Pets Books

You can always count on any book written by Cherry Hill to be full of great information, however this book covers areas a horse owner doesn't always think about. I must admit that I have ALL of Cherry Hill's books and refer to them often, along with her website, since I have recently returned to horse ownership after 20 years. The best part of this book is the emphasis on the safety of your horse. I would highly recommend this book to beginning horsemen, people like me who are returning horsemen, or any horseman who wants a solid review in good "horse sense". Amy

This is an easy read. A Picture is worth a thousand words and there are a lot of photo examples. A great resource.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn how to set up and organize proper, clean, safe and efficient care for horses. The pictures are great, and make it a lot easier for the beginner to visually see what works. It's an excellent resource!

I have 1 indoor arena, 1 covered arena, and can stall up to 100 horses. Cherry Hill writes in an easy to understand and very articulate manner information that anyone owning from one to One Hundred horses should read.

She has a keen and very healthy insight with a common sense approach to horses. I was lucky enough to meet her at "Road To The Horse" where she was one of the prestigious judges, and very impressed with her down to earth and friendly attitude. She has a true passion for horses and what is in their best interest.

I have at least 6 of her books and plan on purchasing the rest as time & money allow. You will get your moneys worth from her.

Leslie

everything you need to know to get started in owning,stabling,caring,and feeding your first horse. great pictures,charts,and building plans

THIS MAYBE AN OLDER BOOK BUT IT IS THE ULTIMATE BOOK FOR THE PARSON RUSSELL TERRIER OWNER,THOUGH IT IS CALLED 'JACK RUSSELL'.
ITS COVERS EVERYTHING WITH A EXCELLENT CHAPTER WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FOR THE NOVICE OWNER/HANDLER ON GROOMING.
IF YOU OWN A PARSON YOU WANT THIS BOOK IN YOUR LIBRARY.

We recently purchased a JRT named Lucky. I purchased this book beforehand and found it a great resource for us. Everything from the history of the breed to showing the breed. Great photographs!

This is an excellent resource tool for Jack Russell terrier owners to folks who just happen to love the breed. A spirited, loving dog, the Jack Russell terrier more often than not makes for a very appealling family pet.

Jacks have an interesting history. Parson Jack Russell created the breed to be good mousers and hunting dogs in the late 19th century. Jacks are closely related to the fox terriers. In the intervening years, Jacks have gained popularity and fame. Jacks have starred in a number of recent movies and commericals. Dana Carvey starred with a Jack named Barkley in "Clean Slate" (Barkley also starred on several episodes of "Full House"). The popular TV sitcom "Frasier" has a Jack named Eddie (real name Moose and father to the Jack who starred in "My Dog Skip"). "Wishbone" is the most famous Jack to date. Recent coverage on this delightful breed has certainly helped boost their popularity as does this book.

I was very taken with the book. So much that I contacted Mary Strom and purchased one of her puppies. She was not only very helpful, but made sure I had every bit of information I needed to make my Jack Russell terrier happy and healthy. I recommend this book to anyone that is looking to purchase or adopt a Jack Russell terrier. The information contained within is indispensable.

This book lets you get to know the exciting and roudy Jack Russell Terrier. My wife and I purchased this book prior to purchasing our JRT. It was (and still is) a wonderful resource. Anything for grooming, training and enjoying your pup is in this book. The author also includes stories from her past ownership of many Jack Russells. Excellent book!

I loved the Jeeves & Wooster books so I was sad when I read the last one. Then I decided to move on to other Wodehouse books and have read a few since. I have to say this is one of my favorites! It definitely compares to the hilarity of the Jeeves/Wooster books. Uncle Fred or the Fifth Earl of Ickenham is one of my favorite Wodehouse characters. He always seems to be dragging his nephew Pongo Twistleton (occasionally mentioned as a fellow Drones club member in the Wooster books) into trouble but always seems to get through it as is typical in the Wodehouse books. Anyway, it is a great read, a good laugh, and a lot of fun. On a side note, if you like Wodehouse, the dvd series of Jeeves and Wooster (starring Hugh Laurie from the tv show House) is also very funny. You will see many of your favorite Jeeves story lines in them and they are very true to Wodehouse.

