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Peace, Love, Goats of Anarchy: How My Little Goats Taught Me Huge Lessons about Life
Leanne Lauricella,"Goat Mama" to the famous Goats of Anarchy, reveals the life lessons that these special needs goats have taught her. Part humor, part memoir of her life with the goats, and part testament to the power of giving back, Peace, Love, Goats of Anarchy is a moving read for animal lovers of every kind.
When Leanne left her job as an event planner in New York City, she had no idea that in just four short years, her home—both inside and out—would evolve into a farm sanctuary for special needs goats !
The inspiring stories—accompanied by a wealth of heart-melting photos of Leanne's rescue goats —tell how these special animals taught her lessons about : Laugh, cry, and be amazed by how much a few goats can teach you about life in Peace, Love, Goats of Anarchy .
When Leanne left her job as an event planner in New York City, she had no idea that in just four short years, her home—both inside and out—would evolve into a farm sanctuary for special needs goats !
The inspiring stories—accompanied by a wealth of heart-melting photos of Leanne's rescue goats —tell how these special animals taught her lessons about : Laugh, cry, and be amazed by how much a few goats can teach you about life in Peace, Love, Goats of Anarchy .
128 pages, Hardcover
Published October 2, 2018
3 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 16, 2018
Sometimes, you just know you're going to love a book... I've been following Leanne and her Goats (and non-goats) of Anarchy for awhile now on social media so I was familiar with this rescue and very excited to read this book! I didn't know the whole story of how she began GoA though. I loved getting to learn how it all began, how it grew and of course I loved the stories she shares here of some of the individual rescued goats. As any while lover knows, each animal has its own, unique personality. I was familiar with a few, but others had come to her farm before I started following along. I was there for Lawson's short life though.
I'm a firm believer that animals of all kinds can be so healing and teach us valuable lessons we can translate into our own lives. Leanne shares the lessons these goats have taught her and so many of her followers. Books about rescues can be touching reads, but this one digs especially deeply into what's truly important in life and overcoming obstacles. As an added bonus, we get beautifully done photos that will surely bring a smile to your face!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Quarto Publishing Group - Rock Point and the author, Leanne Lauricella, for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book! All comments are my own, unbiased opinion.
I'm a firm believer that animals of all kinds can be so healing and teach us valuable lessons we can translate into our own lives. Leanne shares the lessons these goats have taught her and so many of her followers. Books about rescues can be touching reads, but this one digs especially deeply into what's truly important in life and overcoming obstacles. As an added bonus, we get beautifully done photos that will surely bring a smile to your face!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Quarto Publishing Group - Rock Point and the author, Leanne Lauricella, for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book! All comments are my own, unbiased opinion.
July 17, 2019
ONE OF THE MOST HEARTWARMING BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ!
Oh my stars how I love “Peace, Love, Goats: How My Little Goats Taught Me Huge Lessons about Life” by Leanne Lauricella! The author, Goat Mama on her Goats of Anarchy Instagram site, shares in this touching beautifully photographed book what her goats have taught her.
The author left an event planning job in New York City, and in three short years her life transformed into a barnyard sanctuary for special needs goats! Part humor, part memoir and part testament to the power of giving back, “Peace, Love, Goats” is a moving gift for animal lovers of all stripes. I cannot recommend this sweet and inspirational book highly enough! 5/5
Pub Date 18 Sep 2018
Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group - Rock Point and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are truly mine.
#PeaceLoveGoats #NetGalley
Oh my stars how I love “Peace, Love, Goats: How My Little Goats Taught Me Huge Lessons about Life” by Leanne Lauricella! The author, Goat Mama on her Goats of Anarchy Instagram site, shares in this touching beautifully photographed book what her goats have taught her.
The author left an event planning job in New York City, and in three short years her life transformed into a barnyard sanctuary for special needs goats! Part humor, part memoir and part testament to the power of giving back, “Peace, Love, Goats” is a moving gift for animal lovers of all stripes. I cannot recommend this sweet and inspirational book highly enough! 5/5
Pub Date 18 Sep 2018
Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group - Rock Point and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are truly mine.
#PeaceLoveGoats #NetGalley
February 23, 2020
Page 93... "Disabled animals deserve a chance to live happy lives, just like disabled humans."
www.goatsofanarchy.com
www.goatsofanarchy.com
October 24, 2018
Saying in the blurb "We have all seen the goats of anarchy" is wildly over-generalising. I'd never heard of this... whatever it was, and it turned out to be a site on instagram, which I do not use because it is owned by facebook.
The book takes us through the unlikely tale of an event planner in New York marrying a New Jersey man and falling in love with farming instead. Our heroine assures us that she became a vegan on the instant of reading about factory farming on her phone. From Texas, she was used to eating meat, but had not given much thought to its production. The determination to help livestock gripped her and before long she was adopting kid goats.
