This is a honest love letter to farming life and I can see why it has been so popular (particularly in regional areas like ours) around the world. James Rebanks comes from a long line of Fell farmers in the Lake district in England - idolising his grandfather he wanted nothing more than to be a shepherd just like him.
The sheep, the land, the seasons and the weather dictate the rhythms of life on a farm and James takes us through the highs and lows of his year and his life. On paper farming life makes little sense - there are hours of hard work, going out in rain, sleet, snow and heat. The weather or a disease can wipe away a year's profits in days. But it is clear James wouldn't swap his life for anything.

James has a unique perspective on his life and the Fell farms: not only has he been born into a family of multigeneration farmers but he has also seen life outside of the lake district with his time at Oxford and his job which takes him all over taking to people in other countries facing the same issues farmers face in the Lake district.