Book Description
The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the
wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life
John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.
Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good—Marley was expelled. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, "Don't hesitate to use these."
And yet Marley's heart was pure. Just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. Marley shared the couple's joy at their first pregnancy, and their heartbreak over the miscarriage. He was there when babies finally arrived and when the screams of a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night. Marley shut down a public beach and managed to land a role in a feature-length movie, always winning hearts as he made a mess of things. Through it all, he remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit's end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.
Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans.
Download Description
"
The heartwarming and unforgettable
story of a family in the making and the
wondrously neurotic dog who taught
them what really matters in life
John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.
Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good—Marley was expelled. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, ""Don't hesitate to use these.""
And yet Marley's heart was pure. Just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. Marley shared the couple's joy at their first pregnancy, and their heartbreak over the miscarriage. He was there when babies finally arrived and when the screams of a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night. Marley shut down a public beach and managed to land a role in a feature-length movie, always winning hearts as he made a mess of things. Through it all, he remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit's end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.
Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans.
"
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Edition of Marley and Me.......2007-10-11
I bought this edition of 'Marley and Me' to see the extra photographs of Marley and also for John Grogan's newspaper column he wrote after Marley died. I highly recommend this edition to everyone, it truly is a treasure.
An incredible tale.......2007-10-05
This book was wonderful - ignore the one star reviews, seriously. It was never intended to be an intellectual story with an incredible plot (or twist), and it certainly wasn't meant to make one feel angry at the author as you read it.
If you can open your mind (and heart), and read this book as a simple tale of such a basic relationship between dog and owner(s), you will be rewarded with such a funny, warm, heart-wrenching, inspiring tale that could well make you a better person.
I ENJOYED the moments of self-indulgence - where we got an understanding about who John was and what was going on in HIS life. I think the book needed that to avoid being entirely about a dog and his experiences - let's face it, no matter how great Marley is (or isn't), he wasn't going to warrant 200 pages of text (or was he?). It's this discussion of family, of growing up, of happiness and anger, that draws so many parallels between the life of a human being, and the life of a dog. It is summarized so brilliantly towards the end of the book and, as you wipe away the tears, you can only feel an incredible sense of optimism and hope well after you turn the last page.
Predictable ending? Well duh. You do know where it's going from the moment you purchase the book - from the moment you purchase a DOG. But HOW Grogan gets there is brilliantly done. His writing style is well-paced, conversational, yet entirely descriptive. I felt the warmth of the South Florida sun as I watched Marley play in the ocean, and I felt everyones shivers in the grey, cold winter in PA. Ultimately, I felt the utter sadness that an entirely family felt, and the power of reminiscence & focusing on those special moments in life.
Here's to you, Grogan. Your book touched my heart; and to Marley - your existence has touched millions of people around the world without you even knowing it. If that's not a successful book, I'm not quite sure what is.
How fast the time goes with Crazy Pups.......2007-10-03
I just finished Marley & Me.
The Best read I have had in a long time. It was like watching a GREAT movie, only better. I have loved and lost 1 best friend recently and the other best friend is now over 10 years....this book makes you think...remember.... and thank the heavens for allowing them to be here with us for their period of time reminding us that we are "only Human".
I loved the book and have 6 people in line to borrow it now that I am finished.
If you like to laugh, love dogs and appreciate terrific writing, buy or borrow this book!
A+ Marley will be with me forever.
Beautiful! Touching!.......2007-09-29
John Grogan brings a great deal of heart to Marley's story. It reminds one of how precious pets can be and how these little ones share so much with us as life goes on.
It's a beautiful, touching, and vivid story, and you'll just fall in love with it.
Thanks, John, for sharing such a great tale :-)
a wonderful story.......2007-09-25
You will laugh and cry. A great story for anyone who has ever loved a dog.
Book Description
“Dogs are blameless, devoid of calculation, neither blessed nor cursed with human motives. They can’t really be held responsible for what they do. But we can.”
–from The Dogs of Bedlam Farm
When Jon Katz adopted a border collie named Orson, his whole world changed. Gone were the two yellow Labs he wrote about in A Dog Year, as was the mountaintop cabin they loved. Katz moved into an old farmhouse on forty-two acres of pasture and woods with a menagerie: a ram named Nesbitt, fifteen ewes, a lonely donkey named Carol, a baby donkey named Fanny, and three border collies.
