erinngillespie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
https://youtu.be/a08Pac5DRi4 This is my review on YouTube if you wanna see it.
snekmint's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
I've been a big fan of Jackson Galaxy from watching "My Cat From Hell", and then delving into his current YouTube video offerings-- behavior advice, all offered with immense empathy, and a little bit on top about cats being "energetic creatures" that absorb and reflect the energy (mood, intent and energy level) of the people, animals and spaces around them. He describes his approach to cats as 'holistic', meaning that he approaches the "whole cat": a behavior issue is not just caused by one source (such as a painful hip) but can be exacerbated by the human stress of a divorce, loud cars driving by outside, a cramped and dirty house, AND a litter box that needs to be cleaned more regularly. His point is that all cats can be helped, if you will actually listen to them and approach them from the cat's perspective of what is needed, not the human's. If your cat NEEDS a litter box in the living room because that's the most 'socially important' space, you will just have to deal with that.
This can be confronting to a lot of people who want their cats to 1. be dogs and 2. be quiet, out of the way decorations. Jackson's approach is that cats are deeply intelligent half-wild animals who have emotional, physical and spiritual/psychic needs that CAN be met and CAN be harmonious, IF we listen to them.
Where did he get this insight? In this autobiography, which is written with author Joel Derfner, Jackson carries us through a lot of chapters that are hard to witness and hard to live-- his wild misspent youth as a musician, living in situations between homeless and couch-surfing, living in a warehouse with no running water, using lots and lots of substances, and dipping in and out of unhealthy relationships both romantic and otherwise. His journey with animals is his journey in and out of addiction and recovery, and ultimately, the infinite love of animals and the universe brings him to his "surrender" moment, when he realizes that he is trying too hard to blame everyone but himself for his suffering. All along the way he has companion animals, but one in particular is a constant challenge: Benny, a gray and white cat, who is aggravating, unlovable, broken, disruptive, inscrutable, and awful -- and finally Jackson sees, with the deep stillness that comes with enlightenment, that he and Benny are the same.
This book ends when it was published, in 2012, but Jackson Galaxy's business and practice have continued over the next 11 years and I would love to see more chapters appended to this autobiography that discuss how he's continued to make a living in harsh L.A.
If you're an empathetic type, this book will probably make you cry. Fair warning if you're reading it on your bus commute!
This can be confronting to a lot of people who want their cats to 1. be dogs and 2. be quiet, out of the way decorations. Jackson's approach is that cats are deeply intelligent half-wild animals who have emotional, physical and spiritual/psychic needs that CAN be met and CAN be harmonious, IF we listen to them.
Where did he get this insight? In this autobiography, which is written with author Joel Derfner, Jackson carries us through a lot of chapters that are hard to witness and hard to live-- his wild misspent youth as a musician, living in situations between homeless and couch-surfing, living in a warehouse with no running water, using lots and lots of substances, and dipping in and out of unhealthy relationships both romantic and otherwise. His journey with animals is his journey in and out of addiction and recovery, and ultimately, the infinite love of animals and the universe brings him to his "surrender" moment, when he realizes that he is trying too hard to blame everyone but himself for his suffering. All along the way he has companion animals, but one in particular is a constant challenge: Benny, a gray and white cat, who is aggravating, unlovable, broken, disruptive, inscrutable, and awful -- and finally Jackson sees, with the deep stillness that comes with enlightenment, that he and Benny are the same.
This book ends when it was published, in 2012, but Jackson Galaxy's business and practice have continued over the next 11 years and I would love to see more chapters appended to this autobiography that discuss how he's continued to make a living in harsh L.A.
If you're an empathetic type, this book will probably make you cry. Fair warning if you're reading it on your bus commute!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Addiction, and Grief
vcollazo's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Jackson Galaxy’s journey to becoming the cat behaviorist he came to be was not at all what I expected. His tone is very conversational, which made the book easy to read despite some of the difficult periods he went through. Tips and information on cat behavior increase after the 45% mark. I had initially picked this up not realizing it was an autobiography but it has only made me more curious about his other published materials.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Animal death and Eating disorder
melanie_page's review against another edition
5.0
omg, the end of this book WRECKED ME. I highly recommend the audiobook, read by Jackson Galaxy.
kathriner's review against another edition
5.0
For more than just a cat lover
This is not only the story of a cat, or a man overcoming addiction, or the bond between the two. This is a story of love, loss, despair, and changing perspective. I picked up this book after watching "My cat from hell" and dealing within own share of kitty issues. I was prepared to hear Jackson's story and pick up some kitty tips, but I was not prepared for the sheer beauty of this book. Unlike many other personal stories, this book is wonderfully written, which just makes the story that much better and easier to feel. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. Although it will probably resonate stronger with fellow cat and animal lovers, it would be a great book for all.
