The Donkeys

A literary ode to peace, presence, and fulfillment inspired by a walk taken with a most surprising creature. "The demon of speed is often associated with forgetting, with avoidance . . . and slowness with memory and confronting," observes Milan Kundera in his novel Slowness. With that purpose in mind-a search for slowness and tranquility, Andy Merrifield sets out on a journey of the soul with a friend's donkey, Gribouille, to walk amid the ruins and spectacular vistas of southern France's Haute-Auvergne. As Merrifield contemplates literature, science, truth, and beauty amid the French countryside, Gribouille surprises him with his subtle wisdom, reminding him time and again that enlightenment is all around us if we but seek it.

The landmark exposé of incompetent leadership on the Western Front - why the British troops were lions led by donkeys On 26 September 1915, twelve British battalions – a strength of almost 10,000 men – were ordered to attack German positions in France. In the three-and-a-half hours of the battle, they sustained 8,246 casualties. The Germans suffered no casualties at all. Why did the British Army fail so spectacularly? What can be said of the leadership of generals? And most importantly, could it have all been prevented? In The Donkeys, eminent military historian Alan Clark scrutinises the major battles of that fateful year and casts a steady and revealing light on those in High Command - French, Rawlinson, Watson and Haig among them - whose orders resulted in the virtual destruction of the old professional British Army. Clark paints a vivid and convincing picture of how brave soldiers, the lions, were essentially sent to their deaths by incompetent and indifferent officers – the donkeys. ‘An eloquent and painful book... Clark leaves the impression that vanity and stupidity were the main ingredients of the massacres of 1915. He writes searingly and unforgettably’ Evening Standard

A retelling of selected events from the life of Christ based on biblical accounts and presented from the point of view of the donkeys present at the time.

From the bestselling author of Born to Run, a heartwarming story about training a rescue donkey to run one of the most challenging races in America, and, in the process, discovering the life-changing power of the human-animal connection. "A delight, full of heart and hijinks and humor." —John Grogan, author of Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog When Christopher McDougall decided to adopt a donkey in dire straits, he had no idea what he was getting himself into. But with the help of his neighbors, Chris came up with a crazy idea. Burro racing, a unique type of competition in which humans and donkeys run side by side over mountains and through streams, would be exactly the challenge Sherman and Chris needed. In the course of Sherman’s training, Chris would enlist Amish running clubs, high-spirited goats, the service animal community, and two Sarah Palin–loving long-distance female truckers. Sherman’s heartwarming story of overcoming all odds to run one of the most unbelievable races in America shows the healing power of movement and the strength of the human-animal connection. Look for Christopher McDougall's new book, Born to Run 2, coming in December!

The Complete Book of the Donkey contains invaluable advice on all aspects of the care and welfare of donkeys. Sections include advice on buying and caring for donkeys, their diet, pasture management, breeding and showing.

The Hebrew Bible is filled with animals. Snakes and ravens share meals with people; donkeys and sheep work alongside us; eagles and lions inspire us; locusts warn us. How should we read their stories? What can they teach us about ecology, spirituality, and ethics? Author Laura Duhan-Kaplan explores these questions, weaving together biology, Kabbalah, rabbinic midrash, Indigenous wisdom, modern literary methods, and personal experiences. She re-imagines Jacob's sheep as family, Balaam's donkey as a spiritual director, Eve's snake as a misguided helper. Finally, Rabbi Laura invites metaphorical eagles, locusts, and mother bears to help us see anew, confront human violence, and raise children who live peacefully on the land.

DONKEYS AND HUMANS describes natural communication between humans and donkeys and provides numerous possibilities of including donkeys in leisure activities, education and therapy. Part One of the book discusses how to plan and structure the training for donkeys as well as donkey handlers, and presents detailed theoretical knowledge and practical examples. This training programme is supported by a great variety of pictures and also includes all basic exercises of Natural Horsemanship. Natural Horsemanship adapted to donkeys demands respectful and harmonious communication with the sensitive and intelligent donkeys and is fundamental to Part Two of the book which explores the manifold possibilities of including educated donkeys in experiential leisure activities, animal assisted education and animal assisted therapy. Appropriate example structures and a catalogue of exercises help to develop more than just „education through cuddling“. The chapters are designed clearly and understandably and include extensive illustration. The book is aimed at donkey handlers, donkey friends, horse handlers, entrepreneurs interested in animal assisted leisure activities, teachers, psychologists and specialised therapists. Target groups for animal assisted therapy include children and young people attending kindergartens, elementary schools, regular schools or schools for special needs, i.e. those for multiply disabled, learning disabled or young people in difficult phases. Innumerable possibilities for clients with psychosomatic or psychological disorders are also mentioned. Another important target group is the growing number of elderly people who often suffer from dementia or other disorders associated with older age. A further chapter discusses involving donkeys successfully in personality training programmes.

Three survivors of the Great War 1914/18, decide to tell of their experiences in the, trenches in the hope that the black and white dreams they suffer will at last go away. A novice reporter with the London Herald is sent to Wales to interview the three men. This is his first job, during the time he spends in Wales he falls in love with the town and the daughter of one of the men. When the Second World War breaks out and with a need to experience war he joins the army as a war correspondent, landing on Gold beach in 1944.