This Side of Wild

Mutts, Mares, and Laughing Dinosaurs

By: Gary Paulsen

Narrated by: Fred Sanders

In the National Book Award longlist book This Side of Wild, Newbery Honor–winning author Gary Paulsen shares surprising true stories about his relationship with animals, highlighting their compassion, intellect, intuition, and sense of adventure.

Gary Paulsen is an adventurer who competed in two Iditarods, survived the Minnesota wilderness, and climbed the Bighorns. None of this would have been possible without his truest companions: his animals. Sled dogs rescued him in Alaska, a sickened poodle guarded his well-being, and a horse led him across a desert. Through his interactions with dogs, horses, birds, and more, Gary has been struck with the belief that animals know more than we may fathom.

His understanding and admiration of animals is well known, and in This Side of Wild, which has taken a lifetime to write, he proves the ways in which they have taught him to be a better person.

This side of wild - Gary Paulsen

This is extra good!!! It’s amazing tale to tell and Gary did a fantastic job of writing this. I love to even buy the audio version. I think that makes the book even more fun. How ever you want to take in this book, you will be amazed. This is a complete five star rating!
Sue Sturges
Ames, Iowa

This is an enjoyable read.

What made the experience of listening to This Side of Wild the most enjoyable?

The author sees animals as training us instead of the other way around. It is a light hearted book. It is a EASY read that leads you through with a clear picture of the situation.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character was the toy poodle. This may be due to the fact that i have 2 small dogs and i can clearly visualize the "I am a big dog" attitude of the smaller breeds.

Which character – as performed by Fred Sanders – was your favorite?

I loved his telling of the snake bite. I can see the horse rider jumping and trying to get rid of the snake that was hung up on his boot. I would have jumped a good 10 feet instead of the 4 the author did. Also the incident of trying to jump on a horse like Gene Autry was great.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I actually read the book the first time. I enjoyed it so much that i purchased the audio. It is a book that i will listen to over and over.

Any additional comments?

I noticed that the book is intended of 8-10 year old youth. I am 63 and loved it.

great book. not very long, but wish it were!

great narrator. would lived to hear 20 more hours of stories by the author. has my brain still wheeling several weeks after listening... great book!

Great stories!

Love anything by Gary Paulson. This was more of his inspiration material...all true! If you liked "Guts", by him. you'll like this one too.