The Education of Will, Patricia B. McConnell
The Education of Will, Patricia B. McConnell
4 Rating(s)
List: $19.99
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The Education of Will
A Mutual Memoir of a Woman and Her Dog

Author: Patricia B. McConnell

Narrator: Ellen Archer

Unabridged: 7 hr 43 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/21/2017


Synopsis

Bestselling author and internationally renowned animal psychologist and dog trainer Patricia McConnell “gives a voice to those who can’t speak in words and provides hope for fearful animals everywhere” (Temple Grandin) in this powerful and uplifting memoir about healing.

World-renowned as a source of science and soul, Patricia McConnell combines brilliant insights into canine behavior with heartwarming stories of her own dogs and their life on the farm. Now, she reveals that it wasn’t just the dogs who had serious problems. For decades Dr. McConnell secretly grappled with her own guilt and fear, which were rooted in the harrowing traumas of her youth.

Patricia is forced to face her past by her love for a young Border Collie named Will, whose frequent, unpredictable outbreaks of fear and fury shake Patricia to her core. In order to save Will from this dangerous behavior, she must find her own will to heal, and along the way learn that will power by itself is not enough.

Interweaving enlightening stories of her clients’ dogs with tales of her deepening bond with Will, this is a “compassionate account of the reclamation of the author's life from abuse and shame. An uplifting story of hope about how both dogs and humans need "a sense that they are not helpless victims" (Kirkus Reviews).

About Patricia B. McConnell

Patricia McConnell, PhD, CAAB is an Ethologist and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist who has consulted with cat and dog lovers for over twenty years. Her nationally syndicated radio show, Calling All Pets, has played in more than 110 cities for fourteen years. She is the behavior columnist for The Bark magazine and a Consulting Editor for the Journal of Comparative Psychology. She has retired from her position as Adjunct Associate Professor in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is the author of ten books on training and behavioral problems, as well as the critically acclaimed books, The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs, For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend, and Tales of Two Species.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Sam on March 20, 2017

so so much of value here: recounts the author's practical steps to healing deeply buried wounds to her psyche and spirit. she is intelligent, candid, wise, sweet, human...and pretty funny. couldn't stop thinking of the saying I read from Jon Katz (who was quoting someone else): "if you want a better......more

Goodreads review by Ruthie on March 01, 2017

I love Trisha McConnell and I know this must have been so difficult to write. But I didn't LOVE it. There was a lot of repetition and there was something missing; some depth she didn't dare go into. And I don't blame her.......more

Goodreads review by Jordan Fischer on February 28, 2017

This book was WONDERFUL. Patricia McConnell is one of my very favorite writers, but it has been a long time since I've read one of her books. I'd forgotten how enthralling her writing was, as I absolutely could not put this book down (I read it in less than 24 hours). Though most of her books are ab......more

Goodreads review by Cynthia on April 25, 2020

An imperfectly perfect memoir about a woman and her dog, The Education of Will is a testament to the 15,000 year old bond between humans and dogs. Patricia McConnell and Will give each other impetus and courage to face their traumas and fears. Together, they make mistakes, fail, try again, succeed,......more

Goodreads review by Story Circle Book Reviews on April 23, 2017

If you have an aggressive dog, you may have heard of Patricia McConnell. For decades, she has written and taught about animal behavior. She is known as a scientist writing about dog training and as a consultant on behavior problems. Her new memoir, The Education of Will: A Mutual Memoir of a Woman a......more