I found this cookbook in my College bookstore in 1971 and I still reach for it several times a year 31 years later.

I bought this book in 1967, when I graduated from college and was going to go out into the world and live on my own. 33 years later I am still using it. It should be reprinted and should be an absolute must have for everybody.

My husband gave me this book 27 years ago and I am still using it. Great gift for students, newly marrieds, bachelors. Recipes are simple, delicious and very user friendly. Please Mr. Publisher, publish it again!

This is the only self help book that I have ever read and actually kept - and reread. Most I read and think "Oh, I can't believe that...or I can't do that". Most self books trot out a few well worn stories, tie them up neatly and tell you how to get with their system. But M's Coudert shows you, warts and all, about her life and how she managed to change it for the better.

This book will make you feel better about yourself and your life and is definitely worth the effort of finding it.

I first read this book in 1965 and it changed my life! It liberated me from the philosophy of that era that viewed women as chattels and property. It was, for me, a companion to Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex". Thanks to your out-of-print service, I now have another copy. My original copy got away because I was so eager to share it with friends whom I knew would appreciate the wisdom of Ms. Coudert. I have not re-read it again yet, but the best advice given was, as I remember it, "You are the only person you can count on spending the rest of your life with, so be good to yourself!"

I first read this book in 1982 as recommended by a therapist. I have re-read it now five times over the years. My opinion is that the writer was divinely guided to be able to capture the depth and wisdom she shared here.

This is a book that is well worth reading. If you like stories about dogs who help people in ways that they very much needed, then this is the book for you.

This is an amazing story of inspiration and hope about a very special German shepherd named Grizzly, his young master who battled long and valiantly with terminal cancer, and the boy's courageous mother who was rescued from her own crippling grief by this incredible dog. Fulfilling her son's dying wish, Lana Davis began bringing Grizzly to hospitals to visit sick children, and soon began training others to do the kind of work she and Grizzly were doing. During the next six years, Lana and Grizzly co-founded two successful animal-assisted therapy organizations, including the Utah Animal-Assisted Therapy Association, trained hundreds of volunteer teams to carry on their work, and helped to heal the broken hearts of dozens of abused and emotionally troubled children. Today, though blind, Grizzly continues to inspire others with his almost unbelievable intuition for discerning what people need, be it his special brand of talk or a furry body to hug.

Here's what some early reviewers have said about this book:

"I cried throughout this incredibly moving book. It proves what I claimed in Dogs Never Lie About Love, that dogs have a greater capacity for love than do humans. And they are more sensitive, and wiser and more compassionate, the list goes on and on. This book shows the profound love and compassion that dogs feel, mysteriously and wonderfully, for us. A book for anyone who loves dogs, and children, and the love between dogs and children." - Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, author of Dogs Never Lie About Love and When Elephants Weep.

"Do not be fooled into believing that this is merely a book about a brave boy, a mother with a fierce and tender heart, and their uncannily intelligent dog. It is, of course, about these things but, more important, it is about relationships and about healing. The Good Shepherd teaches us just how broad and strong and miraculous the horizon of relationships can be when we include animals in the mix as friends, family, and--yes--as mentors and healers." - Susan McElroy, author of Animals as Teachers and Healers, in her Foreward to The Good Shepherd

"This book of love and courage demonstrates the healing powers of animals when our hearts are open to them. It gives new meaning to being 'touched by an angel.' Many angels are animals, and many animals become angels in our lives." -Dr. Michael W. Fox, veterinarian and author of The Soul of the Wolf and numerous other books.

"Tears of sadness and tears of joy streamed down my face as story after story opened my heart to the love, miracles, and healing shared by Grizzly and Lana. A must-read for all animal-lovers." - Dr. Allen M. Schoen, author of Love, Miracles, and Animal Healing

"Jo Coudert's words touch one like gentle hands on an animal--and reach the same level of communication." - Betty White, actress and author

"After reading The Good Shepherd, no one can doubt the ability of animals to teach and heal. Readers will enjoy abundant moving stories of troubled individuals changed by the power of the human-animal bond and animal-assisted therapy. Following the examples of Lana and Grizzly, I hope thousands of people-animal teams will seek training to share their special kind of love with people in need in their own families and communities." - Linda Hines, President and CEO, Delta Society

If you, or someone you know, has a drinking problem or is an alcoholic, this book will surely expand your awareness of why this person is the way s/he is. If you truly care about this sick person who is destroying him/herself, this book is a must read.

I wish I had this book when I was a teenager. Dr. Thornton is funny and has a unique wit while informing her readers of the accurate medical explanations for our concerns. I love the title of her chapters. Every woman should read this book.

As a book reviewer I get several books to read, review, and sometimes return. Some of these books are so good I do not want to return them. Ditchdigger's Daughters is one of those books. When I first picked this book up, I was feeling a little defeated and exasperated about my job. This book gave me Donald Thornton wisdom to be the best, never mind that my colleagues are faster and younger. As Donald Thornton would say find the brightest rabbit, catch up to him/her, and pass him.

Donald Thornton passed away in 1993. What he left behind for his daughters to peruse is his wit and wisdom. Still today, I bet his daughters have every lesson stored so they can pass it on to their children. He had no education but somehow he raised six girls to become accomplished black women. He used resources within himself that some people would never think of. To finance his children's education they each paid for the other, with the proceeds from their band. The band was called the Thornettes and later changed to the Thornton Sisters, they played for students at Princeton and various other Colleges.

