Being With Cows

by Dave Mountjoy

An intensely transformational story of how grief became gratitude in the presence of a humble herd of cows.

Being With Cows details the incredibly moving story behind the tragic death of one man's brother and how his personal quest for inner healing came to him unexpectedly on his organic farm in the French Pyrenees.

A remarkably powerful yet heart-warming story, Being With Cows pays homage to Life's unending compassion and insistence that in the very centre of all things, lies pure and untainted simplicity. Through a deeply tangible sense of gratitude, it tells of how tragedy can be overcome through the healing power of nature.

The book contains 12 original illustrations of cows by Sean Briggs©.

Genres: Nonfiction

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2024

Reviews

[Kara Esplin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm.. Some of my earliest memories involve the comforting + serene presence of cows. While I enjoyed the trip down memory lane… various things didn’t sit right with me…
The shallow reflections… “had Cork’s passing, in some way, really led to this?” ……about a bbc feature?
Rarely mentioning his family until the end when he revealed kicking his wife and children out of their home (once a month!) to make room for tourists & ultimately forgetting to fetch them at the airport?

Maybe 2.5 stars.. sorry! wish i had loved this.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘I love animals. It’s as simple as that really.’

With thoughts of developing a glamping business in the French Pyrenees, the author and his partner, Diana, bought a plot of land. The business didn’t immediately follow and in the meantime they purchased some cows who were to transform their lives and dreams. Just as Dave was beginning to find peace and a unique mindfulness in their company he received a devastating call .

The first thing you notice about this book is the wonderful writing. I found myself sitting in fields full of wildflowers, under a warm sun, listening to birds and sometimes catching glimpses of deer or wild boar..
Not only is the author adept at describing this scenery, but he is highly skilled at describing his own mental landscape, sifting through thoughts and fears, describing his inner debate and evoking the incredible peace that he feels in the company of cows.
‘After years of yoga, meditation and a kind of haphazard freestyle form of introspection, I’d encountered something of what I felt to be unshakable solidity, a living honesty..’
The younger me might have struggled to engage with these topics, but I found this almost hypnotic and incrediby peaceful. It is almost impossible to find a true state of mental calm at the moment, but reading about the author’s spiritual journey I was able to sit in a state of calm and think about my own.
What I loved most about this book comes back to that first quote which underpins its philosophy: the beautiful, unqualified love of animals which raises them above the concept of commoditisation. I particularly loved the section which introduces us to all the cows and their personalities.

This book has been compared to The Salt Path and H for Hawk - neither of which I have read yet. It reminded me of ‘The Dolphin who Saved Melody Horrill which also depicted the transformational power of animals.

The author writes that being in the presence of cows forced him to clear his head space..I felt this each time I picked up this book. It is something of a meditation, a spiritual journey, a peaceful place.

[Diana Boynton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mmmm- mmmooo. A bit here and there on this book. Too much like a self help esoteric for me But as a lover of cows and nature I loved the scenes and interactions written so beautifully and definitely want to visit south west France

[Lúcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being with cows is simply to be in the present... to not fight with the anxieties of the future or the over analyzing of the past. To breath, to stay, to feel the present. To touch it, to share it, to care for it.

Being with cows is learning to surrender to the inevitability of Life.

[CJ Mason The Fallen Librarian Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review for this excellent book is on my blog https://thefallenlibrarian.wordpress....

[Majito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Empezó muy bonito pero luego se convirtió en una autobiografía, muy bonita también pero como que se fue del tema un poco

[Liv · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not at all what I expected. Could not finish it. Found it quite boring

[The Book Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy read that will actually give you mindfulness moments while you read it. There are times when I have to confess I thought Diana, Dave’s wife, must be a saint to put up with Dave and his sitting for hours on end with the cows , whilst she was obviously having to deal with the realities of day to day life and two young children.

I do get the whole cow thing though as there is something so peaceful and calming when you are around these animals in their environment that does make you stand still and take a step out of the hustle and bustle of modern life to appreciate what is around you, as well as what is important, and it is so therapeutic to go and spend time just “being” with them as they silently chew their cud and accept you nearby. I am fortunate enough to live next to a Common where there are highland "Coos" grazing and I make a point of walking amongst them and talking to them as often as I can , no matter what the weather, in order to gain that sense of calmness and well-being.

I wish Dave and Diana all the best with their venture in Southern France with their Being With Cows retreat , sharing the principles of their lives and hopefully bringing a feeling of calm to people in a way that we should all live by at some point and ideally all the time if we could.

[Belle Knowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda cheesy, but uplifting