Big Ben and the Meaning of Life – Dave Robson

Description

Allow me to introduce you to Big Ben – he’s quite a character!
No, I’m not talking about the huge clock tower next to the Houses of Parliament in London. The Ben I’m talking about is a horse, a Shire horse to be precise, and he’s enormous. Hence his nickname.
Ben has an insatiable appetite for adventure, and sometimes his ideas do seem a bit far fetched. But this one takes the biscuit! Everyone tells him it’s physically impossible, unrealistic, even crazy, especially as he wants to involve all his little friends, most of whom are animals and a lot smaller than him.
But has Ben lost the plot, or is he someone who won’t take no for an answer?
This book, which also takes the reader through a magnificent pageant of world-class literature and legend, tells the story of Ben and his friends’ attempt the achieve “the impossible.” What none of them realised before they began was that they would also have to confront some of philosophy’s biggest questions: Who am I? and What is the meaning of life? That’s quite a tall order even for a horse, let alone a grumpy heron, a neurotic hedgehog, a gossiping chicken and a wise old owl, to name but a few of Ben’s colourful companions, oh, and of course, some humans who come along for the ride.
Their journey is not only a series of stories and adventures, but also a thoroughly entertaining read told through the voices of a unique cast of characters.
This book is a reflection of what your life can be like when you live it to the full. It will also spark in many teenagers and young adults a lifelong love of literature.
(scroll down to find out more about Dave)

An ebook version is available for purchase here.

After many varied careers, Dave is now a full-time author whose first loves are writing and sailing. He also practises life coaching.

Dave’s first book, The Five Pillars of Happiness, has helped many readers in their quest to re-engineer their lives to bring them in line with exactly how they want them to be. It’s available from Wizard Publishing.

How to be a Popular Crew was Dave’s first book to be published by TSL Books. It’s similar to a code of practice for those who want to crew on yachts and get invited back many times to crew again, and is packed with true stories and anecdotes, some hilarious, some horrifying, from the author’s chequered sailing experiences over many years. It’s also an invaluable aid to skippers/ boat owners, who can give it to their novice crew so they know what will be expected of them.

The Amorous Adventures of Big Ben is Dave’s third book and his first venture into children’s literature. Kids he’s shown it to have all loved it! Written in a time of Covid, it’s an uplifting read that is full of hope, humour and even a little philosophy, which parents and grandparents will enjoy too.

Dave talks about Big Ben at https://youtu.be/LtcjQJSXUdk
See more of Ben on Youtube.

In November 2025, the Salisbury Journal did a feature on Big Ben and the Meaning of Life.