Audiobooks by David Attenborough

A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and A Vision for the Future

"Brought to you by Penguin. See the world. Then make it better. I am 93. I've had an extraordinary life. It's only now that I appreciate how extraordinary. As a young man, I felt I was out there in the wild, experiencing the untouched natural world - but it was an illusion. The tragedy of our time has been happening all around us, barely noticeable from day to day - the loss of our planet's wild places, its biodiversity. I have been witness to this decline. A Life on Our Planet contains my witness statement, and my vision for the future - the story of how we came to make this, our greatest mistake, and how, if we act now, we can yet put it right. We have the opportunity to create the perfect home for ourselves and restore the wonderful world we inherited. All we need is the will to do so. © David Attenborough 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020"

David Attenborough (Author), David Attenborough (Narrator)

Audiobook

David Attenborough In His Own Words

"David Attenborough discusses his life and achievements in this collection of BBC radio and TV interviews: Parkinson (broadcast on BBC One, 2th December 1975, featuring Michael Parkinson), Profile (broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 1st July 1976, featuring Kathleen Cheesmond), Desert Island Discs (broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 1th March 1979, featuring Roy Plomley), Desert Island Discs (broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 25th December 1998, featuring Sue Lawley), Mark Lawson Talks To David Attenborough (broadcast on BBC Four, 27th February 2005, featuring Mark Lawson), Front Row (broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 26th October 2011, featuring Mark Lawson) and Desert Island Discs (broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 29th January 2012, featuring Kirsty Young). ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

David Attenborough (Author), David Attenborough (Narrator)

Audiobook

David Attenborough Life On Air: Memoirs Of A Broadcaster

"David Attenborough reads his own bestselling memoir 'An enthralling autobiography from one of the linchpins of television' Good Book Guide David Attenborough is the acknowledged voice of nature, loved and revered worldwide for his groundbreaking wildlife documentaries. Over the course of his long BBC career, David has risen from trainee producer to award-winning film-maker, and in Life on Air, he tells the extraordinary stories of the people and animals he has met along the way. We hear of his earliest days in television; his stint as Controller of BBC2, during which he introduced colour TV to Britain; and his encounters with luminaries such as Montgomery, Anthony Eden, Benjamin Britten and the Queen. Here, too, are tales of his travels to some of the most far-flung corners of the globe, including New Guinea, Borneo, Paraguay and the Australian outback, and the rare creatures he captures on film: from the exotic birds of paradise and the elusive Indri lemurs to the endangered Komodo dragon. Featuring behind-the-scenes accounts of the making of his landmark natural history series, beginning with the pioneering Zoo Quest and concluding with Life in Cold Blood, this wonderful memoir - read by David Attenborough himself - recounts the highlights of a remarkable life in broadcasting. Production credits Read by David Attenborough © 2010 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2010 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd."

David Attenborough (Author), David Attenborough (Narrator)

Audiobook

David Attenborough New Life Stories

"One of the nation’s most popular presenters examines twenty marvels of the natural world from his extraordinary and pioneering experiences. How did Sir David track down a giant Earthworm? Why does he respect Rats? What was the first bribe in nature? Why do well known foods often have two names? And where can you see evidence of the earliest life on Earth? His enthusiasm is as infectious as ever, and conveys a unique fascination on topics as diverse as the Kiwi, Hummingbirds, Monsters, Butterflies, Chimps, Cuckoos, Fireflies and Elsa, the famous lioness. So listen to these stories to find out why Rats should be respected and which insects emerge from the ground only once every 17 years. Includes detailed programme notes inside the booklet."

