Diddly Squat: Home to Roost

The book is widely praised for its engaging humor, classic wit, and the author's distinctive voice, which many readers found consistently entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny. Reviewers commend the author's writing style, describing it as fantastic, insightful, and charming, making for a quick and enjoyable read. Beyond the humor, the book offers a surprisingly educational glimpse into the realities and challenges of modern farming, shedding light on issues such as government regulations, environmental impacts of agricultural decisions, and the financial struggles faced by farmers. Many appreciated the author's self-deprecating honesty about his own lack of farming knowledge, which contributes to the book's light-hearted and authentic tone. For fans of the associated television series, the book serves as an excellent companion, offering additional details and perspectives not always covered on screen.

Despite its strengths, the book draws significant criticism for including controversial and potentially offensive commentary. Several reviewers found remarks regarding LGBTQ+ issues, vegetarianism or veganism, and left-wing politics to be unnecessary, unrelated to the core subject, and designed primarily to provoke. These comments were described as uncomfortable and akin to outdated political memes, leading some readers to discontinue the book or express strong disapproval. Another common critique is that, being a collection of previously published newspaper columns, the content can feel repetitive for those who have already read the articles or watched the television show. Some also felt the book was too short or lacked substantial new content, with one reviewer suggesting the television series offers a more compelling experience than the written account.

Overall, "Diddly Squat: A Year on the Farm" is largely considered a humorous and informative read, particularly for those who enjoy the author's well-known persona and direct style. It successfully combines light-hearted anecdotes about farming mishaps with serious observations on the agricultural industry's plight and the impact of bureaucratic decisions. This book would strongly appeal to existing fans of the author and his television shows, as well as readers seeking an entertaining and easy read that offers an accessible introduction to the world of farming challenges. However, potential readers should be aware of the inclusion of controversial social and political commentary, which may detract from the experience for those sensitive to such content or seeking a purely objective farming narrative.