The Chimpanzee Whisperer: A Life of Love and Loss, Compassion and Conservation

by Stany Nyandwi, Jane Morris Goodall (Foreword), David Blissett (Primary Contributor)

From survivor of genocide to conservation A moving, heartwarming memoir about a real-life chimpanzee whisperer—now the subject of the award-winning documentary film Pant Hoot .

Stany Nyandwi’s gift for communicating with chimpanzees is so special that world-renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall has called him a “chimpanzee whisperer.” His skills and devotion to these creatures—our closest living relatives, with whom we share 98.7 percent of our DNA—have earned him international awards and sent him on travels within Africa and around the world. But he began life in poverty, born and raised in a dirt-floor, straw-roofed hut in rural Burundi. The Chimpanzee Whisperer  is the story of his astonishing life journey.

It is also an African story. Receiving only an elementary education before he quit school, he suffered injustice and tragic loss because of his ethnic group. He began caring for orphaned and rescued chimps in Burundi. When the country descended into civil war and genocide, he was forced to flee with the chimps and endured long separation from his family. Continuing to work with and learn about chimpanzees in Kenya, Uganda, and later South Africa, he made himself into an incomparable authority.

His memoir has adventure, danger, and many unique and touching stories about chimpanzees that show his bond with and understanding of them. As told to award-winning author David Blissett, it reveals a remarkable man who has refused to let circumstances defeat him. Conditioned by hate, wounded by loss, he has lived for love, faith, and compassion, giving new life, as Dr. Jane Goodall writes in her foreword, “to so many chimpanzees whose families, like his own, were torn apart by violence.”

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Africa, Animals, Audiobook, Burundi, Nature

232 pages, Hardcover

Published February 22, 2022

Reviews

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: civil war, genocide, death of a family member, HIV/AIDS, animal death, discussions of animal cruelty, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, mentions of drug abuse, animal attack.

I picked this up on a whim because it was like $2 and also the author was born in Burundi. I needed something for Burundi for my Read Around the World challenge so this seemed like a no brainer. It turned out to be an extremely compelling and fascinating read that I absolutely flew through. The writing style is very conversational, and I felt like I learnt as much about chimpanzees as I did Nyandwi's life and the civil war in Burundi.

It's a story that's equal parts funny and heartbreaking and informative, and I'm really glad I picked it up.

[Geri McB · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one would fault genocide survivor Stany Nyandwi if he spent his life hating the world. His life has been full of one horrendous experience after another, Each one of them, let alone an abundance of them, would stop the rest of us in our tracks. But Stany perseveres with a sunny disposition and an amazing amount of optimism. His devotion to the chimpanzees, coupled with a deep-seated respect for their deadly nature, knows no bounds. This true story is a very quick read, but you'll thank yourself for spending some time with Stany. He narrates the audiobook, which makes this book that much better. Highly recommend.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a moving, engaging memoir of a talented and dedicated man working in chimpanzee conservation in his native Africa. This has largely been in efforts promoted by Jane Goodall -- who wrote the foreword here and gave the author the "Chimpanzee Whisperer" appellation -- such as Chimpanzee Trust and the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Nyandwi's skills in interacting with the chimps in his care and conflict resolution between primates of both species (human and chimp) would be enough for a good book. While developing those skills beginning with only an elementary education, Nyandwi suffered injustice and tragic loss in the Hutu vs. Tutsi civil war and genocide. Forced to flee with chimps and enduring long separation from his family, Nyandwi grew and developed in conditions that to someone from the First World will read as poverty.

[Star Gater · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting relationship that was worked for and based on respect from this handler and the chimps.

His story tells through hard work and paying attention he succeeded without a formal education. The latter affecting his employment opportunities. The book also details his personal life that simultaneously was convoluted.

Respect is the takeaway.

I had the audiobook and found the accent difficult at times.

The cover is delightful.

Thank you NetGalley for accepting my request to read and review The Chimpanzee Whisperer.

[Mette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading around the world: Burundi

Is this the year of 3 star reads for this challenge? Or was January just cursed?
This book is fine. I mostly enjoyed the parts in which the outside world is discussed, I.e. anything not to do with chimpanzees. But I can't blame the book for that, I mean look at the title.

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about so much more than the plight of the chimpanzee. This is about the unbelievable life of Stany Nyandwi— a remarkable man in so many ways.

[Erin B SC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not always an easy story to read, but I think it's a very important one. It is the life story of Stany Nyandwi, a boy raised in Africa with very little who grew up to be a gifted chimp communicator. But this story is not simply about the chimps, although I enjoyed those parts of the story tremendously. It is mostly Stany's story - of poverty, of struggle, of love, of challenges, of war, of friendship. I think understanding more about the lives of the native people involved, which this book will help you to do, will be so instrumental in truly understanding the challenges of conservation of chimpanzees or really any species. They do not exist in a bubble and there are factors at play that have nothing at all to do with them. The audiobook does portray an aura of hope, even through the darker times.

