Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Bloomsbury
Pages
307
Description
Pets. Nonfiction. Steven Kotler was forty years old, single, and facing an existential crisis when he met Lila, a woman devoted to animal rescue. "Love me, love my dogs" was her rule, and Steven took it to heart. Spurred to move by a housing crisis in Los Angeles, Steven, Lila, and their eight dogs-then ten, then twenty, and then they lost count-bought a postage-stamp-size farm in Chimayo, New Mexico. A Small Furry Prayer chronicles their adventures at Rancho de Chihuahua, the sanctuary they created for their special needs pack. While dog rescue is one of the largest underground movements in America, it is also one of the least understood. An insider look at the "cult and culture" of dog rescue, A Small Furry Prayer weaves personal experience, cultural investigation, and scientific inquiry into a fast-paced, fun-filled narrative that explores what it means to devote one's life to the furry and the four-legged. Along the way, Kotler combs through every aspect of canine-human relations, from humans' long history with dogs through brand-new research into the neuroscience of canine companionship, in the end discovering why living in a world made of dog may be the best way to uncover the truth about what it really means to be human.… (more)
Description
Steven Kotler was forty years old and facing an existential crisis—which made him not too different from just about every other middle-aged guy in Los Angeles. Then he met Joy, a woman devoted to the cause of canine rescue. "Love me, love my dogs," was her rule, and not having any better ideas, Steven took it to heart. Together with their pack of eight dogs—then fifteen dogs, then twenty-five dogs, then, well, they lost count—Steven and Joy bought a tiny farm in a tiny town in rural New Mexico and started the Rancho de Chihuahua, a sanctuary for dogs with special needs.
While dog rescue is one of the largest underground movements in America, it is also one of the least understood. This insider look at the cult and culture of dog rescue begins with Kotler's personal experience working with an ever-peculiar pack of dogs and becomes a much deeper investigation into exactly what it means to devote one's life to the furry and the four-legged.
Along the way, Kotler combs through every aspect of canine-human relations, from human's long history with dogs through brand new research into the neuroscience of canine companionship, in the end discovering why living in a world of dogs may be the best way to uncover the truth about what it really means to be human.
While dog rescue is one of the largest underground movements in America, it is also one of the least understood. This insider look at the cult and culture of dog rescue begins with Kotler's personal experience working with an ever-peculiar pack of dogs and becomes a much deeper investigation into exactly what it means to devote one's life to the furry and the four-legged.
Along the way, Kotler combs through every aspect of canine-human relations, from human's long history with dogs through brand new research into the neuroscience of canine companionship, in the end discovering why living in a world of dogs may be the best way to uncover the truth about what it really means to be human.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
Tantor Media (2010),
Physical description
307 p.; 8.6 inches
ISBN
1608190021 / 9781608190027
Similar in this library
User reviews
LibraryThing member Copperskye
Ironically, I almost didn’t request this book because I was afraid it would delve too deeply into the whole aspect of dog rescue. As it happens, there really wasn’t enough. I applaud Steven and his wife Joy (oddly, referred to as Lila several times but I assume that was just an editing issue as
The author uses stories in the dog rescue as a jumping off place to discuss everything from crime and poverty in Chimayo to Thoreau to shape shifting and shamanism. Some discussions worked better than others did. Toward the end, I admit to have done some skimming.
Dog lovers will find some items of interest and probably those readers who are themselves totally committed to dog rescue may especially like it. For dog emotion and behavior, a better author is Patricia McConnell. I do plan on making a small donation to their operation but the book itself just didn’t come together for me.
Show More
this was an arc) who, when evicted from their home in California, move to Chimayo, NM and set up a dog rescue called Rancho de Chihuahua. I never felt like I got to know his wife, who was the real driving force behind the sanctuary, or any of the named dogs who all came and went in a blur. I would have liked to have learned more about their selection procedure and maybe hear some success stories in the placement process.The author uses stories in the dog rescue as a jumping off place to discuss everything from crime and poverty in Chimayo to Thoreau to shape shifting and shamanism. Some discussions worked better than others did. Toward the end, I admit to have done some skimming.
Dog lovers will find some items of interest and probably those readers who are themselves totally committed to dog rescue may especially like it. For dog emotion and behavior, a better author is Patricia McConnell. I do plan on making a small donation to their operation but the book itself just didn’t come together for me.
Show Less
LibraryThing member sblock
Steven Kotler was feeling adrift when he fell in love with a woman who had dedicated her life to saving dogs that no one else wanted. When they were kicked out of their rental home in LA, they used their savings to buy a small farm in Chimayo, New Mexico, a rural area filled with bikers, convicts,
The tale of their efforts to found a rescue in the badlands of NM is compelling, and Kotler's prose is vivid and honest, sometimes heartbreakingly so. Unfortunately, for me at least, there wasn't enough dog rescue and far too much meaning of life. As the book progresses, it reads more and more like a term paper. Kotner trots out every scrap of research and analysis on dog-human interaction, and if you've read a lot of dog books (and I have) it's stale stuff. By the last third of the book, I found myself skimming over his long discourses on the metaphysical aspects of dogs and screaming inwardly, "What about Bella? And Igor? And Bucket? And how are you paying for all of this?" He does return to the dogs in the end, but it's too late. This is a book in need of an editor. Preferably one who loves dogs and knows how to tell a story.
