Rating: 
Summary: One of the BEST I've read
Review: This is a GREAT book! The fact that it was written a number of years ago, only adds to the fact that it is also rational. Written in a time where not many people believed or cared about animals feelings, it describes how the author's life is touched by an exceptional animal. He considers himself rational, but realizes-through teachings from Strongheart-that he needs some work. Far fetched?. . . Not at all. When you read the book in it's entirety, you'll experience Boone's life with Strongheart as if you were there. His chapters about energy being the common thread in all living things is not to be missed. It is one of the clear explanations as to how and why animals (including us)communicate the way we do. Perhaps if (reviewer) scoval300 would open his heart to a non-human friend he'd realize there is much more to that unconditional love they send to us all. Need glasses?
Rating:
Summary: One of the BEST I've read
Review: This is a GREAT book! The fact that it was written a number of years ago, only adds to the fact that it is also rational. Written in a time where not many people believed or cared about animals feelings, it describes how the author's life is touched by an exceptional animal. He considers himself rational, but realizes-through teachings from Strongheart-that he needs some work. Far fetched?. . . Not at all. When you read the book in it's entirety, you'll experience Boone's life with Strongheart as if you were there. His chapters about energy being the common thread in all living things is not to be missed. It is one of the clear explanations as to how and why animals (including us)communicate the way we do. Perhaps if (reviewer) scoval300 would open his heart to a non-human friend he'd realize there is much more to that unconditional love they send to us all. Need glasses?
Rating:
Summary: What a mind-opener
Review: This is a small book, easily read in a couple hours. Yet its impact is enormous. The author receives his new understanding of animals by babysitting a famour Hollywood dog actor, who ends up becoming his teacher. By sincerely and unreservedly acknowledging animals as equal to man, he learns that they too communicate and share this world as expressions of the Creator. From his beginnings with the dog Strongheart he builds relationships with a skunk, ants invading his home who leave the next day at his request, and he even befriends a fly for a short time who teaches him many things about man and his arrogance, prejudices and cruelty.If I take this book to heart, I will have to treat my own "pets" (companions) in a new light. How can I pick my cat up and hug her when she makes it so clear to me she doesn't like being confined in this way? I will no longer be able to think of them as a subspecies, below humans, deserving our condescension and care. I hope some day I can bridge that gap between my species and theirs and hear what they have to think about the world and their place in it. I believe it's possible.
Rating:
Summary: Petting a Fly
Review: This is my all-time favorite book, and I am a voracious reader. I have taken its teachings to heart, and it has changed my life, along with the Kamana program (www.kamana.org). On June 24, 2004, I was sitting outside, and noticed a large fly sunning herself nearby. She was beautiful! (I am guessing female, because females are larger than males.) After admiring her a few minutes, I examined her from about 6 inches away. She had beautiful orange eyes with silver markings along the inside edges, four serrated/veined stripes down her back, transluscent wings, mottled/checkered abdomen, hairy legs, and definite feet. I later found it was Musca domestica. Recalling this "Kinship with All Life" book, I invited her to climb onto my hand. She did! I asked her if she wanted to play "Toss Up". Then I jerked my hand up, she flew off, and before my hand came down she had flown back down onto my finger. I tried again, even harder, but she firmly grasped my finger. I figured she didn't want to play any more. I asked her if she wanted me to pet her. She crawled off my finger onto the lid of lawn trimmings bin. I petted her three or four times with my left index finger. Then she crawled 2 inches away, sat a minute, then flew to a nearby flower. Overall, an amazing experience, and one I would not have thought to try if I had not read this book.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: Today my daughter in Wyoming asked me to send her my old copy of this wonderful book, and I couldn't find it! So here I am at Amazon.com ordering a copy for her. She and her sister and I shared "Kinship With All Life" when they were teenagers in the late 70's. She owns and trains two horses, and a horse whisperer recently recommended the book to her. My first impression of the book, years ago, was that everyone should read it. My opinion hasn't changed.
Rating:
Summary: Prior review is RIGHT. This book is a must in public schools
Review: When I drove my Sheltie to the Vet to be spayed, she was shaking violently. Yet she was in that car *every* morning, riding with me on my errands. How could she know *this* morning was different? So, AS AN EXPERIMENT, I changed my view. (I'd been apprehensive as well) I told the dog, mentally, what was going on and also told her that she did not need to be afraid. I told her that she may experience some discomfort after this procedure, but it would be minimal and this surgery was in her best interest and there would be a good outcome. I told her that Love was present at the vet's office and the presence of Love forbade the entrance of fear. Her shaking quickly stopped and she laid down comfortably in the seat. My childhood dog (he passed years ago) also was very sensitive to thought. Boone's book - Kinship with All Life - proves that these examples are not the exception but the rule. Reading this book (just recently) has changed me forever. One of my all time favorites. I have always assumed dogs were "not too bright" but I have now have great respect for their capacities. This book is a quick read, but it causes a real paradigm shift in thought. Nothing IN THE UNIVERSE will look the same after you read Boone's little treatise on animals. One last note - In every book I've read about life after life, there is one constant theme - When the departed talk about returning home to say good-bye to loves ones, they always add "No one in the room could see me or hear my words, but the dog kept barking at me and looked right at me..." Dogs see through the veil that obscures our own thoughts. rosethorn@home.com
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: When my friend gave me this book to read, I groaned inwardly. "Oh no," I said to myself, "not another cutsy-cutsy book about animals." Boy was I wrong! This little book is one of the most profound I have ever read. I certainly will never look at another creature ever again without recognizing the consciousness inhabiting it.
The majority of the book is about the author's consciousness-raising experience with an amazing dog named Strongheart, who taught the author that every creature has within it an aware being. The story of the author's unfoldment of awareness is simply mind-blowing. I am going to buy and give away copies of this little book to all of my friends. It's NOT just about animals, and communication with them, but about life, the universe, and everything (no joke!). From his interaction with animals the author gained insight into the nature of existence itself.
Even if every story in the book was made-up, it still wouldn't detract from it's impact -- these are well-written stories which all have a deep and inspiring message.
I can't recommend this book highly enough, I consider it a must-read for every human being. Published in 1954, it is still in print, which should tell you something about the quality of this narrative.
Enlightening and inspirational!
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: When my friend gave me this book to read, I groaned inwardly. "Oh no," I said to myself, "not another cutsy-cutsy book about animals." Boy was I wrong! This little book is one of the most profound I have ever read. I certainly will never look at another creature ever again without recognizing the consciousness inhabiting it.
The majority of the book is about the author's consciousness-raising experience with an amazing dog named Strongheart, who taught the author that every creature has within it an aware being. The story of the author's unfoldment of awareness is simply mind-blowing. I am going to buy and give away copies of this little book to all of my friends. It's NOT just about animals, and communication with them, but about life, the universe, and everything (no joke!). From his interaction with animals the author gained insight into the nature of existence itself.
Even if every story in the book was made-up, it still wouldn't detract from it's impact -- these are well-written stories which all have a deep and inspiring message.
I can't recommend this book highly enough, I consider it a must-read for every human being. Published in 1954, it is still in print, which should tell you something about the quality of this narrative.
Enlightening and inspirational!
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