Training Orson was a demanding project. But a perceptive dog trainer and friend told Katz: “If you want to have a better dog, you will just have to be a better goddamned human.” It was a lesson Katz took to heart. He now sees his dogs as a reflection of his willingness to improve, as well as a critical reminder of his shortcomings. Katz shows us that dogs are often what we make them: They may have their own traits and personalities, but in the end, they are mirrors of our own lives–living, breathing testaments to our strengths and frustrations, our families and our pasts.
The Dogs of Bedlam Farm recounts a harrowing winter Katz spent on a remote, windswept hillside in upstate New York with a few life-saving friends, ugly ghosts from the past, and more livestock than any novice should attempt to manage. Heartwarming, and full of drama, insight, and hard-won wisdom, it is the story of his several dogs forced Katz to confront his sense of humanity, and how he learned the places a dog could lead him and the ways a doge could change him.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Read Marley & Me Instead.......2007-08-23
This man buys animals and then punishes them because he doesn't understand their nature. Dogs are pack animals and there can only be one alpha dog, one beta dog, etc. He gives away his dog Homer because his other dog Orson takes over the role of alpha dog and Homer falls in line. He buys sheep and donkeys without first understanding their needs either in care or diet. He is looking for emotional bonding with these animals, but he is not willing to bond to them, nor any human member of his family. He blames his emotional problems on his father, but he is a 56 year old man. You are an adult now Mr. Katz, get over it. This "book" is more of a journal of his self-indungent complaints. I quit half way through the book with a very poor opinion of this man. Sell the farm, Mr. Katz and invest in some good psychotherapy, or read Marley & Me to see what real dog-human bonding looks like.
I'm a cat person, not a dog person, but..........2007-05-23
Some dogs, including Jon Katz's, deserve 5 stars.
As a future farm-owner, and possibly even a dog-owner, I'm following Katz' adventures in his memoirs with a large amount of glee. He's not afraid to take pratfalls on the public page, and he has a really large heart. Not to mention he's a great writer, and he had me following this memoir out to its conclusion in about two days!
You don't have to love dogs, sheep, or donkeys to appreciate Katz's writing and his perspectives.
Excellent material, and I'm looking forward to his new book coming out in about a month.
Very Offensive.......2007-03-31
I've lived in the area that Jon Katz writes about my entire life and it's quite obvious to me that he has absolutely no clue what he's talking about. Not only does he speak about people in the area like they're all ignorant idiots, making comments about "the locals," he manages to blatantly lie more than once. He seems to be under the impression that there aren't any purebred dogs in the area, which is one of the biggest loads of crap I've ever heard of in my life.
Not only is his attitude about the AREA offensive, but even his attitude about dogs is offensive. Entirely forgetting his previous book, A Dog Year, where he threw things at his dog Orson and terrified him into submission, he seems to think that a dog is incapable of love and has a quite obvious belief that a dog's life is of less worth than that of a human being. I don't know how anyone who has read these books can let him keep a dog, considering his attitude and behavior. Then he has the gall to say that no one loves their dogs like he loves his. Moreover, these books, which are supposed to be about dogs, are not. They are about him studying himself through his interactions with his dogs, a self-worship that is rather disgusting.
The only reason I gave this book two stars instead of one is because despite his sheer idiocy, he is a good writer. The writing is fluid and almost has a dream-like quality. He's really one of the best writers I've ever read. If only he weren't such an jerk...
a whiny and self indulgent green acres with the ghosts of dogs.......2007-02-20
If you are reading this for the dogs, be prepared to be horrified. Katz's track record with dogs in past and future books, including this one, is not good. His care is little short of abysmal. Here, Katz buys a farm in the country, the better to cash in on dog writing, border collies and herding being trendy and hot, something people will be sure to spend money on, particularly if the book has a nice cover.
But this is a fundamentally dishonest work. He writes books about himself, disguised as dog books. Here he admits he doesn't much like dogs, except his own (and we see how he cares for those). He doesn't worry about their care (they run down the highway beside his farm, fodder for cars and trucks). His training: screaming and throwing things, etc, is pretty close to abuse. But he believes the dogs are there to make him a better human. This farm is the great experiment to rehab him. The dogs pay the price. If the dog is an easy one, like Rose, or his past labs (which were trained by someone else) he gets along with them, until they get sick. Then they get the quick needle. If they are troubled dogs, he gives them away or euthanizes them. Even Orson his "soulmate and forever dog" gets the needle, after being driven nearly insane by renovators at the farm. But that's the next book. He lives apart from his wife because his needs come above his families'. He complains his sister isn't interested in his life, but he admits he doesn't care to be interested in hers, which largely revolves around her dogs. He says how jealous he is that she will drive to pick up a needy dog, but won't drive to see him. This is a grown man, mind you. He buys a farm and fills it with animals, fodder, of course for his writing, but whines constantly about having to care for them, the cold, his barn chores, dogs being dogs (eating donkey poop) etc, and just about everything else. He believes in doublespeak, thinking that if he talks about how he loves his dogs,that's what people will believe, in spite of the litany of neglect, abuse, and disinterest in dealing with anything but easy dogs. When a dog becomes too much trouble, he justifies his neglect or abuse by saying he wants to keep dogs in the proper perspective in his life. Or they're gotten rid of. The dogs arre there to make a quick buck from, and when they develop a problem, they disappear one way or another and he gets a new one with lightning speed. He needs to keep those dogs coming for the next book on the assembly line.