Show More
drug addicts, shamans and a lot of abused dogs.The tale of their efforts to found a rescue in the badlands of NM is compelling, and Kotler's prose is vivid and honest, sometimes heartbreakingly so. Unfortunately, for me at least, there wasn't enough dog rescue and far too much meaning of life. As the book progresses, it reads more and more like a term paper. Kotner trots out every scrap of research and analysis on dog-human interaction, and if you've read a lot of dog books (and I have) it's stale stuff. By the last third of the book, I found myself skimming over his long discourses on the metaphysical aspects of dogs and screaming inwardly, "What about Bella? And Igor? And Bucket? And how are you paying for all of this?" He does return to the dogs in the end, but it's too late. This is a book in need of an editor. Preferably one who loves dogs and knows how to tell a story.
Show Less
LibraryThing member techeditor
A SMALL FURRY PRAYER: DOG RESCUE AND THE MEANING OF LIFE by Steven Kotler is nonfiction. I prefer nonfiction to fiction when the nonfiction tells a story, as nonfiction often does not. In this case, A SMALL FURRY PRAYER does and doesn’t. It really is about what the subtitle says, dog rescue and
The book begins when Kotler is 40 and wants to do something different with the rest of his life. He falls in love with a dog rescuer, Joy. Love Joy, love the dogs. So dog rescue turns out to be both the subject of the book and the “something different” that Kotler does.
Kotler moves from LA to New Mexico with Joy and her dogs. They live in a home with lots of property and lots of solitude.
Joy’s pack of dogs becomes Kotler’s pack as well. And the pack keeps growing as the local humane society gets more unadoptable dogs, i.e., dogs who are sick, maybe dying, retarded, ugly, etc. But freelance writing assignments are much harder to come by in the out-of-the-way place they now live. So money is always an issue, and they make their choices based on that: $20 or $60 dog food? medical treatment for the dogs or euthanasia? rescue 13 or 10 dogs? and so on.
Chapters of this book tell stories of their lives with their dogs, with Kotler’s thoughts on particular incidents. This leads to much philosophizing and a lot of research and examination. Some chapters are continuation of examination of issues from the previous chapter. But you could still say that A SMALL FURRY PRAYER does tell a story because the chapters are presented in chronological order.
Yet, each chapter of the book could stand on its own. This is a device many writers of nonfiction use, and it is often successful. John Grogan used it in MARLEY & ME. He put together the newspaper columns he wrote about his family’s life with their dog, and look how well that book did.
Although that type construction doesn’t entirely work with me, in both cases (both MARLEY & ME and A SMALL FURRY PRAYER) I liked almost every chapter. (In A SMALL FURRY PRAYER, I could have done without a whole chapter on dogs and sex.) But these books came across as what they are: many common but separate stories or (as in the case of A SMALL FURRY PRAYER) stories that lead to thoughtful examinations.
The common thread running throughout A SMALL FURRY PRAYER: has Kotler chosen the right path for the rest of his life? So he examines the path he chose: dog rescue. The separate stories of dogs that Kotler and Joy rescue are touching, Igor’s story especially so. You’ll see.
The book is not a single, detailed story, my preference. Just the same, I loved the individual stories, and Kotler’s examinations are excellent. His viewpoints are validated by much research that is so much like those of Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, I hoped that they knew each other. So I emailed Kotler to ask him. Unfortunately not, but I’m betting it will happen.
As for my comparison of A SMALL FURRY PRAYER and MARLEY AND ME, it ends with their construction. In my opinion, honestly, A SMALL FURRY PRAYER far outweighs MARLEY AND ME. While I enjoyed MARLEY AND ME because it was often laugh-out-loud funny, I prefer stories that are thoughtful as well as humorous, as those in A SMALL FURRY PRAYER are.
I received this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program.
Show More
the meaning of life.The book begins when Kotler is 40 and wants to do something different with the rest of his life. He falls in love with a dog rescuer, Joy. Love Joy, love the dogs. So dog rescue turns out to be both the subject of the book and the “something different” that Kotler does.
Kotler moves from LA to New Mexico with Joy and her dogs. They live in a home with lots of property and lots of solitude.
