Observations from rural life which can be applied to our urban world by the author of the #1 bestsellers The Cow Book and Twelve Sheep.

A 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'.

As 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.

Details

ISBN13: 9781805464235
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 256
Edition: Main
Publication Date: 02 Jun 2026
Publisher: Atlantic Books
Publication City, Country: London, United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 19.8(H)x12.9(L)
Weight (gm):

Author Biography

John Connell is a multi-award-winning author, film producer, investigative journalist and farmer. His documentary programs have won over a dozen international awards. His number-one bestselling memoir The Cow Book was awarded Popular Non Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards. He lives in County Longford.

Reviews

There is hard-won wisdom here, and good cheer, and a reminder that the world is much wider, older and more interesting than you'd think from just reading the newspaper. I was grateful for this book, and I imagine you will be too -- Bill McKibben, author of HERE COMES THE SUN
Kind, wise and immensely readable, The Wisdom of Farmers is a must-read for those thinking about how to live -- Tim Flannery
An incredible book, scholarly and generous, witty and wise, a history of our societies and a manual for living well. It's essential reading in these fraught, tumultuous times, a gently insistent reminder of our dependence on the soil and those who work it -- Donal Ryan
An uplifting book, containing many treasures and insights that the author has garnished as a farmer at home, and from travelling across the globe with a curious mind. But most of all he presents the wisdom of farming folk across the millennia with an enthusiasm that will make anyone who reads this book want to change their life. -- Michael Harding
10,000 miles separate our very different farms - John's in Ireland and mine in Australia. Yet we are united in our beliefs about the art, science and, yes, the poetry of traditional farming. I share his principles and have long admired his prose -- Phillip Adams
John Connell's Land Philosophy represents a fine condensation of many heavy hours of reading and thought. Hopping between folklore, literature and deeply grounded pragmatism, he's serving up lessons which go far beyond the often gruelling daily routine of farm life. This could be a book to lighten the spiritual load of farmers across the world - but at their heart, farming roots can touch us all - and that's how this book ends up offering something for everyone...Wisdom is a handbook for reconnection - John Connell punches a hole through the frenzy and the fog of modernity, presenting us with concentrated doses of calm, wisdom and joy -- Patrick Laurie, author of NATIVE
One of the fateful developments of our time is the separation of humanity from the natural world. That's the nub of John Connell's latest work. An unusual and original self-help book, it's the product of years of farming, thinking, journeying and writing. His 'land philosophy' is also a gift to his young child, a message to the generation on whom our future depends. Himself the son of a farmer, Connell's focus is the farmer's wisdom, the practical and emotional intelligence, and the stoic realism, cultivated over thousands of years. Connell's writing is packed with sharp insight, vivid anecdote, and a wide range of personal stories, with interviews from all over the globe. Nothing is more certain that without the Wisdom of Farmers, Mother Nature will exact her retribution. The message for all of us: Harness your inner farmer! -- Michael Wood
Offers not a manifesto, but practical advice on how we can reconnect with nature and with our community, in order to live more fulfilled, nurturing lives * Irish Times *