David Attenborough (Author), David Attenborough (Narrator)

Audiobook

David Attenborough's Life Stories: The Complete Collection

"Collected together for the very first time, this is the complete Series 1 and 2 of Life Stories, written and presented by Sir David Attenborough. One of the nation's most popular presenters, Sir David examines 40 marvels of the natural world from his extraordinary and pioneering experiences. What was Sir David's first pet? Which animal would he most like to be? How did he track down a giant earthworm? Why does he respect rats? And what did he do when confronted by a ten-foot-long reptile? His enthusiasm is as infectious as ever, and conveys a unique fascination on topics as diverse as the sloth, monstrous flowers, the platypus, dragons, the fire salamander, the coelacanth, the dodo, bird's-nest soup and the large blue butterfly. So listen to these stories to find out the real reason why animals sing, the story behind a 150-million-year-old feather, and what it is about snakes that really unnerves Sir David. ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

David Attenborough (Author), David Attenborough (Narrator)

Audiobook

David Attenborough: The Early Years Collection: The BBC Collection

"David Attenborough, Britain’s voice of natural history, narrates his early adventures in Indonesia, New Guinea and Northern Australia. David Attenborough first appeared in front of a television camera in the 1950s when, together with London Zoo's Curator of Reptiles, Jack Lester, he persuaded the BBC to mount and film an animal-collecting expedition. The result was Zoo Quest. Specially recorded for audio, David Attenborough’s early adventures are sometimes life-threatening, often hilarious and always totally absorbing. The warmth and enthusiasm that have made him a broadcasting legend are instantly apparent here as he recounts this magical journey. This collection includes three volumes from Attenborough’s chronicles of his early expeditions: In Zoo Quest For A Dragon, Attenborough tells of the crew’s hazardous boat trip with a gun-smuggling captain and the terror of erupting volcanoes. He also depicts for the listener some of the incredible sights he and his team witnessed – breathtaking butterflies, taking tea with Charlie the orang-utan and the the voyage to the little-known island of Komodo to capture the elusive Komodo Dragon. Quest in Paradise describes his next animal collecting and filming trip to New Guinea, home of the exotic Birds of Paradise. David tells of his adventures during the trip: being an onlooker at a formal lovemaking ceremony, seeing the skills of ritual axe making, trying to master pidgin English and witnessing a ‘sing sing’ at which hundreds of tribesmen came together from all parts of the country. In Quest Under Capricorn, David Attenborough ventured to the Northern Territory of Australia. In his first expedition to the other side of the world, he meets Aborigines, goes walkabout in the bush, and learns the craft of the artists of Arnhem Land. Also included is David Attenborough In His Own Words, a collection of interviews taken from the BBC radio and TV archives."

David Attenborough (Author), David Attenborough (Narrator)

