Following Atticus: Forty-eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship

You have to be happy for the way that the author Tom Ryan totally transforms himself from sedentary, overweight townie to fearless peakbagger, and he mostly succeeds because of this little friggin' dog. Myself I just finished cleaning up a nasty mess in the living room so I am not particularly receptive at the moment to stories about the redemptive power of dogs. Also I was hoping that this book would focus more on the White Mountains themselves. Instead it is mostly an earnest recounting of a series of canine-mediated epiphanies involving the saintly Atticus M Finch. Yes, Tom is an ingenuous, talented writer and yes, Atticus is pretty special, but it is just that by and large Tom and Atticus are a right cliquish pair and liable to look show more down their noses at those of us who might be thinking that Atticus is, well, a dog. And just a cautionary note: if you should ever meet Tom and Atticus out there on the trail, be sure to say the exact right thing to Atticus or you will so find yourself getting owned in Tom's next book. All in all though, the book was fun enough and Tom and Atticus have me pumped to hike Bondcliff, Bond, and beyond. And those pictures of Atticus, buddha-like on the summits, those are priceless. show less

Following Atticus is not a typical read for me...I generally don't like books about animals as I hate to think of them hurting or suffering. But, my mother chose this book for me as a Christmas gift when she was on a trip to New Hampshire and I felt as though reading it helped honor her.

I was rewarded with a wonderful, heart warming story of how a little dog helped a man transform his life. Tom Ryan was a one-man newspaper publisher in a small town. He was overweight and lonely when he took in his first dog. While Max did not live long, he opened the door for Atticus M. Finch, a mini-schnauzer who seemed to carry an old soul with him. Together, they hiked the high peaks in the White Mountains, becoming famous in the process, even as show more they provided support to each other through some tough times.

I laughed and cried and Ryan's tender story makes me wonder what I've been missing by not reading books about animals. show less

If you think this is just a dog book, please reconsider. Author Tom Ryan has created beautiful prose in telling his story of life with little Atticus. He quotes well known, historical authors, he pens poetry and he tells a fabulous story. Ryan's ability to use sarcasm had me laughing as well as being down right spooked from tales of nights on the mountains.

Not far into the book I stopped and checked out the CD as well. I adored this read, can not imagine skimming as someone earlier mentioned. This book would make a great keeper for my very select "need to own" library. My husband & I took small jaunts on our honeymoon in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. What is not to love when you add this "Little Giant" four legged friend? The show more bond and the healing power to Tom Ryan and many others is something I wouldn't have wanted to miss. show less

s I sit here writing this my two miniature schnauzers are barking their little hearts out defending our house against any and all folks walking down the sidewalk, dogs who might be outside within a tri-state vicinity, and the audacious squirrels who think they can live and play in the trees in our yard. They will eventually tire of this guard dog status and retreat to the couch where they will do what I wish I could do all day long: snuggle down and nap. The life of schnauzers in my house. The last time I walked Daisy on a long walk (Gatsby hadn't joined the family yet), she tore her ACL so she clearly wasn't made for trekking. And that made the idea of a miniature schnauzer who, with owner Tom Ryan, climbs 4000+ foot mountains in New show more Hampshire all that much more intriguing to me so I definitely could not resist a book about their inspiration and adventures in the wilderness.

Tom Ryan was the owner, editor, writer, chief researcher, and even delivery boy of the newspaper The Undertoad in Newburyport, Mass. His paper was one designed to expose politics, the good, the bad, and the ugly, in this New England town and in the course of writing it, he uncovered some pretty shady doings. But he also made some wonderful friends who believed in his goal of cleaning up the local political scene thereby making Newburyport a better, less contentious place in which all could live together. Unfortunately, as much as he exposed, more underhanded dealings filled in the excavated bits and so the newspaper continued to earn its existence. A paper of the 'Toad's sort certainly doesn't make everyone around happy and Tom Ryan accrued his fair share of enemies. Just when he was at his breaking point, a small, older miniature schnauzer named Maxwell Garrison Gillis entered his life purely by chance. This little dog accompanied him on his daily rounds greeting his friends and acquaintances and finding out the rumors and the truths with which he filled his paper. Despite their unexpected love, Max was older when he arrived in Ryan's life and they had a mere year and a half together before Max died and Ryan was left alone again.

Touched by the love of Max, Ryan decided to get another dog, this time a puppy. And so he started looking for miniature schnauzer puppies on the internet. He found his match in a tiny puppy who, according to his breeder, was "different" and whom she had intended to keep herself. But she let the puppy go and he came to live with Tom Ryan in Newburyport. Atticus M. Finch had arrived. He and Ryan quickly became a family, tightly bonded and almost inseparable. So when Ryan and two of his brothers decided to go for a hike, it was without a second thought that Ryan took Atticus with them. And it was there, on the mountain, despite hard going, and being out of shape that Ryan and Atticus found something precious: they found where they belonged.

