Customer Reviews

The Souls of Animals

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I stumbled upon this book on accident. As an animal lover, it looked appealing to me though I expected it to be a generic, feel-good read. I was quite surprised! When I read the information that Kowalski had compiled, I cried. The chapters explore our questions on just how perceptive and emotional animals are. Do they feel a sense of love? Are they aware of death? Why do they play? When I read the stories that the author relates, such as the family of elephants who buried the dead and Koko the female lowland gorilla who learned American Sign Language, I was deeply moved. I had not purchased this book planning a lifestyle change but that is precisely what happened. Knowing what I do now about the intelligence and passion of animals, I am a vegetarian, living a happier, healthier life.

A very caring look at the the world we live in. A classic book on animal spirituality Gary regales us with tales of the lives of some of the creatures with which we share the planet. He ponders and causes us to stop and give thought as well on various qualities of animals. He details and presents instances of playfulness, capacity for love, altruism, and awareness of death, in our animal brethren. Gary is a Unitarian minister and in his book, he teaches us to be more open to the possibility of our biological, cerebral, and ethereal connection with animals

Leslie Blanchard

Editor A Writer's Choice Literary Journal

Gary Kowalski is a Unitarian minister in Burlington, Vermont whose thinking and writing about animals and their spiritual lives is clear and powerful. To questions such as "Do Animals Experience Love?, "Are Animals Aware of Death?", Are Animals Conscious of Themselves?", "Do Animals Know Right From Wrong?" and "Do Animals Have Souls" Kowalski brings a rare blend of careful observation, personal insights, scientific understanding, and moral sensitivity. The Souls of Animals is a book that, chapter by chapter, teaches us to be more open to the possibility of our biological, psychological, and spiritual kinship with animals. In a university course that I teach on animal ethics students and I found this book provided a perspective and a "voice" that, too often, is discounted or neglected in ethical analyses and debates about humans' relationships and uses of animals. This book is pleasure to read and to think about.

Gary Kowalski wrote a succint book about a subject that is verydear to me (being as I am a vegan and an ecologist). I appreciate thepondered yet caring way in which he writes. It will give you food for thought concerning our animal brothers and sisters under the sky. This book reminded me a lot of the absolutely fantastic 'When Elephants Weep',by Masson and McCarhy (I think) which I actually never got to finish reading because it depressed me too much (but I must finish it soon as the book is a masterpiece). I advise you to read 'The Souls of Animals' and to think about it (and to act accordingly).

Mr. Kowalski's book is excellent. If your're an animal lover or simply want a great read, you will enjoy this book. It's not just another man's opinion, but a well cited and researched work. Kowalski shows humans are not the only sentient beings on this planet.

Do animals have souls, and do they experience spirituality as humans do? THE SOULS OF ANIMALS offers stories backed with science to show that other creates are sentient beings who also have spiritual lives. From the music of birds to the nature of elephants, THE SOULS OF ANIMALS utilizes numerous examples from nature to reveal evidence of animal spirituality.

After our Evie died a few months ago I gave much thought to what happens to the animal spirit after death and even if animals have a spirit or sould that survives the body. I read "The Divine Life of Animals and found some comfort and confirmation there, but was motivated to keep searching for answers. This led me to "The Souls of Animals." It's an easy book to read, but not simplistic. It's a comforting book, and not condescending or dogmatic. I enjoyed the author's writing style and his obvious sense of compassion for those who have lost a beloved pet. Reading "Souls of Animals" over a span of two or three days (as I did) gives it even more impact.

Here is a book one can't help but want to recommend or share with another.

Animals, like the human animal, are living, breathing, feeling, loving, soul-filled children of God.
We are all in this together.

We all get tired, we all get wet in the rain.
We all experience loneliness, we all experience pain.
We all thirst for water, and we all thirst for love.
We are all Children of God, Who's Angels watch over us from high up above.
We all breathe, we all play, we all feel.
We all get hungry and we all appreciate a satisfying meal.
We are all born, and we all deserve to live life.
Nobody should be left behind, or be subjected to a dissecter's deadly knife.
We all die, and we are all born into everlasting love and life in Heaven.... in paradise.
Where, as one spiritual family, we all share love, and we all get treated nice.
In Heaven, we all gather together, one species, one race, one religion, and all of us have lots of fun.
In Heaven, we all realize, that we all are really ONE.

We are all one.
One life.
One Soul.
One Spiritual Family.

Mr. Kowalski's book is excellent. If your're an animal lover or simply want a great read, you will enjoy this book. It's not just another man's opinion, but a well cited and researched work. Kowalski shows humans are not the only sentient beings on this planet.

I sent this to my brother who was mourning after the death of his best buddy, Smokey. He said he read it all the same day it arrived and it was helpful.