After several hundred pages of whining, this book ends with seven of eight sentences beginning with "I ". With Katz, it is all me, me, me. If you want to read a book by a self-indulgent, self-centered and selfish man this is your book. He'll be happy to take your money. Don't fall too in love with the poor dogs, though, because they never last. You won't find any old dogs on Katz's farm. Don't expect to find a kinship with Katz, either, given he admits he doesn't like other dogs, dog people, dog activities or sports. But he gets testy if you don't like his books.
By the way, they're making a movie about Orson -- too bad that the dog didn't live to see it. Look for him not in the movie, but under a headstone, a victim of Katz' farm renovations. The "dog room" got renovated, courtesy of your royalty dollars. But when Katz left Orson loose to continually deal with a flood of renovators brushing past him, he didn't understand why the dog's aggression increased in a herding dog bred to protect his property and left to fend them off by himself. So farm got renovated; the dog got a new "dog room" six feet under. Hey at least the farm looked nice when they went to make the movie about the dog, and that's what was important to Katz.
Do yourself a favor, and also end the revolving dog door on Katz's farm by passing this tripe by.
Bedlam Farm.......2007-02-20
This was the first of Jon Katz's books that I was introduced to. I am hooked! I have read the all of his "dog" books now and love each of them. His ability to share his life, his journey, and the transitions that he has made are an inspiration to me. This book is a treasure and I highly recommend it.
Book Description
In this 1996 Minnesota Book Award winner, Kent Nerburn draws the reader deep into the world of an Indian elder known only as Dan. It’s a world of Indian towns, white roadside cafes, and abandoned roads that swirl with the memories of the Ghost Dance and Sitting Bull. Readers meet vivid characters like Jumbo, a 400-pound mechanic, and Annie, an 80-year-old Lakota woman living in a log cabin. Threading through the book is the story of two men struggling to find a common voice. Neither Wolf nor Dog takes readers to the heart of the Native American experience. As the story unfolds, Dan speaks eloquently on the difference between land and property, the power of silence, and the selling of sacred ceremonies. This edition features a new introduction by the author. “This is a sobering, humbling, cleansing, loving book, one that every American should read.” — Yoga Journal
Customer Reviews:
Neither Wolf Nor Dog.......2007-09-15
I can't really add anything more that hasn't already been said here. I just wanted to note that I too think this is a truly beautiful and very important book. I will carry it's message with me always.
Keepers of the Fire.......2007-08-11
There are many books by do-gooders claiming to advance the wisdom and worldliness of Native American elders, but such books tend to glamorize the mythical past and/or simplify belief systems through the eyes of an amazed know-it-all white person. Another side-effect of the American media's obsession with Native American history is that it ignores the people's modern travails while focusing on how noble and pure everything was before the white man arrived. In this generally outstanding book, Kent Nerburn tries to avoid these weaknesses of white-generated coverage of Indians, and is mostly (though not always) successful.
This book is based on Nerburn's very rocky and uncomfortable friendship with an old Lakota man named Dan, who has led a long life of hardship on the reservation while striving to preserve his tribe's culture and customs. Refreshingly, Dan and Nerburn quickly dispense with historical myths and focus on where Indians stand in the present, with modern social problems combined with a need to understand a history far more painful and destructive than even the most sympathetic White Americans could imagine. Nerburn cannot always avoid sappy cultural ruminations and Dan is not always a likable person - but this all works to the book's advantage because both are revealed as complex humans with realistic strengths and weaknesses. The text occasionally gets uncomfortable as Dan delivers hard-hitting soliloquies on the continuing differences in the worldviews of the two peoples, but his opinions on matters of history and culture can be highly illuminating, as are Nerburn's struggles to understand without becoming the type of exploitative writer that he loathes. In the end, this is an extremely thought-provoking book and is essential for anyone interested in the culture of Native Americans - yesterday and today. [~doomsdayer520~]
Amazing Book!.......2007-05-15
I am in the process of reading this book for the third time, and it still catches and holds me like very few other books can. If you are a reader interested in obtaining a dramatic and unadulterated view of America through the eyes of those who lived here prior to the European invasion, this book will give that to you. If you want a viewpoint beyond the white-written history books, in which battles won by Indians are "massacres" and battles won by whites are "victories," this is the book for you. After all, this was a country in which people and societies existed before Christopher Columbus showed up. I will warn you to be prepared; you will never view "American" history in the same manner again!
