Giant George: Life with the World's Biggest Dog [Hardcover]

Dave Nasser (Author), Lynne Barrett-Lee (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 10, 2012

With his big blue eyes and soulful expression, George was the irresistible runt of the litter. But Dave and Christie Nasser's "baby" ended up being almost five feet tall, seven feet long, and 245 pounds. Eager to play, and boisterous to the point of causing chaos, this big Great Dane was scared of water, scared of dogs a fraction of his size and, most of all, scared of being alone.

GIANT GEORGE is the charming story of how this precocious puppy won Dave and Christie's hearts and along the way became a doggie superstar. In 2010, George was named by Guinness World Records as the Tallest Dog in the World-ever. He appeared on Oprah, and even has his own global fan club. But to Dave and Christie, this extraordinary animal is still their beloved pet, the one who has made them laugh, made them cry, and continues to make them incredibly happy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...the book is a well-plotted and compelling story, which takes us into the Nasser family dynamic: when Dave and Christie start trying for a baby, they encounter heartbreak. Startlingly honest and well-written, Giant George's story stands apart from the slew of other dog books on the shelves." Publishers Weekly (1/30/12)



"What seems like a gimmicky idea for a book-life with the world's tallest dog (with a Guinness Book of World Records certificate to prove it)-turns out to be an engaging, humorous read...But rather than the rambles of an obsessed owner, the book is a well-plotted and compelling story, which takes us into the Nasser family dynamic: when Dave and Christie start trying for a baby, they encounter heartbreak. Startlingly honest and well-written, Giant George's story stands apart from the slew of other dog books on the shelves." --Publisher's Weekly





"He may not be Rin Tin Tin, but George has one enormous claim to fame: at nearly five feet tall, seven feet long, and 245 pounds, this Great Dane holds the Guinness World Record not simply for Tallest Living Dog but Tallest Dog Ever. With Oprah appearances, 75,000 Facebook fans, and over 2.6 million hits on his YouTube videos, George is big on followers, too. And he's a sweetheart. Buy for all those dog fans-we're legion." --Library Journal



"A hilarious story, and well told. Much of the humor comes from the spectacle of a couple of innocents having their eyes opened. After you've read about [George's] exploits, the Nassers won't be the only people smitten with him. You will be, too -- although if you're lucky, no one will ever ask you to provide space for him in your home." --Mike Neill, The Reading Room

About the Author

Dave Nasser has a degree in Economics and a Masters in Public Administration. He renovates houses and sells real estate in Tucson, where he lives with wife Christie, two young children, and, of course, Giant George.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Life & Style; 1 edition (April 10, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1455511455
• ISBN-13: 978-1455511457
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #380,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars YOU'VE NEVER READ A DOG STORY LIKE THIS ONE! April 11, 2012

By Gail Cooke HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Yes, yes, I know, there are currently a plethora of books about dogs on the market. But I promise you there's not one that even comes close to this. In fact, don't believe there's a dog that comes close to Giant George because he is the biggest dog in the world and has his name in Guinness World Records to prove it. George is an amazing seven feet long and almost five feet tall. How the runt of a litter could grow this big is anyone's guess and certainly a shock to owners Dave and Christie Nasser.

It all began shortly after Dave and Christie married. He wanted to move back to his hometown of Tucson, Arizona. She, being a California girl, wasn't too enthusiastic about the idea, but she could be bribed - if they moved they'd have a house and she could have a dog. Sounded like a good compromise to Dave.

So, they began to settle in with Dave looking for a house and Christie looking for a dog - she found him, an irresistible Great Dane puppy they called George. Well, happiness didn't last long for Dave because by the time George was four months old Dave figured he was out about $2,000 - "...$1,750 for our puppy, plus the cost of around six weeks' worth of special puppy food, an extra-large crate, a leash and a collar, dog bowls..." He placed an ad in the Arizona Daily Star in the pets section "Home Needed For Great Dane Puppy."

But as it turned out he couldn't sell George, the puppy had become a part of their family (a large part, and Dave decided you just didn't give up on family. "Giant George Life with the World's Biggest Dog" is their story, and it's a whopper (pun intended). There's never been a dull moment. George has appeared on Oprah, has over 75,000 Facebook fans and 2.6 million hits on his YouTube videos. You'll smile, you'll laugh, probably sigh - it's for sure you've never read a dog story like this one.

Enjoy!

- Gail Cooke

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Large and in charge March 27, 2012

By BattleBornNV

Format:Hardcover

Giant George by Dave Nasser was quite a funny little book talking about such a BIG dog. George is the world's tallest dog, ever. And this book is about him, about his owners and about his rise to stardom. George was just an average Great Dane dog, until he grew to be over 200 pounds of HUGE. He sounds like a fun loving, easy going, calm dog that just loves his family, loves his fellow dogs and loves to be in the spotlight. So when he appeared on Oprah, it was right up his alley.

The story is about how this dog went from the runt of the family to being one of the most loved dogs in all of America and possibly the world. Nasser makes this story fun by telling what he thought, how he felt and what they did to raise this dogs into what he is today. There were moments of heart break and sadness followed by another fun story about George.

I would recommend this book to any dog lover, anyone who wants a quick laugh or someone who wants to find out about the worlds tallest dog!

I received this book for free from Grand Central Life & Style Publisher for this review through their association with NetGalley.com. I was not required to give a positive review.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Super-Sized Love October 2, 2012

By McGuffy Ann

Format:Hardcover

Giant George is an unprecedented seven feet long, almost five feet tall (at 43"), and almost 250 pounds. The Guiness Book of World Records has acknowledged him as the world's tallest dog. It wasn't always this way for George. He started as the smallest in his litter, even called "the runt", when he was born in 2005.

Relocating back to his native Arizona, Dave Nasser promised his new bride Christie a puppy. It was initially a bribe of sorts. After the huge costs of the big Great Dane puppy and his super-sized supplies, Dave almost reconsidered. However, after "paws for thought", they realized not only was George rapidly growing, so was their love for him.

Giant George has appeared on TV shows, YouTube videos, and is on Facebook. This is truly a wonderful story full of love and devotion between a dog and his people. This is how it is supposed to be.