Professors of literature are fond of writing that the three greatest novelists of the twentieth century are Marcel Proust, Thomas Mann, and James Joyce. In this, they could hardly be more in error. The only contender for the title of the greatest novelist of the twentieth or any other century is P.G. Wodehouse, farceur supreme, or, in plain English, an extraordinarily funny writer.

Wodehouse wrote novels and stories that can be easily classified into several series: there are the Bertie and Jeeves novels and stories, the Blandings Castle novels and stories, the Mr. Mulliner stories, the Uncle Fred novels, etc. The characters from one series rarely appear in another. This novel is an exception. Uncle Fred appears at Blandings Castle, where he poses as Sir Roderick Glossop, normally seen in the Bertie and Jeeves novels (and one story); indeed, he encounters Sir Roderick while traveling to Blandings Castle. Uncle Fred, properly, Frederick Altamont Cornwallis Twistleton, fifth Earl of Ickenham, is a man who "together with a juvenile waistline, . . . still retained the bright enthusiasms and the fresh, unspoiled outlook of a slightly inebriated undergraduate" at the age of sixty or so. It is he who sets in motion the events that enable young lovers to marry and his nephew Pongo to settle his gambling debts. In general, his role is that normally played by Lord Emsworth's younger brother Galahad.

Of course, any reader of Wodehouse novels knows at the start that things will turn out all right for any sundered hearts or frustrated lovers, as he knows that, any time the efficient Baxter appears, he will be discredited despite being thoroughly correct. The fun is in discovering just how it happens.

And what fun it is. Wodehouse's mastery of the English language is unrivaled. He succeeds in producing prose that not only is enjoyable in its own right but also moves events ahead at a pace that is nigh exhausting. In the Bertie and Jeeves novels and stories, it is Bertie's narration that does this. In this novel, it is the dialogue as much as the narration that moves events ahead, establishes the characters, and gives the reader immense pleasure.

If you have ever read "Elements of Style" by Strunk and White (and if you haven't, then you should be legally prohibited from writing even so much as a thank-you note), then this book, like all Wodehouse books, is a perfect example of how to violate almost every rule in the book.

Consider the following: "The ninth Earl of Emsworth was a man who in times of stress always tended to resemble the Aged Parent in an old-fashioned melodrama when informed that the villain intended to foreclose the mortgage. He wore now a disintegrated air, as if somebody had removed most of his interior organs. You see the same sort of thing in stuffed parrots when the sawdust has leaked out of them."

How's that for failing to "omit needless words"? And how's that for vividly portraying the feeble-minded Lord Emsworth, one of Wodehouse's most memorable of his many memorable and hilarious characters?

The plot here is typical Wodehouse: a few love-stricken young people see their dreams of eternal wedded bliss threatened by either misunderstandings or lack of cash or both, and a young ne'er-do-well has run up some gambling debts, a circumstance which puts him in danger of some painful bone-crushing. Enter Uncle Fred, an aging playboy with a manipulative mind and a sense of adventure. He orchestrates a plan involving a visit to Blandings Castle (the Emsworth estate) which results in everyone living happily ever after.

But, of course, that plot outline is pretty much the plot outline of every Wodehouse novel. What makes it (and every Wodehouse production) a 5-star novel is the delicious phraseology, the preposterous and yet believable characterizations, and the continuous twinkle in the author's eye. You either "get" Wodehouse or you don't. If you don't, then go to a doctor and get it fixed immediately!

This is my very favorite book, and I have been reading it about once a year for the past 15 years or so. I still laugh out loud at every reading. The very complex plot deals with Pongo Twistleton and his Uncle Fred, who visit Blandings Castle as imposters (Sir Roderick Glossip and his secretary, to be exact) in an effort to prevent the Duke of Dunstable from stealing the Empress of Blandings, Lord Emsworth's prize pig, and to keep him from smashing the drawing room furniture with the fireplace poker. Polly Pott (daughter of private investigator Mustard Pott) is also in attendance, pretending to be Sir Roderick's daughter. The story also involves the Duke's two nephews and their romantic problems: It seems Horace Davenport has hired a private investigator (none other than Mustard Pott) to tail his fiancee Valerie (Pongo's sister) and she has called off the engagement as a result, and Ricky's jealousy of his fiancee's attention to cousin Horace has landed him in the onion soup. Money won and lost at Persian Monarchs, the slipping of mickey's into people's drinks, and a Duke who throws eggs at people who whistle The Bonny Bonny Banks of Lock Lomand outside his window add to the hilarity. Of course, Mr. Wodehouse's unique turn-of-phrase doesn't disappoint in this delightful novel. I recommend this book to anyone who seeks diversion from reality. A must-read.

