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Adventure Without End #2
Don't Need The Whole Dog!
In the summer of 2004, Tony James Slater went to Ecuador, looking to become a man.
Not all of him returned.
But the bit that did was fuelled by a burning desire to do... something.
Something that mattered.
And, ideally, to get the hell out of England in the process.
His dream was to blatantly steal his friend Toby's dream -
of going to Thailand and becoming a professional diver.
But when a man like this goes on a search for adventure -
well, it's bound to end in tears. And yet - what can actually go wrong?
I mean, really?
With renovating a house?
With volunteering?
With sailing?
And diving?
Surely, those are the kind of activities that any old idiot
can pull off?
But then, this isn't just any old idiot.
This is Tony James Slater - the man who was convincingly
mauled by a domestic cat.
And to make things worse - he's not alone...
So batten down the hatches! Lock up your power tools! And
for gawd's sake turn the electricity off.
Because that idiot from Ecuador is back.
And this time, he's brought the whole family...
Not all of him returned.
But the bit that did was fuelled by a burning desire to do... something.
Something that mattered.
And, ideally, to get the hell out of England in the process.
His dream was to blatantly steal his friend Toby's dream -
of going to Thailand and becoming a professional diver.
But when a man like this goes on a search for adventure -
well, it's bound to end in tears. And yet - what can actually go wrong?
I mean, really?
With renovating a house?
With volunteering?
With sailing?
And diving?
Surely, those are the kind of activities that any old idiot
can pull off?
But then, this isn't just any old idiot.
This is Tony James Slater - the man who was convincingly
mauled by a domestic cat.
And to make things worse - he's not alone...
So batten down the hatches! Lock up your power tools! And
for gawd's sake turn the electricity off.
Because that idiot from Ecuador is back.
And this time, he's brought the whole family...
406 pages, ebook
First published December 15, 2012
412 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Tony James Slater
22 books238 followersTony James Slater is a very, very strange man. He believes himself to be indestructible, despite considerable evidence to the contrary. He sometimes makes strange faces whilst pretending to be attacked by inanimate objects. But perhaps his single biggest problem is this; he has a mouth so big he is in danger of swallowing his own head. As a result he often ends up far from mainstream civilization, tackling ridiculous challenges and subjecting himself to constant danger. He gets hurt quite a lot.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 14, 2015
A couple of years ago I read That Bear Ate My Pants and was surprised by how much I enjoyed a Travel/Adventure story when I mostly read Romance. I've been meaning to read this, his second book, for a while now but with so many books on my To Read list, I always bumped this for fictional hot guys. Well, it's a new year and I finally made the time.
Tony is such a likeable person. I think it's impossible to read his books and not enjoy his crazy adventures. His honesty, self-deprecation, and good heart, make his stories so genuinely appealing. Tony will try anything. You literally don't know what he's going to do next, and that makes these books so much fun.
What made this book different from That Bear Ate My Pants was that it didn't centre around one main adventure. Tony was all over the place, Arizona, the U.K., on a sailing adventure, and in Thailand. For me, I would have preferred more cohesiveness, although I'm not a regular reader of travelogues and my love of fiction may have influenced me in this aspect. It read more like a really entertaining sitcom, where you could enjoy a small part of the story, walk away, then come back a little later for some more laughs. This may have been why it seemed a little long for me. I think if it had been a bit shorter, it would have flowed better.
Having said all that, Tony is undeniably hilarious! I laughed so many times, shaking my head and not believing the mess he had gotten himself into, although at this point I really shouldn't be surprised. :) Tony really is a wonderful storyteller. I wish I could sit around a campfire and listen to him tell his tales, but it's probably best to stay away from Tony and fire.
I'm not an adventurous person so I feel like I get to see a little more of the world (in a very unique way) through Tony's eyes, which can be a little scary...I will definitely be reading the next one! If you want to try something completely different pick up one of Tony's books.