Audiobook

Life on Earth

"A new edition of David Attenborough’s groundbreaking Life on Earth. Winner of Best Non-Fiction Audiobook at the New York Radio Awards 2019. Shortlisted for Best Audiobook at the Specsavers National Book Awards 2018. Shortlisted for Futurebook of the Year at the Futurebook Awards 2018. The nation’s greatest voice, David Attenborough, reads a brand-new edition of Life on Earth, now available as an audiobook for the first time. David Attenborough’s unforgettable meeting with gorillas became an iconic moment for millions of television viewers. Life on Earth, the series and accompanying book, fundamentally changed the way we view and interact with the natural world, setting a new benchmark of quality, influencing a generation of nature lovers. Told through an examination of animal and plant life, this is an astonishing celebration of the evolution of life on earth, with a cast of characters drawn from the whole range of organisms that have ever lived on this planet. Attenborough’s perceptive, dynamic approach to the evolution of millions of species of living organisms takes the reader on an unforgettable journey of discovery from the very first spark of life to the blue and green wonder we know today. Now, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the book’s first publication, David Attenborough has revisited Life on Earth, completely updating and adding to the original text, taking account of modern scientific discoveries from around the globe. This special anniversary edition provides a fitting tribute to an enduring wildlife classic, destined to enthral the generation who saw it when first published and bring it alive for a whole new generation. This audiobook includes wildlife sounds from BAFTA Award winning sound recordist, Chris Watson, who has worked extensively with David Attenborough on his BBC projects. A soundscape appears at the beginning of each chapter to provide a fully immersive experience of the habitat and some of the species described. A full list of the tracks, as they appear in the audiobook, is available below. - Prologue – Acacia scrubland dawn chorus in the Masai Mara, Kenya, featuring White-browed Robin-chat. - Chapter One, The Infinite Variety – Tropical rain forest in Panama with the calls of Montezuma oropendola. - Chapter Two, Building Bodies – Fish and crustaceans recorded underwater on a coral reef off Seligan island, Borneo. - Chapter Three, The First Forests – Geysir and geothermal activity at Haukadalur hot springs in Iceland. This track also features the Strokkur geysir erupting. - Chapter Four, The Swarming Hordes – Evening insect chorus in the Conkouati forest reserve, Republic of Congo. - Chapter Five, The Conquest of The Waters – Ocean currents through sea kelp recorded at a depth of 8m, Moray Firth, Scotland. - Chapter Six, Invasion of The Land – Reed frog chorus at sunset, Amboseli National Park, Kenya. - Chapter Seven, A Watertight Skin – Seawash around basking marine iguanas, Isla San Cristóbal, Galapagos. - Chapter Eight, Lords of The Air – Springtime dawn chorus with nightingale, Hambleton wood, Rutland Water nature reserve, UK. - Chapter Nine, Eggs, Pouches and Placentas – forest chorus along riverside platypus territory, Queensland, Australia. - Chapter Ten, Theme and Variation – Common Pipistrelle bats echolocating after sunset, Holystone woodland, Northumberland. - Chapter Eleven, The Hunters and The Hunted – Spotted hyena contact calls at midnight in the Masai Mara, Kenya. - Chapter Twelve, A Life in The Trees – Black howler monkeys calling across the tree canopy at sunrise in Belize. - Chapter Thirteen, The Compulsive Communicators – Street market, Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, Northern India. - Epilogue – Beach habitat in mangroves with Great frigatebirds and red footed boobies, Isla Genovesa, Galapagos."

David Attenborough (Author), David Attenborough (Narrator)

Audiobook

Peter and the Wolf: Prokofiev’s modern classic retold by Sir David Attenborough

"Prokofiev's timeless classic, brought to you by Sir David Attenborough and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Yan Pascal Tortelier. 'If a wolf should come out of the forest, then what would you do?' These are the words of Peter's grandfather from Prokofiev's much loved musical fairy tale, Peter and the Wolf, which here is wonderfully narrated by Sir David Attenborough. This story introduces children to the magic of an orchestra through the tale of a clever young boy who, with the help of some animal friends, outwits a very hungry wolf. Wolf stories are common in folk and fairy tales. Shepherd boys who cry wolf; children who foolishly trust wolves; wolves in sheep's clothing. Many of the earliest stories about boys and wolves are found in Aesop's fables, and it is likely that this was Prokofiev's source for the story. Prokofiev was excited to have been asked to compose this piece by Moscow Central Children's Theatre director Natalya Sats, finishing it in just a few short weeks ahead of its Moscow premiere in May 1936. 'We must start with something specific, something full of contrasts, something that makes a strong impression,' he told her. 'The most important thing is to find a common language with the children.' Prokofiev had a lifelong love of fairy stories, myths and folklore and threw himself into the fantasy world of Peter and the Wolf. It has been recorded over 400 times, with a variety of narrators, and has introduced millions of children to the wonders of classical music. First broadcast December 2000. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough. Performed by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conducted by Yan Pascal Tortelier. Composed by Sergei Prokofiev. ©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

David Attenborough, Sergei Prokofiev (Author), Bbc Philharmonic Orchestra, David Attenborough (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Life of Birds

