Herriot was a small-town veterinarian who practiced for over half a century in Yorkshire, Great Britain. He took notes and remembered stories. He did such a good job of it that he was able to put together half a dozen books of his recollections. The accumulated stories are a delightful account of his efforts to get started in the practice, the whole gamut of farmers and pet owners in his area, and all the little details you normally wouldn't hear about. What a man he must have been to have for a grandfather.
The great unheralded benefit of Herriot's writing, in my view, is for the small businessperson who has a limited number of potential clients and who must win them over to succeed. By seeing how Herriot handled a certain type of customer, one can improve the way one deals with one's own customers. The excellent results he ultimately got while dealing with some very tough customers in difficult situations can show the way and inspire you to greater patience and effort. This, in my view, is the hidden value of Herriot.
This book is also a perfect volume for reading at bedtime or on the bus because it is broken into about fifty short, stand-alone stories, so you can read just a little each night, or put it down for six months and pick right back up where you started.
Some of the stories and insights just rip your heart out. His compassion for animals and people alike is inspiring and will bring a tear to your eye. What a great storyteller!