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Tony is such a likeable person. I think it's impossible to read his books and not enjoy his crazy adventures. His honesty, self-deprecation, and good heart, make his stories so genuinely appealing. Tony will try anything. You literally don't know what he's going to do next, and that makes these books so much fun.
What made this book different from That Bear Ate My Pants was that it didn't centre around one main adventure. Tony was all over the place, Arizona, the U.K., on a sailing adventure, and in Thailand. For me, I would have preferred more cohesiveness, although I'm not a regular reader of travelogues and my love of fiction may have influenced me in this aspect. It read more like a really entertaining sitcom, where you could enjoy a small part of the story, walk away, then come back a little later for some more laughs. This may have been why it seemed a little long for me. I think if it had been a bit shorter, it would have flowed better.
Having said all that, Tony is undeniably hilarious! I laughed so many times, shaking my head and not believing the mess he had gotten himself into, although at this point I really shouldn't be surprised. :) Tony really is a wonderful storyteller. I wish I could sit around a campfire and listen to him tell his tales, but it's probably best to stay away from Tony and fire.
I'm not an adventurous person so I feel like I get to see a little more of the world (in a very unique way) through Tony's eyes, which can be a little scary...I will definitely be reading the next one! If you want to try something completely different pick up one of Tony's books.
Check out our blog: The Book Bosses
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
October 20, 2015
Hilarious and yet inspiring.
This has got to be one of the best travel memoirs I've read. Even if it did start out as an insight into a reality show. I am so happy to find the adventures aren't over. Onto the first book.. And the one after this one!
This has got to be one of the best travel memoirs I've read. Even if it did start out as an insight into a reality show. I am so happy to find the adventures aren't over. Onto the first book.. And the one after this one!
October 1, 2013
Seriously loved this book. I've never met Tony but having read That Bear Ate My Pants, and now Don't Need the Whole Dog, I feel like I know him intimately. VERY intimately.
He claims that this book is not as good as his first. What would he know? He's a self-confessed idiot! He's wrong, Don't Need the Whole Dog is Tony's best book yet by far!
On the surface it seems like a very eclectic mix of experiences to include in one book - house renovating, sailing, the army, Thailand, a homeless shelter - but somehow it all fits together perfectly. Tony links all these events so effortlessly and the whole thing flows so naturally, that it seems perfectly natural to be reading about plumbing issues one minute and Thai massages the next. It's moving, inspiring, uplifting, and, of course, extremely funny. Another masterpiece - the idiot has done it again! Can't wait to read Tony's next book.
He claims that this book is not as good as his first. What would he know? He's a self-confessed idiot! He's wrong, Don't Need the Whole Dog is Tony's best book yet by far!
On the surface it seems like a very eclectic mix of experiences to include in one book - house renovating, sailing, the army, Thailand, a homeless shelter - but somehow it all fits together perfectly. Tony links all these events so effortlessly and the whole thing flows so naturally, that it seems perfectly natural to be reading about plumbing issues one minute and Thai massages the next. It's moving, inspiring, uplifting, and, of course, extremely funny. Another masterpiece - the idiot has done it again! Can't wait to read Tony's next book.
December 30, 2012
Just as funny as the first book (That Bear Ate My Pants!). Tony is still looking for adventure, getting injured, and saying something stupid. There are many laugh out loud moments and at least once when I laughed so hard it hurt.
September 8, 2022
A man who can find danger anywhere.
This is the author's second book and promises to tell the story of his time as a volunteer worker at a dog rescue center in Thailand. He opens with a story of himself calmly leading off a huge, disgruntled monkey who was trashing a restaurant and terrorizing the staff and clients. He attributes his skill in controlling wild animals to his experiences at a wild animal rescue center in Ecuador (hilariously covered in "That Bear Ate My Pants.") He's lying.
If you continue reading, you'll discover that he developed his fearlessness while renovating an old house in Wales. The dangers of venomous snakes, gigantic sharks, and man-eating tigers pale in comparison with the agony of dealing with plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and building inspectors. And if your renovation is being filmed for a reality television show, a quick and easy death is the most you can hope for.
