Gentle training that is based on a real expert. This man trains for the Queen of England. I have never seen better illustrations in a horse training book. Or a more comprehensive problem solver.

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It's even better than Mr. Roberts's first book. I was incredibly moved by the story of Shy Boy, and I was inspired by Monty Roberts's overall message. What a great book!

I couldn't wait to bring this book home and read it. I read it in one sitting and cried at the ending and then I thought about it all day. Monty Roberts is amazing--the story of Shy Boy is unforgettable. Read it! You won't be sorry!

Animal lovers everywhere--not just horse lovers--will fall in love with this book. I didn't want it to end. What Monty Roberts can teach us is priceless. I loved this book.

Although I knew a bit about Roberts, I had not read his previous book. I bought this book because of the photography and my own admiration for horses. I had seen the PBS documentary that is the setting for much of the book and found it fascinating; thought it might be interesting to learn more details of the "gentling" of Shy Boy. I didn't know what I was about to experience.

I have never read a book more quickly. I couldn't put it down and finished it in about 24 hours (managing to show up for my job and get a few hours sleep during that time). It's not a long book, and it's half photos. Nevertheless, I think it's amazing that a slow reader such as myself would plow ahead. It was fascinating to discover how Roberts learned the body language that has helped him relate well to horses, the details of the documentary (not all exactly as they seemed on TV), and how the horse fared in "captivity." (I put captivity in quotes, because anyone who has read the book and paid attention should question if this horse felt held against his will once he got through his initial difficulties and fears related to humans.) I admire that Roberts gave those who questioned his decision to take Shy Boy in from the wild the answer to the question "What would be this horse's choice if offered life on the farm or 'freedom'?" (By the way, a freedom that stunted his growth, gave him parasites, and made him vulnerable to predators. I'll take a meal I don't have to hunt for and a warm bed any day!)

For those who like a good tear-jerker, this can't be beat. Animal lovers will be in heaven. Those who don't know a thing about horses will love learning. Even those who abhore melodrama will have to admire Roberts's efforts to eliminate violence from the training and "breaking" of horses (and his recommendations for communication and non-violence in other life arenas). Only a heartless cynic with an axe to grind could deplore this book. And even if you are one, the pictures can't be beat!

Epilogue: I went out and bought the first book and read it in 48 hours - and it doesn't have nearly as many pictures! (And in spite of the rumors about much of it being untrue, I've yet to find a reputable publication give hard evidence that adequately supports these rumors or one that paints Monty Roberts as a selfish man out for his own glory. How could a man who's helped 47 foster children possibly be?)

Shy Boy is a book about a horse that was brought in from the wild by means of join-up, a way of communicating with wild horses using there own body language. The author explains about how to communicate with horses using their own language which he calls equis. I highly recommend this book if you would like to learn more about horses in their own "home field", or if you like a good story. It made me sorry to finish it. Truly I believe anyone who has even the slightest interest in horses should strongly consider this book. It is an inspirational book for horsemen and women of all ages. The pages are full of beautiful pictures of the mustangs in their own home. Please read this book next time you get a chance. It is definitely worth reading.

The Man Who Listens to Horses By Monty Roberts

Reviewed by Ashley Sutton

For hundreds of years, people have trusted the traditional way of training horses. This method uses beatings, pain, and suffering to break the horse's spirit and force him to obey. This practice was considered normal, but the consequences of "breaking" a horse this way are tragic. Horses lose their trust toward humans, and while many people are aware of this loss, it seemed that this was the only effective way to train horses. But one day, Monty Roberts went out into the wilderness of Nevada to watch the wild mustangs that roamed there. It was observing the herd's strict disciplinary procedures that brought Monty to noticing a pattern in the horses' behavior, a kind of "language." He called this language "Equus," and his knowledge of Equus helped him discover join-up, efficient, painless way to train horses. In The Man Who Listens to Horses, Monty Roberts tells of his childhood, his discovery of Equus and join-up, and of the many obstacles that stood in his way of sharing his methods with others. Now sixty-six years old, Monty "is squarely built, and at 240 pounds on a five-foot-four-inch frame, he is much heavier than he looks," says Lawrence Scanlon, who wrote the introduction to the book. His vision is impaired; he can only see black, white, and a wide array of gray tones. Monty grew up around horses, since his father was a well-known horse trainer. Throughout his childhood, Monty witnessed the cruel methods of breaking horses that his father used. His disagreements with his father were a main factor in what made his so determined to stop these methods. Monty's father was a firm believer in sacking-out, in other words, tying a horse up and beating him into submission. As Monty describes one horse being "trained" by his father, "The whites in his eyes are showing, the horse desperately tries to escape my father, and one eye looks back at him in fear and dread." When Monty tried to show his father his way of training, this turned into Monty's fate, too. For years, Monty was the subject of horrifying abuse from his father, and Monty never forgave him for the pain he caused in so many lives. Throughout the book, Monty tries to communicate to the reader that his talents with horses are nothing extraordinary. He has no special "magic touch," and no ancestry of communicating with horses. He just says that he has learned to "listen" to the horses he trains, and that this allows him to solve their problems with ease. He maintains that anyone can do what he does with horses if they'd just take the time to "listen." His book tells of the hard times he's had, and it shows people that the road to making a difference in the world is often a hard one. The Man Who Listens to Horses is an inspiring story about a man who never gave up on what he believed in. Anyone who likes either horses or just a heart-warming story is sure to enjoy this book by Monty Roberts. It shows the consequences of the trust between humans and horses being broken, and what we can to do to prevent this loss of trust.