Donald Thornton's six splits as family and friends affectionately called him and his girls went on to become more than what anyone expected of them. Betty became a nurse, Linda a dentist, Rita is the head of the science department in a private school, the author of The Ditchdigger's Daughters Yvonne, is an OB/GYN, Donna is a court stenographer and Jeanette has a doctorate in counseling psychology. Their story is not so much about what they have become but how they got there. The Ditchdigger's Daughters will astound and amaze you. You will think twice before you express what you cannot do in your personal life. The history in this book was wonderful and it was a quick read. Thornton Ladies, I am sure your mother is happy that her wish has come true, to have her family's story told in a book that is in the library. What a hidden treasure, The Ditchdigger's Daughter is a must read.

Missy

Judging by the fact I couldn't find any other reviews on this book, I'd have to say I'm the first. Here goes...This book was well written and gave a wonderful and equally inspiring account via a daughter of a black man whose dream/goal/fire and desire was to give his 5 daughters the things they needed to be successful black women in today's society. Gifts of love, attention, discipline, support,motivation, perseverance are things our black children need to today from their parents. Wonderful job!!! Truly inspirational!!

I am a 59 year old, white male who is legally blind. I received the book as an automatic computer selection on "Talking Books" for the blind. I almost sent it back but didn't and it is tremendious. The way that Donald Thronton guided his five girls toward a better life, speaks of a very special person. The way that the girls drove themselves, speaks of very special people. I'm a former teacher and I wish that I could get every girl in our county's 35-40 middle and high schools to read it. They could learn from it but every adult will enjoy it.

Although I basically enjoyed this book, I have very differing views of how cats should be treated. I believe that cats should be kept indoors for their health and safety as well as for the protection of wildlife. Remember, the "housecat" is domesticated, and is NOT a natural predator in the wild. You don't see people letting their dogs out at night, expecting them to return in the morning. We don't let our parakeets take a spin around town or let our goldfish splash in puddles in the driveway. So why do we let our cats roam the streets? Our attitudes about cats must change, and when they do, millions of cats around the world can be spared euthanasia due to over population. The author does, however, offer interesting insight into the different human characters that we certainly can learn from.

I truly enjoyed Jo's talents for writing and illustration and these talents shared with her readers on this wonderful book about her cats.

One can quickly feel the passion she has for these mysterious, delightful creatures. Reminiscing about these seven cats in her life all but transports the reader to GoWell (her home in the country) and the life she enjoys there with her dogs and cats and friends.

The heart she displays and articulates about her relationships with these seven are enjoyable to read, and the cat lover and/or owner can relate to the various emotions: the pain of losing, the thrill of discovery and growth.

Howeve, I must admit that this book would have easily been a five if she left it as this" "Seven Cats." She chose to allow this to become a commentary on living. That's where I humbly beg to differ, due to our different orientations of worldview. What I believe in is that all wonderful creatures (cats included) come from The Magnificent Creator God. I love his creatures and our cat Molly is one of our favorites. However, much as we love Molly and our two Shelties, we love the One who made them and us, and regard our relationship with Him as more important. God truly wants us to be good stewards of His creation, including cats and dogs. (Sidenote: I also take exception with her preference for cats over dogs. Dogs want to please their ownders far more than cats, and one can do much more activities with the dogs.)

Life brings with it many toils and troubles, as Jo relates. So where do we turn for help and relief and understanding and hope? I don't think we'll find the answer in our cats, as much as we cat lovers love them passionately. My suggestion is to turn to the One who gave us such remarkable gifts. Psychology and all the self-help advice in the world will not fill the void that only our Creator-Redeemer God can.

Jesus warned us not to turn inward into self or to nature (Matthew 24:24-26) but to Him who loved us and gave Himself on the cross us.

For those who share Coudert's search for truth, or see every path the same to truth, then this part of this well=written book will not bother. For those of the Christian-Judeo heritage who confess the First Commandment to be the highest, then this portion will not speak of the true art of living which we learn from in the Book of Life, the Holy Scriptures. However, the read is a good one, and I thank Jo for her passion for life, for cats and for seeking the truth to make sense of it all.

This is a gentle book, an easy read. Cat lovers will recognize the endless antics, distinct personalities, and uncompromisingly self-seeking behavior of these always amusing companions. The author describes the often devious methods that her cats have used in insisting that they will live with her in spite of her protestations, and she focuses on the unique qualities of each animal.

However, early in the reading, the real depth within the book becomes vividly apparent, and the telling goes beyond the surface stories. As the author explores the challenges and delights of living with cats, she discovers the life lesson each brought with her or him. The lessons learned are universal truths, ideas most of us are familiar with but too often forget in our hurried lives. The reminders of these truths are welcome, easy to accept, and appreciated as revealed through the various tales.

This is a lovely little book to give as a gift to good friends - even if they are not confirmed cat people.

I read this book several times, many years ago, and have never forgotten it. Eventually the library copy was withdrawn and I was never able to find a copy in the secondhand book stores. It charmed me as do any books about assembling/renovating these boxes we live in - and the stories of the pitfalls have successfully kept me from ever getting involved in this in the real world. See Martha Stewart's book about renovating an old house and Michael Pollin's (?) "A Place of My Own" for similar stories.

I enjoyed the book, I may have enjoyed it more because I have always dreamed of getting an old house, gutting it and making it into "my dream house" It was also fun to read because it takes place during the sixties and I was reading it in the 90's, so it was kind of fun to see how things have changed.