4 comments about All My Relations: Living with Animals As Teachers and Healers.

1. Ms McElroy's books are ever a delight to read. I spent a lot of time with tissue close at hand during this one. The stories are enlightening and often reminded me of lessons that I had, or perhaps had not, learned from the animals in my own life.
   The stories are not always cheerful, but they are thought-provoking if you see animals as more than property. Her story on the spiders in particular has made me take a different look at the creepy-crawly things that live in my house, which I'm sure they appreciate.



2. This is truly a warm, thoughtful, intelligent book filled with new insight and ideas to creatively enhance minds, souls, and works with animals and nature. Anyone who has a yearning to feel a deeper connection with animals or nature needs to read this book. Susan not only shares gifts of animals, but truly delves deeply into our relations with all of God's creation. It is one of the most important books I have read. I was profoundly moved.
   Bonnie Hess



3. Susan Chernak McElroy's fourth book, All My Relations, is an excellent contribution to deepening our understanding of human relationships with animals. Having read her previous books and attended a few of her presentations, I realize that she may be one of the most original and insightful observers and storytellers of human - animal relationships in a generation. Her stories tell of a powerful and mystical oneness that not only she experiences with animals and other creatures, but of a level of understanding and experience that are available to us all if we are willing to embrace a different way of being with Nature. The exercises she offers at the end of each story are simple yet valuable pathways to reach and experience this deeper level. I highly recommend All My Relations not just to those persons with animals, but to all people, and the sooner in life - the better, such as for school english and literature classes. Perhaps it is not too late for the current generations of adults to be empowered to achieve a paradigm shift in the way we view and behave concerning all of our relations in Nature. Susan Chernak McElroy's book can serve as an instrument for achieving this paradigm shift.



4. I am not a writer, but if I could write about my feelings toward animals this is the book I would write. The book helped me write my own thoughts with guidance at the end of each chapter.

3 comments about Through Cougar's Eyes: Life Lessons From One Man's Best Friend.

1. David Raber tells a unique story -- one which many animal lovers might wish to relive. His accounts of life with this amazing cougar are worth the read. But an animal expert he is not. He may know volumes about raising a cougar in his home, but he called an opossum a rodent. Other misstatements were less obvious but inexcusable. Still, the story was fun.



2. Ever since I was a young kid I wanted to own a big cat. I have lived with a house cat ever since I was born, 21 yrs. It doesn't need to be said how happy I was to find a book detailing big cat ownership. How interesting is this book? Well, I read all 200+ pages in 2 days. While not the most professionally written, it is packed with tales of Cougar that at times seem almost to amazing to be true. When finished, I didn't want it to be. I want to hear more about Cougar's adventures. Although David is against big cat ownership, I think this book also shows possibilities with the right committment. I hope to someday meet Cougar and David to share in the joy that this great cat brings wherever he takes David. My best to Dave and Cougar



3. I suppose it is every cat lovers dream to "own" a big cat like a cougar. But most people never get that chance, and if they did would quickly realize what an all consuming job it is to care for a tamed wild cat - time, money, emotion, legalities, not to mention the fact that you want to do the best for the animal. Well the author of "Through Cougar's Eyes" knows exactly what it is like to live with a big cat. And although he never in his wildest dreams ever even considered adopting a cougar he tells in touching detail how they came to be together for life.

   I love cats and I love hearing cat stories. This is a humdinger of a cat story that chronicles the adventures of a man, his wife and a very large cat. It is simply amazing what David and Linda Raber were and are still willing to do to care for this beautiful animal. Are their efforts worth the sacrifices they have made? You bet they are. This animal lives a wonderful life because he is so loved and in return the Rabers have received so much joy.

   I just love this story. If you love cats or if you love animals you are going to love this book and besides since Cougar is the national spokes-cat for Iams cat food you can actually meet him and his human family in person as they travel the country together, which I highly recommend it is such a treat, just like this book.

5 comments about The Philosopher's Dog: Friendships with Animals.