A must read for America's Moral Compass.......2007-01-04
A fantastic, insight into a reality we share with native americans - Our country and lands, democracy, religion expanded just behind our destruction and sanctioned genocide of the American Indian. A gripping reminder that 150 years, in the collective memory of a people,is but a blink of an eye and that this struggle that most White Americans relegate to old hisotry is still well alive for Native Americans. This history,our own history, if held to contemporary american moral compass would be the cause of great outrage. As I read I found my patriotism humbled by they hyprocracy of our own history. And yet, the message of the book also faces the reality of the past and looks to a better future both for Native and White Americans. Simply a great read and great insight.
Awesome Read.......2006-11-21
This book was very deep and realistic. Few books have I read twice - this was one of them. I applaud the author - Nerburn. Reading this book was a gift. Thank you for taking on this project.
Average customer rating:
- A wonderful book for children about New York City
- Buy it now!
- Great read for preschoolers and up
- How To Get a Second Grade Boy to Read For Pleasure
- There is a home for every creature
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The Adventures of Taxi Dog (Picture Puffins)
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New York, New York!: The Big Apple from A to Z
ASIN: 0140566651
Release Date: 2000-04-24 |
Customer Reviews:
A wonderful book for children about New York City.......2007-03-19
If you know of an older toddler or preschooler who plans to visit New York or lives in New York, this book makes a wonderful gift.
Most children who visit/live in NYC will ride a taxi. So, the book's topic is very relevant to their own experience. Things about the city are subtly tied into the the wonderful rhymes of this book (e.g. dogs, Central Park, the Circus, Broadway) without being too "touristy."
Buy it now!.......2006-12-07
This story is adorable and the illustrations are great. You will smile from the first page to the last. Definitely a great addition to your picture book library.
Great read for preschoolers and up.......2006-03-11
I have read this to pre-schoolers and they just love the illustrations. The sites of New York City come alive in this book. You'll fall in love with Maxi when you read this story and be asking for more.
How To Get a Second Grade Boy to Read For Pleasure.......2006-01-03
Second grade boys are tough critics but I've yet to find one who didn't like "The Adventures of Taxi Dog". The story, told in rhyme, is sensitive and funny. The pictures are colorful and ripe with details. The dedication is special and should not be skipped if you are reading this one out loud.
There is a home for every creature.......2004-04-07
I read this book to my son when he was 5 yrs old as part of the scholastic book order through his school. My son is now going to be graduating from high school and he still has the book. However, it has seen better days since it is in paperback! The first time I read this book to him, believe it or not, I got choked up. The illustrations and the story itself are outstanding. He treasures this book as a very happy childhood memory. I've decided as part of his graduation present that I would get the brand new hard cover so that he may always cherish it and read it to his own kids some day. :o)
Book Description
At Borough Farm, on North Devon’s rugged, spectacular coast, David Kennard and his dogs are embarking on a new shepherding year.
Part diary of one man and his remarkable dogs, part Herriot-like homage to the countryside and its characters, A Shepherd’s Watch is that rare thing: a portrait of a real life that is at once authentic and evocative, warm, and compelling. Here, David Kennard presents twelve months with his working sheepdogs, Greg, Swift, Gail, Fern, and Ernie, as they face a never-ending series of challenges: from rescuing ewes stranded on the Atlantic cliffs to running the gauntlet of psychopathic rams and officious farm inspectors, from spring lambing and summertime shearing to fending off the ever-present threats nature has in store for the 850-strong flock. All this, in the midst of a harsh economic climate for farming and a landscape that is among the most picturesque, yet wildly unpredictable, in the British Isles.
