Puppy Chow is Better Than Prozac: The True Story of a Man and the Dog Who Saved His Life

by Bruce Goldstein

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.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Dogs, Memoir, Mental Health, Biography, Psychology

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Bruce Goldstein is an author, speaker, screenwriter, and madman of Madison Avenue. His first book, Puppy Chow Is Better Than Prozac: The True Story of a Man and the Dog Who Saved His Life was a bestseller on Amazon and received praise in publications such as Publisher’s Weekly, Library Journal, and the Boston Globe. Goldstein has appeared on Martha Stewart Living and the Morning Show on Fox. Bruce can also be seen on Bipolar TV (WebMD), discussing pet therapy for bipolar disorder, and he was this a keynote speaker at the Many Faces of Mental Illness conference. Bruce writes a column in bp Magazine called, “A New Yorker’s State of Mind,” and freelances as a copywriter in advertising. He received a BFA in advertising design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1992, and he lives in Manhattan with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best 'Doggie nonfiction' books out there, in my opinion. The first part paints a picture of a manic-depressive man and gives you a detailed, and often scary look into his psyche. The rest introduces you to the world of puppies and shows how such a creature can save your life. It also has some nice little training tips that he imbeds in there without throwing them into your face (Thank you, for Nature's Miracle Spray!).

[Ksgpd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing! This story is moving, funny, scary and just amazing. I couldn't read it fast enough. If you know someone or are someone who struggles with mental illness, or are firm believer in the important role that dogs play in our lives; you'll love this book.

[Foxglove · Rating 5 out of 5]

A first rate novel, told in the most humorous and intelligent way possible. Goldstein has a knack for discussing some of the most sad experiences with a level of wit and wisdom which leaves you feeling like you are talking to a dear friend. In fact, Goldstein humanizes mental illness in an incredibly sensitive way that does not allow for shame or self pity. Although bipolar disorder is a hard issue, Goldstein makes his book a safe place where it's okay to admit you're weird and need help, without wallowing in hopelessness.

Very fast paced, I read it in a single night because I simply could not put it down. Goldstein has incredible writing ability, combining honesty with a zest for life. If you read this book, you will be severely tempted to get a dog! Ozzy is not shown as the perfect dog, but as the dog Goldstein needed. In the best tradition of man and dog, the two bond and become a team against the sadness in the world, finding their way towards the joy.

I look forward to seeing more from this excellent author.

MUST READ.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book when I read it a couple of years ago. The narrator of the book suffers from severe depression. He is often unable to get up and perform basic tasks and has extreme social anxiety. After getting a puppy, he realizes that he needs to take responsibility not only for himself, but for another life as well. A puppy who loves and relies on him. With the help of medical treatnment and hard work, the narrator is able to meet new people and come out of the darkness due to the human/ animal bond. Loved it.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

An enjoyable read -- the personal story of a young, self-absorbed, bipolar man living in New York City whose life gets turned around by an intelligent, loving black lab puppy. Great dog descriptions.

[Jayme(theghostreader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. The book was easy to get into and I felt I knew the author and what he was going through. I know how it is to go through having a dog and raising it. I felt Ozzie was like my dog Lady. She was the first dog I ever raised.

[Jennelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!....I loved it!
I drank in the pages nightly
and now that I have finished,
I am sad it is over.
The author has a great personality;
and you cant help but love him and his
Puuuppeee! Ozzy is the man!!

[Teresa]

This book is a trip! I use this word because nowadays everyone is taking a "journey". It is compelling in that anyone that has had or been through any level of depression can see the world through Bruce's eyes and to some degree what he was going through. I have this feeling that his journals were a detrimental (sp?) part of the beginning chapters. Setting the stage up to the point in time when Ozzy came into Bruce's life.

I don't recommend this book to everyone, only in that some people have never been there, depressed that is. That perhaps
it may be too MUCH reality to think that there are people out there that are having this type of extreme difficulty coping. People that have no idea what depression can or is like. I'm rambling, but I felt a tad overwhelmed at the extent of Bruce's depression and anxiety, but at the same time couldn't wait to get to the part where everything comes together.

Also, in a way, I feel connected to the Bruce. My dogs were and have been an integral part of my own survival. Leading me to love and enjoying life in a way I never knew was possible.

Peace ~ Out
Teresa

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

A roller coaster ride with a puppy-produced happy ending. If you love dogs or transformation stories, you'll like this one. It was also informative in the sense that I understand bipolar and manic depression a lot better than if I had just read a non-fiction book about it.

