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Babylon's Ark
- The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins
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Heartwarming
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Publisher's summary
When the Iraq war began, conservationist Lawrence Anthony could think of only one thing: the fate of the Baghdad Zoo, caught in the crossfire at the heart of the city. Once Anthony entered Iraq, he discovered that hostilities and uncontrolled looting had devastated the zoo and its animals. Working with members of the zoo staff and a few compassionate U.S. soldiers, Anthony defended the zoo, bartered for food on war-torn streets, and scoured bombed palaces for desperately needed supplies.
Babylon's Ark chronicles Anthony's hair-raising efforts to save a pride of Saddam's lions, close a deplorable black-market zoo, run ostriches through shoot-to-kill checkpoints, and rescue the dictator's personal herd of Thoroughbred Arabian horses.
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Without Warning
- By: John Birmingham
- Narrated by: Tom Weiner
- Length: 17 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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On the eve of the U.S. invasion of Baghdad, as the world waits for war, a miles-high energy wave cordons a vast area from southern Canada to northern Mexico. In a moment, 99 percent of the U.S. population has been wiped from the face of the earth.
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Language in book is a bit over the top.
- By John R. Dritenbas on 07-07-10
By: John Birmingham
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Way of the Wolf
- The Vampire Earth, Book 1
- By: E. E. Knight
- Narrated by: Christian Rummel, E. E. Knight (Introduction)
- Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Louisiana, 2065. A lot has changed in the 43rd year of the Kurian Order. Possessed of an unnatural and legendary hunger, the bloodthirsty Reapers have come to Earth to establish a New Order built on the harvesting of enslaved human souls. They rule the planet. They thrive on the scent of fear. And if it is night, as sure as darkness, they will come.
On this pitiless world, the indomitable spirit of mankind still breathes in Lieutenant David Valentine.
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Its what you expect, and thats not a bad thing.
- By Kevin McLaughlin on 11-26-08
By: E. E. Knight
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Unreasonable Behaviour
- An Autobiography
- By: Don McCullin
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 12 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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From the construction of the Berlin Wall through every conflict up to the Falklands War, photographer Don McCullin has left a trail of iconic images. At the Sunday Times Magazine in the 1960s, McCullin’s photography made him a new kind of hero.
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Fantastic!
- By Dawn Schatzberg on 02-09-18
By: Don McCullin
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Axis of Evil
- By: Bobby Akart
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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For decades, American administrations have forced our military to be neutered in many respects - hampered by restrained rules of engagement, passed in strength by Russia and China, and tested by rogue nations like North Korea and Iran. As a result, nuclear Armageddon hangs over us like a mighty sword. Military analysts agree that the United States can't start World War III. Why? We might lose. Sabers are rattling, and the war of words escalate between America and her enemies....
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An Introduction To Your Next Favorite Series
- By Brian on 02-25-18
By: Bobby Akart
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All Things Must Fight to Live
- Stories of War and Deliverance in Congo
- By: Bryan Mealer
- Narrated by: Karl Miller
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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In All Things Must Fight to Live, Bryan Mealer takes listeners on a harrowing 2000 mile journey through Congo, where gun-toting militia still rape and kill with impunity. Amidst burnt-out battlefields where armies still wrestle for control, into the dark corners of the forests, and along the high savanna, where thousands have been slaughtered and quickly forgotten, Mealer searches for signs that Africa's most troubled state will soon rise from ruin.
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Outstanding story and narration
- By Cthulhu's slobber on 09-19-19
By: Bryan Mealer
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Zero Footprint
- The True Story of a Private Military Contractor's Covert Assignments in Syria, Libya, and the World's Most Dangerous Places
- By: Simon Chase, Ralph Pezzullo
- Narrated by: Eric Brooks
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Armored cars, burner phones, top-notch weaponry, and top-secret missions - this is the life of today's private military contractor. Like author Simon Chase, many PMCs were once the world's top military operatives, and since retiring from outfits like US Navy SEAL TEAM Six and the UK's Special Boat Service, they have devoted their lives to executing missions too sensitive for the government to acknowledge. Chase reveals here for the first time the operations too hazardous and politically volatile to be officially sanctioned by his employers.
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Read Amazon reviews, not Audible reviews
- By Andrew M on 02-22-16
By: Simon Chase, and others
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Under the Wire
- Marie Colvin's Final Assignment
- By: Paul Conroy
- Narrated by: James Clamp
- Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
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Marie Colvin, described as "the greatest war correspondent of her generation", was killed in a rocket attack in February 2012 while reporting on the desperate suffering of civilians inside Syria's besieged Homs. Paul Conroy, who had forged a close bond with Colvin as they put their lives on the line time and time again to report from some of the world's most dangerous conflict zones, was with her.