Joy’s pack of dogs becomes Kotler’s pack as well. And the pack keeps growing as the local humane society gets more unadoptable dogs, i.e., dogs who are sick, maybe dying, retarded, ugly, etc. But freelance writing assignments are much harder to come by in the out-of-the-way place they now live. So money is always an issue, and they make their choices based on that: $20 or $60 dog food? medical treatment for the dogs or euthanasia? rescue 13 or 10 dogs? and so on.
Chapters of this book tell stories of their lives with their dogs, with Kotler’s thoughts on particular incidents. This leads to much philosophizing and a lot of research and examination. Some chapters are continuation of examination of issues from the previous chapter. But you could still say that A SMALL FURRY PRAYER does tell a story because the chapters are presented in chronological order.
Yet, each chapter of the book could stand on its own. This is a device many writers of nonfiction use, and it is often successful. John Grogan used it in MARLEY & ME. He put together the newspaper columns he wrote about his family’s life with their dog, and look how well that book did.
Although that type construction doesn’t entirely work with me, in both cases (both MARLEY & ME and A SMALL FURRY PRAYER) I liked almost every chapter. (In A SMALL FURRY PRAYER, I could have done without a whole chapter on dogs and sex.) But these books came across as what they are: many common but separate stories or (as in the case of A SMALL FURRY PRAYER) stories that lead to thoughtful examinations.
The common thread running throughout A SMALL FURRY PRAYER: has Kotler chosen the right path for the rest of his life? So he examines the path he chose: dog rescue. The separate stories of dogs that Kotler and Joy rescue are touching, Igor’s story especially so. You’ll see.
The book is not a single, detailed story, my preference. Just the same, I loved the individual stories, and Kotler’s examinations are excellent. His viewpoints are validated by much research that is so much like those of Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, I hoped that they knew each other. So I emailed Kotler to ask him. Unfortunately not, but I’m betting it will happen.
As for my comparison of A SMALL FURRY PRAYER and MARLEY AND ME, it ends with their construction. In my opinion, honestly, A SMALL FURRY PRAYER far outweighs MARLEY AND ME. While I enjoyed MARLEY AND ME because it was often laugh-out-loud funny, I prefer stories that are thoughtful as well as humorous, as those in A SMALL FURRY PRAYER are.
I received this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program.
Show Less
LibraryThing member madforbooks
I requested this book assuming it would be a short, heartwarming story about animals which I always enjoy and am not particular about the specific details, similiar to those who avidly read romance after romance for the temporary thrill, not the plot. What I got was similar to taking a college
Show More
course that was lifechanging, perhaps philosophy, and feeling like I learned and understood more about lhumans and their companions than I ever realized I could. This is not an easy read and once assimulated, it is evident that every moment engaged in ithe reading of it was pure gold. Kudos to everyone involved in it's publication! Get yourself a copy today and evolve and then share and discuss with others. Show Less
LibraryThing member Judgejudy2u
I was thrilled when I was to recieve this book to read and review. I am into dog and cat adoption and believe it is the only way go. I give major kudos to Mr Kotler and his wife Joy for the dedication they have to these animals. I thoroughly enjoyed the story of how the author found meaning in his
Show More
life thru finding the right person to share it with and their journey to Chimayo, NM. That story was wonderful and well written, exactly what I would want from this story. But I wish the book was call A Small Furry Prayer - Dog Rescue. I was quite bored with the ramblings about altruism, Darwin and Roughgarden anf animals ang psychedelics, etc. This for me greatly took away from a great story. Would I recommend this book? Maybe. Was there potential for a terrific read. Yes. Unfortunetly as a whole it missed the mark Show Less
LibraryThing member allenkl
With a title like A Small Furry Prayer and a cover picture of a little dog with huge sad eyes I knew this book was for me. Steven Kotler and his beloved Joy move to a tiny town in Northern New Mexico in order to open a special needs dog rescue refuge. As soon as I read that the name of the
The history and research on the dog and human bond brings so much to this topic. I found myself reading sections to my family members. Now, that's a good book! I enjoyed the book immensely and will recommend it to others. Well done!
Oh, and if you're ever in Chimayo treat yourself to a fabulous Northern New Mexico lunch with Sangria at Rancho de Chimayo on the tiered patio in the summer or near a kiva fireplace inside in the winter. Don't miss the Chimayo red chili.
Show More
sanctuary is Rancho de Chihuahua I knew it had to be in Chimayo, a very special place with an ancient history of powerful spirituality, the location of a Catholic Church, Santuario de Chimayo and shrine that has what is known as a place of healing dirt but was also considered a spiritually important area to early indigenous Tewa Indians as well as the Mexicans and Spaniards who followed them. The perfect place to shelter dogs! The history and research on the dog and human bond brings so much to this topic. I found myself reading sections to my family members. Now, that's a good book! I enjoyed the book immensely and will recommend it to others. Well done!