This book told an interesting story of the life experiences of Monty Roberts as well as teaching the reader the technique of gently and naturally starting a horse.

It was hard to put this book down, once I started to read it.

As a horse owner and trainer myself, I am excited about exploring the methods described in the book and incorporating them into my training program.

I highly recommend this book to any horse owner interested in learning the language of horses.

Not the fiction of Gulliver's Travels or Doctor Dolittle or the tales of St. Francis, in The Man Who Listens to Horses, we meet Monty Roberts a real person who talks with horses. Monty Roberts is a cowboy, athlete, horse trainer, ethologist, animal psychologist, and most of all a humanitarian. An exceptional story of a man's quest to really learn to communicate with the Equine species which cohabits our world. The book is about Monty Roberts, his life and his quest. Monty an accomplished and humble man is at ease with the Queen of England and California cowboys. But most of all he is at ease with horses, and gives us reasons to also desire to follow in his foot-steps. Those looking for a "how-to-book" will get much, much more from this book. Talking with, not to, horses is a way of living--not a few simple techniques. Monty, is truly, a great master whose life speaks volumes about setting aside cruelty and brutally towards men and animals. Monty Roberts the man, his life and mission, communicates the greater wisdom towards which we who love horses and love riding can aspire.

this book has a few redeeming qualities but overall it is a book written to fit robert laguardia's belief that monty was some sort of god cast out of heaven due to his own hysterical behavior.there is very little in depth knowledge regarding films or montys approach to acting, only vague stereotypes meant to fit in laguardias angle.i highly suggest you read Patricia Bosworths bio. still in print. she actually knew him and is partial in her writing. one more thing the only other book r.la guardia wrote was a book about the days of our lives soap opera.

An excellent book. I recommend it to anyone interested in Post-World War II film history. Mr. Laguardia truly brings the life of this tragic actor into your heart. It will make you want to run out and rent Monty's movies. Because you know what he went through to make it. Laguardia's biography makes you want to truly be there to help Monty throught all his troubles. While I was reading the biography, I wanted to go back in time and be there. I loved the book. This is my third time reading it. It's a book you don't want to put down.

Raised in an unconvential family, giving him nearly unlimited access to exceptional opportunities, Montgomery Clift reached a pinnacle of dramatic achievement. Due to unknown reasons, or perhaps due to a chronic back injury he sustained in a car accident, Clift became involved in heavy narcotic usage such that his credibility as an insurable actor was compromised. LaGuardia states that the film "Freud" was filmed in 'a state of chaos,' with severe frustration and criticism from director John Huston, due to Clift's 'inability to function.' Ironically, the night one of his finest films was shown on TV, Clift lay in his bed in the dark, unable or unwilling to join his houseman in watching it. The next morning he was found dead, apparently from a heart attack.

Clift and Elizabeth Taylor, who together accomplished and popularized the "extreme close-up" in films with their on-screen radiance in "A Place in the Sun," were close friends until his death. When Clift was considered "uninsurable" due to rumors of his narcotic addiction, Taylor put up an exorbitant bond to cover his appearance in "Raintree County."

LaGuardia demonstrates a wealth of detailed information throughout this chronicle of one of the most skilled actors of our time. It is worth the read for those interested in the actor or in film history. I have read other bios of Clift and there is no comparison to the detail LaGuardia offers. I was even able to walk past the apartment in which Clift died in NYC and imagine what the floorplan inside might look like. I recommend this book to Clift aficinados as the primary source of information on his short, talented, and tormented life.