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A riveting read
- By S. Perreten on 01-24-14
By: Paul Conroy
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Policing Saigon
- By: Loren W. Christensen
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Policing Saigon isn't Platoon or Apocalypse Now, but the story of Loren W. Christensen's experience as a military policeman (MP) in a city of millions at a time when chaos and fear reigned. As a 23-year-old from a small town in Washington State, the author was plunged into a chaotic city of brawling servicemen, prostitutes, racial violence, enemy rockets, riots, and death. It was a place that would give him a unique opportunity to see up close a different side of the Vietnam War and its effect on the human condition.
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Raw, honest, unhinged
- By H. D. Martinez on 04-12-23
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Black Ops
- The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior
- By: Ric Prado
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Enrique Prado found himself in his first firefight at age seven. The son of a middle-class Cuban family caught in the midst of the Castro Revolution, his family fled their war-torn home for the hope of a better life in America. Fifty years later, the Cuban refugee retired from the Central Intelligence Agency as the CIA equivalent of a two-star general. Black Ops is the story of Ric’s legendary career that spanned two eras, the Cold War and the Age of Terrorism.
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Impressive and Inspiring!
- By medardo on 03-12-22
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The Forever War
- By: Dexter Filkins
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Through the eyes of Dexter Filkins, we witness the chain of events that began with the rise of the Taliban in the 1990s, continued with the attacks of 9/11, and moved on to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Forever War allows us a visceral understanding of today's battlefields and of the experiences of the people on the ground, warriors and innocents alike. It is a brilliant, fearless work, not just about America's wars after 9/11, but ultimately about the nature of war itself.
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A memorable "read"
- By TCinDC on 02-16-09
By: Dexter Filkins
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Last Stand: The Complete Box Set
- By: William Weber
- Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell
- Length: 24 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Four audiobooks in one box set: Last Stand: Surviving America's Collapse, Last Stand: Patriots, Last Stand: Warlords, and Last Stand: Turning the Tide. John Mack, a prepper and former soldier, struggles to save his family and community after an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) takes out the country's electrical grid. With most electronics, communications, and transportation destroyed in a matter of seconds, the nation quickly collapses into anarchy. Threats emerge from enemies both foreign and domestic.
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Mixed feelings on "The Last Stand" series
- By filmakr on 11-03-18
By: William Weber
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Shooter
- The Autobiography of the Top-Ranked Marine Sniper
- By: Jack Coughlin, Casey Kuhlman, Donald A. Davis
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
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Now Coughlin has written a highly personal story about his deadly craft, taking readers deep inside an invisible society that is off-limits to outsiders. This is not a heroic battlefield memoir but the careful study of an exceptional man who must keep his sanity while carrying forward one of the deadliest legacies in the U.S. military today.
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Great...if you want another book about Iraq.
- By james on 11-09-05
By: Jack Coughlin, and others
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What listeners say about Babylon's Ark
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Skipper
- 06-22-15
Engrossing, inspiring, and a little meandering
This is a heartwarming, inspiring, and informative account. Sometimes depressing, maddening, and sad. It's also interesting and thought provoking. Set in Baghdad in 2003, this "true" story is told in first-person perspective by Lawrence Anthony, conservationist (with Graham Spence editing). Lawrence Anthony comes across as knowledgable but not arrogant. He seems a likable guy.
Anthony recounts the restoration of the bombed and looted Baghdad Zoo and its remaining animals, located in Al Zawra Park. Through his perspective, we see that this hard-won success was achieved through collaboration. Helpers included local Iraqis, a few Kuwaiti veterinarians, several South African conservationists (especially Lawrence Anthony), the military coalition (especially Captain Sumner), and reps from several international organizations like Care For The Wild, Wild Aide, and IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare).
Kudos to all these heroes! And especially to those first few responders, working without pay (at first) to save the dehydrated and starved animals. In the intense heat, these Iraqi and Kuwaiti helpers — along with Lawrence himself — carried endless buckets of water from the canal to the cages. I wish I could buy them all a cold one!
As with the author's previous memoir, The Elephant Whisperer, this book was superbly narrated by Simon Vance. He's amazing. I loved Whisperer, and also enjoyed this book (but not quite as much). The author and editor take some topical digressions that could have been shortened. They also sporadically jump back in time when the author reflects on something.
It was sometimes hard to keep track of time, but I think Lawrence Anthony stayed in Baghdad working (without pay) for about four months. When he returned home to South Africa, the animals were recovering from months of dehydration, starvation, illness and injury, and reconstruction engineers had rebuilt the bombed and looted zoo, giving it back to the Iraqis and the City of Baghdad, along with Saddam Hussein's prized Arabians.
This kept my interest! At several points, my friend and I would stop the tape and discuss various decisions made by Lawrence Anthony, or by the military, or by other parties. We didn't always agree with their decisions, and sometimes they seemed unprepared, or reckless, or just plain under-equipped to take on these tasks (especially rescuing the abandoned lions, camels, and bears still locked up at Uday Hussein's palace menagerie). But those challenges made for good story.
Much as I cared about the plight of the long-suffering animals, I also cared about how the author portrayed life in post-war Baghdad, with looters and shooters, robbers and bombers, starvation-level poverty and intense fear...
Yet with the slightest hope for peace. Nothing idealized here. Anthony is pragmatic.
I learned a little about the politics behind the rebuilding of Baghdad. The rebels and loyalists. How the military dealt with members of the Ba'ath party. The local fear that Ba'athists would punish anyone who collaborated with Americans.
This narrative put those televised Shock and Awe accounts into a more meaningful context. I gained a personal perspective on the war and its aftermath, and on the horrible reign of Saddam Hussein and his sons, Uday and Qusay. Ugh.
Having followed this memoir, I now want to visit Al Zawra Park, home of the Baghdad Zoo. I want to see the animals I read about, like the dogs who protected the lion cubs during the war, and the terribly abused brown bears, old blind Saedia, Wounded Ass (healing nicely), and Last Man Standing.
I also want to read Captain William Sumner's account, Saving the Baghdad Zoo: A True Story of Hope and Heroes (written for older kids, with color photos).
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35 people found this helpful
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- Gillian
- 01-29-15
Another Great Anthony/Vance Combo!
I've been seeing this book on Amazon for eons and have been waiting faithfully for an audio version, until Ta-Dah! Here it is! And this audiobook is well worth the wait. It's not quite The Elephant Whisperer, the only flaw being, really, some slight repetition of stories we already heard from earlier books, but this is a really wonderful stand alone book.
The narrative starts at the early part of the war when chaos and looters abound, when Iraq's infrastructure has completely collapsed. Lawrence Anthony, who is driven to help, really has his hands full, and it's amazing how tenacious he and the Iraqi (and Kuwaiti) workers are in trying to keep the handful of surviving zoo animals alive.
It's touching and inspiring, that in a land being torn apart by violence and war, people come together: soldiers, journalists, international volunteers--all to help, all to do what they can, whether offering MREs, to, well, I won't spoil it...
And once again, Simon Vance's narration is brilliant. Who knew he could do so many accents, one right after another?
People may find this book offensive, considering how things have turned out/are turning out in Iraq: the continuing violence, the heartache and tragedy. They might think: Why is all this being done for animals and not humans?
I'd like to offer that there are many, many groups, international and otherwise, and there are governments who are dedicated to working on the human issues. But who is looking out for the least of God's creatures? Those who don't have a say in how they are treated? And may I offer: Can't we alleviate some suffering somewhere?
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23 people found this helpful
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- CT
- 02-22-15
Strong message but slow
Would you try another book from Lawrence Anthony and Graham Spence and/or Simon Vance?
Yes I would consider another book by this author and reader. Lawrence Anthony did good work. He was an extraordinary man who followed his values despite the most difficult circumstances. He risked his own life repeatedly in order to do what was important to him. He made a positive difference in this world. Not many of us can say that.
What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?
I had given little thought about how zoos in a war zone would be impacted. This was a great educational piece. The book overall was good, but slow in places. I often found myself a bit bored and tuning out. There was too much time spent describing logistical details and not enough spent on the personalities of the rescued and recovering animals. I could have done without donkeys (almost daily) being killed with axes for food. It served no purpose to the overall story, and left a lasting image in my mind.
Which scene was your favorite?
My favorite scene was when the ostriches, after living in extremely closed quarters in the zoo, experienced freedom for the first time (by escaping), and were racing down the war torn streets of Bagdad with Iraqi civilians (animal care takers) running behind them, holding on for dear life; as armed American soldiers stood beside tanks unable to believe their eyes, as the ostriches ran towards them.
Did Babylon's Ark inspire you to do anything?
It inspired me to pay closer attention, and to become more involved with local rescue organizations in my area.
Any additional comments?
I knew many Iraqi civilians were like people all over the world- trying to enjoy their lives, earn a living, raise their children, and so forth. I did not fully realize the impact war had on their lives. Of course I knew it had to be bad, but I gave it little thought I am ashamed to say. I had no idea how bad it must have been for them... Like the animals in the zoo, they were collateral damage.
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19 people found this helpful
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- Jan
- 02-07-15
Listened in one day... and wanted more...
I stumbled onto "The Elephant Whisperer," Lawrence Anthony's first book on an Audible special... and loved it. Snatched this up the instant I knew it was available and couldn't put it down. Although not quite as well written as "The Elephant Whisperer," this stand alone book follows Lawrence's experiences holding the Baghdad Zoo together with string and "whatever it takes." Baghdad during the early days post occupation by coalition troops was a dangerous place... with shooting, looting and unexploded ordinance all around. The zoo had been at the center of the fight and was devastated. The stories he shares made me laugh, cringe and applaud his determination, as he fought to get a permit to enter, was the first civilian to do so and then began by hauling water. There wouldn't have been an animal alive without his intervention.
Lawrence is a conservationist who created the Thula Thula game reserve in South Africa. Simon Vance did a terrific job with the narration. Great read.
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- Ketul patel
- 07-29-15
Excellent book in every-way !!!!!
I would recommend reading in this order:
Elephant Whisperer
Babylon's Ark
The Last Rhinos
All are amazing books. Lawrence Anthony is a very inspiring individual.
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- Amazon Customer
- 02-19-15
Amazing!
I am enamored with Lawrence Anthony! He is a true hero and I'm so glad to have had the privileged to hear his story. I will be reading his other books next! Simon Vance is a master narrator and I will listen to anything he reads - bravo!
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- Cynthia
- 10-18-15
"But Noah Found Grace" - Genesis 6:8
There was an anti-war television series called "M*A*S*H" that aired from 1972 to 1983. It was also a great book by 'Richard Hooker' (H. Richard Hornberger, MD) (1968) and a 1972 Robert Altman film. In a TV episode that aired February 15, 1977, the Chief Surgeon, Hawkeye Pierce said something close to, "War isn't hell. It's worse than hell. In hell, there are no innocent bystanders." Zoo animals, even the most aggressive carnivores, are blameless victims. They have no chance of escape, no way to forage, and in the desert, no water.
I was apprehensive about reading/listening to "Babylon's Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo" (2007, print; 2015, Audible) because I knew from news articles at the time just how bad it had gotten at the Baghdad Zoo in 2003. Lawrence Anthony and his co-author, Graham Spence, don't ignore what happened to the animals before Anthony arrived, but they also don't describe it in great detail. Parts of it are a distressing listen - only 5% of the animals in the zoo survived to be rescued - but the book isn't so graphic as to be unbearable.
Anthony (1950-2012) was quite the adventurer. He went into a hot war zone, at great risk and great personal expense, to save bears, lions, and other predators who in other circumstances might have had him as a morning snack. Anthony was a great bargainer - he traded then-scarce satellite phone calls for food, medicine and repairs.
Anthony had a great, heart breaking empathy for the people he worked with, and of course, for the animals he helped save - and even more for those he couldn't help. However, "Babylon's Ark" is the first non-fiction book I've read/listened to where the real live hero simply didn't seem to feel fear for himself at all. There are people like that with amygdala problems, and there's no way to know if he had one - but I can just imagine he must have scared his family on a regular basis.
The narration is by Simon Vance, and he really is just the best.
I only have one question: why isn't this a movie? Harrison Ford in his Indiana Jones incarnation is an obvious choice, but Christian Bale or Chis Helmsworth would be great, too.
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- Shannon A. Cowett
- 05-14-15
Must read
This book is incredible. It's filled with adventure, animals, hope, love, happiness, and everything an animal lover or environmentalist could want. I want to be Lawrence Anthony when I grow up.
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- silver sheath
- 05-09-15
Drawing a line in the sand
What does it take for each of us to draw a line in the sand? Anthony speaks to the challenge and to the dual nature of each of us as humans, and our relationship with others, animal and human.
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- Leonora
- 04-22-15
From heartbreak to hope
More than an inspiring account of Lawrence Anthony's quest to save the severely shell-shocked, traumatized and starving animals trapped In the Baghdad zoo in America's second war on Saddam Hussein's Iraq, this book reveals the profound respect of one man for the world and all its inhabitants. It is a call to arms for those who dream of a better world - not just for people, but for all the creatures, great and small, with which we share this planet
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