J. Allen Boone (1882–1965)

This book is obviously an extension of Boone's earlier work "Kinship With All Life", but it goes a bit more deeply into his subject. There are only a handful of "case stories", as in Kinship, but much more of his spiritual philosophy. Initially I found the book filled with tediously vague descriptions of attitudes and "feelings". However, with my own experiences inspired by "Kinship", I didn't want to dismiss this book merely because the English vocabulary doesn't have words for what he's show more trying to communicate. I also didn't want to denigrate his stories because I don't feel any particular resonance with phrases like "communicate through your heart". Maybe if Boone was more of a poet this book would be more "comprehensible"; but in any case, the basic idea does come through, in the end: if you think good thoughts, and assume good will, you will receive such in turn. Meanwhile, I won't fault Boone for ignoring how we must strengthen ourselves against those human types that are mired in self-aggrandizement and contempt for others; Boone's purpose for writing this book obviously was to emphasize the positive--it's our task to do the same by assuming the best in others (human or non-human), while not being surprised if we don't receive such in return. Sadly, from my point of view, what Boone left unsaid was that, by remaining positive, we will gain the strength to maintain this more useful positive attitude when we encounter the worst. show less

I read this book after hearing Alan Watts mention it in one of his lectures. I feel that the experiences themselves are highly personal as and such, hard to comprehend as anyone who has not had a similar encounter. However, I do see value in this book, as it promotes a fairer, more respectful mentality towards animals in general, no matter their size or their characteristics, which is always a good thing.

I can't decide whether I liked this book or not. I guess that's why I gave it two and a half stars. I love the concept of communing with all animal life forms and enjoying the enlightenment that accrues from that. I can even believe that it happens. The problem I had with the book was in the writing style I guess. I wanted to keep reading to see where Mr. Boone was going with his postulation and he had a habit of leaving me a bit high and dry at the end of each chapter so that I needed to show more get into the next one fairly quickly to find out where he actually was going. I found that a bit "novelistic", if I can get away with using a word like that.
I want more so I will read more of his writing to see what else I might learn.
I wonder if he ever heard a tree scream when it was cut into. show less

Fascinating little book about the author's adventures in communicating with and receiving wisdom from a number of critters, including a housefly. Most memorably and eloquently, though, he tells of his time as student of the great movie dog Strongheart, whose seeming presence and intelligence turns out not to be a result of Hollywood trickery.