Books Like All Creatures Great and Small

Numerous books have been written about doctors and the stress as well as triumphs of their careers. However, while the careers of veterinarians might not seem as glamorous in comparison, they deal with just as much pressure and challenges. It is a demanding and emotional job that throws a lot of unexpected curveballs at practitioners. James Wight, better known as James Herriot, was a veterinary surgeon who summed up the trials and tribulations of the profession exceptionally well in his books. His novels, such as All Creatures Great and Small, contain a great deal of fiction but also true accounts of what vets sometimes have to deal with. The series was a hit and paved the way for others in veterinary surgery to share their tales. For more stories about the weird and wonderful world of vets, check out the following books like All Creatures Great and Small.

The Real James Herriot

by Jim Wight

Although his books made him one of the world's most famous vets, James Wight was an intensely private person who didn't have much interest in fame. The Real James Herriot is the authorized biography written by his son, Jim Wight. The book includes everything from Herriot's childhood until his passing away in 1995 and features plenty of great insights into the real people behind the characters in the books.

Herriot - A Vet's Life

by Bill Mitchell

Herriot - A Vet's Life by Bill Mitchell is not just a great account of the famous vet, but also a closer look at the people and places that inspired Wight to write his books. In addition, Mitchell covers topics such as how the books elevated Wight from obscurity to worldwide best-seller status and the subsequent television shows based on his work. A lot of the information in this book was compiled through firsthand interviews that Mitchell did with Wight and his son, which makes for an interesting read.

The Yorkshire Vet: In the Footsteps of Herriot

by Peter Wright

 

The Yorkshire Vet is the memoir of Peter Wright, who gained work experience with James Herriot in his youth and eventually went on to take over his practice in the Yorkshire Dales. The book covers his journey from childhood growing up on a farm and his own rise to fame, which included a successful television series. Fans of Herriot will appreciate this look at the same practice many years later and how things have changed.

Never Turn Your Back on an Angus Cow: My Life as a Country Vet

by Dr. Jan Pol

Like James Herriot, Dr. Jan Pol has a wealth of stories about caring for animals as a country vet. Pol was born on a dairy farm in the Netherlands and, after training to be a vet, moved to rural Michigan in the United States to open his first practice. This book features tales from his four decades as a vet in the area as well as his youth growing up surrounded by animals. Never Turn Your Back on an Angus Cow is a great book for anyone who enjoys the James Herriot books or knows Pol from his hit Nat Geo Wild show, The Incredible Dr. Pol.

The Accidental Veterinarian: Tales from a Pet Practice

by Philipp Schott

Just like James Herriot, Dr. Schott knows that veterinary medicine is as much about the people as it is about their animals. The Accidental Veterinarian chronicles the unlikely path he took into his veterinary science career and is filled with anecdotes from his own successful small-animal clinic. While the book has plenty of humor, it also has some heartbreaking stories and valuable tips for pet owners.

Bite Me: Tell-All Tales of an Emergency Veterinarian

by Laura Lefkowitz, DVM

Bite Me by Laura Lefkowitz is a look at the world of modern veterinary medicine and features plenty of stories from the author's career in the field. These stories range from humorous to shocking and hackle-raising while chronicling a veterinary emergency room's dramas, traumas, and comedies. In addition to stories about the animals, the book also has plenty of memorable conversations Lefkowitz had with owners.

The Last Cow in the Chute & Other Stories: Memoirs of a Country Vet

by David Larsen

David Larsen used his forty years of veterinary practice in a small community in western Oregon to pen The Last Cow in the Chute & Other Stories. It captures the daily life of a solo veterinary practice in the days without an abundance of emergency clinics or specialty help within easy reach. Larsen has treated everything from bulls to mice in his career, and this book and his stories are sprinkled with humor.

Call the Vet: Farmers, Dramas and Disasters - My First Year as a Country Vet

by Anna Birch

In the same vein as James Herriot's stories, Anna Birch chronicles her first year as a country vet with her book Call the Vet: Farmers, Dramas and Disasters. Anna arrived at the seemingly sleepy Dorset village of Ebbourne as a newly qualified vet, not knowing how much it would change her life. Anna was immediately thrown in at the deep end and had to deal with everything from tricky calvings, mad cats, and even an enormous dog, but she quickly fell in love with rural life.

Horses, Heifers, and Hairy Pigs: The Life of a Yorkshire Vet

by Julian Norton

Horses, Heifers, and Hairy Pigs is the evocative memoir of Julian Norton, the star of the television series The Yorkshire Vet. As with James Herriot's books, this memoir is filled with stories about the animals Norton has treated over his career and the people he met along the way. The stories feature some humor as well as some sadness but are all written with the warmth and compassion of someone who is dedicated to their profession.