Absolutely fantastic.  One of the best books I’ve read in a long time.  I don’t know how I missed Mowat’s books growing up, but I’m glad I discovered him now.  The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be is the true story of Mutt, Mowat’s own beloved dog.  Although Mutt was technically a dog, he certainly didn’t act like a dog.  Mutt’s exploits are legendary in the small Canadian towns where he lived, and Mowat’s descriptions of them are laugh-out-loud hysterical.  Mowat’s book is more than just a dog story.  He brings to life his boyhood in Canada, the adventures he shared with his father, and his love for and knowledge of nature.  I loved reading this book myself, and can’t wait to share it with my children when they’re older.

Since I am a San Diego native who frequented Sea World as a child, a book with Shamu on the cover will always catch my eye.  Of course, when you think “Shamu” you don’t usually also think “love and marriage.”  But that’s exactly what Sutherland did when she wrote a column for the New York Times about how the lessons she learned while observing at an animal training school helped improve her marriage.  She got such a response, that she turned the article into a book.  It’s interesting, funny and full of techniques you can use to improve all types of relationships.