1. While Raimond Gaita has an engaging enough style of writing, this book was a bit of a disappointment to me. I only got a C+ in Intro to Philosophy in college 40-some years ago, so a lot of his references to Descarte, Wittgenstein and Sorenson were just way over my head. I mean I could sorta follow his reasoning when he went off on these tangents, but I didn't really find it all that interesting, so I skimmed over those parts. And I'm glad I did, because when he did talk about his dogs and other pets, or about other books featuring dogs, I found his text very interesting. Was most pleased to see him cite J.M. Coetzee and his novel, Disgrace, which is a favorite of mine. And when he writes about his father, it gets even more interesting. Wish I could snag a copy of Gaita's memoir about his dad: Romulus, My Father. Unfortunately it seems to be out of print and only available used from Australia. I was made aware of The Philosopher's Dog by a brief reference to Gaita in Ted Kerasote's bestseller, Merle's Door. Although there's some rather tough slogging from the philosopher's end of things here, this is a book worth reading. - Tim Bazzett, author of the ReedCityBoy trilogy



2. I lament not loving this book, because the concept seemed wholly compelling and Mr. Gaita is a fine writer. However, I found the animal sequences slanted toward the sorrowful, and the philosophic essays rambling.
   
   The philosophy, to the book's detriment, dominates the text. I've read Wittgenstein, Buber and Heidegger -- so I'm not unfamiliar with the rigors associated with philosophy. I've read many of the books by the foremost ethologists. I've read many books detailing the tensions and joys of relationships between humans and their non-human companions. By and large, this book has none of the pleasures and illuminations present in almost all of those genre's.
   
   Mr. Gaita's prose is lush and clear during the more elegiac sequences in the book, which is why I'm giving it a 3 out of 5.
   
   The book cover is unfortunate because it gives an impression of tenderness or sentimentality, depending on your point of view, which is not reflected in the book. And perhaps it is literal to say so, but I did not find a single mention of a Terrier. We often buy books because of the tone that a cover implies, and this cover was indeed misleading.
   
   There seemed no fresh insights or even new questions raised in this book. Nor did I feel that it was a book about dogs or friendships with animals. But its worst moments are spent denigrating the work of other writers (and in full disclosure I have never had any association with the writers he mentions).
   
   It's not that the book is without a moment's pleasure, but there are few -- it is that there are so many uninteresting contradictions which cloud its intentions to the point that I couldn't put it down quickly enough, and dreaded picking it back up.



3. I found this book very moving and pleasant to read, but I am talking mostly of the first half. The second half gets really tough if you don't have a solid knowledge of philosophy...but it's certainly a very good and chalenging book. I recommend it!



4. Our book club picked The Philosopher's Dog as our first non-fiction selection. We are all animal lovers, and we had expectations of this book that it just didn't deliver. First, is that the way all philosophers write? No wonder there aren't too many of them around. Gaita did have some gems in the rough - and we did appreciate his insights - but his writing was so scattered that it was very difficult to sift through all the verbosity to get at the core of his thoughts. There is also no reason for a book to have single sentences of 50+, almost 60 words. That also detracted from the good points he was trying to make. Again I say, where was the editor? In addition, we had a problem with his arrogance in assuming that his dog Gypsy, as she's lying on her mat, staring out to sea, simply cannot have "reflective" thought. How does he know? The earth was still round when we poor humans thought it was flat, right? He has to look at his relationships with animals through a human perspective, the only one he has, but it doesn't mean that the jury is in on the limitations of animal thought and behavior. It doesn't mean, necessarily, that the human species is at the top of the intelligence ladder, either. Even though he eschews the use of anecdotes, we would have liked more of them, because his true bond with his animals came through best in the narratives. I think the book topic would have been better served as a tightly written essay. In the end, we did agree with Gaita that the essence of our relationships with animals is unconditional love and respect, feelings that we don't need a philosopher to explain to us. Unfortunately, the best parts of the book (the paperback version) were the cover photo and the back cover summary.



5. I don't have the qualifications Mr Gaita has in the field of philosophy, but if this is scientific philosophy I sincereley doubt its value. Some of the material is interesting, but quite often he puts his own very subjective ideas forward and magnifies them to universal laws of philosophy. He states for example that he knows nobody who would pay as much money in medical bills for a sick dog as he would for a sick child (this makes me wonder if he has ever even tried to communicate to real animal lovers before he wrote this book, or merely draws conclusions based upon his own feelings). Based upon this statement solely he "philosophises" that it is impossible to love an animal the same way as a human and even goes a bit further by stating that there is something wrong with you if you do. I think his feelings for animals are very limited compared to mine and a lot of other people who are in my view psychologically "healthy". I however as a psychologist and would by no means try to draw any universal conclusions based on this subjective finding of mine.

