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Puppy Chow Is Better Than Prozac: The True Story of a Man and the Dog Who Saved His Life | 
 enlarge | Author: Bruce Goldstein
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Category: EBooks
List Price: $25.00
Buy New: $9.99
You Save: $15.01 (60%)
Rating:  33 reviews
Sales Rank: 11788
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Dewey Decimal Number: 636.7527
ASIN: B001AUGEN6
Publication Date: March 10, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
To Bruce Goldstein-an edgy, twenty-something New Yorker trying to make his mark in advertising-just waking up in the morning was an ordeal. Underemployed and recently dumped, he was well into the downward spiral of bipolar disorder. Even with therapy, lithium, Paxil, Wellbutrin, and Prozac, he could not shake his rapid mood swings, his fear of dying, or the voice of Satan, who first visited him one sunny day in Central Park. Then came Ozzy, a black Labrador pup (named after metal’s “Prince of Darkness”) who leads Bruce toward recovery through complete, canine dependence. From the depths of his despair to a life remade, Bruce shows how learning to care for, train, and love the hilariously loyal Ozzy provided him with the structure and focus he needed to heal.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 28 more reviews...
 heart warming story September 17, 2008
Daniel Lawson
Everyone needs to read this book, whether you are a dog lover or not. A truly inspiring story.
This Book Touched Me September 9, 2008
Nicole C (Atlanta, GA USA)
Being a dog owner and a person who lives with bipolar disorder, this book caught my attention. I waited a few weeks to read it, but once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I read the entire book in a 24 hour period. The author's depiction of living and struggling with bipolar disorder is so real. I am very glad that he was so honest, as it will help people understand what we are dealing with.
I have been through some struggles with bipolar disorder and my dogs have been there with me through it all. I don't know how I could be here today if it were not for my babies.
I have a better grasp on my bipolar disorder because of this book. It really touched me!
 Hopeful but writing style a bit hard to read September 2, 2008
Lizz A. Belle (North Bend, OR United States)
Bruce Goldstein clearly put 110% into this book, not one person can deny him that. However, his writing leaves a lot to be desired. He states in the introduction when he was writing this novel that he drank pot after pot of coffee and it is clearly reflected in his writing. Coming from an understanding of bipolar disorder, I would say that the entire book save for the very last chapter 11 years later was written during his manic episodes.
As I read a lot of other reviews I was disappointed to see that several people criticized him for the way the book was written centered around his illness. Hello this was the whole purpose of the book itself? Other people were focused simply on Ozzy and call this a book for dog lovers. I am puzzled by this also because I found that the parts with Ozzy and especially the parts where he goes trolling to meet people and the irritating descriptions of "Pupeeeeeeeeeeeee! Look at the puppeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" were tedious. He basically describes that all of us dog lovers turn into blathering, mindless 'puppeeeeeeeeee" idiots when we see a dog.
I admire Bruce for putting himself out there and really trying to cope wiht his manic depression. His dedication to Ozzy is doubtless throughout the whole book. I think that he gives a great insight to people who want to learn a bit about the manic side of bipolar disorder to what it is truly like. However, the middle section of him getting Ozzy and the endless descriptions of puppy potty habits leaves the reader lacking and detracts from his story. Potty training it one thing, but constant talk of fecal matter is another.
Overall I would recommend this book to people who want to learn about bipolar disorder and enjoy dogs (both, together, not either or, this is not a book for dog lovers who could care less about the mental illness piece). However, I would not recommend paying $17 for it.
Amazing insight into mental illness August 18, 2008
J. Rizk (Washington)
I have had several friends with bi-polar disorder and a boyfriend that was much like Bruce. Yikes. I don't wish that situation on anyone. For me the book was tedious and a bit over the top, but then I thought, "THAT is mental illness." Everything is magnified. The book actually made me much more sympathetic to those with mental illness as I can't even imagine how many of those people get from one day to the next. Obviously many don't. A homeless man in British Columbia (who suffers from mental illness) had one of his dogs taken from him and all he wanted was his dog back. Michael Phelps, on an interview with TODAY, just wanted to see his dog. Dogs do something for all of us. If Ozzy gave Bruce his life back then not a big surprise to the many, many of us who's lives dogs touch. Not sure if I'd recommend this book just based on the tedium. Not every sentence needs to be a ringer.
DOG'S ARE A LIFE SAVER July 28, 2008
Kevin Stenson
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Hi,
I just want to share a little story. My baby girl Abby was a shepard/ rot mix and she was 10 when she left this world. I am bipolar / manic depressed and the story in this book is so true. Abby loved me unconditionally and I her When I was real down she was there. When I was feeling better she was there. True friendship and love. This book reminded me so much of what happened to me and how she helped me through the bad times. Now that she is gone I can,t help but think what will happen now but the words in this book ring true A dog is more than a best friend it IS A LIFE SAVER and I hope it will inspire more people to seek help. Depression is an illness that some of us have to deal with and we need all the help we can get. I myself don,t know what the future will bring but if I could have her back for just one day I think I could make it but now we all have our own demons to fight and PUPPY'S ARE BETTER THAN ANY DRUG
Kevin Stenson
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