Every Living Thing [Hardcover]

James Herriot (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0780730836 | ISBN-13: 978-0780730830 | Publication Date: August 1993

From the author of All Creatures Great and Small -- an enchanting volume of memoirs. You'll meet his associate, John Crooks; his partner, Siegfried; more of the farmers and village-dwellers who form his diverse (and sometimes rather eccentric) clientele; and more of his patients -- the farm and domestic animals on which Dr. Herriot lavishes his affection, care and love.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-- A master storyteller continues the charming account of his experiences as veterinarian in rural Yorkshire. And although there are more cats and dogs as patients than before, there are plenty of large farm animals to deal with, frequently during the middle of the night. The detailed but succinct descriptions of people, places, and animals are a delight. Herriot's unusual ability to identify individual characters, both human and four-legged, brings them to life--even for the most urban American. The endearing strand weaving all episodes together is the constant devotion of man to animal and animal to man. Chapters are short, the pace is rapid, and the stories are very easy to read--perfect for unmotivated readers. The author's keen sense of humor will bring smiles to the faces of YAs, particularly when he tells a joke on himself. Nonfiction at its most entertaining best.
- Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Reading Herriot's book is like listening to the stories of a very old friend. Familiar. Comforting. A little repetitious. His stories of veterinary work in the Yorkshire dales ( All Creatures Great and Small , LJ 8/72; All Things Bright and Beautiful , LJ 10/15/74) have brought to many city folk a sense of wonder and an understanding of the life of a country vet and his patients, both human and animal. In this collection, an older and perhaps more tired Herriot struggles with bad - tempered farmers, difficult diagnoses, an assistant who travels with a live badger, and his own pet cats, who will have nothing to do with him. While the stories and settings hark back to his previous works, the humor and spark are missing. The older Herriot struggles to maintain the wonder and merriment of his youth but gets bogged down in the mundane aspects of shopping for a house and seems numbed rather than heartbroken by the death of some of his patients. Demand will warrant multiple copies, but for the first-time Herriot reader, recommend his earlier works. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/92.
- Debra Schneider, Virginia Henderson Internat. Nursing Lib., Indianapolis
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 374 pages
• Publisher: Perfection Learning (August 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0780730836
• ISBN-13: 978-0780730830
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,009,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More from the Yorkshire veterinarian the world loves, May 25, 2004

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Every Living Thing (Mass Market Paperback)

The late Alf Wight aka James Herriot left a legacy of books that excites readers to this day (and I presume will do so for decades more.) His gentle, self-deprecating style of humor and the portraits of the Yorkshire Dales farmers and country people are amusing and interesting.

The four books, named after a hymn "All Creatures Great and Small" are joined by this fifth volume with similar stories. James (as Alf called himself) now has his own practice in Skeldale House, is married with two kids. The stories are very similar to the first four, with goof-ups, miracles, and funny tales. Somehow, these stories are not quite as hilarious as the first set, possibly because Mr. Herriot had written up most of the good stuff, or to represent the seriousness of raising two kids and having his own practice and being a settled man rather than a raw youth just out on his own. Nonetheless, if you lapped up all the "Creature" books, as I did, and you mourn the loss of Dr. Wight, who passed away in the 90's, then you will want to read these stories and vicariously enjoy more of the daily life of a country vet.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gently humorous, October 11, 2004

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Every Living Thing (Hardcover)

This book is the last book written by James Herriot - actually James Alfred Wight (1916-95). James, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, qualified as a veterinarian at 23 years of age, and quickly fell with his new location of Yorkshire. Beginning in 1970, James began to write books, reaching into his years of experience as a vet, and spinning out enthralling and entertaining stories of things that did happen and things that might have happened on the Yorkshire Dales.