Oh, and if you're ever in Chimayo treat yourself to a fabulous Northern New Mexico lunch with Sangria at Rancho de Chimayo on the tiered patio in the summer or near a kiva fireplace inside in the winter. Don't miss the Chimayo red chili.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jillstone
This incredible book follows the writer as he becomes involved in founding a dog sanctuary. But this is no typical dog story. Instead this is a well-researched book that is filled with the writer's search for answers to his questions about dogs and life.
The astonishing web he weaves stretches
Masterful and absorbing, the author shares life among his pack on Rancho de Chihuahua. A terrific read!
The astonishing web he weaves stretches
Show More
through multiple discliplines from deep time to animal activism; from biological altruism to philosophy; from morality to evolution; from bio-ethics to play behavior; from grief to puppy mills; from wolves to shamanism; from mirror neurons to the "God Gene." This book will carry you away will suggesting delightful, thoughtful answers to questions every dog lover has pondered.Masterful and absorbing, the author shares life among his pack on Rancho de Chihuahua. A terrific read!
Show Less
LibraryThing member Darcia
This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I laughed and cried. I didn't want it to end.
Kotler didn't set out to be a hero to unwanted dogs. That role came to him, first with a dog named Ahab, then with a woman who said that to love her meant loving her dogs. But this is more than a
Kotler didn't set out to be a hero to unwanted dogs. That role came to him, first with a dog named Ahab, then with a woman who said that to love her meant loving her dogs. But this is more than a
Show More
story about dogs. It's about a man finding his purpose through and with these dogs, about what it means to be human, about compassion and love and what's truly important in life. This book touched me all the way to my core. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jennisis
Small Furry Prayer is not the book that I thought it was going to be. I thought that I would be reading just another heartwarming tale of outrageous animals changing peoples' lives. In fact, that is only one of the elements that comprises this book. This is the story of a reluctant dog rescuer, a
Show More
midlife crisis, a girlfriend and a ranch with a donkey. Each chapter does encompass one or more anecdotes about the rescued dog, but each also ranges far and wide into topics including neurobiology, ethology, religion, mysticism, heartbreak, inequality, trust and renewal. Deep, introspective and engaging, this book was far from the fluffy read I was expecting. Highly recommended for dog lovers and anyone else who may have once wondered if they're smarter than we give them credit for. Show Less
LibraryThing member gmillar
I just read the preface and I may not sleep very well tonight.
LibraryThing member dele2451
The book started out much as I expected, a 40-something guy becomes involved in rescuing unfortunate dogs and ends up forming canine connections he never imagined. But this book is not simply about one couple's (mis)adventures saving the sick, abandoned and traumatized canines others have given up
It's a great read for anybody who has ever had loved a pet and a necessary read for anyone who hasn't. Neuroscientists might also find probably find this more compelling than they would have anticipated too. As a person who has volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation center, I also appreciated the author explaining the differentiation between rehabilitators and rescuers since the general public often gets the two confused when seeking service opportunities. Add'l note to the publisher since this is an earlier reviewer copy: The last line of pg 200 and Line 3 of the last para on pg 266 have editing errors.
Show More
on, it is an eclectic exploration of scientific research, ancient philosophy, theological discussion and badlands mysticism all rolled up into one entertaining package. I found it to be funny, heartbreaking, informative, touching and inspiring. The assortment of quotes culled from eclectic sources was a nice touch too. It's a great read for anybody who has ever had loved a pet and a necessary read for anyone who hasn't. Neuroscientists might also find probably find this more compelling than they would have anticipated too. As a person who has volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation center, I also appreciated the author explaining the differentiation between rehabilitators and rescuers since the general public often gets the two confused when seeking service opportunities. Add'l note to the publisher since this is an earlier reviewer copy: The last line of pg 200 and Line 3 of the last para on pg 266 have editing errors.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jrbeach
I asked for this book to review, predisposed to like it, because I consider myself a "dog person" – that is each of the dogs I have owned has been a street stray or from a shelter. I was disappointed with the preface and first few chapters and had to force myself to continue reading. In fact the
Show More
first eight chapters comprise Part I. The book consists of nine parts, and I'm glad I continued reading past the first part. Part 1 was about the author – his "back story" and his reasons for making the move from Los Angeles to creating a dog sanctuary in New Mexico. The rest of the book combined some stories of individual animals with a very wide range of mostly animal's rights issues. There is a chapter on the debate between the view that humans are custodians of the earth and the view that the earth is one ecological entity and humans are just one part, no more important to the whole than beetles. There are discussions of whether or not dogs feel empathy, whether dogs laugh, whether dogs are aware of their mortality. The author recounts many scientific studies, some of which I found too technical, but I can understand the necessity of citing these studies to show there is a scientific treatment and interest in these issues. The wide range of topics, and the rational discussions of each made this a very interesting and rewarding book to read. Show Less
LibraryThing member skullfaced
A quick and interesting read, A Small Furry Prayer ends up being more about the search for the Meaning of Life via dog rescue than it is dog rescue. Kotler uses the experiences from the rescue to delve into numerous topics ranging from shamanism to dopamine, and while the asides can be very
Show More
interesting, they at times get a little old. Being very interested in animal rescue myself, I would have loved to hear more about the dog rescue side and a little less about the midlife crisis/meaning of life side. Overall, though, A Small Furry Prayer is well worth the read. Show Less
LibraryThing member KinnicChick
The best ARC I've had the opportunity to review/read. Mr. Kotler is a journalist and it shows in his well-researched writing. This is not just a dry recitation of facts about life on the farm where he and his wife Joy take in rescue dogs. Far from it. This is a love story; a story of how a man
He studies and writes about dog-human relations from every angle and throughout time. He even looks at it from religion/spirituality and from the depths of neuroscience. But the best information comes from his stories and examples of the dogs themselves. Sometimes heartbreaking and frequently amazing, the work that Steve and Joy are doing is beautiful and something that most people could not do. I know I couldn't! His descriptions of morning wanders through his dark house and what comes to be known as "sh*t foot" would end my attempts to be a rescuer quickly. (One small example... but the "vomit mouth" experience was the real clincher!)