3 comments about Bad Dogs Have More Fun: Selected Writings on Animals, Family and Life from the Philadelphis Inquirer.

1. If you read the title, you'll know what to expect. It is a compilation of short stories about animals, family and life (mostly stories and lessons about life). Yes, I expected more animal stories, but I enjoyed the book none the less.



2. I feel robbed. I should have done more research, I suppose, but I mistakenly assumed that this was some sort of sequel to "Marley & Me", a book I truly loved. Had I known before purchasing this CD set that John Grogan was NOT involved creating it, I would never have bought it.
   
   The cover, both front and back, leads you to believe that this is a compilation of dog stories, which couldn't be further from the truth. Of six CD's included in this set, just one (CD #3) has any dog stories on it! The others are merely ramblings and musings from Grogan's old "Philadelphia Inquirer" column . . . probably alright, if that's what you wanted to listen to, but if you're looking for dog stories, this is NOT the CD set to buy. This set is far from entertaining and is mostly boring and depressing.
   
   I wish Amazon would let us assign ratings in the negative numbers as I would give this garbage a rating of -5 stars. Simply giving it a one star rating isn't sufficient. I feel ripped off, hugely disappointed and wish I had my money back.



3. Do not buy. This was done without the consent, involvement or approval of the author of the NY Times best selling book "Marley and Me," John Grogan.
   
   Stick with ONLY his versions of "Marley & Me." There are editions for all ages: Adult, teens and children.
   
   This is not one of them.

5 comments about Love, Miracles, and Animal Healing: A heartwarming look at the spiritual bond between animals and humans.

1. As a college student aspiring to work with animals, this is the kind of book that consistently validates and reinforces my chosen career path. Dr. Allen M. Schoen, veterinarian and founder of the Veterinary Institute for Therapeutic Alternatives in Connecticut, has put together here a delightful and even potentially life-saving collection of stories and advice for pet owners. He eases the reader into the book by beginning with a few stories of the more miraculous cases he has seen over the years. Included is the story of Megan, a stray golden retriever that came to him with what appeared to be a hopeless case of heartworm. He promised her that if she made it, he'd keep her, and make it she did, going on to provide miraculous healing powers of her own to numerous other animals Dr. Schoen has treated. Schoen also relates some stories of incidents from his younger life that inspired his decision to enter a career where he could help animals.
   
   Part II, entitled "Bonding," explores the major ways in which relationships between animals and humans, animals and others of their kind, and even between animals of different species, are developed, maintained, and strengthened. Schoen focuses on four major elements - listening, touching, feeling, and letting go. For each of these topics Schoen has related a series of truly heartwarming tales.
   
   Part III, which comprises about half the bulk of the book, is entitled "Healing" and takes on a slightly more scholarly air. Dr. Schoen has incorporated various methods of alternative healing into his practice for years, and uses things like acupuncture, herbal treatments, and homeopathic remedies in conjunction with standard Western medicine. And he gets results, as evidenced by the numerous examples he gives of such treatments succeeding where conventional Western treatments have failed. He begins by introducing us to acupuncture, explaining how he came to be convinced of its effectiveness, and following this with a section on the different ways in which acupuncture and acupressure can help your own pet. There are also diagrams showing a few of the major acupressure points that he feels all pet owners should know, with explanations of what stimulation of these various points will do.
   
   Schoen next explores the world of herbal remedies, again explaining how he was introduced to these as alternative treatments and how they can work to help your pet should Western medicine fail. He includes a "Top Nine" list of herbal remedies every pet owner should be aware of, explaining what each herb does and how it works, and sharing example cases from his own experience. However, Schoen warns all pet owners to consult a veterinarian or herbal specialist before attempting to treat your pet yourself, as herbs can be harmful or even lethal if used improperly or in the wrong amounts.
   
   Next Schoen includes a brief section on nutrition and diet. He details the basic nutritional needs of the average dog and cat, and includes helpful charts that show how much of certain nutrients animals should receive based on their body weight. Also included are a few of Schoen's own recommended recipes for balanced, home-prepared meals for your pet.
   
