The Secret Life of Cowboys

Rating:
Summary: Culture shock
Review: Armed with not much more than an English degree, Groneberg responds to an ad in, of all places, the literary Utne Reader, for someone to work on a horse ranch in Colorado. Before you can say "giddyap," he's working toward another degree in horses in Montana.
There's a girl involved, of course, and you somehow suspect they'll ride happily off into the Western sunset together. But things take a darker turn...
Beautiful writing; the effects of Groneberg's English degree show up in the beautiful and poetic language of this surprising and very good book.

Rating:
Summary: City kid tries ranch life, tells truth
Review: Can a city guy go from college to wrangler, ranch hand and ranch owner? Can he live through the Montana winters? Will he give it up and take up accounting in his home town? The author is brutally honest as he answers these questions. The angst is hard on the reader, but you want to follow him through his tough decisions. Many of the characterizations are memorable. I look forward to reading the next installment and seeing where this continuing experiment in ranch life takes him.

Rating:
Summary: A tribute to a simpler life?
Review: I respect and admire Groneberg's tenacity and will to become part of the West and to write this book. The book takes us through Tom Groneberg's experiences as a horse trail guide, ranch hand, and ranch manager. Gone are the perfectly dirtied cowboy hats that today's country "musicians" wear...Groneberg learns that life in the West is hard, cold, and unforgiving.

Groneberg wants so desperately to be a part of this culture, but he never fully explains why. Perhaps this is part of the mystery of this region, the allure. This book reminds me of a modern-day My Antonia in parts--especially his descriptions of the harsh winters he and his wife endure in Montana.

What I come away with after reading this memoir is that it's difficult to be a man today--especially when you're a man drawn to a hard life. Ranching is not as simple and pastoral as it seems. Growing up on a farm allowed me to empathize with Groneberg in parts and allowed me to predict outcomes in others. I would encourage those who haven't had much experience with the "cowboy way" to read this memoir and leave the country music videos on mute. Groneberg paints a realistic picture of what the life of a cowboy is like in the modern age.

Rating:
Summary: A tribute to a simpler life?
Review: I respect and admire Groneberg's tenacity and will to become part of the West and to write this book. The book takes us through Tom Groneberg's experiences as a horse trail guide, ranch hand, and ranch manager. Gone are the perfectly dirtied cowboy hats that today's country "musicians" wear...Groneberg learns that life in the West is hard, cold, and unforgiving.

Groneberg wants so desperately to be a part of this culture, but he never fully explains why. Perhaps this is part of the mystery of this region, the allure. This book reminds me of a modern-day My Antonia in parts--especially his descriptions of the harsh winters he and his wife endure in Montana.

What I come away with after reading this memoir is that it's difficult to be a man today--especially when you're a man drawn to a hard life. Ranching is not as simple and pastoral as it seems. Growing up on a farm allowed me to empathize with Groneberg in parts and allowed me to predict outcomes in others. I would encourage those who haven't had much experience with the "cowboy way" to read this memoir and leave the country music videos on mute. Groneberg paints a realistic picture of what the life of a cowboy is like in the modern age.

Rating:
Summary: Secret Life of One "Cowboy"
Review: I was really intrigued by this book but after the first section with Tom's working trail rides I had a hard time. Frankly, he went through what many go through trying to re-invent ourselves in a new line of work - a lot of problems. Frankly, I would rather have heard the perspective from some of the old time cowboys who were still able to get it done vs someone trying to get into the life and struggling. I appreciate Tom's candor in realizing that he was not up to par with those that have it in their blood, passed from generation to generation. I guess it is a good thing that at least he stuck with the elements that he was good at and gave up on the areas he struggled with vs moving back east to his old life. I was really looking forward to hearing the "secret" part of the life of cowboys - those who do it all.

Rating:
Summary: A real cowboy gets honest
Review: If this book were fictional Tom Groneberg would be a engaging, complicated protaganist. One doesn't know his motivations at all times but as a reader you believe in his journey, pray for his good fortune and embrace his love for the rugged country most of us have yet to experience. I was most taken with Mr. Groenberg's abilty to be very critical of his chosen path and yet still make the reader hopeful that he continues in his cowboy life. If you ever saw a wide open space and wished to be surrounded by it, catch a glimpse in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Not very appealing.
Review: Once you get started reading, this book appears to be the real thing. Although it may be a true life experience, it becomes very hard to keep your attention and rambles on concerning some big dreams financed by his father's forture, only to become a total failure. To top the story, he must to turn to medication to keep his senses and continue to " dream " about being a cowboy. After reading this, I wonder what would have been the true outcome if he didn't have parents to finance his way, and stay away from the mood-altering drugs. Don't waste your money on this one, that is, unless, daddy is paying for it

Rating:
Summary: I'll never be a cowboy
Review: This book did not make me want to ride a bucking bronco; it did not make me want to brand cattle or deliver a prolapsed calf; it did not make me want to move somewhere where the temperature is 40 below in the winter and 100 above in the summer. It did, however, make me want to keep reading. Tom Groneberg is a fine writer and his book is a great find for those readers, like me, who vicariously enjoy the adventures of more adventurous souls from the safety of our armchairs.

Rating:
Summary: A real cowboy gets honest
Review: This book is an amazingly honest and forthright autobiography of a man who started life as a midwestern suburbanite and who found his way to the Wild West and learned to ranch in the harsh environment of Eastern Montana. After spending years working as a hand with horses and cattle, and after owning and working his own ranch, Tom Groneberg still does not believe himself to be a true cowboy. But to me, he and his wife, Jen, are true American pioneers. To those of us with the desire but without the guts to make a life in the romantic but difficult world of cowboys, he is a mythical figure. To those of us who want to take the hard road, he is an excellent example. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Fun weekend read for dreamers.
Review: This book was a wonderful read. This guys has lived the life I desire and I wish I could have had his experiences. From working and learning on the dude ranch, to the physical and emotional callouses he developed raising his own cattle, Tom's got to be given credit for chasing his dream. Even if it didn't turn out the way he had thought, he will die without the thought of "what if." I wouldn't quite call this a manual, per se, but, I might call this a historical account. It is good reinforcement to the old addage, "be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it."

If you are looking for an easy read about life on the range and a young mans desire to chase his dream, you should pick this book up. You will be none to worse if you do.