The Secret Life of Cows cover art

The Secret Life of Cows

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The Secret Life of Cows

By: Rosamund Young
Narrated by: Rosamund Young
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About this listen

The rediscovered gem following a farmer's thoughtful and moving observations of her herd and the intelligence of cows.

Cows are as varied as people. They can be highly intelligent or slow to understand; vain, considerate, proud, shy or inventive. Although much of a cow's day is spent eating, they always find time for extracurricular activities such as babysitting, playing hide-and-seek, blackberry picking or fighting a tree. This is an affectionate record of a hitherto secret world.

©2017 Rosamund Young (P)2017 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Biological Sciences Science Thought-Provoking

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Critic reviews

"A little masterpiece of animal sentience." ( The Oldie)
"Inspiring and important." ( Country Life)
All stars
Most relevant  
...but by the end, I wish there was more! I will be looking for more of her books, and will be looking up the author and the farm.

I wasn't sure to start off with...

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You learn that cows really are fascinating, beautiful creatures, I grew up very scared of them. that has had quite an impact on my life. I listened to this book and that fear has pretty much gone. I mean I wouldn't walk in a field of them still, but I stroke them now and talk to them.

Very interesting

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The book opens your mind to a world many of us don’t get to experience nowadays and allows a reconnection and appreciation for not only the food that you eat but all life you see around you. If you’re looking to improve your lifestyle and overall happiness this is a book to read.

Eye opening

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Would highly recommend, I wish I could listen for the first time again! 1 credit well spent!!

Just lovely

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I'm a firm believer in holistic treatment of animals and their husbandry and this lovely memoir reinforced that. Animals are so much more complex the we understand and are often much better off when we interfere as little as possible.

Learnt so much

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Firm and upright in the tornado of agriscience and pulling the tail of the species who uniquely hasn't got one.

Cluckmoobaahquack.

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This book should be read at school as part of the curriculum. Heartwarming and heartbreaking

Game Changer

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I loved this book and I read the whole thing in one day. It's a surprisingly interesting and moving collection of observations. I really enjoyed it and I think it will change the way I shop for food and the way I think of think of all animals.

Well worth reading

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Where does The Secret Life of Cows rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The most enjoyable so far.

What did you like best about this story?

A sympathetic portrayal of cows, recognising their individual characteristics. Pigs, sheep and chickens also feature. I learnt so much. Reading this book will increase your respect for animals.

Which character – as performed by Rosamund Young – was your favourite?

Hard to say - all the cows have their own characters. There are amusing anecdotes about many cows and other animals.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Maybe, but I enjoyed it so much I didn't want it to end.

Any additional comments?

You will never look at a cow in the same way after listening to this book. Rosamund highlights the animals' needs and observes their natural behaviour, drawing uncomfortable comparisons with traditional farming methods and modern factory farming, pointing out how important quality of life is to animals. She also makes the point that in the quest for cheap meat and dairy products, we pay the price with our own health, not just that of the animals.

Delightful

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This narrative confirmed what I have always believed, but what I love most is the triumph of observation, common sense and lived experiences over the usual wearisome and pointless human desire for ‘scientific proof’ that animals experience the same emotions and physical sensations that humans do, which is always impossible to gain when you do not see the blindingly obvious.
What I don’t understand, however, is how someone who clearly loves her animals very much can then send them to their deaths for meat. If they sense everything else, surely they can sense this then. And surely they then feel bereft and betrayed. The narrative doesn’t address how the animals meet their end, and I am left wondering how their slaughter, especially if they are carted off to an abattoir, is reconciled with the love and freedom they experience in life.

A fascinating listen

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