We Bought a Zoo

The Amazing True Story of a Young Family, a Broken Down Zoo, and the 200 Wild Animals That Change Their Lives Forever

By: Benjamin Mee

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Already a BBC documentary miniseries and excerpted in the Guardian, We Bought a Zoo is a profoundly moving portrait of an unforgettable family living in the most extraordinary circumstances. This touching memoir is set to be a major motion picture starring Scarlett Johansson and Matt Damon, in theaters December 23, 2011.

When Benjamin Mee decided to uproot his family and move them to an unlikely new home—a dilapidated zoo in the English countryside where over two hundred exotic animals would be their new neighbors—his friends and colleagues thought he was crazy. But Mee’s dream was to refurbish the zoo and run it as a family business. So in 2006, Mee, his wife and two children, his brother, and his 76-year-old mother moved into the Dartmoor Wildlife Park. Their extended family now included: Solomon, an African lion and scourge of the local golf course; Zak, the rickety alpha wolf, a broadly benevolent dictator clinging to power; Ronnie, a Brazilian tapir, easily capable of killing a man but hopelessly soppy; and Sovereign, a jaguar and would-be ninja, who devised a long-term escape plan and implemented it.

The grand reopening was scheduled for spring, but there was much work to be done and none of it easy for these novice zookeepers. Tigers broke loose, money was tight, the staff grew skeptical, and family tensions reached a boiling point.

Then tragedy struck. Katherine Mee, Benjamin’s wife, had a recurrence of a brain tumor, forcing Benjamin and his two young children to face the heartbreak of illness and the devastating loss of a wife and mother. Inspired by the memory of Katherine and the healing power of the incredible family of animals they had grown to love, Benjamin and his kids resolved to move forward. Today the zoo is a thriving success.

©2008 Benjamin Mee (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Charming throughout, and touching as well.” ( New York Daily News)

Really good story.

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

Absolutely! This is the struggle of a family that deals with much more than the issues with rebuilding a complicated business.

Any additional comments?

I wish the book were longer. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a story concerning animal lovers, but also anyone who enjoys a realistic story about family matters surrounding love, death, and inspiration.

Good, but slow

The story was great, but I felt like it could’ve been told in way less time. In my opinion a lot of the story line was dragged out and not as too the point as I like. I gave 5 stars for story because the ending made the long wait worth it. However, I was expecting it to be more like the last chapter throughout the book. If you’re not a fan of hour plus chapters you may want to skip this one. If you don’t mind slower books this is a good one.

Not Your Usual Dinner Conversation Piece!

This was throughly enjoyable! The rials and tribulations of purchasing a zoo, is beyond the comprehension of most everyone and really, who stops and thinks about these kinds of things anyway?

Ben's knowledge of the animal kingdom has some interesting points about different animals along the way as well - thus adding to the uniqueness of the story. HIs observations of his young children and their observations are also quite poignant and add interesting parts to the story - only through the mouthes of babes.

Who knew that animals escaping in the zoo are a common occurrence? It's always so controlled when you visit them, so the behind the scenes stories are funny and not your every day dinner conversation.

I normally feel like if I read the novel, that I don't usually have any interest in seeing a movie but this one might be just as good to watch as it was to read - if they stick to the main story line.

great story but horrible narrator

I have never written a review before but felt compelled to now. I have been listening to Audible books and books on tape for over 12 years and this is the worst narration I can remember. I think this is a great story, but Jackson's reading falls short. I felt it was stilted with no emotions. I even checked to see if the author was the reader. I would love to hear the story read by someone else.

Fun and relaxing

this book was one that made me smile often and laugh out loud many times. a gentle and engaging look at life lived creatively and fully. Well worth the time invested!

Very enjoyable!

Well written and an interesting story. I’d seen the movie and enjoyed it but the book is much better. I’d love to visit the zoo someday.

Unique story and well worth your credit

What did you like best about this story?

The fact that it was so different from most books I read

Which character ??? as performed by Gildart Jackson ??? was your favorite?

The author

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

The day the zoo finally opened

Any additional comments?

This was such a fascinating story--interesting, funny, poignant and informative. The movie just cannot compare, and I'm surprised the author didn't object.

Much better than movie

The narrative provides information about ecology and zoology that are not in the movie. I appreciate that.

Interesting book story

The narrator is awesome. The story is an interesting tale about a family who purchases a zoo, and the obstacles they have to overcome. I definitely recommend giving this book a go.

Fantastic, funny and extremely well written

Loved this book! A very enjoyable listen. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie but it did not adequately portray the absolutely insurmountable challenges and amazingly colorful characters that made up the actual story. I found myself laughing so hard I was crying through parts of it. I highly recommend it.