David Kennard has been a shepherd since he left school at the age of seventeen. In this, his first book, he draws on half a lifetime’s experience to paint an honest and affectionate, often comic picture of a year in the life of a sheep farm and its very different canine and human personalities. As he follows the changing seasons, observing nature’s inexorable journey through the dark days of winter to the rebirth and renewal of spring, he also offers a gentle meditation on man’s relationship with his environment, and a poignant elegy to a rural way of life.
Customer Reviews:
Genuine.......2007-02-13
A totally wonderful book. Beautifully written and authentic. Don't miss this one!
Fine book.......2007-01-19
This is the best book of this kind I've read since James Herriot. In a way David Kennard is more powerful because instead of serving the farmer he is one and has to survive on what he can do as a farmer. He has a deep appreciation of the land and the environment around him coupled with a strong sense of history. His writing is excellent, the pace good and the stories wonderful. It is wrapped in a package of an eventful year in the life of his farm. If you enjoy reading about nature, man and his interaction with animals, you'll enjoy this book.
beautiful, honest -- the real deal.......2007-01-11
David Kennard keeps more than 800 ewes who produce some 1,200 lambs each year on his scenic, windswept farm on the North Devon coast. This is the story of a year in the life of his flock, his farm, his young family, and the five border collies he trains and relies on in his work. Given his background, it's no surprise that he knows sheep and shepherding through and through, and this knowledge, together with his understanding and love of his dogs, radiates throughout the book. In addition, he is a keen observer of nature, and writes with remarkable beauty, grace and humor. Anyone who is drawn to the age-old, elemental life of a shepherd -- a vanishing way of life of simplicity, hardship and profound satisfaction -- is sure to love this book.
Book Description
Three Among the Wolves is a highly readable true-life adventure tale combined with a fascinating natural history of the wolf. Helen and Bill Thayer, accompanied by their part-wolf, mostly Husky dog, Charlie, set out on foot to live among wild wolf packs — first in the Canadian Yukon and then in the Arctic. They eventually set up camp within 100 feet of a wolf den, and are greeted with apprehension at first. They establish trust over time, because the wolves accept Charlie as the alpha male of the newly arrived "pack."
The Thayers discover the complexities of wolf family structure, including how pups are reared and how the injured are tenderly cared for. They view the intricacies of the hunt firsthand — how ravens direct wolves to prey in exchange for carrion — as well as the wolves' finely honed survival skills and engaging playfulness. Readers observe the ways Helen and Bill model pack behavior and how they address an unforeseen event: the Arctic wolves attempt to lure Charlie to join them.
Customer Reviews:
A Fantastic Read.......2007-07-16
This book was incredible, and is definantly my favorite non-fiction book. This book is great for anyone who has a slight intrest in nature. It helps if you think wolves are awesome as I do.
Wolves are beautiful creatures; this is a beautiful book........2006-02-28
This book is my second literary experience with Helen Thayer and her dog Charlie following her 2002 book "Polar Dream," in which the pair join together as Ms. Thayer became the first woman (and oldest person at 50) to walk and ski solo (not counting Charlie) to the Magnetic North Pole. In this adventure her husband Bill joins the pair as they spend a year living with wolves in the wild above the Arctic Circle. It's easy to see why the National Geographic Society/National Public Radio has named Ms. Thayer one of the great explorers of the 20th Century. Her stamina and perseverance are phenomenal. The trio infiltrates the Richardson Mountains in Canada's Yukon Territory in search of the greatest villains in all of children's literature. After struggling through most difficult terrains, they come upon a family of wolves and spend months living in a tent within the animals' sight studying the social interplay of these beasts. Completing this phase of their adventure, they sadly leave this family and trek further north into the shifting and dangerous ice of Beaufort Sea to discover the wintertime interplay between wolves and polar bears, considered by many to be the most dangerous of all wild animals. After this near-death adventure, they ski back to the Mackenzie Delta and set up housekeeping next to another group of wolves. The hardships and danger the three faces on a daily basis are amazing to contemplate. The payoff from this book is two-fold. First, the scientific data discovered for the first time. But maybe more importantly is the realization that these creatures are truly magnificent and caring individuals, and anyone who reads this book with an open mind will forever despise hunters who slaughter entire packs by shooting them from low flying airplanes. Ms. Thayer makes it crystal clear that wolves deserve to be part of the world community. There is a bit of repetition in the book. I only need to be told once that the northern lights are called aurora borealis or that animals burrow under the snow were it is a few degrees warmer than above. But that's nit picking. There is also repetition in the telling of their studies, but that captures the flavor of their scientific existence, so is acceptable. To enhance this telling, dozens of pictures taken during this adventure are sprinkled throughout. All outdoorsmen, naturalists, and animal lovers will treasure this book.
