The Elephant Whisperer

My Life with the Herd in the African Wild

By: Lawrence Anthony, Graham Spence

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Winner, Biography/Memoir, 2014

When South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony was asked to accept a herd of "rogue" wild elephants on his Thula Thula game reserve in Zululand, his common sense told him to refuse. But he was the herd's last chance of survival: they would be killed if he wouldn't take them. In order to save their lives, Anthony took them in. In the years that followed he became a part of their family. And as he battled to create a bond with the elephants, he came to realize that they had a great deal to teach him about life, loyalty, and freedom.

The Elephant Whisperer is a heartwarming, exciting, funny, and sometimes sad account of Anthony's experiences with these huge yet sympathetic creatures. Set against the background of life on an African game reserve, with unforgettable characters and exotic wildlife, it is a delightful book that will appeal to animal lovers and adventurous souls everywhere.

©2009, 2012 Lawrence Anthony and Graham Spence (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"An inspiring, multifaceted account, Anthony's book offers fascinating insights into the lives of wild elephants in the broader context of Zulu culture in post-Apartheid South Africa." ( Publishers Weekly)

An awesome story!

What did you love best about The Elephant Whisperer?

Everything is great- the story line, the narrator's voice and his performance, the spirit of Zulu land.

What did you like best about this story?

Learning about these magnificent animals and their way of life, their habits, sensitivity and way of communicating with us.

Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favorite?

All of them.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me do both.

Any additional comments?

I knew by all the previews that it would be a great book. However, it surpassed my expectations.

A beautiful story! Wonderful!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It was so inspiring to hear about this mans life and how he managed to make a difference in the world.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The elephants!! They were so intelligent, gentle and beautiful.

Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favorite?

All!

Great narration for a wonderful story

What made the experience of listening to The Elephant Whisperer the most enjoyable?

I listened to the audiobook version of this, and loved it! It was a great story. While the title is "The Elephant Whisperer" I'd say at least 50% of the book was not about elephants, but about the ups and downs of running a game reserve in Africa. Things like dealing with poachers, flash floods, and the local Zulu tribes, as well as the decision to accept paying guests and how to keep your pet dogs safe. I do feel that at times, I wondered when we would get back to the elephants, and the last chapter or two barely mentioned them until the very end. Even then, it felt like it was put in there to wrap up the book by keeping in spirit of the title, not because it was needed to complete the story.

What other book might you compare The Elephant Whisperer to and why?

I often felt it was in the spirit of "The Gentle Jungle"

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

The narrator read it well (much, MUCH better than the last audiobook I listened to) and really did his best to pronounce the Zulu words correctly, at least I think he was pronouncing them correctly. He was able to talk matter of factly, as the owner/operator of a large facility dealing with wildlife would sound. Nothing was over-dramatic in his inflections or emotions, which really added to my enjoyment of this selection.

Any additional comments?

Its about so much more

Wow. Broke my heart, filled my heart. Story of a refuge that takes in elephants labeled rogue. But really, it's about a man, his love for African wildlife and living in the bush. It's about the politics, it's about the economy, it's about love, it's about death...fascinating and riveting.

The Elephant Whisperer

This is an excellent book full of real life in the African terrain. Drama so intense sometimes that it could have been a fiction page turner. There were certain parts of the African life that I found unpalatable culturally and also from a Christian perspective but references to these were minute. Anyone can tell that this man loved animals and what he learned from them is masterfully portrayed in this book.

Incredible insight into the world of wildlife

I can't begin to describe how much this book impacted me. I work with wildlife myself and feel it is such a privilege to do so. They move in a different world than we do, but share our space. Just reading the introduction got me hooked. Not only did I want to hear every word of this book, I knew I had to have the physical book to have, to keep and look through, so I ordered it immediately.

Lawrence Anthony really understood wildlife. Anyone who would adopt a herd of rogue elephants has my complete respect & admiration. Just reading how he dealt with the elephants and the other animals in the book gave me so much vicarious pleasure. It is such a good read that I could barely put it down. Mr. Anthony writes from his heart.

Just as I was thinking that we so need people in this world like Lawrence Anthony, I discovered that he died of a heart attack in the past year. Devastating! I also read that the elephants, the very same ones that he talks so eloquently about in this book, showed up at his home shortly after he died and stayed there for days. If you read this book you will know why - there was a powerful bond between him and the elephants and the story of how that bond developed is in this book.

Compelling

What made the experience of listening to The Elephant Whisperer the most enjoyable?

I have experienced these amazing creatures in Kruger National Park and two private game reserves in South Africa. I wanted to hear some history.

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

His performance conveyed empathy; however, his accent was more heavily weighted to British than the rich, lilting South African dialect.

Any additional comments?

I was overwhelmed by the author's sobering account of the African elephants' plight. He provides insight into the secretive life of the hierarchy within the herd. These sentient beings touched me by their extraordinary familial interactions.

Book is outstanding

Would you listen to The Elephant Whisperer again? Why?

Although I enjoyed the book, once is enough.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Nana, the matriarch elephant. Loved her personality.

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

When Nana and her herd entered the house garden.

Any additional comments?

Great for animal lovers.

So Incredible!!

What made the experience of listening to The Elephant Whisperer the most enjoyable?

I absolutely LOVE this story - the narrator... ::::swoon:::: wonderful! I haven't even finished the book yet and I had to shout from the rooftops how much I love it. I just want this book to never end.

Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favorite?

Simon Vance is my new crush lol... every character is outstanding....

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This story is love, it's humanity, and loyalty... it's kindness and shows the connections we CAN have with life...where ever we find it. Gah, I love this book! It makes me want to go to Thula Thula!

I didn't want it to end!

This is a beautifully written and narrated story about a conservationist who truly gets it. He's in sync with his land, his animals and Africa. And the story is breathtakingly authentic and noble. Well worth the time to listen.