Rating: 
Summary: The Perfect Gift for an Animal Lover!
Review: After reading her first book, Animals as Teachers and Healers, I was surprised yet happy to find that Susan Chernak McElroy's next book was just as spiritually enlightening, entertaining, and thought provoking. Animals as Guides for the Soul belongs in every animal lover's library. (I received this book as a gift and stongly recommend it for those seeking the perfect present for an animal lover friend or relative.)
Susan Chernak McElroy is a beautiful writer who weaves her own stories about animals with those of other people. I could say that I enjoyed this book for the stories alone -- but McElroy goes beyond storytelling and fearlessly writes about highly sensitive issues related to animals and their humans such as vegetarianism, euthanasia, animal abuse, and death and bereavement. This is more than a "feel good" book. McElroy hides nothing, even her own philosophical questions over animal issues or her very personal emotional struggles concerning the animals she has known in her lifetime.
This book was a true joy to read. I have become a committed Susan Chernak McEloy reader and have already begun reading her book on wild animals, Heart in the Wild.
Rating: 
Summary: Another one of her compilations of stories
Review: Disjointed, hyperbolic, pedestrian. Is this the kind of book the reviewers rave about-- it's so transparent.
Rating:
Summary: Very disappointed.
Review: I ended up returning this book, and this is why: I read the first 100 pages and really enjoyed it. The writing wasn't necessarily academic or of the highest standard, but the stories were very nice and touching, and I envied the author for having the financial means to purchase her own hobby farm. However, on about page 110 or 120 she talks about how she ISN'T a vegetarian. I was totally shocked. I understand many animal advocates aren't, but everything the author writes about - about the spirituality of animals, how we should serve them more, about their intelligence - it didn't make any sense and I think it is very hypocritical. The author attempts to justify it by a weak argument along the lines that animals serve people in various ways, and some animals give up their lives so that WE can eat them (the WE bothered me, since I do not eat animals). She talks about how animals serve us and how people should serve (help) animals more, saying that seeing-eye dog trainers probably don't also volunteer at the local shelter - implying that they should and that somehow this is related to her weakness of eating animals (it wasn't very clear). She mentioned a number of times how she had changed her diet after having had cancer (making me think that "of course" she's a vegetarian now). She also is educated enough to know about how animals are treated in slaughterhouses and on big farms (she mentions this), and she has the financial means to eat vegetarian (sometimes it can be more expensive). Not everyone can leave the city to purchase a hobby farm, but she certainly could end her "struggles with vegetarianism" and stop eating the beings she publically praises so much. She also writes quite a bit about the influence her religious upbringing had on her - putting animals at the bottom of the hierarchy of life. In conclusion, everything she writes up until about page 110 prepares the reader for her to NOT say that it is okay for animals to be killed for some humans to eat. Everything she writes prepares the reader to believe that she believes that animals shouldn't die just so that humans can eat them. I am still very grateful for her healing work with the animals and any new awareness she has brought into this world through her writing, but the contradiction of her diet and her words was huge enough for me to be done with this author. In place of this book I purchased When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals. The author mentions he's a vegetarian right out front, and I am really enjoying it. His writing is of the highest standard, is very logical, interesting, humorous and poignant.
Rating: 
Summary: Moving
Review: I laughed, I cried, my husband looked at me like I was crazy more than once. I loved the stories about Brightstar Farm, and the stories of other animals that had been relayed to the author. I probably could have done without the extraneous commentary aout whether or not she eats meat and the like, but still... this is a very worthy read for animal lovers!
Rating:
Summary: Heartwarming
Review: I laughed, I cried, my husband looked at me like I was crazy more than once. I loved the stories about Brightstar Farm, and the stories of other animals that had been relayed to the author. I probably could have done without the extraneous commentary aout whether or not she eats meat and the like, but still... this is a very worthy read for animal lovers!
Rating:
Summary: This book has lovely stories and heartfelt insights.
Review: If there's anything animals can teach us, it is not to be cynical. Even a dog, abused and abandoned, can be rescued and learn to love again, something too many humans cannot grasp or accomplish. This book has deep insight into the place animals take in our spiritual life, something ancient people took for granted. We have lost sight of this fundamental truth, and books like this will help us rediscover it. Remember, humane means treating animals well, too.
Rating:
Summary: This book will change your life.
Review: If you love animals, you have to read this book. This is the most inspirational and enlightening book on the subject of animals that you can read and it changed my life forever. I read this book while on vacation in the Azores with my husband and I came home a totally different person. I am much more in tune with my animal friends now than ever before and have made the commitment to devote all of my free time to making this world a better place for all living creatures. Read it and you will want a farm like Brightstar for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: Just a great read ! Its a nice bedside book to put your mind in a good place before falling asleep.
Rating:
Summary: literary no; inspiring yes
Review: OK, this is not a literary masterpiece, and some may find the content and its delivery at least a bit odd. That said, this book ('warts and all!') and its message have an essence which is 'from-the-heart' beautiful and vital - and ultimately inspiring, both practically and especially philosophically. It contains some very good related resource references, too.
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable read
Review: The editorial review gives an excellent description of this book. McElroy has a way of bringing poignancy to her writing that I enjoy, sort of wistful. One story that engaged me was the distress she felt for her next-door neighbors' dog Tisha. They found Tisha in a bag on the side of the road and brought her home. But because she could escape any fence, the neighbors cabled her to a tree all day long. McElroy's initial reaction was hatred for these cruel neighbors. But coming to know them, exchanging eggs and vegetables and conversation over the fence, she found they were kind people. Her challenge was to find a way to help Tisha while living in harmony with her neighbors who believed differently than she.I am saddened that this wonderful author, who loves and regards animals so highly, still condones their slaughter and serves them up on her table. I hope some day she sees her way to realize that these animals are not ours to dispose of for our appetite or fashion. I'm glad I read it and do recommend it for the lessons it offers, but it won't be staying in my own library. Once is enough.
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