The Good: Cesar Millan's "Be The Pack Leader". I received this book as a promotional effort by the New Yorker's Advance Word (http://www.newyorkeradvanceword.com/) marketing effort. I don't have a dog, so every time I came across the words "dog" or "pet", I changed it to "Child" or "Son". To summarize what I perceived as the basic premise of the book: Americans are fat, spoiled and neurotic, and we are making our Dogs/Pets ("Children/Sons")fat, spoiled and neurotic because we want them to be replacement friends/lovers. Solution? Walk your dog ("child/son") alot, give him something to do, and remember that you are a person (I had to read "Parent" for this one) and your dog is a dog("child/son"). A very pragmatic and readable book for the Pet (Child) owner in all of us.
The Bad: OH MY GOD!!!!! Who let "An Arsonist's Guide to the Writer's Homes in New England" get published? Speaking of Dogs (Children) this one won't hunt, as they say in Alabama. I was doubly concerned to see that the author teaches creative writing at University of Cincinnati. Purported to be a quirky commentary on life, writing, families,etc, this book misses the mark on quirky and commentary. Don't bother, and if you already have, take your Dog ("child/son") for a long walk to recover.
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