Book Review: Following Atticus

" In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."

                                                                                                John Muir

There is absolutely no way that I would have run across this wonderful book, "Following Atticus" by Tom Ryan had it not been for the podcast Books on the Nightstand.  While this book can be found in the Pet section of your local brick and mortar store, it is about so much more than just a dog named Atticus M. Finch.

Evoking the spirits of Thoreau, Emerson, and Muir, Tom Ryan describes his journey from a small town  newspaper man who rediscovers himself in the White Mountains of New Hampshire along with a miniature schnauzer.  While there is not a signal running tip or workout schedule in this book, what this book does so eloquently is describe what it is like to be outside, in nature, and in tune with your body.

Less, I forget that yes, Atticus, plays an important part in the book, and Ryan does an amazing job to  describe the relationship that many of us have forged with our animals in our lives. This book is a testament to how nature and animals can impact our lives in ways that we would have never thought if we had never taken that first step or held that little ball of fur in our arms.