A Dog's Purpose: A Novel for Humans (A Dog's Purpose, 1) Mass Market Paperback – December 6, 2016

Cameron's book may be the best depiction yet of how a dog "may" think/reason. They aren't people, despite all our wishing otherwise, they don't reason like we do. However - I have owned, raised, & trained many, many dogs in my lifetime. Like the narrator in this joyful book, to a one, they have been open, eager to please, like a child. Some have been young souls, some have been very obviously old souls. Some were toddlers in their attitudes and actions their entire life, some were wise and brave and calm. But even the old souls had no judgment in them, ever.The people who complain about this book, and use "The Art of Racing in the Rain" as an example as to why this book is bad, want another human, not a canine narrator. Me personally? I don't respond well to a story about a "dog" that thinks constantly about wanting to be human, and narrates from that POV. It doesn't speak to my experience with dogs. Why stick ears and a tail on a character that acts and thinks like a weary, disaffected human, and who, more than anything, wants to be human? I read the book, I enjoyed it, somewhat, but I never, ever, felt like the narrator was a dog. :)Conversely, Cameron's book solidifies the things those of us who've worked with so many dogs have felt or witnessed so many times. You can feel the imaginary tail sweeping things off your coffee table throughout the entire book. It explains (whether true or not is NOT the issue, we cannot know until it is our time) how dogs can and do remain so wonderfully childlike, while sometimes, an old soul comes through, old even from birth. The dog I have now, a German Shepherd, is like this. I've never had another dog like him. He is calm, strong, brave. An extremely old soul, from the moment he calmly stayed back, watching me, considering me, then walking over to me, through and despite his gamboling littermates, and lay his head down on my leg. He can be a puppy when he chooses, and can "do" doggie, but he prefers watching the world, and me. He waits. That's the best way I can put it. Whether he's waiting for me so he can fulfill his purpose, or whether he is close to his final purpose, I don't know. If he's there, it'll be ok.For those who have trouble with the "path," and the painful speedbumps taken in the course of this book... Isn't it preferable, and yes, JOYFUL, to think of that "after" outcome for your beloved friends and pets? Yes, it's painful to read. The first one is - It's a shock, it's unexpected. But the redemption to that pain is in the very next page. What a payoff! I immediately flashed to every dog I've ever said goodbye to, and crossed my fingers, and said a prayer... Perhaps those who put it down can try again from this perspective.The joy in Cameron's book is the easily believed realism. That childlike thinking, that limited but effective for what they are type of reasoning, the strict determination to be a "good dog," the confusion and sadness when they're "bad dogs," and their utter determination to figure it out. Even though they don't reason even remotely in the same fashion as we do, they make a massive effort to do so nonetheless. THAT'S why Cameron's story is more real to me. I've never seen a dog who knew when the "Amazing Race" was over, as in the aforementioned comparison book, but I HAVE known most of them to repeatedly pee on the floor until they figure out what WE want. And they generally do, not because it makes sense to them in THEIR understanding of the world, but because they love us.As a bonus? This is a laugh out loud, often, even through the tears, wonder of a book. Anyone who has EVER owned a dog will recognize a million things within these pages. :)In my heart, Cameron's book is the truest thus far of the "doggie narrated" books, because as does Bailey, all dogs live their lives exuberantly, filled with the sheer joy of the sun and the snow and the bird or the squirrel or the butterfly, and their people, and the shoes by the door with the wonderfully smelly smelly socks in them, and the tantalizing smells of that skunk and maybe he WILL want to play with me this time, and frantic, racing, butt skootching across the floor super-fast-run of doggiedom. THAT, as is Bailey, is dog.In the realm of reincarnation, or God, or whatever rules our souls and their afterlives, I like to think that a dog becoming a human is rare, but a human that learns to do good, love unreservedly, give willingly, and open their soul to all that is good in the world just may, MAY, earn the right to be a "good dog" and well beloved as their last home on the path to heaven.

"All Dogs go to heaven...unless they have unfinished business here on earth." A Dog's Purpose chronicles the journey of one dog's search for his purpose over the course of several lifetimes. Subtitled A Novel for Humans, the book is written from the dog's point of view.We first meet the protagonist during a short life as a mutt named Toby who was rescued from the streets and ends up in a shelter. His life ends much too soon, as does his quest for his purpose. Much to his own surprise, he finds himself reborn as a Golden Retriever puppy and finds a home with a young boy named Ethan, who christens him Bailey. It's the beginning of the classic "boy and his dog" relationship, and we follow Ethan and Bailey through countless adventures. Bailey joyfully discovers how to be a good dog, and he thinks he may have found his purpose. But life as a cherished family pet is not the end of Bailey's journey. He is reborn as a female German Shepherd puppy, and becomes a search and rescue dog named Ellie. However, despite many heroic rescues, he still hasn't found his true purpose - it doesn't become clear until his next incarnation in which he starts out as a mistreated black Lab named Buddy.Dog books tend to not be the kinds of books that you can't put down, but I'd caution any reader to start this book without having a good chunk of uninterrupted reading time available. This heartwarming, insightful and often laugh-out-loud funny book is not just the emotional and moving story of one dog's many lives, it also examines life from a dog's point of view in ways that will make you look at your own canine companion with a fresh eye. Additionally, it presents a unique observation of human relationships and the bond between dogs and humans from a dog's perspective.This is more than just another dog story. Beautifully written with great sensitivity, this touching novel will delight all animal lovers, especially fans of Garth Stein's Art of Racing in the Rain or Ted Kerasotes Merle's Door. This wonderful story shows us that love is eternal, our beloved animal companions are always with us, and every living being has a purpose.

There is so much to love about this book, mixed in with a few tears and some anger earned by very realistic portrayals of a few unlikable humans. But - the love is the vast majority of the book.This is a story told from the perspective of the dog. The author beautifully portrays the love between good humans and their dogs and at the same time is able to mix in just enough of the interaction between dogs and bad people to create a tension making this a memorable novel.This book follows a dog through various reincarnations - the dog dies multiple times but reincarnates in order to, as the dog believes, fulfill his purpose. I'm rather sensitive when it comes t animals dying, but the deaths were handled so well that even a wimp like me was able to accept it and still love the story. During the multiple lives of this lovely dog you will learn about children (good and bad), various types of working dogs, and human nature. I really loved the description of the dog each of the times when he is a puppy and starts to become aware of his surroundings, his mother and siblings, and as the book goes on - his/her past lives. Part of the fun is that this dog comes back as a different sex and as different breeds. The dog's sudden awareness of these differences is particularly fun.While this story is told from the perspective of a dog it is also a story of human experiences. One of the lovely things about that part of it is the effect the dog has on those experiences - bringing love and relieving some of the pain. Anyone who has experienced a dog's love knows how real this is and cannot help but be moved by the author's description of this phenomenon. If you love dogs, I am very sure you will love this book. Just be sure to have a box of Kleenex nearby for the tears - tears of sadness sometimes, but also of joy.

Just a heartwarming book. Makes you happy & then so sad. Absolutely loved reading it. Will definitely get the next in the series.

Mycket fint book

A love story between a dog and "his" humans. His perspective on life and on what should really matter.Now I see my dogs under a different light!

It is an amazing book I really loved it especially it’s amazing heart-touching story+it’s packaging was also nice and neatly done.......I am really happy to get this book

Muito divertido, Índico a todas as pessoas principalmente a amante dos animais. Já havia visto o filme mas o livro superou minhas expectativas