If you like cute photos of goats, this book has lots of them. We see the dark side of animal keeping with Leanne's account of her first real rescue; an animal dealer had hundreds of starving baby animals in his suburban yard along with dead animals and bones - nobody having smelt anything or seen plagues of flies and rats? This is like when children are abducted and hidden for years, and nobody can figure how the neighbours did not know. Animals needed urgent rescue and care. From this beginning, as with Elisabeth Svendsen opening the Donkey Sanctuary in Devon, the movement grew and turned into a charity. If instagram helps keep the goats in hay, fine by me.
With chapter titles like Strength, Patience and Confidence, we can see that the author hopes to inspire others to follow dreams and do good. This book would be a nice present and should be shared widely.
I downloaded an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
The book takes us through the unlikely tale of an event planner in New York marrying a New Jersey man and falling in love with farming instead. Our heroine assures us that she became a vegan on the instant of reading about factory farming on her phone. From Texas, she was used to eating meat, but had not given much thought to its production. The determination to help livestock gripped her and before long she was adopting kid goats.
If you like cute photos of goats, this book has lots of them. We see the dark side of animal keeping with Leanne's account of her first real rescue; an animal dealer had hundreds of starving baby animals in his suburban yard along with dead animals and bones - nobody having smelt anything or seen plagues of flies and rats? This is like when children are abducted and hidden for years, and nobody can figure how the neighbours did not know. Animals needed urgent rescue and care. From this beginning, as with Elisabeth Svendsen opening the Donkey Sanctuary in Devon, the movement grew and turned into a charity. If instagram helps keep the goats in hay, fine by me.
With chapter titles like Strength, Patience and Confidence, we can see that the author hopes to inspire others to follow dreams and do good. This book would be a nice present and should be shared widely.
I downloaded an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
June 24, 2021
The goats--and medical details--were the most redeeming thing about this book. (Literally just here for the goats--we just sold ours, and I'm kind of grieving. XD)
Seriously, though--this woman admits that human life is more important than goat life, barely, but she refers to them as her "babies", is a vegetarian on basis of factory farming and doesn't even try to source humanely treated meat, is willing to do extreme medical procedures on goats, is anti-disbudding (*eyeroll* -- just wait until one of your goats injures you or one of the volunteers), and defines these goats as her purpose in life--and advises people to get away from the capitalist grind and "find purpose in a good cause" and excuse me, but can we be finding purpose in God? Perhaps?
I will admit, I do admire some of her work, especially rescuing goats from cruelty cases and taking care of disabled goats. But. There are many of my principles that I feel are being violated here. XD
I think I'll give this one 2 stars, but only for the goats. If there weren't pictures of cute goats, it would definitely be lower. XD
Seriously, though--this woman admits that human life is more important than goat life, barely, but she refers to them as her "babies", is a vegetarian on basis of factory farming and doesn't even try to source humanely treated meat, is willing to do extreme medical procedures on goats, is anti-disbudding (*eyeroll* -- just wait until one of your goats injures you or one of the volunteers), and defines these goats as her purpose in life--and advises people to get away from the capitalist grind and "find purpose in a good cause" and excuse me, but can we be finding purpose in God? Perhaps?
I will admit, I do admire some of her work, especially rescuing goats from cruelty cases and taking care of disabled goats. But. There are many of my principles that I feel are being violated here. XD
I think I'll give this one 2 stars, but only for the goats. If there weren't pictures of cute goats, it would definitely be lower. XD
October 22, 2018
I have read several of the GOA Kids stories about various animals at Leanne Lauricella's sanctuary and they have all been inspiring. In this book, Leanne Lauricella shares her amazing story of how she began this sanctuary for goats with issues requiring special care for their needs. When she left her powerful job in New York searching for a new path, she never would have thought that she would fall in love with goats, especially goats that needed special care. It was very enjoyable and inspiring to read about these animals and see how they affected Leanne and what she learned from them. The photographs that were included made me fall in love with these animals as well. Leanne shows remarkable strength and love when dealing with these goats and all the problems they brought with them. This is a book animal lovers will fall in love with. You will become a fan of the Goats of Anarchy after reading this book. The publisher, Rock Point, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, ideas and opinions are my own.
August 20, 2018
A beautiful book of photos that will make you smile.
This is a story about goats and about following your dreams. Perhaps there is more to life than the pursuit of money. Perhaps how you spend your money and your hours is more important to your soul.
Many of us have dreamed about doing something like this. It is an inspiration to read about someone who persevered and achieved the dream.
This is a story about goats and about following your dreams. Perhaps there is more to life than the pursuit of money. Perhaps how you spend your money and your hours is more important to your soul.