But first, there's the trip to the U.S. (with Mom Slater in tow) to pick up his younger sister and do a few fun, touristy things - like a butt-numbing two day ride on wild mustangs led by tour guides who make the Keystone Kops look competent. The Slaters attract disaster like black pants attract cat fur. They lose passports, forget to make plane reservations, forgo maps in favor of winging it, and always (ALWAYS!) manage to blurt out the thing that will cause the most trouble. This author's lunacy didn't appear out of thin air. It was bred into him.
They return to England to discover that Pop Slater has bought an elderly house in Wales with the idea of renovating it themselves (cheaply, of course) and selling it for a huge profit. Everything goes wrong that can go wrong and the gleeful television crew is there to record it all. Too late, the Slaters realize that the purpose of the show is to make the renovators look like idiots. Since anyone crazy enough to renovate an old house already looks like an idiot, the producers succeed beyond their wildest dreams.
Meanwhile, the author is frantically trying to raise money to finance his next adventure, which is to go to the coast of Thailand and become a dive instructor. By enrolling in medical clinical trials, you can make money lying in bed and periodically giving blood, urine, or feces samples. You have nothing to lose but your dignity and that's a commodity Our Hero is almost entirely without.
He finally scrapes together enough money and is off to a Thai island that's a favorite vacation spot for hard-partying youngsters. He's the only male volunteer at a canine rescue center where neutering male dogs is one of the main activities. Not a great job for a guy with a low tolerance level for the sight of blood OR for scalpel-wielding girls with wicked grins.
He makes friends, gets drunk, repeatedly wrecks his motorbike, loses his phone and buys it back more times than I could count, gets robbed, THINKS he's lost money to a credit card scammer, learns how to dive, and encounters many, many odd people - both fellow tourists/ex-pats and locals. It's life in paradise, but even living cheaply can't be supported with a volunteer job and he's not qualified for the paying ones. So it's off to the next adventure.
Part of the fun is the author's hapless personality. He's not stupid, but he's careless, financially irresponsible, and naive as a toddler. He's also relentlessly determined to be Mr Macho, so he never turns down a challenge, no matter how insane or dangerous. His disasters (small and large) are constant and very funny and his readers get to enjoy the lunacy without sharing the pain. He's a talented humor writer and perfect for armchair adventurers. (Like me.)
This is the author's second book and promises to tell the story of his time as a volunteer worker at a dog rescue center in Thailand. He opens with a story of himself calmly leading off a huge, disgruntled monkey who was trashing a restaurant and terrorizing the staff and clients. He attributes his skill in controlling wild animals to his experiences at a wild animal rescue center in Ecuador (hilariously covered in "That Bear Ate My Pants.") He's lying.
If you continue reading, you'll discover that he developed his fearlessness while renovating an old house in Wales. The dangers of venomous snakes, gigantic sharks, and man-eating tigers pale in comparison with the agony of dealing with plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and building inspectors. And if your renovation is being filmed for a reality television show, a quick and easy death is the most you can hope for.
But first, there's the trip to the U.S. (with Mom Slater in tow) to pick up his younger sister and do a few fun, touristy things - like a butt-numbing two day ride on wild mustangs led by tour guides who make the Keystone Kops look competent. The Slaters attract disaster like black pants attract cat fur. They lose passports, forget to make plane reservations, forgo maps in favor of winging it, and always (ALWAYS!) manage to blurt out the thing that will cause the most trouble. This author's lunacy didn't appear out of thin air. It was bred into him.
They return to England to discover that Pop Slater has bought an elderly house in Wales with the idea of renovating it themselves (cheaply, of course) and selling it for a huge profit. Everything goes wrong that can go wrong and the gleeful television crew is there to record it all. Too late, the Slaters realize that the purpose of the show is to make the renovators look like idiots. Since anyone crazy enough to renovate an old house already looks like an idiot, the producers succeed beyond their wildest dreams.
