My Dog: The Paradox: A Lovable Discourse about Man's Best Friend (Volume 3) (The Oatmeal)

I discovered The Oatmeal during a charity campaign that resulted from creator Matt Inman's internet kerfluffle about an online news aggregator site using his material. After Inman complained, the site owner sent him a letter alleging defamation and demanding $20,000. Inman responded in typical mocking fashion starting a donation campaign on Indiegogo for American Cancer Society and National Wildlife Federation. I started following him out of admiration for someone that had a just cause and took it a step higher. (Although this has nothing to do with the book, Goodreads, it does show that authors' behavior can influence reading both positively and negatively).

When he first posted My Dog: The Paradox, I laughed so hard, I cried. show more Seriously. There's something perfectly twisted about his description of dogs, their bravery, their fears, their obsessions and their devotions.

Part of the endearment is the drawing style, a MS Paint basic shapes in which the dog mostly resembles a snack-size Snickers bar. Recently Matt posted a picture of his drawing style through the years, and his earliest one was photograph quality. You wouldn't know it, but he's actually artistically talented. Of course, it also takes talent to use bug eyes to convey expression, but it's a different kind. The book version of My Dog is nicely colored, substituting color for his finely shaded webcomic greyscale. He first published it in a poster, but when the book version came out, I had to have it.

Inman is a little vulgar, but I confess I find it adds to the humor. Take the "My dog has absolutely zero interest in being clean" page, of a little dog rolling in fresh horse poop. It's facing page? "unless it concerns his testicles." Not only true, but hysterical in the cartoon, which is a chalkboard presumably written by his dog that includes "Today's Agenda: 11 am lick balls. get them sooper clean. 12pm lick balls. even moar clean." Then there's the chain cartoon of the process of a dog eating poop, vomiting, eating it it again, then pooping it out. If you don't believe this actually happens, check a pet store for all the products that are supposed to make poop taste bad. Gross? Absolutely. True? Totally.

Then there's the list of things his dog eats that includes pencils and bees, coupled with a cartoon of a puzzled dog staring at a plate of broccoli. If you have a dog, you know this experience. For instance, my Labrador has to take pills every morning. Won't touch them unless they are concealed in cheese or peanut butter. But the one time I dropped an ibuprofen by her? Gone in 5 seconds (and it required following it with an emetic, since ibuprofen is toxic to dogs).

After making you laugh so hard your muscles hurt, he goes for the gooey center, the enthusiasm dogs have for their human owners, whether we're gone for 4 hours or 4 minutes, and the sadness we have that their lives are so short.

Read it online here: My Dog: The Paradox. But I highly suggest supporting his work in some monetary fashion, because not only is he funny, he's willing to be emotionally and ethically brave. show less

This is perfection in a book concerning the male dog's state of mind and that of those who love him. You will fall off your chair laughing. You may want to have some Depends handy too since bladder control while reading might be an issue for some. It's indecently hilarious!

OMG this is the tiniest Oatmeal book I have read to date and the cutest!! The dog is adorable and precious in this book (yes even when he is licking his balls). Such a great read. Even though I do not have nor will ever own a dog, I understand how dogs work and this book hit the nail on the head. I enjoyed the part where the dog is afraid to look in the cat's eyes. Yup so true. Perfect book for any dog lover.

Ode to dogs, the most dedicated companions on our happiest and darkest days(◕ᴥ◕)
I've never owned a dog, so I don't know what it's like to live with them every day and give and receive this kind of love and comfort. I also don't know what it's like to lose all that after a period ot time. My best friend however has lost two dogs in the span of two years and I remember clearly how heartbroken she was.
This book is a beautiful mashup of the illogical fears of dogs but also a poem dedicated to their impactful presence in our homes and in our hearts.

This is the full-color version of the comic originally published online at The Oatmeal. Much like some other print versions of comics originally published online, for some reason this worked better for me online than it did in print. I'm not sure why.

Inman's brief update online about his dog Rambo made me go hug my cat. I imagine it'll resonate with anyone who's ever loved and lost a pet, whatever the species.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

Funny, irreverent, and touching. Inman’s cartoons and his way with words bring an immediate smile, and he really captures the essence of both owning a dog and their simple, wonderful souls. It’s available online on his Oatmeal website, but hey support the arts and buy a copy of the book.

I'm glad that I decided to buy this little hardcover version of the popular webcomic. As a dog lover and best friend to a quirky thirteen year-old mutt, I found myself agreeing with just about all of the points raised in this book and also wishing my dog could be immortal. Pet lovers, comic fans, and anyone who's ever experienced the paradox that is dog should read this book. This is meant to be a gift for someone who might not read the comic online or for your own collection if you want access to it without having to turn your computer on, so don't be disappointed that it's one comic or that it's been published before. Take the purpose into consideration. It'd make a great gift for any dog lover.