Inspiring, full of humor, and sad too, I can recommend this book to any lover of dogs or other animals. You will learn something new about them and gain respect for their intellect!
Show More
becomes one with the animals he rescues, how he helps to heal their broken psyches and heals himself in the process. He studies and writes about dog-human relations from every angle and throughout time. He even looks at it from religion/spirituality and from the depths of neuroscience. But the best information comes from his stories and examples of the dogs themselves. Sometimes heartbreaking and frequently amazing, the work that Steve and Joy are doing is beautiful and something that most people could not do. I know I couldn't! His descriptions of morning wanders through his dark house and what comes to be known as "sh*t foot" would end my attempts to be a rescuer quickly. (One small example... but the "vomit mouth" experience was the real clincher!)
Inspiring, full of humor, and sad too, I can recommend this book to any lover of dogs or other animals. You will learn something new about them and gain respect for their intellect!
Show Less
LibraryThing member dulcibelle
This book was not what I expected. I was expecting stories about the author's experience with dog rescue and the sad and funny things that can happen with rescued dogs. There is a little of that here - but there's so much more. Kotler uses each little snippet of a tale as a jumping off point to
Show More
explain some of the science (and metaphysics) behind how and why dogs became domesticated in the first place, why we respond to each other as we do, why dog rescuers rescue, and other mysteries of the doggie world. Kotler manages to make this understandable to the layperson. So, while I didn't get the warm and fuzzy dog stories I was expecting, I did get an interesting read and many concepts to ponder. Show Less
LibraryThing member Scrabblenut
I enjoyed this book for many reasons, as it certainly made me think about humans and their relationship to dogs and other creatures. At first, I wondered why anyone would be crazy enough to devote their whole life to dog rescue, at huge personal expense, no remuneration, and lots of trouble and
What I like about the book is that it contains a lot of humour, and the author tells it like it is, and does not romanticize his life, including a long period of depression and despair when a number of dogs died or had to be put down. The book is authentic and well worth reading. There is a good chance you will learn a lot as well.
Show More
hours of sometimes very unpleasant work. The author attempts to answer that question, and along the way delves into a lot of the scientific research about our human understanding of animals and dogs in particular, as well as questions of altruism and spiritualism. The stories of small triumphs and heartbreak spread throughout the book are what kept me turning the pages. Dog rescue is not for the faint of heart, and brings you face to face with human evil and even just the small references to it really make me despair about the human race. Thankfully, there are also people like the author and his wife Joy who try to make a difference and combat the evil. Although I still think they have to be a bit crazy, I can now understand why they do it, for the miraculous and joyful difference they see in many of their dogs, and the spiritual connection they feel with another species.What I like about the book is that it contains a lot of humour, and the author tells it like it is, and does not romanticize his life, including a long period of depression and despair when a number of dogs died or had to be put down. The book is authentic and well worth reading. There is a good chance you will learn a lot as well.
Show Less
LibraryThing member horomnizon
I requested this book from EarlyReviewers and wasn't that surprised when I 'won' it, since I've read and reviewed many animal books in the past. I was looking forward to reading it....and then it failed the 100 page test. (You know, where if you don't like a book after the first 100 pages, just
I did skim through the rest of the book and read parts here and there, but I'm wondering what the reviewers who found humor here were smoking (or drinking) because I was highly disappointed in the lack of humor. Usually tales of dogs involve a good deal of it, but I only found one instance where I snickered a little at the description of what the dogs were doing. I have no doubt that these animals are getting lots of affection and have a better 'rest of their life' than they otherwise would have, but I didn't feel a real connection between Kotler and the dogs. Even when he declares that he loves Chihuahuas, there is little bonding between him and the individual dogs.
