Animals as Guides for the Soul: Stories of Life-Changing Encounters (Hardcover)

by Susan Chernak McElroy (Author) "banked up along the garage and blanketed the uncovered brick porch. The house was ours, our new home..." (more)
Key Phrases: sex link, animal partners, therapy animals, Best Friends, Brightstar Farm, Ever Vigilant (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In her Animals as Teachers and Healers (1997), McElroy attributed her recovery from cancer in part to a kitten's grace and to her totem animal (Gaia, a wolf), who helped her visualize healing. Here, she explores spirituality and communication in the human-animal relationship. McElroy describes her family at Brightstar Farm in WyomingAincluding the cats Bear, Evinrude and Mirella; Arrow, the dog; Phaedra, the llama who taught her about love; and Pumpkin, the cockatoo. There are heartwarming stories from readers, chronicling their own interactions with animals. McElroy discusses the death of a pet, grief and guilt over the loss and how to deal with it. A missionary fervor seems to pervade her plea to transform our relationship with animals, as McElroy seeks to formulate a creed that will put humans and animals on an equal footing. Whatever one thinks of that belief, few will deny that McElroy offers bountiful food for thought and meditation. Author tour.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
YA-Looking at the relationship between humans and the animals in their lives, McElroy asserts that "Nothing that happens between humans and animals is separate from what happens in every other aspect of human life. Who we are with animals mirrors who we are." Through vivid anecdotes of her life on an Oregon farm, and with touching stories shared by readers of her previous book, Animals as Teachers and Healers (Ballantine, 1997), the author writes sensitively about grief and remorse experienced at the loss of pets; euthanasia; emotional pain occasioned by witnessing cruelty to animals (and ways to address these situations); the ethics of using animals in service to humans; the meaning of animals when they appear in dreams; and the joyful lessons animals can teach. Not simply a personal statement, the book relates these concerns to cultural changes, as Western science and spirituality are now outgrowing many old beliefs about the psychology, intelligence, and emotional nature of animals. Recognizing and respecting the complexity of human ethical concerns regarding animals, McElroy does not push a particular agenda but attempts to understand and tolerate the different positions people may take. This is an invaluable resource for teens wishing to understand and explore their feelings about animals, and to make informed and appropriate decisions concerning their relationships with them.
Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Wellspring/Ballantine; 1st edition (October 6, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345424034
• ISBN-13: 978-0345424037
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,572,092 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet inspiration, heart warming tales... a masterpiece!, August 19, 2000

By	Duaa Anwar "Dressage rider/ Author" (Cairo, Egypt) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Animals as Guides for the Soul: Stories of Life-Changing Encounters (Paperback)

This book touched me at a very deep emotional level. It is THE best book written on the subject, covering all aspects of relationships between humans and animals, from acts of heroism to telepathy to life-long partnerships. This is not just a collection of stories, but an in-depth discussion of how our world views animals, and what we can do to improve conditions for them. I am already a lover of nature and animals, but this book opened my eyes to things I have not known or seen before.

This is not a recommended reading for someone who does not appreciate the earth, but for people whose hearts are ready to accommodate the creatures that share with us the planet and are contributing more to our souls than we realize.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book has lovely stories and heartfelt insights., March 1, 1999

By A Customer

If there's anything animals can teach us, it is not to be cynical. Even a dog, abused and abandoned, can be rescued and learn to love again, something too many humans cannot grasp or accomplish. This book has deep insight into the place animals take in our spiritual life, something ancient people took for granted. We have lost sight of this fundamental truth, and books like this will help us rediscover it. Remember, humane means treating animals well, too.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, January 9, 2005

By	Vincent A. Petraglia (New York City, USA) - See all my reviews

Just a great read ! Its a nice bedside book to put your mind in a good place before falling asleep.