Remarkable----Page Turner.......2004-06-03
A true story of two people, their wolf-dog and their amazing adventures with wild wolves in Canada's far north tundra and frozen ocean.
Helen Thayer, a recipient of many awards and honored by the White House, is a veteran world wide explorer over many years. She and her husband explore the world's remote places seeking material to add to their highly successful educational programs which I and fellow educators nationwide use in classrooms.
Her writing and lectures have inspired people of all ages in many countries. I had the pleasure of meeting this dynamic 66 year old, five feet two inch woman after she spoke at a national corporate convention in Florida.
This is a true life experience of living among wild wolf packs in which Charlie, her Inuit dog who once saved her life from a polar bear attack, is the story's star. Just as POLAR DREAM was, this new book is well written with vivid description that takes you on this remarkable journey. This very different approach to wolf study is a welcome addition to our knowledge of these animals. We see the close relationship of many species of animals sharing wild wolf habitat, and at times depending on each other.
Her first book, POLAR DREAM, tells of her adventure with Charlie when she became the first woman to walk alone pulling her own sled without dog teams or snowmobiles to the Magnetic North Pole.
This exciting story and THREE AMONG THE WOLVES are on the same informative, page turning level. The observation of wild wolf family life, their ability to adjust their survival skills, the raising of the pups and even the concern over an injured family member show close observation and remarkable intuitive understanding of wolf behavior. Of course beloved part-wolf Charlie is the reason for the success of the year long project as the author readily acknowledges.
The story is fast moving and flows smoothly from one chapter to the next. Also beautifully descriptive, compassionate and in places humerous. The numerous photos add to the account. A valuable addition to the story are the descriptions of the various animals the Thayers' encountered who share wolf habitat. An excellent addition to anyones book shelf.
A Fascinating Read.......2004-05-12
I collect books about wolves. This book is different with a new perspective both fascinating and informative.The author, explorer Helen Thayer,her explorer husband, and their Inuit dog Charlie of the best selling book, "Polar Dream" fame,(the author's book about her first ever by a woman to walk alone to the magnetic North Pole)lived a year with wild wolves above the Arctic Circle summer and winter. The author tells us "it would have been impossible without Charlie.He was the bridge we needed to cross the gap that allowed us to live alongside wolves and share their lives."
Charlie, part wolf, was quickly accepted. His human pack was accepted shortly afterward. The affectionate nature of wolves, their interaction with other animal species, even polar bears, that's not well documented elsewhere, is truly enlightening. The escapades of the mishievious pups are adorable as is their care and teaching by the adults.
The amusing episodes, the highly emotional times and the valuable information makes this book a winner. Beautifully written, vivid description, allows the reader to share this amazing and unique experience.
The reader soon knows each wolf, its personality, and its role in family life as if the reader were right there with the author.
A true winner in wolf literature.
Product Description
The classic memoir of the most famous and influential Boxer breeder in the history of the breed. This is a new translation (1999) of the 3rd edition (1987) of "Mein Leben mit Boxern" by Friderun Stockmann. For over sixty years, through two world wars and many hardships, Stockmann bred and developed the Boxer breed into the beautiful animal it is today. This is a biography of both Friderun Stockmann and the Boxer. Over 600 delightful sketches by the author illustrate the text, along with numerous photos. In this edition there are over seventy additional pages of essays by Stockmann, which have never been translated into English before. Truly a beautiful book for the boxer lover.
Book Description
There are two kinds of math: the hard kind and the easy kind. The easy kind, practiced by ants, shrimp, Welsh Corgis — and us — is innate. But what innate calculating skills do we humans have? Leaving aside built-in mathematics, such as the visual system, ordinary people do just fine when faced with mathematical tasks in the course of the day. Yet when they are confronted with the same tasks presented as “math,” their accuracy often drops. If we have innate mathematical ability, why do we have to teach math and why do most of us find it so hard to learn? Are there tricks or strategies that the ordinary person can do to improve mathematical ability? Can we improve our math skills by learning from dogs, cats, and other creatures that “do math?” The answer to each of these questions is a qualified yes. All these examples of animal math suggest that if we want to do better in the formal kind of math, we should see how it arises from natural mathematics.
From NPR's "Math Guy," The Math Instinct is a real celebration of innate math sense and will provide even the most number-phobic readers with confidence in their own mathematical abilities.
Customer Reviews:
Only Okay........2006-10-27
I thought there would be a little more substance to this book. I was glad to see the stories and references to some of the street math but I was more intrigued by the examples of babies and math.