A complete Wodehouse fanatic, I would have trouble giving less that five stars to anything I have read so far. Uncle Fred is a particularly good one to add to the guest room bookshelf----incredibly funny and nice light reading for a few days away from home.

This book is absolutely essential for the library of anyone has more than one pet reptile in their care. While home diagnosis shouldn't take the place of a veterinarian, this book teaches you exactly how to view fecal floats and smears under a microscope, and identify a variety of different parasites. With practice, you can screen your own collection, and know when you SHOULD take them to a vet. It also gives medications and doseages for treatment of different parasites. This version of the book is still valid, but I'll be buying the newer, updated version for myself today.

I just wish this book was longer! I learned a lot from such a small book.

And, at Amazon's price, you can afford to buy two of them--one for you and one for your vet! I did! My vet can't thank me enough, and now I don't have to loan him my book every time I want him to see my veiled chameleon. It would be great to live in a big city with vets that specialized in herps/reptiles; but here in the rest of the real world, there are furry pet vets on every corner who can give excellent medical care to your reptiles and amphibians using Dr. Klingenberg's book.

Key features for you and your vet: 1. Medicine names, dosage for types/weight of different animals, means of administering, side effects, and uses. 2. Photographs of extracted worms and of microscope slides showing various micro-parasites & their eggs. 3. Sketch showing all the worms & parasites in relative size to each other. 4. Tips on "shot-gun" approach to parasite & disease treatment in wild-caught animals, discussion of various cures, discussion of the effects of diseases on your herp, and practical husbandry/keeping/handling/feeding info on how to prevent future reoccurances.

I got this book when I bought my first frog "just-in-case," but I never needed it, never used it, until this year when my chameleon was sick with worms. I was glad I had it and that is when I decided to buy a second copy for my vet's clinic. You can't afford to wait to buy this book until you need this book. You need it now while your animals are healthy!!!

And you should have it before you need it--as in, before you animal is sick. This is a complete and well done reference guide for those of us who don't need to know the vet manual's textbook explanations and can't afford to own those massive volume collections anyhow. It covers basic diagnosis, examination, equipment, internal and external parasites, medicines, dosages, tips for treating, how to administer meds to differnt types of animals, hygiene information, and, best of all to help your vet out, it contains photographs of microscope slides of what the nematoads or protozoans will look like and sketches of them for identification of relative size.

If you don't have an exotics or herp vet near you, this will help your furry pet vet help your herp. Believe me, I am thankful every day that I got this book when I didn't really need it because it meant the small town horse and dog vet clinic could see my old world chameleon and HELPED me, like they would not have been able to without this book.

Consider yourself a true reptile lover? Then you should concerned about the well being of your pet. A healthy pet is a happy pet. Keep your pet well-fed and in good hygienic condition is essential. However, it is possible that the reptile may be suffering from parasites without our knowledge (such as through food). This book tells the pet lover what are the various parasites, what symptoms, what cures, etc. It is truly a good book on the topic.

The words, of what I would consider in ideal size, are printed on good quality "glossy" paper and very professional.

I have a copy and I think it's the best book available I can find about the topic. This book that's good in appearance and content. Get it if you are a true reptile lover.

I'm fortunate in that Terri McGinnis has been my veterinarian for decades, and has helped me care for my cats during that time. I met her before I knew she had written a book, and when I found the book I immediately bought a copy. I've since collected the various versions as she updates them.

I find that the books are very informative and most of the ills and complaints my cats have developed were described and explained in the book. Many times the information in the book was enough for me to heal minor problems at home. For other, more serious or complex problems, it was very helpful to have enough information to understand what treatments were available or why we were doing something, etc.