A highly intuitive man's life work has been knowingly hijacked by the shallow motivational psychology "bizness." BARF.

Save your money and read "The Man Who Listens To Horses" instead.

"Horse Sense For People:..." is a badly written, painful book to read.

I give this book NO stars.

Poorly organised and written, interminable yarns from his stables, and one not particularly original idea (willing cooperation is better than coercion).
There is one practical application offered, the positive and negative contract blackboards for children, which may be worth a try.
The horse starting/breaking stuff is interesting (if you haven't heard it before) but also frustrating because he leaves out so much detail. For example he keeps referring to giving horses the choice of joining up or work, but doesn't say what work for an unbroken horse means.

Monty has an easy writing style. It is not eloquent, but it is gentle and easy to understand. I liked the book because he describes, in full, how the language of Equus works. Then, by comparing horse stories and human stories, both from his experience, he shows how a non-violent, positive relationship builds rapport and effectiveness in dealing with people and animals alike.

The book felt pretty repetitive about half way through. That is why I was glad that I had checked it out at the library instead of spending twenty-some bucks on it at a bookstore. Although I didn't agree with every one of his points, I liked his message and having the opportunity to see issues, such as parenting, from another point of view.

The back cover alone,should be the biggest tip off,to this gigantic rip-off! Mr.Ross is payed to write books about British television shows. Besides Python,he has written books on The Avengers,and The Saint. ( Heaven help their fans as well! ).He doesn't have to be a fan of the show,just a flunky who collects information. It's easy enough to get a Python endorsement as well,since a book about them,obviously generates intrest in their own projects.

One thing I wonder about is this: why do the authors of books about funny people,naturally assume they themselves are the comic event of the decade? ( Please,leave the comedy to the professionals.). Mr.Ross is no more a comedian,than Geoffrey Guiliano is a musician. Mr.Ross's overly long decriptions of every Python episode,are like being trapped in a pub with a drunken neo-Python fan,intent on retelling every joke to you until you laugh at it.

Frankly,if you wanted a run down of cast and crew for any Python film,you could run it down on the Internet Movie Data Base.( And more than likely see the information spelled correctly as well.).Obviously all Mr.Ross had to do,was pay someone to surf for the information,and copy it down for his book.

This book would benefit from being,simply,the facts. Most "encylopedias" tend to state facts,rather than personal opinions. As a Python fan,I frankly don't care if Mr.Ross laughs at the same jokes I do,or "gets" the social ramifications of certain subjects.We all laugh differently,and Python offers much to laugh about.

Instead of having every film,ruined by a full out synopsis that kills every joke,why not give just a general overview? Instead of merely listing the albums,why not list the variants? ( And yes,original Python vinyl came with extras!). Instead of going over every episode with a fine tooth comb,why not give just a season intro?

Mr.Ross wants too hard to be Kim Johnson,and fails.

This encyclopedia is filled with information not just on Monty Python, but on the individual members as well. What I mean is, not only do we read about things like "Life of Brian" and "The Meaning of Life," but we also hear about "Silverado" and "Splitting Heirs."

The book provides a chronology starting with John Cleese's birthday in 1939 to 1997. There is also a list of videos and books as well as addresses for the British and American fan clubs.

The focus for the entries is on the Monty Python cast. For instance, not a lot of information is given on the movie "Silverado," but there is quite a bit of information about John Cleese's role in the movie.

Unfortunately, there are not a lot of pictures in the book. Personally, I think that would be a grand addition to this work.

I would recommend this for diehard fans of Monty Python.

Alright, this has gone a little too far. Perhaps the reason why 3 Pythons have endorsed the book is because they *ACTUALLY LIKED IT*. Mr. Frankenstein, or whatever his name is who wrote that lousy review probably right above this one, has not a clue what humor is. Probably the best way to write about a topic is to know it firsthand, and the second best way is to be objective. To leave writing Python books to the Pythons themselves would probably leave us with a bunch of books to be reviewed badly by uninformed persons such as Mr. Frankenstein, or whatever his name is. I have read through the book and have found nothing but pure Python emerging from its pages, pure humor, comprehensive and complete, and pretty well written. To give it one star is a lousy show of action. The only people who would give the Monty Python Encyclopedia ONE LOUSY STAR would be people who don't appreciate British humor for what it's worth. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, even though it's paperback and doesn't have many pictures. It's got everything else, what's wrong with it?