Many of us have dreamed about doing something like this. It is an inspiration to read about someone who persevered and achieved the dream.
May 21, 2022
Sanctuary books are always the best! 💖 The only issue here is I wish it was longer!
Beautifully laid out book with lots of color photos throughout. The story of Leanne learning about the horrors animals go through and finding her own passion and mission to help goats in particular and especially those with special needs,is amazing and inspiring.
The amazing stories of several very special little goats are told,each on the theme of a lesson that individual taught the author, I really loved that she shared what great teachers animals are. Each section ends with a little inspirational message for the reader. I remember many of the goats stories well as I followed the sanctuary for several years now and I cried over Lawson anew.
This is not a preachy book or a graphic book,she doesn't go into the animal agriculture industry and all its insidious secrets,this is a very happy book just on her little goats. I think this hopefully will bring more readers but at the same time I'd wished she'd maybe had an epilogue with how the reader can help goats and all farmed animals by trying plant based foods and such. I think the stories and photos will get minds to awaken anyway. 💖
I read it in an afternoon, thoroughly enjoyed it and hope she writes a sequel one day.
Beautifully laid out book with lots of color photos throughout. The story of Leanne learning about the horrors animals go through and finding her own passion and mission to help goats in particular and especially those with special needs,is amazing and inspiring.
The amazing stories of several very special little goats are told,each on the theme of a lesson that individual taught the author, I really loved that she shared what great teachers animals are. Each section ends with a little inspirational message for the reader. I remember many of the goats stories well as I followed the sanctuary for several years now and I cried over Lawson anew.
This is not a preachy book or a graphic book,she doesn't go into the animal agriculture industry and all its insidious secrets,this is a very happy book just on her little goats. I think this hopefully will bring more readers but at the same time I'd wished she'd maybe had an epilogue with how the reader can help goats and all farmed animals by trying plant based foods and such. I think the stories and photos will get minds to awaken anyway. 💖
I read it in an afternoon, thoroughly enjoyed it and hope she writes a sequel one day.
August 20, 2018
Very adorable pictures of many different goats interspersed with stories about them. Autobiographical notes and observations by the author. This was very interesting in addition to being just so cute! It makes me want to get into goat husbandry and I live in a densely residential area. A solid piece, nothing else like it.
September 23, 2018
Overall, while Peace, Love, Goats of Anarchy comes across as charming (hello goats!), it also struggles with being cliche and cheesy. It is formatted more like a self-help book with chapters like "Finding a Purpose," "Unconditional Love," and "Patience." So hence the (vegan) cheesy feeling.
I love the goats, but the writing was unsatisfying. For instance, she notes that two baby goats both needed the same heart surgery but only one could get it. There was zero explanation as to why. Considering the unadulterated love she expresses for the goat that does get the surgery it comes across badly as the second goat dies from the heart condition. (I struggle to believe it was money as they kept buying increasingly larger farms that are quite expensive.) Other things that were not as dramatic were also left unexplained. Even if you are supposed to be an avid follower of GOA, I think more thorough and clear writing would enhance the book regardless.
Overall: love the goats. Writing? Not so much.
Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review. (They may regret this.) Any and all quotes were taken from an advanced edition subject to change in the final edition.
I love the goats, but the writing was unsatisfying. For instance, she notes that two baby goats both needed the same heart surgery but only one could get it. There was zero explanation as to why. Considering the unadulterated love she expresses for the goat that does get the surgery it comes across badly as the second goat dies from the heart condition. (I struggle to believe it was money as they kept buying increasingly larger farms that are quite expensive.) Other things that were not as dramatic were also left unexplained. Even if you are supposed to be an avid follower of GOA, I think more thorough and clear writing would enhance the book regardless.
Overall: love the goats. Writing? Not so much.
Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review. (They may regret this.) Any and all quotes were taken from an advanced edition subject to change in the final edition.
December 18, 2019
I thought this book was going to be more of a biography and in a small way it was however I don't agree with what this women is doing. A great deal of the book is pictures of goats with missing limbs who require wheelchairs. This women also directly misrepresents the agriculture industry in many ways. Most of these goats she "saved" should have been put down for the welfare of the animal.
September 14, 2018
Sigh. I hate that I'm about to be that person because I hate that person, and to be quite frank this is the loveliest little book chronicling how Goats of Anarchy (some might be familiar with the instagram-account that apparently exists - I wasn't, I just saw a goat on the cover and thought "yes, good, gimme it") came to be, but, and this is where I'm gonna be that person, this reads like a diary. A diary written by someone who's not told that they're good enough and that what they do with their time is amazing and important and means a lot, and thus feel the need to tell themselves that they're amazing and important and mean a lot. And turn that into a book. And get that book published.
