Diddly Squat: A Year on the Farm

Not a long book, got through it pretty quickly, but it was funny, made me laugh out loud.And to be fair, informative in places too.Onto the next one now.

Just 3 words….Support Our Farmers. Jeremy, in his own way, shows how our farmers are suffering from bureaucratic people in suits

Jeremy Clarkson had bought a thousand-acre farm back in 2008 and employed a local man to look after it.When the local retired in 2020, Clarkson decided to take over it himself and Amazon were interested in filming how he would get on.Jeremy writes he was confident at first that he would be able to manage, but he chose a very uncertain time for the country. This has included Brexit and three national lockdowns because of the Covid pandemic. All these factors have had an effect on farming.He has called his farm Diddly Squat because that is what he claims he makes from it. In the book, we also are introduced to Kaleb, Clarkson’s tractor driver, who is one of the stars of the TV show.Of course, one of the first items he buys is a tractor, and it has to be a Lamborghini tractor. Predictably all the other farmers nearby inform him that the machine is too big. This machine has well over 150 operating buttons!The book is very readable and is split into the months of the year, starting in May and then ending the following May.Clarkson is provocative throughout the book, and quick to give his opinion. This is what causes people to love him or loathe him. Many different people and authorities are not spared his wrath. For example, he has some very outspoken views on parish councillors. He must have had a few run ins with them in the past.I found the book a good companion to the TV series.

As expected a very funny book relating a year in the life of farmer Clarkson. A master if caustic,sharp wit.Funny, but at the same time highlighting the petty red tape churned out by council departments, central government and similar who have never had to work for profit, gambling their own cash to keep their business afloat. A world of sales prevention officers. I wonder how farmers remain sane in their world. Perhaps they don’t.I thoroughly enjoyed The great man’s ranting and raving against burocracy with a laugh on most pages.

Diddly Squat by Jeremy Clarkson is a rip-roaring, belly-aching, and utterly delightful trundle through the muddy fields of farming - Clarkson style. Picture this: a man known for his high-speed antics and acerbic wit, tackling the slow-paced, earnest world of agriculture. It's like putting a fox in a hen house and expecting eggs for breakfast! But here's where Clarkson, with all his motoring bravado, surprises us. His foray into farming, chronicled in this gem of a book, isn't just a series of slapstick misadventures (though there's plenty of that); it's a heartfelt, earnest attempt at mastering the art of farming.Through his humorous Sunday Times columns, now brilliantly collated in Diddly Squat, Clarkson swaps supercars for tractors and takes us on a joyride across his land. His trials and tribulations, from battling the weather gods to wrestling with red tape, are narrated with such wit that you can't help but chuckle. Yet, amidst the laughter, there's a resonating truth that strikes a chord, especially for those in the farming community. Clarkson sheds light on the harsh realities of farming - the skyrocketing costs, the thankless hard work, and the often overlooked struggles of farmers in a post-Covid world. It's a rare glimpse into the life of those who toil to fill our plates, told through the eyes of a man who's more at home on a race track than a crop field.For Clarkson fans, Diddly Squat is a no-brainer – it’s classic Clarkson, with an agricultural twist. For the sceptics, give it a whirl; you might just find yourself chuckling despite your reservations. In essence, this book is not just a hilarious account of a motoring journalist-turned-farmer; it's a hat tip to the unsung heroes of the farming world, served with a side of classic Clarkson humour. So, buckle up and prepare for a bumpy ride through the fields of Diddly Squat. You're in for a treat!

Really good, easy read book. Even if you don’t like Clarkson it’s worth a read.

Arrived new and in the given time.

Enjoyable book in lightning about farming and Clarkson's humour

Great follow up to the first book and the series.

If you happened to see the show, this is a great addition to the show, it’s so interesting and funny read you won’t want to out it down. The book adds so much detail to all of Jeromys farming shenanigans you cannot miss this read!

Si te ha gustado el programa de TV, disfrutarás este libro.

Jeremy Clarkson! Eigentlich muss nicht mehr gesagt werden. Wer sich bereits an der Amazonserie Clarkson‘s Farm erfreut hat, wird das Buch auch zu schätzen wissen.

This book embodies the classic Clarkson style, brimming with his signature wit and humor. However, this time it delves into a new and more serious facet of his life. Amidst the backdrop of the Covid pandemic, Jeremy embarks on a farming venture on his long-held piece of land, following the retirement of his farm manager.The result is a narrative that showcases someone venturing into unfamiliar territory, navigating the world of farming with determination, despite lacking expertise, and often disregarding well-intentioned advice. Comprising a compilation of his Sunday Times columns, the book exudes a delightful and uproarious charm that is undeniably captivating.