Tony Fitzjohn never quite fit in in England or the middle class existence he was adopted into at a young age. By his early 20s, he was roaming around Africa, and eventually found a job with Georgethe elderly Englishman famous for his belief in reintroducing lions into the wild whose efforts were chronicled in Born Free. In his biography, Tony accounts the steps in his life that led up to his assistantship with George, the two decades he spent learning from him in Kenya, and the efforts he himself has made in Tanzanias parks.

Although Tony's memoir can periodically be a bit dull when he's naming names or talking about politics or the way the trust is run, when he's talking about the animals, his passion and understanding of them completely wipes any boredom away.

Tony is the type of person who I doubt I'd like very much in person (although maybe I would now that he's older, young Tony was a bit of a....party boy). However, I respect and admire him very much.

His book gets the message across that we are stewards of the animals; we are here to protect them, not use them, in a subtle, beautiful way. I think a lot of people who read this book will come away with that new understanding without even really realizing it.

Overall, I recommend this memoir to nonfiction lovers with a passion for Africa, environmentalism, or animal rights.

Check out my full review.

Share/Like this Review?