   The final alternative healing method Schoen discusses is the use of homeopathic remedies. Similar in a way to inoculations, except for the fact that they are used to treat rather than prevent illnesses, homeopathic treatments rely on the use of heavily diluted samples of agents which, if encountered in large quantities, would actually cause the symptoms the patient is experiencing. For example, an allergic reaction to bee stings would be treated by crushing the bee, diluting the resulting pulp until only a trace amount of bee residue remains, and giving a few drops to the patient. Though such treatments remain the topic of heated debate, Schoen has repeatedly experienced success with these methods and provides numerous example stories to prove it.
   
   Part IV, the final section of the book, is entitled "Teachings" and eases us back out of the book in much the same way we were drawn in - with a series of uplifting tales about the things animals can teach their humans and each other. Among these things are compassion, forgiveness, transformation, gratitude, sacrifice, and joy. One of my favorite tales was of a small stray cat named Daisy, adopted by a friend of Dr. Schoen's, who could not fully adjust to a life shared with humans until another cat was introduced to the household. The newcomer showed Daisy how to interact with their human companion and helped her overcome her confusion and fear. The very last story in the book takes us back to Megan, Schoen's golden retriever, in her final days at the age of fourteen. Schoen relates how, even in the process of dying, this very special dog continued to teach him valuable lessons about life.
   
   This is a book any pet owner should read, particularly those with cats and dogs. However, any animal lover will find plenty of useful material here, as there are also stories of Schoen's experiences with horses, cows, rabbits, birds, and other animals - even a camel. The stories are thoroughly enjoyable, often downright amazing, and the insights and advice offered by Dr. Schoen are invaluable. An owner of five cats myself, the book brought to my attention numerous alternative veterinary treatments that I had now known about before. The writing is fluid, colorful, lively, and very friendly, and the book can easily be finished in a day or two. At the very end Schoen has included an appendix with contact information for various veterinary resources, and also a short list of recommended further reading. I recommend this book most highly to any pet owner, animal lover, aspiring veterinarian, and also to practicing veterinarians looking for additional treatment alternatives.



2. Truly beautiful. Made me cry then smile. I have a 12-year golden retriever myself, and they are definitely a gift of joy and love



3. Dr. Schoen and Pam Proctor have written a remarkable tale of veterinary practice and the animals and people encountered along the way. Dr. Schoen relates his own path from traditional veterianry medicine to a mixed practice including alternative therapies for animals. His stories of healing will intrigue you to continue turning each page as you follow the lives of his extraordianry patients. Thank you Dr. Schoen and Pam Proctor. As a veterinary student I found this book extremely inspiring.



4. After reading this book I can think of so many people I'd like to send it to! I highly recommend it to anyone who has or loves animals. Some of the information in this book can save the lives of animal companions by showing the additional options available to heal health problems.



5. Very good book. Would recommend it to anyone

No comments about Treasury of Great Horse Stories: A Collection of Tales That Celebrates the Majestic Beauty of the Horse.

5 comments about Spotted in France.

1. This is a funny and warm hearted book that you'll never want to end. It's for anyone who loves animals or just needs a fun vacation.



2. I really loved this book. I even sent a copy to my 65 year old father and he loved it as well.



3. I LOVED this book. Charming, sweet but not sticky -- delightful. I fell in love with the people and the animals -- and Edmont's descriptions of France were perfect. All I wanted to do was call Air France and book a ticket. Fortunately, I am going back in August, so -- guess I can wait -- but this is a lovely book. Enjoy!



4. Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (9/06)
   
   Gregory Edmont's "Spotted in France" is an utterly charming and heartwarming story of an American living a very average life in Paris, until he gets a dog. Then his life changes in a number of ways and the author discovers that most French are not snotty - the way he used to think of them - but rather shy. And owning a dog (or is it sharing his life with a dog?) shows him an utterly different picture of the French people.
   