A couple of things: One, the pun-filled, light-hearted tone felt extremely out of place in many of the passages. If the author is having a full-on meltdown where he is hallucinating about the devil and his knives beckoning him into the kitchen to kill himself, it's jarring to have it discussed in a kind of jokey manner.
Two, I wish he had at least mentioned the fact that, in 99% of cases, a dog from a shelter or rescue group will be a wonderful, just-right companion. I was actively cringing during the scenes where he went into pet stores. PUPPY MILL PUPPY BORN IN CONDITIONS OF APPALLING CRUELTY, COMING RIGHT UP! Really?!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It probably has something to do with the fact that I'm a fairly new puppy mom myself. I got my little mutt just a few months ago because I NEEDED a dog. That's right, not wanted, I needed a dog. After the death of my cat a couple years ago, I needed to fill the void left by a furry creature. And I just hadn't been very happy with where I was right now in life (job, city, friends, etc.) And so enters my puppy.

This book reinforced my views that pets really are great therapy. I also realized that as hard as things get for me some days, things aren't nearly as bad as they could be.

[Peg · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. Shows the reader what it is like to live with bipolar disorder. The protagonist is a single man in his 20s that feels lonely and invisible to the world while he suffers with his ailments (bipolar and Crohns--I am certain there is a link although it is never mentioned in the book--or with doctors treating similar pts today). He seems so alone in his world of disease until he gets a puppy. The dog opens up his world--he has someone other than himself to think about, and people approach him to converse about the dog--this helps him (along with medications)to become a more mainstream functional individual. Written in a humble, vulnerable voice that reeks of honesty.

[Lynnea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't appreciate the language in parts but really enjoyed the story - learning about bipolar and being reaffirmed in how wonderful pets can be for us psychologically

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great book, from someone who is also crazy and has a new puppy.

[Nate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost gave this book 3 stars, because I did like it. It is part bipolar-memoir and part raising-a-puppy-memoir. The bipolar parts particularly were interesting in their similarities (and differences, for that matter) to my experiences. It is a hard subject to explain to people who haven't experienced it, so I like to see how other people attempt to explain things.

The raising a puppy parts of the book were ok, not super exciting. There is a lot of focus on the puppy pissing and shitting on things, and I'm not sure I needed to go through that. He did have a couple of anecdotes that I really related to, and I love my puppy too.

The big problem with this book is the writing style, plot inconsistencies (how can a true story have plot inconsistencies?), and, once again, writing style. It really made me re-think my sometime-future plan to get my MFA and teach creative writing. The book is full of puns and alliteration, and prolific use of uninteresting adjectives. (There is a green tree out in front of his tan brick building, no lie.)

I did like it overall.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

A former advertising copywriter talks about how, as he was slowly emerging from the worst depths of his bipolar condition, he decides to adopt a puppy. Goldstein doesn't hold anything back when discussing his toughest episodes (including hallucinations that he was being goaded to suicide) or his initial reluctance to seek treatment, and he doesn't try to pretend that Ozzy was a quick-fix solution to his problems.

I interviewed Goldstein in the spring of 2008.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book because I love to read about mental illness and I am also a big fan of animal-assisted therapy. However, while the book wasn't bad by any means, I wasn't blown away either. It was just okay. The author goes through more than half of the book talking about his bipolar disorder before he gets to the part where he gets Ozzy. Though I am glad that the author found a healthy way to cope with his bipolar disorder and I can relate to the healing power that pets can have.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually give books 5 stars, but I absolutely loved loved, loved this one! It's a really good mix between describing this guy's dog and his personal/medical issues. Goldstein does a great job at describing his illness, and then how the dog helps him through it. Not too long, not too short doesn't drag... I loved it. Quick read!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot more about manic depression than dogs from this book. I have a very limited knowledge of the mental illness and this book gave me a better understanding of what people with manic depression go through on a daily basis. This isn't "just another dog book" so give it a shot!

[Marvel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is amazing in his honesty and description of his bi-polar condition - and, of course, the wonderful dog that truly saved his life. This was one of those books that you really couldn't put down. I found myself sneak reading it when I was supposed to be doing something else.

[Nomegirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting. this dog probably saved the authors life.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. A true example of how animals are often the best medicine. Bruce and Ozzy are a great pair, and I'm happy they have each other. :)