Meanwhile, the author is frantically trying to raise money to finance his next adventure, which is to go to the coast of Thailand and become a dive instructor. By enrolling in medical clinical trials, you can make money lying in bed and periodically giving blood, urine, or feces samples. You have nothing to lose but your dignity and that's a commodity Our Hero is almost entirely without.
He finally scrapes together enough money and is off to a Thai island that's a favorite vacation spot for hard-partying youngsters. He's the only male volunteer at a canine rescue center where neutering male dogs is one of the main activities. Not a great job for a guy with a low tolerance level for the sight of blood OR for scalpel-wielding girls with wicked grins.
He makes friends, gets drunk, repeatedly wrecks his motorbike, loses his phone and buys it back more times than I could count, gets robbed, THINKS he's lost money to a credit card scammer, learns how to dive, and encounters many, many odd people - both fellow tourists/ex-pats and locals. It's life in paradise, but even living cheaply can't be supported with a volunteer job and he's not qualified for the paying ones. So it's off to the next adventure.
Part of the fun is the author's hapless personality. He's not stupid, but he's careless, financially irresponsible, and naive as a toddler. He's also relentlessly determined to be Mr Macho, so he never turns down a challenge, no matter how insane or dangerous. His disasters (small and large) are constant and very funny and his readers get to enjoy the lunacy without sharing the pain. He's a talented humor writer and perfect for armchair adventurers. (Like me.)
September 15, 2021
Funny and Very Entertaining.
Tony, the idiot abroad, is back with another hilarious read. After his Ecuadorian antics, Tony returns to England to help renovate a house in Treorchy, Wales which his father bought whilst the rest of the family were in America. Being an ever hopeful actor. Tony suggests they contact a TV company who are making a DIY programme, this is all well and good but it places the family on a tight deadline. What can go wrong does go wrong. All the while he is looking for ways to raise the much-needed funds to enable him to go to Thailand to volunteer at an animal shelter clinic.
The fun and the antics commence on his first evening at a leaving party for one of the previous volunteers. Being the only male member of the team, Tony is often teased by the women, mainly about a medical procedure that would reduce men to tears. There are plenty of adventures to be had with his friend Linda, learning to ride a motorbike on the dodgy roads, theft, famous beach parties, and the after-effects along with his one ambition...learning to dive and succeed at it, and of course, not to spend all his money, after all, he may need some for a rainy day or a quick getaway.
Tony is a wonderful writer and he kept me entertained, his books are a delight to read and I highly recommend them, thank you.
Tony, the idiot abroad, is back with another hilarious read. After his Ecuadorian antics, Tony returns to England to help renovate a house in Treorchy, Wales which his father bought whilst the rest of the family were in America. Being an ever hopeful actor. Tony suggests they contact a TV company who are making a DIY programme, this is all well and good but it places the family on a tight deadline. What can go wrong does go wrong. All the while he is looking for ways to raise the much-needed funds to enable him to go to Thailand to volunteer at an animal shelter clinic.
The fun and the antics commence on his first evening at a leaving party for one of the previous volunteers. Being the only male member of the team, Tony is often teased by the women, mainly about a medical procedure that would reduce men to tears. There are plenty of adventures to be had with his friend Linda, learning to ride a motorbike on the dodgy roads, theft, famous beach parties, and the after-effects along with his one ambition...learning to dive and succeed at it, and of course, not to spend all his money, after all, he may need some for a rainy day or a quick getaway.
Tony is a wonderful writer and he kept me entertained, his books are a delight to read and I highly recommend them, thank you.
May 20, 2017
I give high marks to books that make me laugh out loud, and this memoir succeeded in that challenge several times. The author has a high tolerance for the "eww" factor (e.g., when an abscess burst on his foot and a family of little spiders poured out); a high tolerance for unsanitary conditions (e.g., sitting in 3rd class for 11 hours on a train in Thailand next to the doorless bathroom, which was nothing more than a whole in the wooden floor); low tolerance for actual employment; high tolerance for alcohol; high tolerance for risk; and no modesty whatsoever (e.g., dancing naked on a bartop). Besides his months in Thailand, the book covers a period where his nutty family was trying to flip a house in Wales and Tony made the huge mistake of inviting in a "reality" TV show to film their efforts. I'd love to meet his parents.
