Since I’ve finally published Nitro: A Dog’s Tale, I have found myself spending WAY too much time on Amazon lately. In so doing, I have learned at least one interesting fact: Amazon ads permits indie authors to “tag” top selling dog books so scrubs like me are able to piggyback on established titles like Old Yeller, Where the Red Fern Grows, or Sounder. In addition to this exciting news, I wanted to share a few remarkable titles that you may not have heard about. In no particular order, here they are!
The Genius of Dogs by Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods
Breakthroughs in cognitive science have proven dogs have a kind of genius for getting along with people that is unique in the animal kingdom. This dog genius revolution is transforming how we live and work with dogs of all breeds, and what it means for you in your daily life with your canine friend.
Our Oldest Companions by Pat Shipman
Dogs and humans have been inseparable for more than 40,000 years. Along the journey together, dogs have changed physically, behaviorally, and emotionally, as humans too have been transformed. Dogs’ labor dramatically expanded the range of human capability, altering our diets and habitats and contributing to our very survival. Shipman proves that we cannot understand our own history as a species without recognizing the central role that dogs have played in it.
Blind Courage by Bill Irwin
In a remarkable true story of commitment, perseverance and the will to survive, Bill Irwin, the first and only blind person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail, through fourteen states, along 2,169 miles, Bill and Orient walked, sending a message to all of us, reminding us of and encouraging us to pursue our own impossible dreams.
Hachi: The Truth of the Life and Legend by Mayumi Itoh
An Akita-inu, Hachi (Nov 1923 – Mar 1935), waited for his master at Shibuya Train Station, Tokyo, for almost ten years after his master’s death and until his own death, and became a living legend. Unfortunately, his life is shrouded in mysteries and misunderstandings. Examining all the available documents on Hachi, this book assesses generally believed stories of his life and presents an accurate and true life of the most famous dog in Japan, which was full of twists and turns and was “stranger than fiction.” Hachi’s story was made into at least two movies. An Americanized version titled Hachi: A Dog’s Tale featured Richard Gere and was released in 2009.
A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
Told from the dog’s perspective, A Dog’s Purpose is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog’s many lives, but also a dog’s-eye commentary on human relationships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man’s best friend. There are three books in this series, and it was made into a movie with Dennis Quaid (2017).
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