In fact, he keeps naming new dogs that he never introduces. I didn't get to know most of the dogs on any kind of level that would make me care about them - therefore, why do I want to read about them? Then again, the book isn't so much about the dogs as it is about Kotler anyway, which is OK, but not my thing. And the science stuff thrown in just makes it sound like a bunch of short National Geographic articles strung together in a book - usually not in any kind of way that made sense to me....not even an interesting stream of consciousness - just random and to me, incomprehensible.
So, while it is not common for me, I didn't read the whole book. I'm sure some people will like this combination of scientific and philosophical and memoir, but there was too little dog love and cuteness and hilariousness in there for me. Others who do dog rescue might find it more enlightening, but I was just bored.
Show More
give up on it because it's a waste of your time and there are another 200 books on the shelf, floor, etc. waiting to be read and there's a good chance some of them are better.)I did skim through the rest of the book and read parts here and there, but I'm wondering what the reviewers who found humor here were smoking (or drinking) because I was highly disappointed in the lack of humor. Usually tales of dogs involve a good deal of it, but I only found one instance where I snickered a little at the description of what the dogs were doing. I have no doubt that these animals are getting lots of affection and have a better 'rest of their life' than they otherwise would have, but I didn't feel a real connection between Kotler and the dogs. Even when he declares that he loves Chihuahuas, there is little bonding between him and the individual dogs.
In fact, he keeps naming new dogs that he never introduces. I didn't get to know most of the dogs on any kind of level that would make me care about them - therefore, why do I want to read about them? Then again, the book isn't so much about the dogs as it is about Kotler anyway, which is OK, but not my thing. And the science stuff thrown in just makes it sound like a bunch of short National Geographic articles strung together in a book - usually not in any kind of way that made sense to me....not even an interesting stream of consciousness - just random and to me, incomprehensible.
So, while it is not common for me, I didn't read the whole book. I'm sure some people will like this combination of scientific and philosophical and memoir, but there was too little dog love and cuteness and hilariousness in there for me. Others who do dog rescue might find it more enlightening, but I was just bored.
Show Less
LibraryThing member brewergirl
When I started A Small Furry Prayer by Steven Kotler, I expected to read about the author's experiences running a dog rescue ... but it was really much more than that. The author does describe how he and his girlfriend (later his wife) moved to New Mexico and began a dog rescue ... complete with
Each section, however, used the author's observations of the dogs as a jumping off point to explore another area ... religion, spirituality, human-animal bonding, dogs' ability to feel emotion, etc. Within each section, the chapters were really quite short and easy to skim if that particular subject didn't capture your attention.
Overall, it was not what I expected, but I enjoyed it none the less.
Show More
descriptions of the dogs' personalities, some daily routines, and the ever-heartbreaking losses. Each section, however, used the author's observations of the dogs as a jumping off point to explore another area ... religion, spirituality, human-animal bonding, dogs' ability to feel emotion, etc. Within each section, the chapters were really quite short and easy to skim if that particular subject didn't capture your attention.
Overall, it was not what I expected, but I enjoyed it none the less.
Show Less
LibraryThing member TimBazzett
It's not until the penultimate page of the text of this book that author Steven Kotler paraphrases the Buddhist truism, "All things, as they say, are connected ..." But you don't have to read very far in A Small Furry Prayer to know that he obviously subscribes to this theory.
The book's cover
Since his girlfriend-later-wife, Joy Nicholson, is deeply committed to the altruistic avocation - life calling? - of animal rescue, mostly dogs, Kotler quite naturally wants to join the club, wants to understand. So he does, he says, what he's always done - "ludicrous amounts of research." And that's where the "everything is connected" stuff begins to display itself. Because it seems he is research crazy, and everything he reads up on he somehow manages to drag into his narrative about their run-down and cash-strapped animal rescue ranch in rural New Mexico. I mean this is so NOT just a book about dogs. This is more about trying to make sense out of being a human being and how we relate to the other creatures around us. I would have exepected to see references in this kind of a book to, say, Patricia McConnell, Jeffrey Moussaieff Mason, and okay, Cesar Millan and even Aldo Leopold - and there they are, along with countless other animal experts. But we also get (and this is only a very small part of a much longer list): St Francis, Carlos Castaneda, Aldo Leopold, Arthur C Clarke, William James, DesCartes, Emile Durkheim, Eric Fromm, Aldous Huxley, Dr DOLITTLE, for cripesakes! And on and on and on, with many, many endnotes to back it all up. This is simply research run amok, interspersed with cute pop psychology and endless cleverness, utilized in the interest of drawing all this widely disparate information together. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But to this reader it often became just too damn much, too over the top. So I will admit to plenty of skimming through literally dozens of pages that often seemed either a bit too esoteric or just plain irrelevant.