I would recommend it to friends that are not that interested in math.
For those that want more depth to the discussion relating math to instinct I'd go elsewhere.
Has its faults, but a lot of interesting material.......2006-09-06
"The Math Instinct" is something of a hodge-podge, and I think it could be written better, but there is lots of really interesting material, and the reader can always skip chapters not of interest to him/her. I say the book isn't written that well, because Devlin doesn't do well enough with the more difficult concepts. I say it is a hodge podge because subjects such as the nautilus's shell have nothing to do with the rest of the book; in fact Devlin waits far too long to distinguish between computational skills of animals, such as their navigational skills, and the results of optimization through evolutionary trial and error (bee's hexagonal honeycomb) which has nothing to do with the animal brain's capacity for doing math.
Amazingly, a numerical sense has been found to exist in baby's only a few days old, as well as in rats, etc. Brazilian children who could not master arithmetic in school, do great when they need to employ math in the marketplace. When math is abstract and rule based, without making sense, it is hard to learn or apply. It actually uses a part of the brain devoted to language rather than a part used for "natural" math (which incidentally grew out of the area used to control digits). Devlin addresses teaching math, but surprisingly doesn't have much too say, emphasizing repetitive practice rather than a change in presentation. For example, for reasons Devlin gives, learning 7 x 8 = 56 is particularly hard, so why not teach 7 x 8 = 7 x 7 + 7, thereby giving the idea of multiplication as a quick way to do some kinds of addition, and taking advantage of the kind of techniques untutored Brazilian working kids use in the marketplace?
Animal Instinct and Human Psychology.......2006-07-27
Although the word "math" appears in the title, this book is mainly about instinct and psychology. About half the book contains discussions on how animals instinctively do certain things that have some foundation in math. The other half of the book looks at how humans perceive and behave in math-related situations - from infancy to adulthood. The book is very well-written, very clear and easy to read. Those who are math phobic have nothing to fear here; in fact, they would likely find this book very interesting in the sense that they would learn something fascinating about themselves. Other than for those who are math phobic, this book has something for psychology buffs as well as animal lovers. But most importantly, it should grace the shelves of math educators as well as those who are interested in the reasons and possible cures for innumeracy.
Intriguing Accounts of Animal and Street Math.......2006-03-05
This book offers a very readable overview for the non-specialist, with many fascinating details on how animals use their kinds of natural mathematics. It also discusses the findings of Brazilian researchers on how teenage street vendors who can't handle school math develop their own effective street math techniques. The author makes abundantly clear that many people can't deal with school math because it is presented as an abstract symbolic system. People can learn best, he argues, by applying math in concrete ways. Unfortunately, he stops short at the end of the book and simply enjoins us to practice because that is the way humans gain mastery over subjects. It would have been useful for him to spell out how such practice can best be done and to give examples. I recall an awful pre-calculus course that spent a full year trying to prove a set of theorems, leaving us students with no knowledge of how to apply calculus to scientific, financial, or other problems (this was the last exposure to math for most of the class). We would have learned much better by applying calculus to real problems, then perhaps concluding the year with a bit of theory. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy popular science literature or want to know more about animal math.
The Math inSTINKS.......2005-08-21
I was suckered by the description and this book fails to deliver....
The reason I gave two stars: some teenagers or true novices to the subject may find some of the stories interesting enough to turn them onto better works in the field.
There is NOTHING new in this book: Devlin desperately looks for a new angle to a Greek philosophical fight- which is not necessarily bad (see "the Anthropology of Art") BUT he doesn't take any new angle- he just searches and speculates - like a tired dog circling for a place to lie down.
The filler of the book is what anyone would expect- scientific research and 'interesting' tidbits about the physical world... once again, nothing new. Save your money.
Book Description
Most people talk to their dogs (some people talk to their plants!), but Zig Ziglar has engaged in lively conversations and even the occasional debate with his Welsh Corgi dog, Taffy.
When Dirty Dog (Zig's affectionate nickname for Taffy) walked into the Ziglar family household on his short, stubby legs in early 1995, he walked straight into Zig's unsuspecting heart. Conversations With My Dog shows a side of America's number one motivator that few may have suspected. He's nuts about his dog - and the feeling is obviously mutual.
Their discussions about health, happiness, faith, and the nature of dogs and how to improve relationships - including the one Dirty Dog has with his “Dad” - make this not only an enjoyable read, but one that will leave you with much to consider.
