Adam's Task

[abker17]

:D

I just got this awsome book from the library called Adam's Task by Vicki Hearne. Has anyone else ever heard of it or read it? It's a really good book and although a bit "technically" (for lack of a better word) worded I really recommend it. :) (Some names that quickly came to mind after the first chapter were Kat, Sciencedoc, Kendalyn, and Shara u might enjoy it too)

:D

[kendalyn]

Cool, I'll check it out! What is it about though?

[abker17]

This is what it says on the front flap cover of the book:

The outstanding book by a professional dog and horse trainer, who is also a poet and assistant professor of English at Yale, offers fascinating new insights into the nature of domestic animals and the possibilities and responsibilities of our relationship with them.
The naming of animals was the first task God gave Adam in the Garden of Eden, Vicki Hearne points out, and it is through training that we fulfill this obligation. "The fact that animals are so generous in answering us is what makes it not only okay to train them but a human duty, one way we enact to the universe our gratitude that animals exist."............
Written from decades of experience with domestic animals, Adam's Task opens the door to closer, more honest and enriching relationships with the animals we love. Yet Vicki Hearne's book is more than this. Grounded in philosophy and literature, wise and profound, it offers a wealth of original and stimulating thought on language, learning and consciousness.


I really do think it makes for a very interesting read, and encourage u all to at least read the first chapter and then decide whether to continue or not. :)

[imported_Kat]

Cheers Abker for the recommendation :wink: I shall have to have a wee look and see if I can get the hold of it. The name does actually sound distantly familiar I think!

[Guest Anonymous]

I doubt I'll be able to find it in my neck of the woods, but I'll have a look about! :D

[imported_nea]

:-? Doesn't she suggest or say something about holding a dogs head underwater in the hole its dug to stop it from digging, or something like that? I've read another book that talks about "Adam's Task" and from what it said in it it seems like Hearne is a madman (or is it madwoman for a female? :wink: ), who evidently said something about "not being able to restrain herself from pushing the dog's head underwater when ever she saw a hole" (IF I remember correctly, which I'm not sure I do :oops: ). And that she agrees or something with dangling a dog from its collar if it doesn't obey or soemthing like that.

But like I said I don't really know and thats just what I read in another book. Still I think I'd rather not read her book. :)

[abker17]

:o :o

Ok so far in this book I haven't seen ANYTHING of that context. :-? I'm only through a little bit of it, and if there is anything like that in the book then I'd be really suprised. So I'll read more of it tonight and skim through it some more to make sure. I really hope that is not the case, so far the author has seemed very knowledgeable(sp?) and training and animal behavior.

[abker17]

Ok I looked up a couple reviews on the book over Google:
http://www.spreadeagleranch.com/_zebby1/0000011d.htm
(Scroll down to the bottom to see this one)
http://authors.booksunderreview.com/H/Hearne,_Vicki/

I think that this is a book that either u like it, or u don't. There are some things that I definatly don't agree with in it, but to me it still makes for a good read. That's the only reason I recommended it, maybe I should have finished reading the whole thing before posting about it on here, but to me so far it seems good....

[abker17]

http://www.goodbyemag.com/jul01/hearne.html

[Peng1zrule]

I've never been able to find "Adam's Task" in my area, but I definately KNOW the title and the author--Vickie Hearne rocks. For most people, her name doesn't mean alot...but to pitbull people, Hearne is an incredible woman. I remember when she passed away, and everyone was upset. Another incredible book is Bandit: Dossier of a Dangerous Dog. She ended up saving a dog who had bitten people...she never intended to keep him but ended up having him anyway...I love how she gives into anthropomorphism when talking about her dogs and how they react to her...