Life is difficult. Every day has its stressors, its anxieties, and things that really push us to our limits. Fear becomes commonplace, and something that can cause us to lose sight of the here and now. Author Michael Hingson returns with his latest book, Live Like a Guide Dog, with his co-author Keri Wyatt Kent. In this motivational novel, authors Hingson and Kent will work together to share author Hingson’s and his guide dogs’ story.
Live Like a Guide Dog captures the attention of readers with a beautiful golden retriever guide dog taking center stage on the cover. The dog is looking ahead with their mouth slightly open, akin to how most dogs tend to look. We notice that the dog has a harness on, letting us know that this guide dog is on the job. You can see just to the left that the guide dog is walking with someone, but the focus? Is on the guide dog currently being in the moment.
Live Like a Guide Dog begins with a preface that outlines the overarching theme that authors Hingson and Wyatt intend to bring to readers. The preface sets the tone for what readers can expect to discover in Live Like a Guide Dog. Author Hingson reflects on how he has navigated fear throughout his life from his youth onward. His books Thunder Dog (Check out the review here) and Running with Roselle: How a Blind Boy and a Puppy Grew Up, Became Best Friends, and Together Survived One of America’s Darkest Days (Check out the review here) detail frightful moments in his life, but author Hingson realizes that he never shared how readers could work to overcome their own fears. So, author Hingson, with help from his co-author Kent, looks to rectify this “oversight” with Live Like a Guide Dog.
As Live Like a Guide Dog continues, authors Hingson and Kent shift the story to the prologue. The prologue sets a stage that readers aren’t going to be expecting. Author Hingson’s wife, Karen, is sick. He’s worried about leaving her while he goes on a business trip. The playful banter between the couple will lead readers to think that all is well. But authors Hingson and Kent drop little clues through a sense of foreboding and Karen’s companion dog, Fantasia, that all is not as it seems.
Readers who have read Thunder Dog (Check out the review here) and/or Running with Roselle: How a Blind Boy and a Puppy Grew Up, Became Best Friends, and Together Survived One of America’s Darkest Days (Check out the review here) will want to grab up author Hingson and his co-author Wyatt’s latest book – Live Like a Guide Dog. This motivational/inspirational novel doubles as a memoir that shares author Hingson’s life through each of the guide dogs that he spent time with.
Live Like a Guide Dog begins in a manner that readers acquainted with author Hingson’s previous works will find themselves in familiar territory. This book begins with author Hingson sharing his childhood growing up and how his lack of sight shaped his world. The difference that readers will note in Live Like a Guide Dog is that authors Hingson and Kent don’t spend a lot of time going through author Hingson’s youth in as much detail as we find in the previous books: Thunder Dog (check out the review here) and Running with Roselle: How a Blind Boy and a Puppy Grew Up, Became Best Friends, and Together Survived One of America’s Darkest Days (Check out the review here).
In each chapter, as you read through Live Like a Guide Dog, we get introduced in more depth to each dog that author Hingson spent time with. Authors Hingson and Kent allow us readers to learn more about each of these special animals and how they shaped author Hingson through their behavior and his experiences with them.
Authors Hingson and Kent share how author Hingson got his first dog at the young age of 14 years old. As author Hingson, at the age of 14, is waiting to meet his first guide dog, you get a sense of anticipation along with him. But this is where authors Hingson and Kent pivot back to his childhood and take readers into familiar territory in Live Like a Guide Dog.
Of course, authors Hingson and Kent don’t stay in the past. At this point in Live Like a Guide Dog is where author Hingson pivots his story to make it reflective. He reflects on how his childhood trained him to be aware. Similar to a guide dog, they are trained to be aware of their surroundings in the event of a change that their handlers can’t see. Author Hingson shares insights into a guide dog’s thought process and training. We are informed how both the handler and the dog are dependent on each other and influence each other through their emotions and behavior.
Live Like a Guide Dog is insightful and informative in unexpected ways. Each chapter throughout this book introduces readers to a unique guide dog that author Hingson spent time with throughout his life. Each dog’s chapter is unique, with highs and lows that will draw the reader into the story. Authors Hingson and Kent share both the mischievous sides and the troubling situations that they sometimes found themselves in.
Author Hingson shares how life and his guide dogs shaped his life from high school to college and beyond. Gradually, as Live Like a Guide Dog progresses, author Hingson’s faith begins to come more and more into play. The circumstances of his life helped shape and contribute to his growing dedication to his faith in God. It is quite inspiring to read and be immersed in.
The reason is that author Hingson never takes a heavy-handed approach with sharing his faith. He shares it in just the right moments, in just the right amount. Throughout Live Like a Guide Dog, readers get to discover what authors Hingson and Kent are looking to inform their readers about.
Author Hingson focuses a lot in Live Like a Guide Dog on fear. Fear is a motivator for a lot of us. When something sets us off, fear dominates. But author Hingson takes the time to point out that we shouldn’t let fear dominate us. It’s okay to be fearful, but don’t let it control you.
There were moments in Live Like a Guide Dog that author Hingson shares he was fearful in certain situations, but he had to hold it in. If he were fearful, it would have impacted his guide dog(s). But he shows such bravery and the strength that author Hingson had in his faith in God truly carried him through many a tough situation.
We’re going to go ahead and give you a heads-up – grab a box of tissues when you start reading this book. Author Hingson shares more than a situation or two that will bring tears to your eyes. You’ll hope for the best, but will get the sense that this time…someone will be saying goodbye. While it is heartbreaking, it is also amazing to read how author Hingson never let bitterness set in. He grieves the losses he experiences, but he chooses to “Live Like a Guide Dog” and keep moving “forward.” We can all take inspiration from this.
Calling a book a “page-turner” is purely based on opinion, and calling a non-fiction motivational/inspirational novel that doubles as a memoir a “page-turner”? Even more so. But we feel that Live Like a Guide Dog absolutely qualifies. Authors Hingson and Kent share this story with just the right amount of detail and information that readers are sure to enjoy. If you have read author Hingson’s two previous books, you’re not going to want to miss out on this book. It will truly inspire you and will be one you reach for again when you need a little nudge.
Pros:
- Engaging
- Well-written
- Beautifully blends the human side and the dog side together into a riveting story.
- Heartwarming with some tear-jerker moments.
- Inspirational without preaching at readers.
Cons:
- None of Merit
Scribble's Worth 