Customer Reviews:
Preachy self-promotion.......2007-08-16
The author uses the guise of having a conversation with his dog to preach his views on life, character and morals to the listener. The idea that these are "conversations with his dog" is ridiculous. Several times in the book, the author shamelessly promotes his other books, etc. I found that tacky. The whole concept for the book just doesn't work in this case.
Entertaining and insightful.......2006-05-19
For this particular book, motivational speaker Zig Ziglar employees a highly unusual and interesting method of getting the reader (or in my case, listener) to think. This entire volume is written as if Ziglar's dog, whom he affectionately refers to as "Dirty Dog" has co-written the book. It consists of many different fictional conversations that Ziglar (whom Dirty Dog affectionately refers to as "Dad") has had with Dirty Dog. Dad and Dirty Dog try to discover what makes each other tick and in the process are able to build a greater bond with one another. While being entertained by these conversations, many life lessons are presented -- lessons that teach compassion and understanding, and quite a few Biblical principals that if applied to daily life, can make for a richer, happier existence for the reader.
The lessons taught are simple and basic but it is these same simple basic principals that so many of us neglect or forget in our self-centered day to day living.
Ziglar's insight comes through loud and clear in the audio presentation in particular. His reading of the book lets the listener feel as if he's hearing these "conversations" first hand.
I admit that I was a little put off by the unusual presentation of this material and didn't actually plan to listen anymore after the first disc. But several of Ziglar's statements stayed with me over the next few days and I found myself wanting to hear more. I'm glad I played the other three discs because the listening experience became more and more enjoyable (and valuable) as the the book continued.
I recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed the author's previous works.
A Dissappointing Read.......2005-12-29
This book caught my eye because I own and grew up with Pembroke Welch Corgis. I had not read any other books by Zig Ziglar but had heard of him. At first I found the material somewhat simplistic like someone is reading a book for children and the chapters hold this old fashioned "father knows best" advice that is outdated and old news. I was espcially offended by a chaper in which he explains to his dog how it was ok for his wife to "spank" him. He states ". . . I believe that when kids misbehave, mild corporal punishment is a good approach to take." Then he quotes the bible to back this up. I can't believe he is using this dog in this way, he is not an authority on dogs and it is never effective or ok to hit a dog. The book also had alot of references to religion and the bible. I wished I would have known what was in this book, I would have save my money by not buying it. It was a very disappointing book.
Book Description
For anyone who has lost a pet, Bronson has created a rare, deeply empathetic and healing book. Author of the acclaimed Early Winter, and The Good Bye Book, Bronson creates another winner in the newly released version for the year 2000.
Filled with endearing vignettes and actual children's illustrations of their own pets, this book makes a great gift for anyone who is mourning the loss of a pet.
Customer Reviews:
Grady revisited.......2001-11-09
Earlier this week our family suffered the loss of another beloved dog. After the initial shock lessened I remembered
what I call "The Grady Book". Up to attic I went and dug it out so that I could share it with my 7yr. old twin granddaughters. I knew Mr. Bronson during the time he was writing this book, my daughter Robin was his childrens' Nanny. I remember how concerned and caring he was regarding his girls feelings about Gradys death.
I felt that the book was just what my family needed this week, and as expected, it helped us all. We will all miss the big black Lab that has a part of the family for so long, but we will also remember the good times and smile.
Dog Gone - coping with the loss of your pet.......2000-08-03
I had recently lost my 12 yr. old Old English Sheepdog. He meant a great deal to me. In an attempt to cope with my feelings of loss, I found this book and ordered it. Little did I know the author would be writing about the loss of his OES, Grady. The author explains what it was like for him to lose Grady in a way that will touch your own feelings of loss. You will smile, remember little things, and shed some tears along the way. The book is a quick read, and is very easy for the average person to understand. The book has helped me to understand that I am not the only person to struggle with the loss of their companion. I highly recommend it for any dog lover, but especially OES lovers.
Books:
- Mastiff: A Comprehensive Guide to Owning and Caring for Your Dog (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series)
- McDuff Saves the Day (McDuff Stories)
- Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats : Your A-Z Guide to Over 200 Conditions, Herbs, Vitamins, and Supplements
- Natural Horse-Man-Ship: Six Keys to a Natural Horse-Human Relationship
- Newfoundland (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series)
- Newfoundland (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series)
- Paws to Consider: Choosing the Right Dog for You and Your Family
- Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!, The
- Piranhas (Complete Pet Owner's Manuals)
- Poodle Clipping and Grooming: The International Reference (Howell Reference Books)
Books Index
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