After a friend died of a very aggressive cancer, Ryan wanted to make a gesture in her honor so he decided to raise funds to fight cancer by hiking all of New Hampshire's White Mountain four thousand footers in one winter. It was an ambitious project and he and Atticus, while having continued hiking after his afternoon with his brothers, were in no means your typical hikers, plus undertaking the mountains in the winter was decidedly more dangerous than in more temperate seasons. As they hiked, Ryan watched and marveled at the uncomplicated drive of little Atticus, his confidence, his ability to live in the moment, and his perseverance even in the face of freezing temperatures and dangerously gusting winds. He learned to trust his little dog to know when the day or the weather would be too much and he learned from Atticus to take the time to simply sit and experience the mountain tops when conditions were right. And he and Atticus would not attempt the highest mountains just once, they would attempt them again. This time they wanted to climb all the highest mountains not once in a winter but twice, this time to raise money for the MSPCA-Angell that does so much for animals and saved Atticus from terrifying health complications.

Ryan learned a lot while climbing not only about and from Atticus but also came to understand and articulate so much about his own past, his unhappy and strained family relationships, especially with his father, and to experience spiritual growth and serenity on the often deserted trails and summits they hiked. His whole philosophy of life grew and matured, eventually sending his life in a far different direction than he could have ever expected when he founded The Undertoad.

Ryan and Atticus have accomplished amazing things and it was lovely to be able to accompany them via armchair on their journey. They truly have a special relationship and Atticus is certainly a special little schnauzer. But the reiterations that being prepared for the mountains in winter kept them both safe got a little old and seemed to imply that those who were injured or killed were careless, or at least not as careful as Ryan and that's rather unfair, especially as Ryan recounts harry moments he and Atticus faced when conditions changed on them or were not quite as expected or what have you. Also, and as the mother of schnauzers myself I get this instinct because I undoubtedly feel it myself for each of my two, continually reminding the reader of Atticus' one-of-a-kind status and lauding him over and over did get a tad repetitive. And sometimes the looks backward at Ryan's troubled relationship with his father, his childhood, and his disappointments were not as well integrated into the narrative as they could have been. However, the book in general is well written and Atticus is an appealing little dog. Fans of dog stories, nature lovers, and those who want to read about a quiet spiritual journey hastened by the trails and lonely summits of the White Mountains will find much to appreciate here. show less

3.5 stars

The White Mountains in New Hampshire have 48 peaks over 4,000 feet. The author, Tom Ryan decided to raise money for cancer by hiking these peaks in the winter with his little miniature schnauzer, Atticus. This is their story.

I listened to the audio (read by the author). He does have an accent, which took my mind off what I was listening to occasionally to spell the word in my head (i.e. park = pawk), though mostly it wasn’t a big deal. (Oh, but for the life of me, I could not figure out the town he lived in (though that wasn’t the accent)! All I could hear was “Newb Report”; I looked it up and it was Newburyport. Say that fast (or even a normal speed!) and it sounds like Newb Report, which sounded like a very odd name show more for a town!) Anyway, I liked Atticus and they sure had a wonderful connection. The story just didn’t “wow” me, but it was enjoyable. show less

Summary
As editor of the indpendently owned newspaper, the Undertoad, Tom Ryan exposed small town politics for what it truly was, underhanded and sneaky. In Newburyport, Massachusetts his editorial style won him many friends but also some pretty serious enemies.
Floundering alone in life, trying to come to terms with a less than ideal childhood, the premature death of his mother, a loveless relationship with his father, and the death of a close friend from cancer, Tom Ryan accidentally begins to discover himself and the joys in life through first an aged and homeless Miniature Schnauzer named Max, later his own puppy Atticus and the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

What I Liked
While Tom Ryan's journey is a spiritual one, he doesn't leave show more anyone out by pinpointing a specific religious belief as the impetus for his journey. Ryan is still working some of his beliefs out, but the way he handles faith opens his story up to many, including those with strong beliefs already intact as well as those who are searching or don't even realize they are searching.

Atticus wears Muttluks and a K9 Top Coat while hiking higher up in the mountains once the temperature dropped. While I'm well aware of companies that keep our dogs in gear for camping and traveling, the idea that there is enough need for heavy hiking gear for dogs made me smile. I know people who don't like dogs and/or afraid of them...Atticus's adventures and the venues, vets, friends who look after him simply reinforce for me the love dogs bring us. I'm even more convinced that those who don't have dogs are really missing out on something special.

