Customer Reviews

The secret life of wombats

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Even if you've never heard of the wombat (it's an Australian marsupial that looks like a little piggy, but isn't one), you'll still be captivated by this book. The author - who won a science writing prize in 2002 for this book - not only gives us the low-down on who wombats are and how wombats live, but does it in such a way that it's hard to put the book down. On the side we learn about Australian prehistory and the giant dinosaur wombats that used to roam Australia. We also hear about wombat research done by a young teenager from Geelong Grammer who spend his time climbing into the narrow wombat burrows on a schoolcamp - mostly at night while the teachers and other students were asleep. It's an example of great non-fiction writing - a documentary, journalism and a terrific story all in one!

Lets just say this book sets the bar unbelievably high for great non-fiction nature writing; combining journalism, history, natural science, ecology, and conservation in one absolutely fantastic read. I'm not a huge reader of popular books, but this non-fiction account of an incredibly charismatic animal kept me urging for more. This book embodies what great non-fiction nature writing should entail. James Woodford's writing style is immersive, as the history of Australia is explored and the life of these secret animals in examined. This somewhat light read, is a great account of the secret life of the wombat. Its a great read for natural science, nature writing, or conservation biology classes. Of all the books I've read on the natural history of life, this one is the best of the group.