Touching Animal Souls: Life Lessons from the Animal World

by Gabrielle Harris

This is the story of the author's more than twenty years professional experience in training wild animals including dolphins, horses, dogs and monkeys. By learning how to interact with animals we start to draw out the leadership qualities within ourselves. Anyone who has interactions with animals will gain value from this book, especially those who take an interest in training them, even if it is just house training your new puppy.

274 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2011

Reviews

[Stephanie Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an interesting read, especially seeing how much we can learn from animals when we take the time to understand them. I loved how the author connected her experiences training different animals with lessons about patience, trust, communication, and leadership. It’s a thoughtful book that reminds us that working with animals isn’t just about teaching them, it can teach us a lot about ourselves too. I’d recommend it to animal lovers and anyone who enjoys books with practical life lessons.

[Annie Inger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. What stood out to me was how Gabrielle Harris uses her experiences with dolphins, horses, dogs, monkeys, and other animals to share lessons that go far beyond animal training. The book made me think differently about communication, trust, patience, and what it really means to be a good leader. I think it would be a great read for animal lovers, trainers, or anyone interested in learning life lessons from the way animals respond to us.

[Nadine May · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book I recognize so much wisdom that I have seen brought to life by others like my mother, my sister and a certain horseman named 'Patrick' who embodies the open leader spirit that Gabrielle speaks of.

Read it for insights and expect to be challenged. It confirmed what I already knew, that animals are not simple beasts and when we approach one we better know a lot about them, while keeping our ego out of the way.

You can make mistakes, you can correct them, you can be yourself as long as you learn and change - using the animal as a mirror. There is fear and its cure: experience and compassion/empathy. The relationship with animals is not one way and this book makes it clear that they give more than they get; mainly because we humans underestimate them so often.

The book almost veers into my pet loathing - "woo" and pseudo-science -- but Gabrielle knows the perils of dogma and superstition. She neatly pulls back and gives a unique line between what we think we know and what we feel. There is value in this gray area that pure reason cannot yet reach. We can trust our feelings, our intuition as long as we also watch the mirror of the animals around us (humans included) and we strip ourselves of pride and stubborn ego. It also emphasizes education, self education. Keep learning, keep watching, keep the mind open.

I think this is a book that I will continue to dip into long after the last page is closed. Opening it randomly rewards one with clarity and insight and you can't help but smile.

Reading Room - Oprah magazine - SA

Read how these sentient mammals helped world-renowned animal behaviourist, Gabrielle Harris, from Durban, moves from fear to feeling. http://www.kimaglobalbooks.com/touchi...

"Working with animals has taught me a lot about myself. They have changed the way I think about life. I now focus on the positive aspects in life. They also allow me to laugh at myself and teach me humility which is very important as I believe humility is the key to the Universe."