Customer Reviews

Bad Dogs Have More Fun: Selected Writings on Family, Animals, and Life from The Philadelphia Inquirer

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

The greedy, seedy editor and publisher of the Philadelphia Inquirer bypassed John Gorgan and put this book together without his knowledge or consent. They boldly capitalized on John's popularity and ability to sell books to pimp out his previous works for their sole monetary gain. Perhaps worse, they used Marley's name and a picture of a little puppy to pull in dog lover's around the world. How low is that? How can these sleazy people sleep at night? If they had done the courtesy of collaborating with John Grogan, they may have seen this book reach stratospheric success. Instead, they circumvented him. They cut Grogan out completely, yet marketed his name, so that they didn't have to share the royalties with him. Yes, they technically own rights to Grogan's columns, but it was the wrong and disrespectful thing to do, and they know it. I urge you not to compensate them any further. Do not put more money in their pockets. Refuse to buy this book!!!

Read the title. You assume this book contains stories about dogs; something along the line of Grogan's "Marley & Me". Right? Well, only a few pages have any dog stories . . . the rest is assorted musings from Grogan's old days at the Philadelphia Inquirer.

If you want to read a compilation of John's old newspaper columns, then this is an excellent book. If you're wanting dog stories or something similar to "Marley & Me", then skip it.

In a story that ran in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (June 8, 2007), Rachel Deahl begins her story about the publication of this book thus: "John Grogan does not want you to buy or read the forthcoming collection of his newspaper columns from Vanguard Press. The MARLEY & ME author is so unhappy about the book's publication that his agent has sent a letter to the publishing community distancing himself from the project."

Ms. Deahl quotes Mr. Grogan, who says that "I was totally blindsided by it. It just seems like common courtesy, and basic professional behavior, to at least give the writer a phone call to say, 'We're thinking of doing this.' ... This has nothing to do with wanting to publish my columns and everything to do with [Vanguard and the INQUIRER] getting a piece of this very large audience I have with MARLEY AND ME."

The publication of this book is pure and naked greed on the part of THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER and Vanguard Press. It's telling that the cover clearly, visibly, and prominently lists "JOHN GROGAN" in big, white, embossed letters, with the slugline: "Author of the #1 NEW YORK TIMES Best-seller, MARLEY AND ME." But on the back cover, however, in type so small that it'd take an electron microscope to read it, it says: "The articles in this book were originally written by John Grogan and published as columns in THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, which owns the rights to them." I'd type out the rest, but the print is so small, it hurts to read it. (See photo.) Considering that the back cover is a shot of a bathtub with muddy pawprints, it's not that the publisher lacked room to enlarge the disclaimer--it's that the publisher wanted to say, in effect, "we made it clear on the back cover that John Grogan does not profit from the sale of this book in any way." So, strictly speaking, there is a disclaimer, but goshawrooty, could it be typeset in a font size any smaller? It cannot be read -- not without requiring a very high-powered magnifying glass!

Considering that the publisher might rake in as much as a cool million bucks (or more) over the life of this project (figure out the sales on the $18.95 hardback, the e-book, the audio book, the foreign editions, the serializations, the trade paperback or mass market paperbacks to follow, and reprints until the time the sun burns out), it's shameful that John Grogan, who WROTE the contents of the book, doesn't get one thin dime.

And that's wrong. That's SO wrong. Or, as the guy said in THE PRINCESS BRIDE, "that's inconceivable!"

I bought this book from Amazon.com because I like John Grogan's work, and these columns are not available in print form elsewhere. So I bought it with extreme reservations, knowing that John -- a good man, an honest writer, a journalist who subscribes to the ethics of his profession -- was simply, legally, taken advantage of. He had no say in the matter and has wisely distanced himself from its publication.

The issue here is NOT whether or not John's newspaper had the legal right to publish the material; the issue here is why, with all the dollars that go to the INQUIRER and the publisher, did neither of them come up with a way to compensate John directly or indirectly without having to ask him to shill the book in return.

Physicians have a code of ethics that says, "First, do no harm." Journalists have a code, too, that is tough but fair, to insure impartiality when covering stories. Let's be charitable and not discuss in any detail the ethical questions surrounding the publication of this book ... because ethics is not part of the discussion.

Though Deahl's story in PW offers the explanations of Brian Tierney (publisher of THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER), none of it makes sense to me. According to PW, his old boss offered to pay him IF (and this is a big IF) he would engage in promotional efforts to help sell the book. Is it any wonder that John Grogan, a man of principles, refused?