Of course, there's dog stuff to learn in Ryan's book. One of the most interesting tidbits happened when Tom and Atticus plowed through some serious wind and snow. Instead of just hunkering down and waiting things out, Tom had to keep going...while Tom's body could keep itself warm for a while, Atticus's small body would freeze if he sat still for too long...how bout that for an impetus for peseverence? I also liked the fact that Atticus's breeder recommended that Tom take Atticus everywhere he went during the first month. I liked this for the simple fact that some people believe that dogs are either good or bad, and while Atticus is indeed a very special dog, Tom Ryan devoted some serious time to him in the beginning, took time to understand him, didn't try to turn him into something he was not, and worked WITH him consistently and lovingly. It's important for readers to understand that they can't just go get a Miniature Schnauzer or any other kind of dog and expect him to be an Atticus.

The photos of Atticus are a perfect addition to Tom Ryan's written descriptions of his "Little Buddha." Atticus always seemed to know the way, never questioned whether or not to press on and always remembered to stop at the summit and take in the breathtaking views from the top.

Both Atticus and Tom Ryan experience trials throughout the narrative...things are never "hunky dory" nor made to seem that way. Thank goodness for that because a life that has no challenges or turns out all rosy with a few quick fixes is a lie.

I'm not a mountain climber, but I never felt left out on Tom and Atticus's hikes. The descriptions of the various mountains, their trails, the markers, the ground cover, the weather, the equipment, the adjustments and eventually the summits made me feel as if I was right there with them.

Not only does Tom discover his own self through hiking with Atticus, but he also learns to give back. Through his Winter Quest for a cure and the 2nd Winter Quest for Angell Animal Medical Center, Tom and Atticus are able to share their joy

What I Didn't Like
Honestly, there wasn't really anything I disliked about this book. If I had to choose one thing, one time that I was confused a little, it would be the first chapter. The first chapter is about Atticus's predecessor, Max. I didn't really see the connections of Max at first and wondered why the author spent the first couple of chapters writing about a dog that wasn't the focus of the book. Once I finished, however, I realized that it's necessary for the reader to connect with Tom Ryan, where he was in his life when he accidentally got Max, Max's effect on his life and his subsequent decision to get Atticus in order to bring the story full swing.

Atticus has a couple of pretty serious challenges...and these parts are sad and made my heartbeat speed up as if I was climbing the mountains myself...I won't say more about these bc of spoilers but both Tom and Atticus's attitudes toward serious setbacks are enough on their own to make readers think twice about giving up when the going gets rough.

Overall Recommendation
While dog lovers will certainly appreciate this books as much as I did, I believe nature lovers, particularly those who love the woods, mountains, etc, including walkers, hikers, and runners will appreciate Ryan's spiritual journey as he hikes the peaks of the White Mountains with his best buddy Atticus. show less

Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, And An Extraordinary Friendship by Tom Ryan is one of the most delightful books I have read in a long time.

Atticus M. Finch, partly named after the hero lawyer in To Kill A Mockingbird, is a Miniature Schnauzer who changes Tom Ryan’s world. Tom’s life publishing a muckraking newspaper in Newburyport, Massachusetts is only partly fulfilling. Tom loves his work but is lonely and his life has no real direction. Tom’s mother died when he was seven, and he is not close to his father and eight siblings.

Tom had acquired a Miniature Schnauzer, Max. When Max died, he was determined to get another dog of the same breed. Tom looked at dozens of photos emailed to him from the dog show more breeder, and he chose Atticus because he was different. Little did he know just how different Atticus would prove to be.

One day Tom and Atticus went hiking with three of Tom’s brothers in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where they had spent some vacation time as children. Atticus proved to be a natural born mountain climber. When Atticus reaches the top of a mountain, he would sit and gaze at the stunning scenery around him.

The experience was so enjoyable that Tom and Atticus return to the White Mountains on a regular basis. At first, Tom and Atticus start to make a habit of climbing the mountains because they enjoy the tranquility and peacefulness. They also love being together and share a very strong bond, Tom always holding Atticus in his arms after they reach the top of a mountain.

When a friend of Tom’s dies of cancer, however, Tom decides that they will climb all forty-eight of the four-thousand-foot peaks twice – in the winter -- to raise money for cancer.

Tom and Atticus brave blizzards, Lyme disease, and incipient blindness to conquer the mountains. Tom also starts to become closer to his elderly father through his mountain-climbing, something that his father appreciates because of his own love of the mountains.

As word spreads about the mountain climbing dog and the overweight, middle aged newspaperman, Tom and Atticus – especially Atticus – become media stars. When confronted with tragedies and near-tragedies, will Tom and Atticus persevere?

This has immediately become one of my favorite books. I am a sucker for animal stories, and I have read many mountain climbing books. This is my favorite. There were times I was laughing out loud at some of their adventures, and other times when I cried.

If you like animals, you will love Atticus! show less