   All of a sudden Gregory and his charming Dalmatian, JP, belong. They are insiders and not visitors. People are friendlier, everybody smiles and Gregory's life seems to be magically transformed. Then adventure beckons - JP is needed in Provence by his old breeder, Madame Clix. A young Dalmatian lady, Flirt, needs a "husband" and JP is chosen to sire her next litter. So Gregory and JP embark on a truly fantastic journey across France all the way JP's birthplace. And what a journey this turns out to be! To start, they are going to do it on a Vespa - the cute Italian scooter. This immediately creates problems with the police - are Dalmatians allowed to ride on a scooter? The journey is exhilarating and often quite funny. Gregory decided to combine frugal sleeping quarters and lavish restaurants on the way to Madame Clix's domain. They meet all kinds of interesting people, including a very hospitable farmer's family, a coven of modern day witches (which conveniently includes a scooter mechanic), a rather unconventional Catholic priest and more.
   
   Once safe with Madame Clix another adventure begins. JP has never "courted" before. How will he perform? Does he need help? A visit to a rather peculiar veterinary clinic in nearby Marseille turns out very strangely. The first encounter with Flirt is disappointing. Will love happen at all?
   
   I do not want to spoil your fun with this uplifting story, so you'll have to read it yourself to find the answer to this particular question. Suffice to say that things are never quite as simple as they seem and there is always a bit of surprise and suspense to keep the story flowing.
   
   Gregory Edmont spins a good tale. His writing is straightforward and honest. His comments on France and French are refreshing and candid. He is very observant and his characters well drawn. One truly longs to find out more about so many of them. I'd love to see a sequel - or two - to this book. The accompanying drawings by Mark Reyes are very much in tune with the story and they complement it in the best possible way.
   This is a book that should appeal to most anybody. If you are an animal lover, JP should become one of your favorite characters ever. If you are a travel buff, you'll find this a well written travel tale. A foodie will enjoy the descriptions of multi-course meals at Michelin starred restaurants. A nature lover should be enchanted by the descriptions of the areas Gregory and JP drove through - and even more so of the special cabbage patch. A romantic will find this to be an enchanting love story. And anybody else will find plenty of things to learn from this story. As for me, "Spotted in France" made me look forward to my next trip to France even more.



5. I picked this book up at a reading the author gave at a nearby Vespa dealer. It was the perfect format for the book -- JP (the dog) and his progeny were there to mug for fans, while gleeming Vespas, an engaging author, and tasty French appetizers set the mood.
   
   Once I got out of that showcase and actually sat down to read the book, I was thoroughly impressed. It's a quick, light read -- a great summer book if you're looking for something to take on vacation. All of the essential elements of a good travel story --a narrator you care about, a dog you can't help but admire, beautiful landscapes to make you wish for your own French vacation, and an endless parade of characters to keep you chuckling along. If you've read the current bestseller Marlee & Me, and are looking for something in the same vein, then Congrats! You just found it with Spotted in France.

1 comments about Happy Tails: Inspirational Stories for Dog's Best Friend.

1. WOW - Top notch! What an inspiring book! Thank you for so beautifully stating a love for a dog, a love for all dogs, a love for rescue dogs and most importantly, God's love for each of us. This is a beautiful piece of work. A tender read. ENJOYABLE!

2 comments about What Animals Tell Me: True Stories of an Animal Communicator.

1. After adopting my first rescue, I had many questions concerning her behavior, where she came from, her physical & mental condition, etc. I contacted Dr. Monica through her website and set up a consultation. Her conversation w/ Ruby Jewel was both enlightening and comforting to me. I subsequently purchased her book which brought a further understanding of my pet and how to meet her wants and needs. I have purchased this book and given as gifts to all of my "animal loving" friends, who are also enlightened by her practical advice. A must read for pet owners (we know who 'owns' who!)



2. What Animals Tell Me: True Stories Of An Animal Communicator is a collection of testimonies from an animal communicator. Dr. Monica Diedrich has been speaking with animals since the age of eight, earned a Doctorate of Metaphysics from the Metaphysical Fellowship Church in Anaheim, California, and has also worked as a veterinary assistant. Chapters recount her experiences with the strong wills of living animals, as well as the spiritual essence of animals that have crossed over to the other side. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this heartwarming and spiritually uplifting anthology, sure to touch the hearts of devoted pet owners especially.

No comments about Sleeping Partners: Cracker and Micky: Two Dogs with a Tale.