When things get complicated I'll read up a little before a visit, and find myself reviewing afterwards. This makes it much easier to communicate at an intelligent level and understand what's going on.

Dr. McGinnis is an unusually observant person -- she has an unusually good rapport with the animals. I've seen her handle and treat a hostile cat without upsetting it, where other veterinarians could not even get close. It's very impressive, and the first time I saw it I knew I wanted her to care for my kitties, and I have not been disappointed.

She's also very good at explaining things both in person and in her books.

If you're reading this you know medical care is not cheap for our pets. Good prevention and home care can prevent a lot of illnesses. I have a lot of books on cats, and if I could only keep one it would be this one.

still use my original 1975 edition that was bought that year, but have seen this re-issue and am glad it is back in print... it is a *must have*. over 21 years, 'the well cat book' has been the saving grace for more cats than i can remember; housepets who needed general care on up to rescuing farm cats that were involved in serious accidents (if you're not the squeamish sort)... most people don't end up in such situations, but the needed information is there.

for the average housecat owner, you will be pleasantly suprised about how much time and $$$ will be saved at the vet on tests/ diagnostics because of the clear, common-sense and descriptive information dr. mcginnis provides.

the really *big* bonus is a *healthy and long life* for your purry companion thanks to all the information about diet and general daily home care!

Looking for a reliable and helpful reference in caring for my pets, I have looked at and rejected many, many books published for the general public on dog and cat care. Most of them are so general in approach as to be next to useless.

Dr. McGinnis' "Well Dog Book" and "Well Cat Book" are just fabulous. Every line contains meaty, solid, specific information that lets us do our best for our loving, trusting animals. Dr. McGinnis demonstrates respect not only for animals but for their guardians, too.

I have bought many copies of both books and given them to friends, family, and animal shelters. These books went out of print but now apparently they are in a new printing! I'm not surprised -- they are really worthwhile. If you can find a copy anywhere at almost any price, it's worth it!!

This book has been helpful so many times... I'd like to share the most dramatic. Our diabetic cat stopped eating (he usually has a great appetite), began vomiting, and stopped using the litter box. Of course, especially with a diabetic, these symptoms can mean serious problems.

I looked in the "Well Cat Book," and found several very helpful listings in the index (when was the last time you actually found something in an index, and easily?), one of which was that it might be a hair ball.

I took the cat immediately to the veterinarian, who mentioned several diabetes-related possible causes, such as kidney or liver problem, etc. When, thanks to what I'd read in the "Well Cat Book," I wondered aloud whether it might be a hairball, he immediately asked his assistant to x-ray the cat, and sure enough! -- that's what it was. It had entered the intestines and caused a blockage. They expelled the hair ball and the cat was fine.

If it hadn't been for Dr. McGinnis' "Well Cat Book," the poor cat would have gone through many unnecessary procedures, and would have been given unnecessary medications, with unnecessary effects on his body and doubtless getting his diabetes out of control (and the stress on his body of that).

Thank you so much, Dr. McGinnis!

After recently going through a mysterious illness with my 6 month-old kitten, I realized that my reference shelf is severely lacking in cat-care books. I used the Internet to research symptoms and any of the specific diseases my vet mentioned she was testing for, but despite the wealth of information available online, there is no replacement for an expertly-researched cat-care manual. The Well Cat Book is an essential component of your cat care library, which should also include some more modern titles. (It's also available used at a rock-bottom price.) There is no one size-fits-all cat manual and multiple expert opinions should always be consulted.

Terri McGinnis's The Well Cat Book was originally published in 1975 and then updated in 1993. The update covers new diseases (FIP, FIV) and advanced medical techniques once reserved for humans (blood tests, urinalysis, x-rays). The manual is organized three opening sections on anatomy, preventative medicine, and diagnostic medicine, followed by sections on home medical care, breeding and reproduction, and veterinary care. McGinnis uses headings in the wide margins to guide the reader through the book, which allows the reader to rapidly locate the paragraph of interest by skimming a chapter. Numerous black and white anatomical diagrams are interspersed throughout the text, showing everything from inner organs to proper technique for retracting and trimming the claws. The book concludes with both an index of signs/symptoms and a general-purpose index.