[Noodles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really know what to say about this book.
The bipolar descriptions are sometimes chilling, often humorous.
The gradual transformation in Bruce is wonderful to experience. Starting with the fabulous Dr C (psychologist) and accelerating after getting Ozzy (best buddy). So why am I struggling to give it more than 3*?
It's true to life for a mentally ill person - he's massively self absorbed and wrapped up in what's going on in his own head. And that makes it kinda repetitive. And all the people responding to Ozzy sounded the same pretty soon, too. These things are the big majority of the book, it's not really an autobiography, more of a collection of two sets of anecdotes: depression and puppy. The pacing is a bit odd, with a sudden jump to epilogue and missing out so much of the recovery and life with adult Ozzy. It just stopped! I was left wondering so many things: where did all these good friends come from? What happened to them? Did Allen's dog get on with Ozzy? It's snapshot pictures without a framework for them to sit in. It's peculiar, but rings true to the depressive way of only seeing what he's obsessing about and not the whole picture. Maybe he writes in snapshots because he can only consider what's in his head at that moment because of how his mind works, and the editor didn't kick his ass into writing a more rounded book. The whole style changes as he relives mania and then calms again, with it settling down after Ozzy's appearance and Bruce's improvement. If that's deliberate then it's a fine piece of writing.
My favourite thing is Bruce's mum phoning him and saying "Up, up up! You can do it! Get up and go to work" She sounds amazing!
As an ex-depressive myself (of the common or garden sort rather than bipolar), I have the ultimate respect for anyone living with bipolar. The up/down destroyed me; to do that multiple times per day is unthinkable. So for that I love Bruce, and for sharing his story in so candid and real a way. I could relate to so much of what he described. I've loved many of my family's dogs so much, it should be perfect for me. But I struggled to connect emotionally with this book for some reason. I want to give it more stars, but should be true to the rating. I probably didn't "really" like it. 5* for Bruce and Ozzy, 3* for the overall book itself.
OK, I added a fourth star. For Bruce's bravery, Ozzy and for the Black Sabbath references :)
OK, I took the 4th star away again. 6 or 7 out of 10 maybe, but not 8. It's silly to add a star because I love Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath too; and I'd feel bad if Bruce knew I didn't give it top marks! It would be a top notch Ted talk, but as a book it could be better.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had been on my to-read list for a while, and I finally got to it. I'm glad I did. I saw shades of myself in Bruce's behavior, which was eye opening. Of course, everything about Ozzy the dog was adorable. As is my constant problem, I read this book too fast instead of savoring it. Here are a few things I mused on while inhaling it:

- Bruce made $800 a day? That's amazing! I wish I did that.
- And he could take a whole summer off of working?!?! Also amazing!
- The number of times the word "screamed" appears in this books is frightening. Aren't there any synonyms? Is everyone in NY really screaming?
- He was in a no-dogs building and yet nobody seemed to snitch. That's cool.
- I wonder how long Ozzy lived, and how Bruce handled the inevitable. A quick Google search provided nothing. Maybe it's too personal.
-The creative writing schemes got annoying at times. Probably because I read the book too fast. If I had stretched it out beyond 3 days, they probably would have been charming.

[Nadia Barcatta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro autobiografico.
Consiglio la lettura a tutti, indipendentemente dall'amore per i cani.
Viviamo in un mondo dove le malattie mentali sono ancora un tabù, e la gente ti etichetta come "matto", senza sapere che, probabilmente, anche loro, una volta nella vita, sono stati affetti da una di queste malattie senza saperlo.
È un libro tosto (soprattutto la prima parte) che però è necessario leggere per cercare di comprendere queste malattie.
L'autore è stato davvero coraggioso a mettere nero su bianco la sua esperienza.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Libro autobiografico dove l'autore racconta della sua depressione e di come aver avuto un cane lo ha aiutato. Amo i cani e ne ho uno capisco molto bene tutto ciò che Bruce ha raccontato del suo rapporto con Ozzy, come libro non mi ha entusiasmato, non l'ho divorato ma ho apprezzato leggere cosa può arrivare a fare una malattia spesso sottovalutata, e tanta stima per Bruce e per come l'ha affrontata.

[Melissa Kayden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bruce Goldstein battle some severe mental illness and when medication and therapy aren't quite enough, he gets a dog. A black lab puppy named Ozzy gives him something to focus on besides his anxiety and helps him make great strides towards a healthier life. Goes to show the power of a dog's love - something I've never doubted!

[Rachele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lettura piacevole e scorrevole senza troppe pretese per quanto riguarda l'aspetto puramente tecnico stilistico. Tratta di temi molto personali e ancora purtroppo poco discussi apertamente quali le malattie mentali e già solo per questo sicuramente è un lbro che arricchisce e che vale la pena leggere; in più come non farsi intenerire dalla presenza di un dolce cucciolone di labrador?

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sad and scary at points, yet happy also (an emotional roller coaster). Dogs aren't for everyone, but Ozzy and Bruce were meant for each other. Ozzy helps Bruce to battle Manic Depression (known also as Bipolar Depression), and get his life back.

[Cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the books that really helped me though a rough time, not only could I really feel what the author was writing about, but he also put a smile on my face and even made me laugh.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another bipolar autobiography to add to my pile of good ones.