But maybe that was just me. After all, I only got a C+ in Intro to Philosophy in college, so maybe a lot of this is just over my head. Or maybe it was NOT all so connected.
All that said, I did find parts here and there that truly moved me, most notably Chapter 26, about bereavement and grief over the loss of a beloved pet. Been there. It's devastating. And Chapter 28, with its sad tales of dogs dying in spite of the attempts of Kotler and Nicholson to save them. I do not doubt for a moment that Kotler and his partner are dedicated dog lovers, and for that I salute him. But if you're looking for a simple 'dog book' to give you a 'warm fuzzy feeling,' this ain't the book for you. Try Marley and Me. It's less pretentious and a lot more entertaining.
The book's cover
Show More
shows a shadowed photo of a cowed-looking Chihuahua, an image that will certainly grab dog-lovers. It did me, and I'm not even that fond of that particular breed of dogs; just a bit too yappy for my taste. The thing is, this is not really 'just' a dog book. Maybe the subtitle should have tipped me off: Dog Rescue and the Meaning of Life. It's that 'meaning of life' stuff that really gets more attention than anything else here. Which is okay, I suppose; but I was hoping for a little more about the dogs, ya know? Kotler does tell his readers early on, I'll admit, that he is "inquisitive by nature and a journalist by trade." And his chops as a skilled investigative journalist are evident throughout the book. Early on too he makes the sad point that millions of dogs are killed in the U.S. every year. Since his girlfriend-later-wife, Joy Nicholson, is deeply committed to the altruistic avocation - life calling? - of animal rescue, mostly dogs, Kotler quite naturally wants to join the club, wants to understand. So he does, he says, what he's always done - "ludicrous amounts of research." And that's where the "everything is connected" stuff begins to display itself. Because it seems he is research crazy, and everything he reads up on he somehow manages to drag into his narrative about their run-down and cash-strapped animal rescue ranch in rural New Mexico. I mean this is so NOT just a book about dogs. This is more about trying to make sense out of being a human being and how we relate to the other creatures around us. I would have exepected to see references in this kind of a book to, say, Patricia McConnell, Jeffrey Moussaieff Mason, and okay, Cesar Millan and even Aldo Leopold - and there they are, along with countless other animal experts. But we also get (and this is only a very small part of a much longer list): St Francis, Carlos Castaneda, Aldo Leopold, Arthur C Clarke, William James, DesCartes, Emile Durkheim, Eric Fromm, Aldous Huxley, Dr DOLITTLE, for cripesakes! And on and on and on, with many, many endnotes to back it all up. This is simply research run amok, interspersed with cute pop psychology and endless cleverness, utilized in the interest of drawing all this widely disparate information together. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But to this reader it often became just too damn much, too over the top. So I will admit to plenty of skimming through literally dozens of pages that often seemed either a bit too esoteric or just plain irrelevant.
But maybe that was just me. After all, I only got a C+ in Intro to Philosophy in college, so maybe a lot of this is just over my head. Or maybe it was NOT all so connected.
All that said, I did find parts here and there that truly moved me, most notably Chapter 26, about bereavement and grief over the loss of a beloved pet. Been there. It's devastating. And Chapter 28, with its sad tales of dogs dying in spite of the attempts of Kotler and Nicholson to save them. I do not doubt for a moment that Kotler and his partner are dedicated dog lovers, and for that I salute him. But if you're looking for a simple 'dog book' to give you a 'warm fuzzy feeling,' this ain't the book for you. Try Marley and Me. It's less pretentious and a lot more entertaining.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Morphidae
A Small Furry Prayer was not what I expected. I expected a warm and fuzzy book like Marley & Me. What I got was a delightful collection of essays on dog behavior, religion, philosophy, death, shamanism, canine/human history, travel, psychology, and face recognition software along with the dog
Show More
rescue stuff. They all related in some fashion back to dogs, even if on the most tenuous thread. I really liked the journalistic writing style. It wasn’t cold and factual though, he wrote with warmth especially when it came to his wife and the dogs they rescued. Show Less
LibraryThing member wakethesun
I almost didn't request this book, as I'm not a fan of the Marley/Merle type books (the ones I have were all gifts). I'm glad I did. Kotler doesn't try to turn this into a warm and fuzzy, "look how amazing we are!" type of narrative, yet still manages to have his deep love of the dogs shine through
Show More
on every page. As others have said, it's much more than a dog book. I'd suggest flipping through it, reading excerpts, etc. before purchasing it. I enjoyed the journalist style of writing, it's much easier to believe, rather than the constant feeling of things being grossly exaggerated in other dog narratives. Show Less
LibraryThing member blockbuster1994
Bring out tissues; I was crying before I was even through the preface. I will be processing A Small Furry Prayer for a long, long time.