The Well Cat Book allows the cat owner to get maximum benefit out of veterinary medicine. A Well Cat owner can perform appropriate care at home and converse intelligently with their vet about symptoms and treatment. I recommend that all cat owners read this manual cover to cover to familiarize themselves with these majestic creatures. After one read, this manual can be used as a quick reference for nearly every aspect of feline development and health.

While there is solid medical information here, the information on cat "training" or behavior modification is appallingly outdated. The author states "most cats respond to punishment" and advocates "a spank on the rump as a last resort." Times have changed, and so have behavior modification methods when it comes to felines. Also, very little information was offered on cat psychology or behavior, which if the cat owner is not aware of can lead to unnecessary surrenders to cat shelters when the problem behavior could be modified. This may have been a good cat reference book at one time, but that time has long passed. It needs a lot of updating.

Hard bound book, easy to read and to the point of how to train your horse. Nice big photos, applicable diagrams, spelled out how to compete and be successful.
I wish it had been the FIRST book I read!
This is a book I will NEVER loan out.....ever.
Time to go practice what I read~!

This is the singular most effective tool that I have ever used in working with both young and old horses. As an equine professional, I have applied many of the techniques and methods to my own herd. Doug is truly the pleasure master. I believe that many people outside of the industry would enjoy this beautifully photographed and well written journal about pleasure horses.

This is a good book for people who want to train for show and for those who want to have a well trained horse. It explains in terms that novice horse people can understand and appreciate and still covers the finer points of training. The book keeps your interest and is easy reading.

Covers everything from basic bloodlines to breeding, buying, and then training and showing. This is the definitive reference book on Western Pleasure.

This book covers everything from breeding a pleasure prospect to working out the kinks in an older seasoned show horse. This will certainly help my new 3 year old filly and I make it in the AQHA show ring. I recommend it for anyone who wants to win!

This book is a must have for all wetland researchers, managers, scientists, and anyone with a general interest in wetland ecosystems. If I had to choose 1 wetland book, this is it. It is one of THE most popular textbooks for university wetland courses and workshops. I have been a wetland scientist for almost 15 years, and this is one of the books I use on a regular basis, and recommend to all my assistants and students. Wetland researchers will also want to keep in mind that with the release of the 4th edition, this 3rd edition is still a must have in your wetland library. The 4th edition removed all the wetland ecosystem specific chapters that are in this edition, so this edition is far from outdated. Don't choose one over the other! Buy them both :).

The Mitsch & Gosselink Wetlands 4th edition arrived promptly and in very good condition as was claimed it would by the seller.

This book is very helpful in understanding the various aspects and dynamics relating to wetlands. It includes management, legal, and various other topics of importance to wetland biologists, wildlife students or researchers working in wetland delineation or consultation.

Overall, this is a very good text on wetlands (for students and professionals both). However, I personally feel that a entire chapter could be devoted to wetland soils and wish that this book gave a better presentation of wetland soils. Furthermore, a great deal of research has been performed in Boreal wetlands and Boreal Prairie wetlands of Canada yet the Canadian literature is somewhat lacking in this text. Its still the best option out there for professors.

There is no better book for learning about wetlands that I have found. Many students find hydrology difficult, but this book lays this critical process out clearly, with excellent illustrations and diagrams.

This book helps the biotic oriented student understand the abiotic processes in clear and simple language.

I will never part with my copy, and reference it often!

I first discovered this book about 8 years ago. At that time, I purchased several copies and quickly gave them to my closest dog-lover friends. Since then, I have given this book to three friends upon the loss of their dog. I am so impressed with this book because of the content and the format. It not only sheds new light on the faithfulness and simple inner beauty of dogs, but causes one to contemplate one's own inner self. It provides both humor and comfort. It is such a poignant book that it will touch anyone who values their dog, whether the reader is a Christian (as is the author) or not. Two of the people I gave this book to were not Christians and absolutely loved reading and receiving it. It is easy to read, and will be read repeatedly over time by any owner.What My Dog Has Taught Me About Life: Meditations for Dog Lovers

I began reading this before bed one night and couldn't stop...this book is riveting! Dog and animal lovers NEED this book. The incredibly heartwarming and powerful short stories read like devotionals. If you have ever given your heart to a dog, you really must buy a copy of this book and have a box of tissues ready when you begin reading. You will most certainly learn or recall life lessons too valuable to forget.

