time!

interesting on so many levels

well read. a pleasure to listen to. fascinating not just for the natural history but also for the glimps of filming history and the development of cameras and film. also on how conservation has developed.

Fascinating recount of DA's life as a tv pioneer

Where does David Attenborough - Life on Air: Memoirs of a Broadcaster rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the most enjoyable audiobooks I've had the pleasure to listen to. I have not been using audiobooks for long, but this is easily my favourite so far.

What did you like best about this story?

The three things I particularly liked about this book were the narrator (David Attenborough himself), the first-hand insight into the history and development of TV and nature filming, and the insane and fascinating stories of travel to what were remote parts of the globe in the mid-late 20th century.

What does David Attenborough bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Most people are familiar with Attenborough's famous voice from his many documentaries, and he brings the same level of emotion and awe and wit into his narration of his own memoirs. The listening is easy and the structure of the book is very easy to follow. He had me laughing to myself on many occasions about some of things that happened to him whilst filming for BBC.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in natural history, modern history, or who enjoys a good anecdote. Attenborough's Life on Air is a truly fascinating account and contains many extraordinary and entertaining tales.

A must listen. So much more than you thought you knew

Really enjoyed this. Having watched many of the programs over the years it was great to get the background on them. Also his involvement in the administration around the birth of tv in the UK was really interesting. Well worth a credit. Enjoy

Sir David is truly incredible

As a longtime fan of David Attenborough's documentaries, I expected to enjoy this book from the beginning. I was expecting to love it as much as I did. In fact, my love of the book just continued to grow as it went on.

I found the details of the filming of his programs particularly fascinating, especially the really early ones. I did not know how few resources went into those early programs. Today, it is hard to imagine a nature documentary being shot by only two people out somewhere in the middle of the jungle. It's truly inspiring to hear of that kind of adventurous spirit.

And of course this book was narrated by the man himself. Who could ask for a better narrator?

For nerds only

If you love this dude you’ll enjoy hearing his voice and his story. Always thoughtful and classy.

Fascinating!

David's work is a wonderful read, covering besides the natural history itself, personal impressions, technological advance (which his team has lead), conservation, the amazing individuals working in the various fields, BBC organisational issues and many other elements,all of which are unfailingly fascinating I have only seen a few of his programs and now I am determined to watch every one. David has a massive legacy and we are all the richer for it

Very educational and entertaining

I learned a lot about animals in the natural world, and I enjoyed the narration by the author