All of that said, the book is excellent -- but only because of John's writing. That's what you're buying when you pay your hard-earned bucks for this book. You get John's wonderful, illuminating, thoughtful writing. But, unfortunately, you get to line the pockets of THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER and Vanguard Press, with its ironic (in this case) name: being in the forefront of a movement. I will be charitable now and refrain from elaborating on the irony of a publisher having a name that suggests leading the way, when the author sees no income whatsoever from the writings that are the sole reason the book is selling.

I do recommend the book, but buy it and know that you aren't helping out John Grogan one bit. But I'm sure (says George sarcastically) that THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER and Vanguard Press will appreciate your bucks. But doesn't all of this beg the question as to why John Grogan was not an active participant but, according to the PW story, "totally blindsided by it"? Inquiring minds want to know....

I see, {in very small print} that John had nothing to do with the publishing of this. And you can tell it, it is NOTHING like you expect from the title or what you expect after reading Marley and Me. I feel like i have been taken advantage of, tricked into buying because i didn't read the fine print. Practicaly nothing about dogs.

The writing is good but the title is very deceiving. It makes you think that the book has more to do with animals when it is only a compilation of Mr. Grogan's writings for the Phil. Inq. There are 14 columns concerning animals in general, totaling 47 pages of the book. I am definitely disappointed with the title implying otherwise and playing off the success of Marley and Me.

The title and cover of the book is deceptive. If you are expecting a good read on dog stories, stories about Marley, you're wasting your time and money. Yes, there is a few good dog stories, but most of the book contains every thing but dog stories.

This book is a major disappointment and a waste of time to read.

This is a very listless collection of newspaper columns that completely undermines the talent shown by Grogan in his memoir. Don't waste your money on it. None of the articles are long enough to give a fully rounded picture of their topic, and few tug at your heartstrings. Many are almost embarrassing attempts at humor. "Heavy-handed" is the phrase that comes to mind.

I for one am not concerned with the political back story behind the publishing of Bad Dogs Have More Fun. I picked up this book after seeing the adorable cover, and I've had my head stuck in it ever since! This book is such an eclectic mix of stories and ideas. Some parts literally made me cry and others made me cry tears of laughter! Most of all, it is a great book to read with others, and is definitely something to share with family and friends.

I really don't have much of a life so I spend all of my time reading John Grogan's Marley books. I am so happy that he is cranking out at least one a week so I can have something to look forward too!
Boy has he made a lot of bucks on that dumb dog of his that died (sad).
Many of his new books aren't sad though and are very enjoyable to read.
I am afraid that when the money really piles up Mr. Grogan won't have anymore ideas left and my Marley adventures will dry up, so...I hope my suggestions will help my favorite author to keep going:
1. Disco Marley 9. Marley is Unfairly Impeached!
2. Disco Marley II 10. Marley A Literary Musical
3. The Further Adventures of Disco Marley
4. Marley Helps Poor People Learn How to Disco.
5. Marley Wins the Nobel Prize for Humanity.
6. That Marley, What a Card!
7. NCIS! The Marley Files.
8. Marley for President!

Never having been exposed to John Grogan's writing before (nope, didn't read Marley and Me), my initial reaction to this book was a positive one. Grogan has an easy sense of humor, an eye for what concerns the citizens that live in his city, and more fair-mindedness than many a columnist.

Grogan's topics appeal to the emotions more than to the cerebrum; he might be said to have an incisive heart rather than an incisive mind. At his strongest when he discusses topics such as aging or dying parents, adventures with his kids, the travails of pet ownership, and the joys of raising a family, he is on a weaker basis when he strays into rants on littering, smoking, cell phone use while driving. With the former subjects, he sounds like a good-natured person that has accumulated some wisdom along the way. With the latter subjects...he sounds more like a cranky old man that likes to bark more loudly but less effectively than his departed retriever, Marley.

I like to download audiobooks (for free!) from our local public library, and listen to them while exercising, bike commuting, or doing the more brain-numbing aspects of housework, and this book was one of my choices. It was decent, sometimes funny enough to make me laugh out loud, and occasionally effective enough to make me misty-eyed (his stories of special needs kids overcoming obstacles are great). But a different collection of essays published in a book, NPR's This I Believe, was far more inspiring and thought-provoking. The three star average rating for this book is right where it should be.