All Things Wise and WonderfulAll Things Wise and Wonderful
Score Classic
What it's about
James Herriot, a country vet in the Yorkshire Dales, has left his practice in Darrowby to train with the Royal Air Force during World War II. Between the drills and exams of RAF life, his memories carry him back to the farms and families of Yorkshire: the stubborn farmers, the difficult calvings in freezing barns, the beloved pets and their eccentric owners, and his wife Helen at home. It's the third of his memoirs about life as a vet.
Why it's worth reading
It spent months at #1 on the New York Times list. Herriot's books are among the most beloved memoirs ever written: warm, funny and full of affection for animals and people.
You'll love it if you liked
All Things Bright and Beautiful
The Lord God Made Them All
Pilgrim at Tinker CreekGood to know
It can be read on its own, but All Creatures Great and Small is the place to start. A few animal deaths are described, gently.
By the numbers
- Readers99 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller60 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #55 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #86 of the 762 classics we rank
- #281 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by James Herriot
All Things Bright and BeautifulThe Lord God Made Them All
Every Living ThingIf you like this, read next
Black Boy: A Record of Youth and Childhood
Up From Slavery
The Glass Castle
This Boy's Life: A Memoir
Cheaper by the Dozen
The Road From CoorainExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is All Things Wise and Wonderful worth reading?
Yes. It spent months at #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #281 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 81.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is All Things Wise and Wonderful about?
James Herriot, a country vet in the Yorkshire Dales, has left his practice in Darrowby to train with the Royal Air Force during World War II. Between the drills and exams of RAF life, his memories carry him back to the farms and families of Yorkshire: the stubborn farmers, the difficult calvings in freezing barns, the beloved pets and their eccentric owners, and his wife Helen at home. It's the third of his memoirs about life as a vet.
How long does it take to read All Things Wise and Wonderful?
About 11 hours (452 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after All Things Wise and Wonderful?
If you liked it, try All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot, The Lord God Made Them All by James Herriot or Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard.