We Bought a Zoo: The Amazing True Story of a Young Family, a Broken Down Zoo, and the 200 Wild Animals That Change Their Lives Forever
by: Benjamin Mee
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Benjamin Mee decided to uproot his family and move them to an unlikely new home: a dilapidated zoo on the English countryside, complete with over 200 exotic animals.It was his dream to refurbish the zoo and run it as a family business. There was much work to be done, and none of it easy. Tigers broke loose, money ran low, the staff grew skeptical, and family tensions ran high. Then tragedy struck. His wife had a recurrence of a brain tumor, forcing Benjamin and his children to face the heartbreak of illness and the devastating loss of a wife and mother. But inspired by her memory and the healing power of the incredible family of animals they had grown to love, Benjamin and his kids resovled to move forward. The Mee family opened the gates of the revitalized zoo in July 2007.
Benjamin Mee decided to uproot his family and move them to an unlikely new home: a dilapidated zoo on the English countryside, complete with over 200 exotic animals.It was his dream to refurbish the zoo and run it as a family business. There was much work to be done, and none of it easy. Tigers broke loose, money ran low, the staff grew skeptical, and family tensions ran high. Then tragedy struck. His wife had a recurrence of a brain tumor, forcing Benjamin and his children to face the heartbreak of illness and the devastating loss of a wife and mother. But inspired by her memory and the healing power of the incredible family of animals they had grown to love, Benjamin and his kids resovled to move forward. The Mee family opened the gates of the revitalized zoo in July 2007.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Wonderful tru story
This is a wonderful book.It is heart warming and at times heart wrenching. It was a little hard to keep track of who all the people are.I would recommend making a list of who's who.I think it is a wonderful book that all zookeepers or those interested in zoos or animals should read.I got a better understanding of what it takes to run a small zoo and even more, the hardships of getting a rundown zoo back up and running. Mee's experience was documented for animal planet and I wish I had seen ... Read More
Rating: 
- A little Dry
When I first saw this book I was extremely intrigued.I love animals and I enjoy memoirs.I have already read Terri Irwin's book and Jack Hanna's latest and enjoyed them immensely.My problem with this book was it was not about the animals in the zoo as much as I would have liked. This zoo they bought was full of interesting and endangered animals that could be a story in themselves, but besides escapes and other problems with them, I felt they were not a main character.The book is enjoyable but ... Read More
Rating: - Ok book
This book was disappointing I guess I expected to read more about the animalsand the starting of the zoo rather than all the finanical aspects.
Too many stories about banks and inspections. Sorry about his wife dying.
Rating: - The true story of a young family who bought a broken down zoo with 200 wild animals
This true story of a young family who bought a broken down zoo with 200 wild animals and how they managed to revive their family and the zoo makes for a powerful memoir to fascinate any interested in wildlife management. The zoo was located in the English countryside and author Mee, who specializes in animal behavior, had a dream to run it as a family business. His family efforts and the engaging stories of zoo residents who sometimes proved a challenge makes for fascinating reading. General-interest ... Read More
Rating: - Powerful memoir
This was a pretty powerful memoir. It combines a family, a dream, hard work, and tragedy. I think for the most part all the elements are pretty well balanced. I was rooting for this family and the success of their zoo and dream. They worked tirelessly to make improvements for the animals and zoo while trying to remain a close-knit family as the author's wife passes away.
I loved reading about the author's wife and children, especially his love for his wife. I would have loved to learn a bit ... Read More
- Wonderful tru storyThis is a wonderful book.It is heart warming and at times heart wrenching. It was a little hard to keep track of who all the people are.I would recommend making a list of who's who.I think it is a wonderful book that all zookeepers or those interested in zoos or animals should read.I got a better understanding of what it takes to run a small zoo and even more, the hardships of getting a rundown zoo back up and running. Mee's experience was documented for animal planet and I wish I had seen ... Read More
- A little DryWhen I first saw this book I was extremely intrigued.I love animals and I enjoy memoirs.I have already read Terri Irwin's book and Jack Hanna's latest and enjoyed them immensely.My problem with this book was it was not about the animals in the zoo as much as I would have liked. This zoo they bought was full of interesting and endangered animals that could be a story in themselves, but besides escapes and other problems with them, I felt they were not a main character.The book is enjoyable but ... Read More
- Ok bookThis book was disappointing I guess I expected to read more about the animalsand the starting of the zoo rather than all the finanical aspects.
Too many stories about banks and inspections. Sorry about his wife dying.
- The true story of a young family who bought a broken down zoo with 200 wild animals This true story of a young family who bought a broken down zoo with 200 wild animals and how they managed to revive their family and the zoo makes for a powerful memoir to fascinate any interested in wildlife management. The zoo was located in the English countryside and author Mee, who specializes in animal behavior, had a dream to run it as a family business. His family efforts and the engaging stories of zoo residents who sometimes proved a challenge makes for fascinating reading. General-interest ... Read More
- Powerful memoirThis was a pretty powerful memoir. It combines a family, a dream, hard work, and tragedy. I think for the most part all the elements are pretty well balanced. I was rooting for this family and the success of their zoo and dream. They worked tirelessly to make improvements for the animals and zoo while trying to remain a close-knit family as the author's wife passes away.
I loved reading about the author's wife and children, especially his love for his wife. I would have loved to learn a bit ... Read More