October 6, 2021
A different direction, but the same hilarity and adventure as the first book
While I didn't laugh out loud quite as much while reading this sequel, I still enjoyed this book quite a bit. I'll admit, the animals were a big part of what made the first book in this series so enjoyable, but the crazy situations Tony gets himself into in this one are pretty entertaining in themselves. Some people might think this book drags a bit, as it takes a while to get back to the adventurous craziness, but there's plenty to be entertained by in this one. I enjoy his antics and his self deprecation, and I respect the fact that he's willing to actually go on these crazy trips and not just think or dream about it like most of us do.
While I didn't laugh out loud quite as much while reading this sequel, I still enjoyed this book quite a bit. I'll admit, the animals were a big part of what made the first book in this series so enjoyable, but the crazy situations Tony gets himself into in this one are pretty entertaining in themselves. Some people might think this book drags a bit, as it takes a while to get back to the adventurous craziness, but there's plenty to be entertained by in this one. I enjoy his antics and his self deprecation, and I respect the fact that he's willing to actually go on these crazy trips and not just think or dream about it like most of us do.
February 24, 2024
This was an enjoyable book and much better than his first. Not that he has grown up much from his time in Equador but he seems to have a stronger work ethic...when he is doing what he wants or needs to do...and a better sense of purpose. Loved the description of his sailing adventure and the frightening first gale. The makeover of his father's wreck of a house in Wales and the tv show about it was a hoot. The time in Thailand sounded idyllic although would not be my idea of a good time. The author still seems obsessed with gross stuff and enjoys telling about his eruptions at both ends...or other people's. However, in spite of some immaturity, he is a good writer and quite entertaining.
July 7, 2020
Awesome
I was not sure about this book to begin with but boy was I glad I stuck with it. If you are expecting a similar book to his first one you will not be disappointed, it does not only cover Thailand but Wales, Somerset and America. How this man is still in one piece is nothing short of a miracle but his misdemeanours are our good luck as we get to enjoy them from the comfort of our sofa.
I got this book on Kindle Unlimited but would have no hesitation in paying full price for it. His writing is quintessentially English as is his humour.
Read this book and meet Tony James Slater, the man, the legend.
I was not sure about this book to begin with but boy was I glad I stuck with it. If you are expecting a similar book to his first one you will not be disappointed, it does not only cover Thailand but Wales, Somerset and America. How this man is still in one piece is nothing short of a miracle but his misdemeanours are our good luck as we get to enjoy them from the comfort of our sofa.
I got this book on Kindle Unlimited but would have no hesitation in paying full price for it. His writing is quintessentially English as is his humour.
Read this book and meet Tony James Slater, the man, the legend.
January 31, 2023
Slater's sense of humor can't be beat. He makes the mundane funny and his nonchalant way of describing sudden extreme situations had me chortling all the way through. Yes, I wrote chortling. That little "kff" sound with a smile. I thought his "Shave My Spider" book was a bit better since it didn't have any drawn-out spots like the house renovation in Terorchi did but the rest of the book was well paced and funny as hell. I liked this one too so I'll pick up another one of his books for a few good laughs. Recommended.
March 5, 2019
A Bumpy Ride of a Memoir
While not as good as Slater's That Bear Are My Pants, this go round does have its share of high points and laughs. I think it would have been better if it had left out the entire part dealing with the house restoration, which was a long lull for me. Even though I didn't enjoy it a much, i know I'm going to read the next adventure of his, Kamikaze Kangaroos. How could I not?
While not as good as Slater's That Bear Are My Pants, this go round does have its share of high points and laughs. I think it would have been better if it had left out the entire part dealing with the house restoration, which was a long lull for me. Even though I didn't enjoy it a much, i know I'm going to read the next adventure of his, Kamikaze Kangaroos. How could I not?
