Book review

The Rhino Crash: A Memoir of Conservation, Unlikely Friendships and Self-Discovery by Nick Newman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


An engrossing read.

This is a book in two halves. The first half of the book is about the stresses of monitoring and protecting black rhinos from poachers. Nick’s tireless efforts to keep them safe are valiant and totally engrossing. We care a great deal about these endangered creatures.

The strain of the responsibility eventually takes its toll on Nick and reveals his underlying problems which he has so skillfully hidden from the world. We care as much about Nick as we did about the rhinos, and it is wonderful to read of his diagnoses and his gradual recovery. It is good to see that he is helped to understand why he has struggled over the years. We are often far too hard on ourselves and Nick’s example shows us we are to be as kind to ourselves as we are to others and the animals we care about.

Nick’s account is made beautifully clear and readable by Nick’s collaborator, Karin Mitchell.




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