Everyone should try to learn Join Up. It works, no matter what these people say.

Thank God the cloak of kindness has been removed from this self styled equine messiah,and the real person hiding underneath has been exposed for what he was and is. The suspicions I had while reading The man Who Listens to Horses are at last confirmed, lie by lie. Nothing added up. The time line, events, box car adventures, James Dean, Nevada, Salinas Rodeo dates all were out of sync. I was there then, and my foggy memory of the events just didn't compute in my mind. A visit to the micro film archives at the Stienbeck Library backed up my suspicions. Can't beleive that anyone could annihilate their own family with so many blatant lies just to feed their ego and strengthen their bank account. Well now, thanks to the perseverence of Joyce Renebome and her daughter, Debbie Ristau the truth emerges. They have compiled an accurate documented chronology of the life and times of four generations of the Roberts family, piece by painstaking piece. An easy read, the story is truthfully told. The memory of Marguerite and Marvin Roberts is vindicated. Shame on you Monty Roberts, your time will come.

This book is definitely worth reading. It is not written as a novel, but as a point for point documentation using quotable and verifiable sources. The conclusion is that Monty Roberts' life as documented in his book "The Man Who Listens to Horses" is a fabrication from A to Z. People who read Monty's book are immersed in a sad tale of a combination of a beaten child and cruelty to horses in one package. Monty seeks to bring some legitimacy to his book by bringing in actual people and real events, but with whom and with which he had nothing to do with. Do you think he could accidentally forget that his "trip to Nevada" never happened? One reviewer said "not one piece of evidence is professionally documented" and claims it is "muckraking", but in fact the reverse is true and no Monty bashing in the sense of "muckraking" appears in the book. The evidence is verifiable. Monty is self-generating. He wrote a book saying how great he is because he communicates with horses at the same time overcame, now known to be completely fictions adversities, to triumph. He made himself into the classical heroic figure who triumphed over evil and the audience fell for it. Some reviewers say "who cares if Monty lied, it is a great horse book". Only people who cannot be objective would dismiss criticism and evidence to protect their wish for something to be true. Adults who can look from a distance would not allow themselves to be so easily swayed by Monty's fiction and claims. Perhaps they have been blinded by Monty's claims of horse brutality by his father, which are shown to be false?

Monty's methods are not "his methods" nor did he learn them through independent study. These methods have been around for 1000's of years and other horse trainers like Parelli, Lyons, etc. tell that to you straight out. Natural methods are becoming popular because the horse is no longer a tool, but a hobby and has been discovered by the urban middle class. Yet another reviewer claims the authors have no documentary evidence, but then the very numerous interviews are all documented and independently confirm each other. In fact documentary and eye witness evidence is the best type to have. If the evidence is wrong a cross examination would reveal that soon enough. The authors will never be sued by Monty. The hordes of witnesses would bury Monty and the cross examination would show Monty to be a liar and open questions on his practices themselves.

I have seen his live demo. There is no way he used an untrained horse and it was obvious to see. More than one former student (search the web) has already come forward to state that the horses were pre-trained as was the horse for the BBC special.

The obvious conclusions are: 1. "The Man Who Listens to Horses" is fiction sold as non-fiction. 2. Monty's methods were around long before Monty and he made no discoveries. 3. The evidence in "Horse Whispers & Lies" is documented. 4. "Horse Whispers & Lies" is not a novel, nor sold as one. 5. Monty's and his supporters evidence is circular reasoning by constantly referring to a book now known to be a lie. 6. Diehard Monty supporters who refuse to believe obvious evidence attack the review or reviewer and not the evidence. 7. Monty's father did not abuse horses. 8. Monty gives fake "live" demos.

The fire around Monty is burning ever higher. There will always be the supporters who will deny ever being taken in no matter what, but for the rest and the maturing it is time to move on, but never forget. If you love horses, admit Monty is a fake, but also admit he has awakened even more your love of horses. Now go and look to horse (people) trainers like Parelli, Lyons, and read Rashid. These people are where your horse future lies.

A biography of Sir Robert Montgomery, GCSI,KCB,LLD ( 1809-1887). Written by Field Marshall Sir Bernard Montgomery's brother, it is a biography of their grand father, who served in India, when serving in the Government he played a key role in suppressing the Indian Mutiny of l857. Poole 1984, Blandford pr, lst UK ed w/dj, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, xix, 139 pp, maps, illus.