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November 24, 2021Great book
Here it goes, another great book. I recalls books and enjoyed them all. I'm not sure where this book fits in with his other books. Anyway I remember all his others and then he recommended some other authors and their books which I have already read too .I recommend this book to everyone who enjoy reading about some one getting hurt all the time and still lives to tell his story.
Here it goes, another great book. I recalls books and enjoyed them all. I'm not sure where this book fits in with his other books. Anyway I remember all his others and then he recommended some other authors and their books which I have already read too .I recommend this book to everyone who enjoy reading about some one getting hurt all the time and still lives to tell his story.
January 10, 2017
It wasn’t quite as laugh out loud funny as some of his later books, but still very amusing and, as with all of Tony’s books that I’ve read, I was highly entertained. My only problems with it were a few grammar issues (generally the wrong word or a word missing completely) and, of course, the language. I highly recommend reading this and all of Tony’s books. You won’t regret it!
February 29, 2024
A comedy show on paper. I thought Slater’s first book was a riot, but I’m enjoying this one immensely. I laughed and laughed—the ink was coated with humor. Honestly, how does Slater make every sentence funny? His brain must perform a comedy show 24/7. Who needs a self-help book? Doesn’t laughter cure everything?
May 27, 2020
I thought the first one was good (Bear Ate My Pants) but this one is even better! Nobody can do self-deprecating humor better than the Brits, and Tony is a Master at it. Lots of entertainment reading his books, highly recommend! Plus, you can learn What Not To Do, at his expense, of course.
June 29, 2020
I absolutely got hooked on his first book. I usually read fast paced dramas, so his books really felt like I was slowing down, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It made me laugh out loud. Love his daily adventures.
January 31, 2023
Another travelogue
Tony loves to travel and tries to keep it as cheap as possible. He sells his body to science to help finance. He works with his family to flip a house & admits to all his clutz moments.
Tony loves to travel and tries to keep it as cheap as possible. He sells his body to science to help finance. He works with his family to flip a house & admits to all his clutz moments.
July 28, 2024
Love Tony's books
Once I start reading one of Tony's books I lose all track of time. His descriptions are so vivid you feel like you are there and his anecdotes make me chuckle. Can't wait to get stuck I to the next one.
Once I start reading one of Tony's books I lose all track of time. His descriptions are so vivid you feel like you are there and his anecdotes make me chuckle. Can't wait to get stuck I to the next one.
February 8, 2025
Totally fascinating read!
Totally different from anything I’ve previously read: interesting, crazy, funny, Very entertaining travel adventure stories. All this with the added cultural background of Thailand.
Totally different from anything I’ve previously read: interesting, crazy, funny, Very entertaining travel adventure stories. All this with the added cultural background of Thailand.
January 12, 2019
My only regret is that he only has three books.
February 5, 2019
Funny and still a good read, but one too many balls jokes.
August 15, 2020
Very entertaining
I enjoyed the story line e from sales to Thailand to Australia , a good sequel to his book set in Ecuador
I enjoyed the story line e from sales to Thailand to Australia , a good sequel to his book set in Ecuador
February 6, 2021
Even better than the first book
February 18, 2021
Just OK. For most of the book, he seemed to just ramble and not really "go" anywhere with the story
June 28, 2021
Fun to read and made me laugh out loud at points.
August 22, 2021
As usual....It kept me reading
Tony Slater weaves a diatrube of fun and chaos, tragedy and adventure. I will continue to enjoy my adventures with him!
Tony Slater weaves a diatrube of fun and chaos, tragedy and adventure. I will continue to enjoy my adventures with him!
April 6, 2022
Very very funny. Have also read 'That Bear Ate My Pants' by James and they are both fantastic. Laugh, I could not stop!!
August 20, 2022
Very entertaining.
January 16, 2023
Okay some parts of this were actually laugh out loud funny.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews