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Summary
Summary
Sir David Attenborough is Britain's best-known natural history film-maker. His career as a naturalist and broadcaster has spanned nearly six decades, and in this volume of memoirs Sir David tells stories of the people and animals he has met and the places he has visited.
His first job - after Cambridge University and two years in the Royal Navy - was at a London publishing house. Then in 1952 he joined the BBC as a trainee producer, and it was while working on the Zoo Quest series (1954-64) that he had his first opportunity to undertake expeditions to remote parts of the globe, to capture intimate footage of rare wildlife in its natural habitat. He was Controller of BBC2 (1965-68), during which time he introduced colour television to Britain, then Director of Programmes for the BBC (1969-1972). However, in 1973 he abandoned administration altogether to return to documentary-making and writing, and has established himself as the world's leading Natural History programme maker with several landmark BBC series, including Life on Earth (1979), The Living Planet (1984), The Trials of Life (1990), The Private Life of Plants (1995), Life of Birds (1998), The Blue Planet (2001) , Life of Mammals (2002), Planet Earth (2006) and Life in Cold Blood (2008).
Sir David is an Honorary Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, a Fellow of the Royal Society and was knighted in 1985. He is also Britain's most respected, trusted and lauded natural history broadcaster and writer, championing conservation and standing at the forefront of issues concerning the planet's declining species. A lot has changed since his first television documentary, and in this updated edition of Life on Air Sir David tells us of his experiences of filming in the 21st century.
Author Notes
Sir David Attenborough is Britain's best-known natural history film-maker. His career as a naturalist and broadcaster has spanned nearly seven decades.
His first job - after Cambridge University and two years in the Royal Navy - was at a London publishing house. Then in 1952 he joined the BBC as a trainee producer, and it was while working on the Zoo Quest series (1954-64) that he had his first opportunity to undertake expeditions to remote parts of the globe, to capture intimate footage of rare wildlife in its natural habitat.
He was Controller of BBC 2 (1965-68), during which time he introduced colour television to Britain, then Director of Programmes for BBC Television (1969-1972). In 1973 he abandoned administration altogether to return to documentary-making and writing, and has established himself as the world's leading Natural History programme maker with several
landmark BBC series, including Life on Earth (1979), The Living Planet (1984), The Trials
of Life (1990), The Private Life of Plants (1995), Life of Birds (1998), The Blue Planet (2001), Life of Mammals (2002), Planet Earth (2006) and Life in Cold Blood (2008).
Sir David was knighted in 1985 and received the Order of Merit in 2005. He is a fellow of the Royal Society, and stands at the forefront of issues concerning the planet's declining species and conservation.
Reviews (1)
Guardian Review
Giving people audiobooks for Christmas can be tricky, but if you're looking for a one-size-fits-all present, I can't imagine anyone objecting to David Attenborough's latest updated memoir. If you've heard any of his other books - the trilogy based on Zoo Quest, the series that made him a household name, or Life Stories, which consolidated his national treasure status - you may have come across some of the anecdotes before. Never mind - he's a born raconteur. As often as I hear it, I crack up at the one about Nobel prize-winning animal behaviourist Konrad Lorenz's BBC TV debut in the early 1950s. Attenborough, a junior producer, had invited the Austrian goose-whisperer to demonstrate his legendary communication skills with birds. Konrad and goose stare dutifully at the camera while they're being introduced, but then, as he lifts it up to turn it around (it's easier to whisper face to face), the goose, probably nervous, excretes a powerful jet of green goo all over his trousers. "It does not matter," he insists, mopping the mess up with his handkerchief, which he then absentmindedly uses to blow his nose, leaving Attenborough to work out which camera angle will best disguise the streaks of goose shit now covering most of the famous scientist's face. Technology has transformed TV wildlife: 50 years ago cameras couldn't film at night; now cameras the size of lipsticks can be attached to birds' wings. The perfect family audio for long car journeys. - Sue Arnold Giving people audiobooks for Christmas can be tricky, but if you're looking for a one-size-fits-all present, I can't imagine anyone objecting to David Attenborough's latest updated memoir. If you've heard any of his other books - the trilogy based on Zoo Quest, the series that made him a household name, or Life Stories, which consolidated his national treasure status - you may have come across some of the anecdotes before. Never mind - he's a born raconteur. - Sue Arnold.