Think Like a Dog: How Dogs Teach Us to Be
Happy in Life and Successful at Work
Prestige Books/Indiana University Press
1.
What inspired you to write
this book? My son, Ross, rescued Sadie when he was a law student at the University
of Texas a few years ago. She was a puppy living in the wild with her mother
and was picked up by Animal Control in Beaumont TX. She suffered from several
medical maladies including heartworm, which is usually fatal to dogs. As a
rescue not familiar with being around people or in a house, she was terrified
of everything. Gradually Ross socialized her, but when we accepted a full time
job, he sent her to me, his father, to take care of.
Sadie was very much afraid of everything when I took
her while living near San Diego. But she was also smart. I took her to the
beach the first day she was here with some friends and their dogs. I thought
the other dogs would teach Sadie about the beach and dog behavior. Instead, she
ran away as soon as she was allowed off leash. She was afraid of the ocean I
guess. To my surprise, she ran back to my house – over a m,ile away – even
though she had only been there less than a day.
Over time, Sadie figured things out and adjusted;
she now knows all the dogs and people in the neighborhood, who has treats, who
is fun to play with etc. She also has taken over my home, picking the most
comfortable couches to nap on, etc. How did she adjust and become such a
primary role in my life and home? As I observed, I thought there were lessons
people could learn from her behavioral transition. I took notes and eventually
created a book.
2.
Who should read it — and
why? Anyone who owns or loves dogs should very much enjoy this book. It is
filled with true stores of dog behavior collected from friends, people I have
met, and published stories. It is punctuated by clever, professional cartoons
and graphics illustrating key chapters and take-aways. It is a fun read and a
great gift.The book also provides self-help strategies for people and
organizations. Taking keys from canine behavior, chapters are filled with
clever advice such as knowing when to bark (aka complain) and looking for
treats that add spice to life and make life more enjoyable.
3.
How is it better or
different from others in its genre? I am unaware of any other book that
offers advice from a dog’s perspective. There are lots of useful ideas and
strategies based on well documented research but tied back into the simple
lives of dogs.
4.
What challenges did you
overcome to write your book? The book is written in 2 voices. Sadie has a
distinct voice – simple, direct, uncomplicated, and based solely on her
experiences. My voice is more complex drawing on decades of experience running
organizations and living in many cities and parts of the world. Writing in two
different voices was a challenge for me.
5.
What lasting messages do
you hope your readers are left after consuming your book? There are several messages
in the book. For example, one of the last chapters is “Leaving your Mark.” Dogs
mark the journey as a way of messaging to other dogs and animals. Humans leave
their marks too, but humans’ marks can be more long lasting and survive the
next rainfall. I challenge the reader, What will your mark be? How can we leave
this world a better place?
6.
What advice do you have for
struggling writers? I presented this book to several literary agents and
a couple publishers but received no encouragement. Everyone was skeptical that
a book based on a dog giving advice would appeal to anyone. But I knew someone
at Indiana University Press and asked as a personal favor, if they would take a
quick look and give me some advice on what to do with the manuscript. The
director and the staff fell in love with Sadie and the book and told me they
wanted to publish it. So as Sadie advices in the chapter on Persistence,
sometimes you can’t accept “no” for an answer; you need to persevere even when
discouraged.
7. Where do you see the book publishing industry
heading? The current trend is to Ebooks and the
demise of physical bookstores. I think this will change. Younger generations
seek experiences over material goods. Shopping malls are replacing clothing
stores with restaurants and entertainment. Over time, I see bookstores
transforming to experiential platforms and making a comeback. Libraries have
made this transition to becoming a center of community activity; bookstores
will likely eventually make this transition. I just hope they can survive the
short term negative condition.
For more information, please consult: http://authorscottmacdonald.com/
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