It might just be me being cranky and demanding. I've not been in the best of moods lately. And I 100% want people to read this, if nothing else then to make people (who live under rocks and don't know yet) aware that goats are the most amazing animals, and Goats of Anarchy is a place that exists and that this place needs support, and also that goats are amazing, but don't read it for the writing, y'all. But stick with it. It's worth it. There are goats. Pictures of goats. And they're adorable.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
It might just be me being cranky and demanding. I've not been in the best of moods lately. And I 100% want people to read this, if nothing else then to make people (who live under rocks and don't know yet) aware that goats are the most amazing animals, and Goats of Anarchy is a place that exists and that this place needs support, and also that goats are amazing, but don't read it for the writing, y'all. But stick with it. It's worth it. There are goats. Pictures of goats. And they're adorable.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 28, 2018
Such an inspiring story and book. Leanne tells the story through the themes of Change, Finding Purpose, Unconditional Love, Strength, Confidence, Patience, Grief & Courage, Hope, and how to Fight Like a Goat. There are stories that will touch your heart such as Angel, a little goat born outside with frostbite who lost the tips of both ears and the bottom halves of both back legs. Then one was amputated by an uninformed vet unnecessarily.....but thankfully Angel is now well loved in her little pink cart. Then there is Polly who was born blind with a neurological disorder and found fame and comfort in her legendary duck costume.
There is also much sadness in the book since they care for many critical care goats ....the story of Lawson is especially sad. But through grief we learn courage. This sanctuary gives you hope and teaches you how to “fight like a goat”.
There is also much sadness in the book since they care for many critical care goats ....the story of Lawson is especially sad. But through grief we learn courage. This sanctuary gives you hope and teaches you how to “fight like a goat”.
October 23, 2018
Yay for GOA! I love a memoir and add in animals and I'll leap like a baby goat! Or, in this case, run around with wheels for my back legs like a little goat! Leanne told stories of many little physically challenged animals and then share her life lesson in a way to inspire us all to live better and more fully! I savored this short book, one chapter a day. It will forever be in my collection! It is just a joyful (sometimes tearful) little collection of stories.
October 26, 2021
Fantastic journey of a women who knew nothing about goats to creating a non-profit for them. Amazing, inspirational. Makes me ponder working a job I currently hate and finding something to be so passionate about and make such an impact on other lives. I could read goat stories all day. Fun fact - I was more than halfway through the book before I got to Polly and her duck costume and realized I'd already learned about this anxiety ridden goat by watching an episode of The Dodo!
November 19, 2021
A beautiful story about the development and growth of Goats of Anarchy. GOA is a special sanctuary that started helping baby goats with disabilities and grew into someone so special. Loved reading about the steps the refuge went through and all the support she had along the way. I cried several times when reading some of the stories, but feel enriched for having learned of the precious lives saved and the enjoyment of life each baby gets to have.
August 21, 2018
What a beautiful book. It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure but Leanne’s love of her animals shines through on every page and on every photo. This book will make you feel warm inside and this world needs more people like Leanne plus I now want a goat or two of my own. Wonder what my husband will say to that lol?
March 27, 2019
Quick read for animal lovers. The author showed real compassion & love for the animals she eventually ended up helping & was willing to add more. She connected her work with the animals with life lessons she learned & hopes to inspire other people. Great pictures!
December 9, 2024
This book was cute, and I liked having so many pictures of actual rescued goats. I liked the organization of the book and appreciated what they were going for, but I felt it was obvious that the author was a blogger. Not necessarily a bad thing, I just didn't love the flow.
October 7, 2018
What a great Sunday read that will make you cry but give hope at the same time.
October 30, 2018
Nice book about the positive influence of animals and their individual spirits.
December 1, 2018
That was so cute! What a great little story full of encouragement. I loved the pictures of all the goats and their stories were heart warming if sometimes a little sad.
December 23, 2018
It’s frickin’ goats.
January 1, 2019
I've been following GOA for a few years now, and I LOVE Leanne and what she's done. So inspiring.
"Fight like a goat."
"Fight like a goat."
January 14, 2019
Beautifully written. Full of compassion, love and inspiration!
July 19, 2019
Very sweet. Please support this wonderful animal rescue and not-for-profit. It is hard, heart-breaking work. A quick read.
March 30, 2021
So beautiful and heartwarming.
September 18, 2022
Fight like a goat.
February 23, 2025
This book is delightful. A book version of a YouTube animal rescue tale. With pictures of very cute, very fluffy special needs goats.
April 6, 2025
This book tells how the author got started in her project of the Goats of Anarchy farm for animals in need. She describes life lessons she learned along the way. Appropriate for all ages!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews