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

Made me think about childhood dreams

It's one of the most inspiring books I've read, extremely well narrated by the Sir. Attenborough. It's not one of the boring memoirs where you start with childhood and go on. You'll like it if you like Sir. Attenborough's work, nature, or want to find out how nature films are made. I loved the witty style of writing and the subtle jokes. It made me think of childhood dreams when I wanted to be an explorer and study animals and have my own natural reservation and it made me want to get up and run to the park to look at birds ans squirrels, which I did. Any book that can do this is a great book, in my opinion.

gotta love David Attenborough

I really enjoyed listening to David tell his own story of broadcasting for the BBC over the course of his lifetime. It's stunning to realize just how much he's achieved and how integral he has been to the world of nature TV.

So Much More Than a Memoir

If you enjoyed watching bbc or pbs nature shows growing up then you will love this book. if you enjoy books about positive self help ypu will enjoy this book (due to David's positivity, humility, and comedic outlook on life). David Attenbourough's voice calms and holds my attention like only one other Britian: Julie Andrews.

Perfect

One of the most enjoyable audiobooks I have listened too. Not only did I gain an appreciation for the natural world but also one of the first people to make the natural world accessible to the masses.

Loved it

Great insights and entertaining. It's good to learn a thing or two while being entertained. True to form.

The Life of a BBC stalwart

This was a really entertaining listen. It didn’t really hold too many surprises. David Attenborough is a great speaker and of course he narrates his own story to his usual impeccably high standards. It begins with the early days of television, with big clumsy noisy cameras and an industry finding its way with the new technology, learning by its many mistakes.

Over the next 50 years Attenborough makes more and more programmes with a naturalist focus, including the classic Life on Earth and many subsequent series about different groups of animals and their environments.

By the end, the author felt that he had filmed a full set, and had filmed every major group of living creature on the planet. Although he seems very modest and genteel, and tells his tales with stereotypical British understatement, he was actually an intrepid adventurer who put himself in significant danger on multiple occasions, and this makes for great listening.

Probably my favourite audiobook

I've listened to many really great audiobooks, but I think this is probably my favourite so far.

As well as covering the flora and fauna for which Attenborough is most famous, this is a fascinating insight into the early life of the BBC, the technical challenges of dragging 16mm cameras through rain forests, and a whole variety of other unexpected treasures.

Very highly recommended.

Absolutely fantastic listen

If you're the type that was driven nuts when Planet Earth used Sigourney Weaver and Oprah instead of the incredible David Attenborough, this book is for you. Great stories in that inimitable voice makes for a great listen that I'm sure I will return to in the future.

Superb!

This is absolutely superb! Starting in the early 1950s when Attenborough joins the BBC, he recounts his work in front of and behind the camera on the nature, anthropological, and other programs he is so deservedly famous for. The stories are fascinating, and David is just as good a writer and narrator of his autobiography as he is of his programs on air. The early days of nature films really were major explorations akin to Stanley and Livingstone. Attenborough films and captures new species, explores area and meets tribes that have rarely seem a westerner, and tests and develop new camera and sound techniques. He talks with humor and intelligence about his experiences. This is one of the best audiobooks I have listened to, and it's certainly one I will listen to a second and maybe even a third time. I recommend this to absolutely everyone - a gem!

WONDERFUL!

A joy to listen. what an amazing life. Mr. Attenborough narrates in a way you feel you're there with him.