I just finished reading this book and discovered an abundance of chuckles and many insights about my own life.

A few minutes ago, I finished Mr. Stanley's book. I had wondered if there were others who learned from those special dogs who are insightful, attentive, intelligent and totally devoted. Obviously, Gary Stanley is one of those, and he communicates so well the blessings of sharing life with another of God's creatures.

My mother is a friend of the author, and for a while in 1999, she took care of "Griffin", one of the dogs described in this book. She talked often about his remarkable face and demeanor, and raved about Mr. Stanley's stories. Twice now I have been amazed at how right she is-- Griffin is an amazing dog-- he can look at you in a way that almost goes through you. And then to see that translated into these short stories is just amazing. "The Dog Who Walk Himself" has much to teach us, even though he probably doesn't know he's doing it. As this book shows us, God has many ways of teaching us His lessons. I think even my cat-loving self can agree with that!

I found the book easy to read and full of facts which served as a basis for me to expand my research. It is one of the better books I have read on dog cancer and alternative treatments. A positive point is that the book was not technical; it was easy to understand. It also provided some good references. However, I feel that the book cannot stand on its own as a guide for treatment or selecting alternative treatments and I was disappointed numerous times.

There were also areas where I felt the author should have included more information. For example, she referenced Vitamin C - rather than providing multiple examples of how Vitamin C saved dogs, I would have preferred some guidance on the various types of Vitamin C so I know which one I should purchase? Calcium Ascorbate, Ascorbic Acid, Ester-C, Sodium Ascorbate? What are the differences?

Another area of disappointment was that there was almost nothing on prednisone. Recently in talking to many folks whose dogs have been diagnosed with cancer, they leave the vet's office with prednisone when chemo is rejected as an alternative. The book was not helpful in this area at all. I am no wiser than before I read the book.

Above are just two of many examples where I felt the book did not contain sufficient information.

I began to question the accuracy of information in the book when I came to the section on chiropratics. I am familiar with chiropractics and was disappointed that she used incorrect terminology, did not seem to have her facts correct and referenced negative examples only. If she was not an advocate of chiropractics or was not familiar with the topic, she should have written nothing rather than to print inaccurate information.

I'm glad I bought and read the book; but I'm also glad it was not very expensive because I had to buy other books to fill in the gaps of missing information, as I cited above. I plan recommend the book to friends who have dogs with cancer. Although it is not an outstanding book, it is better than most I have read.

Deborah Straw has addressed a problem that has been plaguiging more and more pet owners daily. This well documented book looks carefully at causes, preventions, treatments and very cautiously at cures for the epidemic of cancer which is devastating our pets today. She covers every aspect of the subject and makes her statements credible with references to the many professionals with whom she has consulted. Straw's understanding of this disease and its ramifications is thorough and comprehensive. She deals with traditional as well as non-traditional aspects of prevention and treatment, leaving out nothing. Thereby, she offers the reader a myriad of choices as well as the power to take charge when that dreaded diagnosis is made. As a pet health care professional and an owner of four dogs who have died of cancer, as well as one who has survived the disease, I found Straw's book enlightening and hopeful. It is a book with which every pet owner should be familiar.

I recommend that all pet owners should read this book in order to do all they can to protect their loved furry ones from preventable cancer. However, I did find that some of the information in the book was more speculative than fact, so it is necessary to do some additional research on some topics before drastically changing your pet's lifestyle.

I recently discovered my beloved Rottie has cancer and this book helped me learn of the many options out there for treatment and how much of a problem companion animal cancer is becoming. It helped me center myself and get a better idea of the directions I could go. This book also helped me understand what to do from here on out, to help all my companion animals so that they live a healthy life. It explained the importance of a good, not overly processed diet. I am a board member of an animal protection organzation and have had dogs my entire life, and even with that I learned so much more from this book. If you love your animals read this book for them, it could change their lives and yours!!!