This is not only the story of a cat, or a man overcoming addiction, or the bond between the two. This is a story of love, loss, despair, and changing perspective. I picked up this book after watching "My cat from hell" and dealing within own share of kitty issues. I was prepared to hear Jackson's story and pick up some kitty tips, but I was not prepared for the sheer beauty of this book. Unlike many other personal stories, this book is wonderfully written, which just makes the story that much better and easier to feel. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. Although it will probably resonate stronger with fellow cat and animal lovers, it would be a great book for all.
felinity's review
4.0
This was more of a memoir than a cat book: how Benny - with other feline assistants - helped Jackson to see his life more clearly, to interact more honestly, and to admit when you just can't handle something alone.
If you pick it up expecting a "Cat whisperer" book filled with tips and how-tos you'll be disappointed, but there were a few useful tips scattered amongst the pages, even for a veteran cat owners.
The writing was incredibly good, brutally honest, and painfully reminiscent in places.
If you pick it up expecting a "Cat whisperer" book filled with tips and how-tos you'll be disappointed, but there were a few useful tips scattered amongst the pages, even for a veteran cat owners.
The writing was incredibly good, brutally honest, and painfully reminiscent in places.
Spoiler
Jackson's final moments with Benny left me in tears, as I relived the pain of making the "when" choice with my own cats.bergema's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
4.0
A memoir of a man's journey through the lens of his struggles with a cat.
pleasereadittome's review
3.0
[2.5 stars] This book holds a special place in my heart because my mother gave it to me when I became a "cat daddy" in 2013. While it has sat on the shelf for a few years, I've grown to appreciate what Jackson Galaxy has done for countless cat guardians and animal advocates across the world.
But goodwill doesn't make a great book. As a memoir, parts of it are painful to read and not because of the sometimes heavy subject matter. Many passages are drab attempts at humor, random characters with no narrative purpose and middle fingers to various people and entities. It honestly becomes tiresome.
When Galaxy strips away the entertainer facade and leans into a real discussion about his addictions to alcohol, drugs and food, you really begin to see the vulnerability he brought to sharing his story.
While felines are a connective thread, this "Cat" isn't about our four-legged companions. It is, however, about the redemption, love and forgiveness you can find in loving something more than yourself.
But goodwill doesn't make a great book. As a memoir, parts of it are painful to read and not because of the sometimes heavy subject matter. Many passages are drab attempts at humor, random characters with no narrative purpose and middle fingers to various people and entities. It honestly becomes tiresome.
When Galaxy strips away the entertainer facade and leans into a real discussion about his addictions to alcohol, drugs and food, you really begin to see the vulnerability he brought to sharing his story.
While felines are a connective thread, this "Cat" isn't about our four-legged companions. It is, however, about the redemption, love and forgiveness you can find in loving something more than yourself.
dweebaline's review
4.0
Before reading this book I never would have imagined what Jackson Galaxy's journey that ultimately led to his career as a car behaviorist was like but it was more than I expected. But through reading about his journey to recovery from his various addictions, his career/job experiences , and the more general ups and downs throughout his life, it's easy (yet amazing nonetheless) to see how Jackson Galaxy gravitated to improving the lives of cats and their caregivers (be it cat owners or shelter workers).
Some of the writing style (mainly the creative metaphors for certain situations) threw me off, but it did give the sense of reading the story through Galaxy's own voice. All in all this was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone. We all would benefit from learning a lesson in surrendering to the message the universe and, those we share this universe with, are trying to get us to receive.
Some of the writing style (mainly the creative metaphors for certain situations) threw me off, but it did give the sense of reading the story through Galaxy's own voice. All in all this was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone. We all would benefit from learning a lesson in surrendering to the message the universe and, those we share this universe with, are trying to get us to receive.
xxsquigglesxx's review against another edition
4.0
MY THOUGHTS: I thought this would be a good book, but I had no idea how good of a book it would actually be. I am a huge fan of the show My Cat From Hell, so when I was at the library and I saw that this was a book, I knew I had to get it. Soon after, audible had a deal on this book, and I scooped it up. I love when writers narrate their own books because they can put emphasis on certain words or phrases that they want to stand out. Jackson does a great job with that in his book. I can hear in his tone of voice when he is angry or excited, etc. and it makes me feel those things right along with him.
I went through quite a lot of emotions in this book. I am an animal lover and have had my fair share of pets in the past, the present and most likely will have in the future. Therefore, I can put myself in Jackson's shoes during some parts of this book. I don't know what it's like to be addicted to drugs, but I do know what it's like to love an animal, and I could feel the love that Jackson has for his cat Benny. There was a chapter of this book that was particularly hard for me to listen to which made me tear up and feel quite emotional (I happened to be driving in the car at the time of course!). But being able to connect to something on that level just makes it better for me.
If you are already a fan of Jackson Galaxy, or you love animals, this is a book for you.
I went through quite a lot of emotions in this book. I am an animal lover and have had my fair share of pets in the past, the present and most likely will have in the future. Therefore, I can put myself in Jackson's shoes during some parts of this book. I don't know what it's like to be addicted to drugs, but I do know what it's like to love an animal, and I could feel the love that Jackson has for his cat Benny. There was a chapter of this book that was particularly hard for me to listen to which made me tear up and feel quite emotional (I happened to be driving in the car at the time of course!). But being able to connect to something on that level just makes it better for me.
If you are already a fan of Jackson Galaxy, or you love animals, this is a book for you.