And Animals Will Teach You [Paperback]

Margot Lasher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1996

This compelling and poignant exploration views the life-affirming connections between animals and ourselves. The creatures whose stories are found in this book--from a monk seal on the island of Kauai to a German Shepherd named Kirby--provide extraordinary examples of the lessons we can learn from our experiences with animals Targeted features.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

It is not hard to understand why Lasher, a clinical psychologist and author (The Art and Practice of Compassion and Empathy) decided to undertake this potentially compelling and fascinating subject. As an avid animal lover, she has many poignant images of her past relationships with animals. In one chapter, "Protection," she tells how in two separate instances her dog Hogahn protected her from possibly dangerous men. She uses these stories as examples of how animals can teach humans to trust their own basic instincts, whether it be fear or love. Perhaps this is inevitable with any largely anecdotal book about animals, but sometimes Lasher's stories stretch credibility. In one story, she tells of a dying woman's relationship with her dog, Kirby, and how he helped her to accept her own impending death. Lasher's unexplained familiarity with such an intimate, unspoken interchange makes the story ring false. There are also some problems with the book's structure, as the stories wander erratically between past and present. The underlying theme, however, is an honorable one?that the relationship between animals and humans can teach and, in many cases, heal.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (December 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425154580
• ISBN-13: 978-0425154588
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #430,835 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Margot Lasher is a writer and psychologist who studies the relationship between dogs and humans. Her book, Dog: Pure Awareness, uses psychological relational theory to understand the deep connection that develops between a human and a dog. She has taught about the human-animal bond at the New School and in the continuing education program of the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology.
Her dog, Shiro, had a role in her play about the human-dog connection when it was performed in Burlington Vermont last summer. She also had a 10 minute play about people watching their dogs in a dog park, called, amazingly, Dog-Park, in TenFest at the Playwrights' Circle this summer. Two actors played the dogs as they sniffed, rolled and play-fought on stage.
In addition to Shiro, she now has a puppy, Holly, who she is training to act in her next play.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of enlightening stories, August 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: And Animals Will Teach You (Paperback)

Margot Lasher is a wonderful story teller and and like most good story tellers, she takes us from considering the personal and mundane to glimpsing a better understanding of the universal. This book reinforces the deep, enriching and enlightening connection we humans have - if we allow it - with all living creatures. It encourages us to recognize key experiences where animals have entered our lives to reach us, to heal us, maybe to ask for help from us. It is a very moving book which can send us into the world with heightened awareness of our fellow creatures.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THEY REALLY DO TEACH YOU..., October 24, 2006

By 

pwindinspirations "Ruby Hanson" (Colo. Rockies, United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: And Animals Will Teach You (Paperback)

I connected with this book. She describes her own feelings and emotional bonding that I too have felt. I was raised on a ranch with two grandparents whose ideas about animals conflicted so I saw both sides and can understand more than many about animal "energy" Their Energy is everywhere and we all feel it all of the time, most not paying attention to it because it is so common a feeling.


I grew up around more animals than humans and the encounter with kids that I went to school with made me withdraw from them. I was badly pigeon-toed from having my hips dislocated when I was born and the teasing was never ending so I avoided my classmates as much as possible, and I could not wait to get home each day to hug my dog who was always there for me. Even in the bitter cold of winter he was waiting at the school bus stop....

I am not telling this story to get sympathy, I do not need it. I just want you to understand why I am passionate about this book... This Is On The Cover:
" We can find in the eyes of an animal a whole new world. In their liquid depths lies the capacity to trust, be strong, to face fear, to heal and to find love. They see us at our best, without pretense or propriety. And in return for our love and Respect, they give us the gift of ourselves-the true reflection of our Souls..."

.... Each of my animals has taught me something that has stayed with me even after they had to move forward to another realm....
They have taught me that I can give love and it is returned without question. I have learned to be calm because anger hurts and causes fear. They have taught me deformities are something you can live with by my watching them and seeing that their lives go on.
...I have learned compassion does NOT come with a price. I have learned to accept myself as I am and not worry about it. I have learned about a love that goes deep and is non-judging.....
I HAVE SEEN SELF-sacrifice first hand when my little Rat Terrier stood between me and an aggressive much larger dog. He would have died to protect me if he had no other choice.
My Soul belongs to the Animal world.

4.0 out of 5 stars Gentle Teachers, August 5, 2010

By 

Book worm (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: And Animals Will Teach You (Paperback)

Margot Lasher has a special link with animals. Her experiences are varied and insightful. It is a pleasure to read her stories.