I've had a cat with cancer for the past 15 months, so I've been reading everything I can get my hands on. This book not only talks about the diease itself, but covers all related topics--causes, nutritional support, insurance, and the loss. I especially like the sections on alternative care, which I believe can be as effective as any conventional treatment. Straw's resources are excellent, too, and she provides lots of fuel for further research. It's the only book of its kind, one you should add to your library even if your pet doesn't have cancer.

My sister who lives in Arizona told me about this book after reading about it in the newspaper. She knew I had gained a great appreciation for the Desert after completing a 28 day survival trip in the southern desert of Utah about 20 years ago. Ken's book allowed me to regain some of the senses and feelings that I experienced while living in a world that has such a lack of appreciation. He certainly has an artistry for words that captured many of the experiences and emotions that were mine during those 28 days. I also have a fascination for the penal system and the affect that it has on a person. Ken validated how it is definitely not a place for rehabilitation but a place where time weighs on a person so heavily. I liked very much how he combined the Wilderness of the desert with the prison experience. It was an excellent book and I read it start to finish in one sitting.

My sister who lives in Arizona heard about Ken's book in the newspaper and after reading it, she was certain that I would like it as well.

She was right. I read the book in several sittings. One of the reasons that it meant so much to me was because about 20 years ago, I took a 28 day survival class for one of my college credits. The experience took place in the southern desert of Utah. I learned to love and appreciate the desert. Ken has the words and the artistry to describe many of the things that I felt and experienced from participating in that Wilderness.

I also have a fascination for the prison system and how it changes a person's life. As Ken pointed out, prison certainly cannot be defined as rehabilitation. I like how he described the issue of doing time and how it weighed so heavily on his soul. He used his education and knowledge of the environment to lighten the burden of being in prison for 12 years. It was his escape and through his words he allowed us to escape with him.

Buddhists say that wisdom, at least a form of it, comes to those who gain access to a plane of imagining beyond hope and hopelessness. To be able to see clearly, witness openly and without prejudice, is to enter this imagining. To be able to see for seeing's sake.

"Wilderness and Razor Wire" is an opus and an opera of seeing. Written during the author's twelve years of incaceration in the Arizona State Prison, the essays in this book focus the eye and the ear, sense of scent and touch, on the fragile bits of wildness which entered prison cell and corridor, walkway and window. The heat of the desert, the gaze of the owl, the aroma of spring's bounty of flowers in a barren place, inside a landscape seen as barren, but isn't, are beautiful, and defiant. This is a book to read when contemplating, to borrow from Bill McKibben, The End of Nature. The only end of nature, the book implies, is when we stop looking for and imagining it.
This is a triumphant book.

Ken Lamberton, also referred to Mr. Lamberton to many thirty-somethings in Arizona, was caught for doing something many other instructors have done before and will do again. In this book, Lamberton teaches us lessons of nature, and yet also seems to share important lessons of life. This is the way he was in the classroom and he still has that gift today. This book is perhaps more meaningful to those of us who actually sat under him as students and still respect him in adulthood. Reading this book brought back many memories of basic science lessons where Mr. Lamberton actually took us out of the classroom and into real nature. He has us imagine and look at nature in a different way - a more appreciative way. There were tests for us back then, but none like the test his family went through - and survived.

Lamberton's book, a literary work indeed! I am fishing for a word to describe it and the emotion it conveyed to me, but I cannot find a good word. It is a book filled with beauty and brokenness, arrogance and repentance, reel love and real love. It really is a story of the human condition, trying to walk a ridge line and not falling into the abyss. Some of us fall into the abyss due to our own stupidity and get caught up in all kinds of trouble for violating some cultural rules scripted as law. (Had Ken been in Kenya among the Luo people, the age of 14 is just right for marrying and he could have had as many wives as he could afford.) Others fall into the abyss due to illness which can be equally devastating. Still others would rather take their life on the ridge line before falling.

When someone takes a serous fall and survives it may take years for them to recover and all too often those who witness the fall are not there at the time of recovery. Karen, Ken's wife, was always there. An impressive part of this book is the story of a remarkable wife with her three children, committed to an intellegent man. She believed her love would return and again light up her life!