Steven Kolter's writing is easily consumed, almost like breathing. Immediately, I could identify with Kolter, his situation in life and his love for dogs. It is
The real beauty of this novel lies in Kotler's quiet courage to willingly moved from Los Angeles to a remote, poverty strickened, drug riddled town in New Mexico to give these misfit, "lifer", unadoptable dogs grace and dignity. Sad, yes, because they die. But what a noble pursuit.
Steven Kolter's writing is easily consumed, almost like breathing. Immediately, I could identify with Kolter, his situation in life and his love for dogs. It is
Show More
exactly as I feel, but I can't live it the way he can. Because he did this without a financial safety belt. Because he did this despite chronic illness. The real beauty of this novel lies in Kotler's quiet courage to willingly moved from Los Angeles to a remote, poverty strickened, drug riddled town in New Mexico to give these misfit, "lifer", unadoptable dogs grace and dignity. Sad, yes, because they die. But what a noble pursuit.
Show Less
LibraryThing member PamelaBarrett
I received Steven Kotler’s book A Small Furry Prayer in the mail on the day we picked up our first foster dog, a chocolate and tan dachshund with an attitude. Good thing, then I didn’t take all the growling personally. I found that Steven’s book was something I needed to sift through. There
I loved reading about the dogs and how this started—the process he went through emotionally to embrace the life his wife choose. The scientific studies he quotes from are interesting and I’ve even seen some of the documentaries on PBS and read some of the articles in National Geographic, but the conclusions he jumps to don’t always add up. The quality of the writing is great and at times I laughed and cried, so it is touching. There is a take-away, the breakthroughs he made hiking with the dogs; that imagery will stay with me inspiring longer exploratory walks with our dogs. I received this book through Librarything.
Show More
are short anecdotes of his life at the dog rescue, Rancho De Chihuahua that he and his wife run in New Mexico, inter-dispersed with science and esoteric meanderings. I loved reading about the dogs and how this started—the process he went through emotionally to embrace the life his wife choose. The scientific studies he quotes from are interesting and I’ve even seen some of the documentaries on PBS and read some of the articles in National Geographic, but the conclusions he jumps to don’t always add up. The quality of the writing is great and at times I laughed and cried, so it is touching. There is a take-away, the breakthroughs he made hiking with the dogs; that imagery will stay with me inspiring longer exploratory walks with our dogs. I received this book through Librarything.
Show Less
LibraryThing member AquariusNat
This is a memoir about the author's decision to open a dog rescue with his girlfriend/future wife . It's beautiful , funny at times and heartbreaking in others . The story has three parts alternating through it . There's the author's falling in love with and marrying his wife that convinced him to
Show More
help her open the dog rescue , the author finding himself becoming emotionally attached to each rescue dog and then there's the part spent exploring the history of the "Man and Dog relationship" . So glad I won this book from LT's Early Reviewers ! If you love animal-centered memoirs then you will love this book ! Show Less
LibraryThing member ReadHanded
Overall, I enjoyed A Small Furry Prayer immensely - it wasn't what I was expecting. It is a lot less memoir-y than I thought it would be. Kotler focuses a lot on his research about dogs - information that is fascinating, especially for dog owners. That said, there was not really a narrative arc or
A Small Furry Prayer doesn't have a conclusive ending, it really could have gone on as long as Kotler still had insights and anecdotes to share, and I get the feeling that he nowhere near exhausted his reserve in this book. I would have liked a more definitive structure and order - it felt too scattershot.
Kotler addresses sticky issues like the value of animal rescue as a cause (i.e. why save animals when so many people are suffering?), the "humanity" of animals, and the interconnectedness of all life. Still, the information is interesting and well-cited, the stories emotional, and the cause noble. A Small Furry Prayer is a must-read for dog lovers and animal rescuers, but be prepared for deep thinking and deep emotions.
Show More
traditional storyline with a beginning, middle, and end. The book starts out quite narrative - we read about Steven and Joy's experiences starting a dog sanctuary, the dogs they help, and the challenges they face. Kotler flashes back to his early days with his original dog, Ahab, and how loving Ahab set him down his dog-saving life path. The narratives more or less stop after a particularly tough period of time in which Joy and Steven lose seven dogs in seven weeks, including their favorites. After that, the book turns much more philosophical and scientific and the anecdotes that Kotler shares serve to illustrate his deeper points.A Small Furry Prayer doesn't have a conclusive ending, it really could have gone on as long as Kotler still had insights and anecdotes to share, and I get the feeling that he nowhere near exhausted his reserve in this book. I would have liked a more definitive structure and order - it felt too scattershot.
Kotler addresses sticky issues like the value of animal rescue as a cause (i.e. why save animals when so many people are suffering?), the "humanity" of animals, and the interconnectedness of all life. Still, the information is interesting and well-cited, the stories emotional, and the cause noble. A Small Furry Prayer is a must-read for dog lovers and animal rescuers, but be prepared for deep thinking and deep emotions.
Show Less
Call number
FIC J Kot