"A fully updated new edition of David Attenborough’s bestselling classic. BIRDS. 11,000 species, the most widespread of all animals: on icebergs, in the Sahara or under the sea, at home in our gardens or flying for over a year at a time. Earthbound, we can only look and listen, enjoying their lightness, freedom and richness of plumage and song. David Attenborough has been watching and learning all his life. His classic book, now fully updated with the latest discoveries in ornithology, is a brilliant introduction to bird behaviours around the world: what they do and why they do it. He looks at each step in birds' lives and the problems they have to solve: learning to fly; finding food; communicating; mating and caring for nests, eggs and young; migrating; facing dangers and surviving harsh conditions. Sir David has no equal in helping others to learn and making it exciting. His curiosity and enjoyment are infectious. He shows the lifelong pleasure that birds around us offer, and how much we miss if unaware of them."

David Attenborough (Author), David Attenborough (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Living Planet: The Web of Life on Earth

"The Sunday Times Bestseller A new, fully updated narrative edition of David Attenborough’s seminal biography of our world, The Living Planet. Nowhere on our planet is devoid of life. Plants and animals thrive or survive within every extreme of climate and habitat that it offers. Single species, and often whole communities adapt to make the most of ice cap and tundra, forest and plain, desert, ocean and volcano. These adaptations can be truly extraordinary: fish that walk or lay eggs on leaves in mid-air; snakes that fly; flightless birds that graze like deer; and bears that grow hair on the soles of their feet. In The Living Planet, David Attenborough’s searching eye, unfailing curiosity and infectious enthusiasm explain and illuminate the intricate lives of the these colonies, from the lonely heights of the Himalayas to the wild creatures that have established themselves in the most recent of environments, the city. By the end of this book it is difficult to say which is the more astonishing – the ingenuity with which individual species contrive a living, or the complexity of their interdependence on each other and on the habitations provided by our planet. In this new edition, the author, with the help of zoologist Matthew Cobb, has added all the most up-to-date discoveries of ecology and biology, as well as a full-colour 64-page photography section. He also addresses the urgent issues facing our living planet: climate change, pollution and mass extinction of species."

David Attenborough (Author), David Attenborough (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Trials of Life: A Natural History of Animal Behaviour

"The third and final updated edition of David Attenborough’s classic Life trilogy. Life on Earth covered evolution, Living Planet , ecology, and now The Trials of Life tackles ethology, the study of how animals behave. ‘This is, quite simply, the best thing I’ve ever done.’ Sir David Attenborough on the TV series, The Trials of Life, upon which this book is based. This is the third and last of Sir David’s great natural history books based on his TV series and competes his survey of the animal world that began with Life on Earth and continues with Living Planet. In Life on Earth, Sir David showed how each group of animals evolved. In Living Planet he looked at the way they have adapted to the whole range of habitats in which they live. Now, in Trials of Life, he completes the story by revealing how animals behave – and why."

David Attenborough (Author), David Attenborough (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Ein Leben auf unserem Planeten: Die Zukunftsvision des berühmtesten Naturfilmers der Welt

"In seinen dreiundneunzig Lebensjahren hat David Attenborough einschneidende Veränderungen unserer natürlichen Lebensbedingungen miterlebt. Als er zur Welt kam, gab es noch auf allen Kontinenten Wildnis. Heute hingegen hat die Spezies Mensch sich vervierfacht, die entlegensten Winkel des Planeten erobert und drängt Fauna und Flora immer weiter zurück. Dadurch hat sich die Aussterberate im Vergleich zu ruhigeren erdgeschichtlichen Zeiten um das 100- bis 1000fache erhöht. Und doch vermittelt uns dieses Buch Hoffnung, das Artensterben und den Klimawandel zu stoppen und die Biodiversität zu retten. Denn selbst um die nach wie vor strahlende Atomruine von Tschernobyl holt die Natur, einmal in Ruhe gelassen, sich ihren Platz zurück."

David Attenborough (Author), Erich Wittenberg (Narrator)

Audiobook