{"title":"John Connell","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to our collection of works by \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Connell\u003c\/strong\u003e, a talented author known for his profound insights into the world of farming and rural life. Connell’s books offer readers an intimate look into the everyday experiences of farmers, combining personal anecdote with a rich understanding of the natural world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Cow Book\u003c\/em\u003e, Connell shares a heartfelt memoir of life on his family’s farm in Ireland, exploring themes of tradition, identity, and the intricate bond between humans and their environment. This book beautifully merges biography and nature writing, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of personal history and agriculture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Wisdom of Farmers\u003c\/em\u003e delves into the accumulated knowledge of farmers, shedding light on their invaluable role in our society. This book offers an educational journey through the skills, challenges, and wisdom of those who work the land, making it an essential resource for both students and enthusiasts of rural life and farming practices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eTwelve Sheep\u003c\/em\u003e, Connell poetically examines the significant role sheep play not only in farming but also in the cultural and ecological landscapes of rural areas. Through vivid narratives and compelling science, this title emphasises the importance of biodiversity while offering an engaging look at these remarkable animals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you are drawn to biography, have a curiosity for scientific insights into nature, or are interested in the educational aspects of farming, John Connell's collection promises to both inform and inspire. Explore our selection today and discover the profound stories and wisdom that Connell so eloquently shares.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-cow-book-by-john-connell-9781783784189","title":"The Cow Book","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFarming has been in John Connell's family for generations, but he never intended to follow in his father's footsteps. Until, one winter, he finds himself back on the farm and begins to learn the ways of the farmer and the way of the cows.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eConnell records the hypnotic rhythm of the farming day - cleaning the outhouses, milking the herd, tending to sickly lambs, helping the cows give birth. But alongside the routine events, there are the unforeseen moments when things go wrong: when a calf fails to thrive, when a sheep goes missing, when illness breaks out, when depression takes hold, when an argument erupts and things are said that cannot be unsaid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Cow Book\u003c\/i\u003e is the story of a calving season. It is also the story of the cow itself, from its domestication and worship as a God by the Ancient Egyptians to the modern practice of mechanised herds, via the figure of the cowboy, the destruction of the American buffalo, the demise of the aboriginal jackaroos and the consequences of BSE. And, above all, it is the story of Connell's life as a farmer, of his relationship with his birthplace of County Longford, with the community around the family farm, with the animals he tends, and with his father.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46552821498092,"sku":"9781783784189","price":25.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/2456723482823.jpg?v=1750057659"},{"product_id":"twelve-sheep-by-john-connell-9781805461906","title":"Twelve Sheep","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor John Connell, the lambing season on his County Longford farm begins in the autumn. In the sheep shed, he surveys the dozen females in his care and contemplates the work ahead as the season slowly turns to winter, then spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe twelve sheep have come into his life at just the right moment. After years of hard work, John felt a deep tiredness creeping up on him, a sadness that he couldn't shrug off. Having always sought spiritual guidance, he comes to realise that, in addition to the soothing words of literature and philosophy, perhaps the way ahead involves this simple flock of sheep.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the hard work of livestock rearing, in the long nights in the shed helping the sheep to lamb, he can reflect on what life truly means. Like the flock that he shepherds, \u003cem\u003eTwelve Sheep\u003c\/em\u003e is both simple and profound, a meditation on the rituals of farming life and a primer on the lessons that nature can teach us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs spring returns and the sheep and their lambs are released into the fields, skipping with joy, John recalls the words of Henry David Thoreau, reminding us to 'live in each season as it passes.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46835209109740,"sku":"9781805461906","price":25.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/22633363482830.jpg?v=1758539354"},{"product_id":"the-wisdom-of-farmers-by-john-connell-9781805464235","title":"The Wisdom of Farmers","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA thoughtful, illuminating rumination on the life lessons we can take from those who work the land and the millennia of wisdom they draw upon when they go about their day, 'making a living by turning light and time into money'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs with his previous bestsellers, John Connell skilfully synthesises philosophy, art, literature and spirituality to bolster his thoughts on such topics as stoicism, the food chain and the role of community, leaving the reader convinced of the importance of connecting with their own inner farmer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47366933348588,"sku":"9781805464235","price":28.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/48095a462c1368b70800c6fb2c2dc354.jpg?v=1773112631"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/john-connell.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}