A Short History of the World According to Sheep

By: Sally Coulthard

Narrated by: Karen Cass

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 Zeus

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)

Well Researched

I’m a knitter and hand spinner. I found the information about the history of sheep and their effect on civilization very interesting.

The narrator was excellent changing to different accents when called for.

Not bad but could be much better

This book was quite informative but definitely too much focus on UK. As if other countries don’t exist. So many lost opportunities. Narration was not great - whenever she’s quoting anything she changed her voice and is very annoying and completely unnecessary.

Missing Section

A portion of the book seems to have been missed. I went back and listened to it and it skips to a part on the US taxes on wool.

I couldn't stop talking about sheep after reading

I was drawn to this book as a fiber artist curious about the wonders of wool and interested in perhaps keeping sheep one day. The history shared covers the globe and thousands of years giving a wide range of stories and facts of this early domesticated animal. From sheepdogs to scissors and shears, there is so much more to learn about sheep than I could have imagined. This was a great book to listen to for short drives, guaranteed to leave you with a snippet of information you can share when you get to your destination.

I finished this book 6 months ago and I still think about it almost weekly. Sheep are cute, sheep are beaut, sheep are soft and curly. Don Spencer, anyone?

Engaging historical information

I'm a spinner, knitter, and nålbinder, and love learning more about the history of fiber crafting. But this is so much more. The social and economic impact of sheep in the human world are fascinating. The story is told in an accessible, engaging, and often humorous way, with outstanding narration. I highly recommend it not only for fiber lovers and history lovers, but anyone interested in an enjoyable and interesting listen.