A thoughtful ride through life as seen from the back of a horse.
A memoir focused on the love of horses goes beyond equine history to encompass life lessons and philosophy.
With a fluid conversational style, Davis spins a tale of how her lifelong love of horses has impacted her. At 19, she sold her beloved childhood horse, Boots. After a hiatus of 30 years, the author, with her daughter’s prodding, decides to jump back in the saddle and buy a horse. What follows is a crazy quilt of personal anecdotes, horse-training methods, the anatomy and physiology of equines and Davis’ journey to owning not just one but three horses. Along the way are musings on the Universe and the divine, the impact of her choices and the real way to become a horse whisperer. While the storytelling resonates with enthusiasm and often-deft humor, the book’s loose structure sometimes bewilders. Specialized training terminology assumes prior, inside knowledge of the horse world, and events fall in and out of strict chronological order. However, the author’s warm, energetic writing–seen in similes like “their mane usually looks as though mongooses have played scrabble in it”–creates an enjoyable, if bumpy, read. Davis’ observational abilities shine in descriptions of horses learning how to negotiate relationships with humans. Her awareness of the natural world also gives the reader a grounded sense of the various terrains of Oregon farms and mountains. Uplifting quotations by sources from Rumi to Will Rogers begin each short, punchy chapter, and the chapter titles are intriguing imperatives–“Call the Cavalry,” “Seek Wizards,” “Dodge Wildfires.” Two appendices offer a more scientific examination of a horse’s eye and brain, although the discussion wanders a bit. The book seeks to balance the factual worlds of livestock auction, veterinary medicine and horse training with the more spiritual realms of the horse/human bond, the interconnectedness of nature and the meaning of existence.
A thoughtful ride through life as seen from the back of a horse.Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-4363-5827-9
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An intriguing approach to identifying and relating to one’s emotions.
An analysis of our emotions and the skills required to understand them.
We all have emotions, but how many of us have the vocabulary to accurately describe our experiences or to understand how our emotions affect the way we act? In this guide to help readers with their emotions, Brackett, the founding director of Yale University’s Center for Emotional Intelligence, presents a five-step method he calls R.U.L.E.R.: We need to recognize our emotions, understand what has caused them, be able to label them with precise terms and descriptions, know how to safely and effectively express them, and be able to regulate them in productive ways. The author walks readers through each step and provides an intriguing tool to use to help identify a specific emotion. Brackett introduces a four-square grid called a Mood Meter, which allows one to define where an emotion falls based on pleasantness and energy. He also uses four colors for each quadrant: yellow for high pleasantness and high energy, red for low pleasantness and high energy, green for high pleasantness and low energy, and blue for low pleasantness and low energy. The idea is to identify where an emotion lies in this grid in order to put the R.U.L.E.R. method to good use. The author’s research is wide-ranging, and his interweaving of his personal story with the data helps make the book less academic and more accessible to general readers. It’s particularly useful for parents and teachers who want to help children learn to handle difficult emotions so that they can thrive rather than be overwhelmed by them. The author’s system will also find use in the workplace. “Emotions are the most powerful force inside the workplace—as they are in every human endeavor,” writes Brackett. “They influence everything from leadership effectiveness to building and maintaining complex relationships, from innovation to customer relations.”
An intriguing approach to identifying and relating to one’s emotions.Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-250-21284-9
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Celadon Books
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2019
A highly readable account of how solid research and personal testing of self-help techniques saved a couple's marriage after...
Self-help advice and personal reflections on avoiding spousal fights while raising children.
Before her daughter was born, bestselling author Dunn (Why Is My Mother Getting a Tattoo?: And Other Questions I Wish I Never Had to Ask, 2009, etc.) enjoyed steady work and a happy marriage. However, once she became a mother, there never seemed to be enough time, sleep, and especially help from her husband. Little irritations became monumental obstacles between them, which led to major battles. Consequently, they turned to expensive couples' therapy to help them regain some peace in life. In a combination of memoir and advice that can be found in most couples' therapy self-help books, Dunn provides an inside look at her own vexing issues and the solutions she and her husband used to prevent them from appearing in divorce court. They struggled with age-old battles fought between men and women—e.g., frequency of sex, who does more housework, who should get up with the child in the middle of the night, why women need to have a clean house, why men need more alone time, and many more. What Dunn learned via therapy, talks with other parents, and research was that there is no perfect solution to the many dynamics that surface once couples become parents. But by using time-tested techniques, she and her husband learned to listen, show empathy, and adjust so that their former status as a happy couple could safely and peacefully morph into a happy family. Readers familiar with Dunn's honest and humorous writing will appreciate the behind-the-scenes look at her own semi-messy family life, and those who need guidance through the rough spots can glean advice while being entertained—all without spending lots of money on couples’ therapy.
A highly readable account of how solid research and personal testing of self-help techniques saved a couple's marriage after the birth of their child.Pub Date: March 21, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-316-26710-6
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Jan. 17, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