As I said, this book was James's last, being published in 1992. In it, we read adventures of a country vet, doing battle against disease, hypochondriac pet-owners, uncooperative animals, the weather, other vets, and...just about everything. This is another great James Herriot - All Creatures book, one that I loved as much as the earlier books. If you like good storytelling, or are interested in veterinarians, then you will love this book. It is a gently humorous story that is sure to entertain all. I highly recommend it!

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Herriot truly cherishes every living thing., January 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Every Living Thing (Mass Market Paperback)

Every Living Thing Every Living Thing portrays James Herriot as a simple man who impacts numerous people through his lifestyle and vigor for existence. The vast majority of people hold that veterinarians enjoy relatively easy lives, but for dedicated workers like Mr. Herriot, existence does not always mean comfort. From treating diseased animals to total devotion to his family, James Herriot demonstrates himself as an example of an individual who truly cherishes every living thing. The autobiography exemplifies caring for every living thing as its main theme. All humanity is obligated to be responsible for creation because mankind possesses dominion over the animals to rule and to care for them as lesser but valuable creatures. Mr. Herriot desires to share his fondness of animals and his values in understanding simple people, their work, and their relationship with their animals. James Herriot esteems his family and friends, enjoys arduous work, and treasures the natural beauty of all creation. He is convinced that humans possess an intimate relationship with animals both in work and in pleasure. Mr. Herriot does not comprehend people who mistreat animals and he deems them as lacking in proper sentiment. He despises those in veterinary practice who do not consider the customer's and animal's welfare but are controlled by self-interest and avarice. In first person glimpses through Mr. Herriot's eyes, the reader witnesses the dignity of man and his dependence upon animals. Mr. Herriot generally agrees with the other veterinarians in his field of work since the profession comprises of services tendered for the welfare of people and animals. Herriot performs his heroic labors because he understands that people value their pets as friends and companions. Veterinarians in practice for lucrative gain are not genuinely concerned for animals since their motives are perverted. This book will have a consequential impact because humans are intimately related with their animals in that they are affected both physically and emotionally. The book's persuasiveness on the importance of every living thing makes it a timeless contribution, not to the treatment of disease but to the inherent value of animals. Mr. Herriot writes the book based on his own personal experiences as a veterinarian. He polishes his memories to create humorous yet moralistic vignettes. Each story contains its own theme about living in harmony with every living being. The author questions veterinarians to examine the moral obligation they fulfill through their job. They must devote themselves sacrificially to their customers and aid them in their distresses. He also appeals to all humanity to respect animals because the animals are entrusted to humans to maintain and care for their needs. The publication is well composed because of its vivid description of life as a Yorkshire Dalesman. Colloquial language of the Yorkshire farmers is utilized to portray the common man and his relationships. The book embodies eloquence because of the manner James Herriot evidences his passionate love for animals. The author describes his relationship with his cat, ". . . she on the wall, touching noses with me, gazing into my eyes, drinking me in as though she thought I was rather wonderful and couldn't get enough of me. . ." (374). A mans intimate relationship with his pets is demonstrated by vividly expressive, graceful, and fluent personal gestures. The short vignettes are each complete with humor, morals, and character sketches. All people who delight in understanding animals will find this book accessible and enlightening. It persuades the reader to care for every living thing through ardor and wit. The first person point of view causes the book to be personal and simple in relating to everyday circumstances. The earthy nature of the book describes the incomprehensible joy of spending night and day working on stubborn, slovenly animals. The method used to tie in the theme with the title of the book highlights its greatest strength. Man's effective dominion over every living thing is evidenced in every chapter. The only weakness is attributed to the similarity that many of his stories acquire since the subject matter remains constant and only the details differ. In the end, the details are not retained but the impression the story produces poignantly remains. The book teaches the reader about the dedication to life through the continuous rigor of veterinary practice, the appalling diseases they cure, and the excessive amount of time they devote to assist animals. Mr. Herriot quotes from the Bible in his dedication, "Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." James Herriot's passion to fulfill this command consumes his entire existence. All humanity should become infected with this love of life that highlights the dignity of every living thing.