[Lucy-Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

The name Jane Goodall is well known, even outside of the specialist area of primate conservation. This is the story of Stany Nyandw, a Burundi national who has a real affinity with Chimpanzees and who has devoted his life to protecting and rehabilitating chimps.
The book gives an insight into the lives of chimpanzees, but it is much more about Stany himself – how he came from humble beginnings to become one of the leading chimpanzee workers. Poorly educated, he grasped every opportunity that he found to improve his life. The Burundi civil war would kill most of his family, and he started working as a houseboy (though virtually a slave) in the capital city, Bujumbura. From here he moved from job to job, trying to find better conditions and more opportunity and eventually ended up at the Jane Goodall Institute where he discovered his unique ability to develop bonds, almost friendships, with chimpanzees. This work also gave him a purpose in life and over the coming years he worked with chimps in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa as well as secondments to zoos around the world to share his practice and learn more about mankind’s nearest biological relative.
Life was not always easy for Stany, in fact it was very difficult at times as he spend many years living in absolute poverty, often going without in order to ensure the chimps always had food. His work took him away from his wife and children for many months at a time. The book also touches on the relationship between the local people and the chimps – an aspect we rarely think about! Stany is in a unique place to engage with the communities who live alongside the wild chimpanzees as both a “local” and a “conservationist”.
I was absolutely enthralled by Stany’s story – I wanted to cry at times, and laugh with him at others. It’s a book full of humanity in all its forms and Stany is undoubtedly a man with a huge heart. Stany has a very strong religious faith and this comes across in the book, particularly towards the end.

I listened to the audiobook and it was very well done – it was easy to forget that it was not narrated by the author as the text was really brought to life well.


Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own & my review is left voluntarily.

[Anjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more than just the story of chimpanzees. It is about a man whose life changed in relation to them. The audiobook begins with introductions that set the scene as to what the different organizations have done and what the situation actually is like.
We meet Stany very early on in his life and find out about the country he is growing up in. He soon starts to work with animals, and there are several upheavals in his life until the end of the book.
Stany is a man with strong family values. He feels connected to the chimps as well as his fellow humans. The narrative voice in this book feels like exactly that, a man who has sat down to talk of his adventures in life, and we, as an audience, are listening to it. This is probably why the audiobook format works well for this story.
One significant part of the book is obviously the care and protection of the chimpanzees by people working tirelessly to ensure just that. The other part is the story of the civil war and the countless lives that were lost, and the deep-seated emotional scars that everyone left with.
Stany finds faith later in life, and most of the tale is a pretty raw revelation of his fears and the hard work he put into doing his best work. He credits a lot of people for their support and friendship that helped him achieve his goals in life, making it a very inspiring tale.
There is no easy part in this book, no place where anyone mentioned cruising through life. It is tough to hear and harder to digest. It shone a light on certain lives that I would have never learnt of otherwise.
It is definitely not a single sitting read, and I think everyone, even those mildly interested in Africa or Chimpanzees, will find it fascinating.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own listening experience.

https://superfluousreading.wordpress....

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are the memoirs of a man who made a career from his ability to read and interact with chimpanzees. However, lest one expect a Gerald Durrell-style book filled with amusing animal anecdotes and witty lessons on how to build a zoo, one should note that Stany Nyandwi faced poverty and many a tragedy in his life that make this animal-interest book also a human-interest story from cover to cover. [Note: There are many chimpanzee stories and insights into how sanctuaries and reserves are run, but they are interspersed with visceral tales of calamity and sorrow.]

The book tells of Stany’s youth in Burundi, a country that would fall into a vicious civil war as he came of age and then got the first job that might pull him out of brutal poverty (into regular poverty,) working as a laborer at a chimpanzee sanctuary. It wasn’t long before the sanctuary had to be shut down because of the dangers of the war between Tutsis and Hutus. Because his work ethic and talent with chimps had begun to show, he was offered jobs first in Kenya and then in Uganda. Traveling with the sanctuary chimps would separate him from his family (a wife and children, not to mention his parents and siblings) during the worst years of the war, leading him down a self-destructive path for a time, but then things seem to improve. Always when one thinks his life is settling into a healthy stability, there’s a spanner into the works. Yet, the author keeps finding the bright side, and being saved by that positivity and his gift for working with chimpanzees, a gift which makes him a man in demand despite his lack of education or resources.

This book is an emotional roller-coaster ride, but throughout we are saved by the author’s indefatigable positivity and humanity – perhaps, the traits that allowed him to get along so well with the chimpanzees. I’d highly recommend it for all readers.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Names like Jane Goodall or Dian Fossey are widely known but, even after reading countless books about animal behavior, I had hardly heard anything about the locals who get involved in such hard work. Stany Nyandwi, a Burundi national, has devoted his life to rehabilitating and saving chimps. I’ve always admired westerners who forgo all comforts to live in a jungle for years, but I’d never thought about the implications for African people. Nyandwi had to leave his family behind in a war-thorn country, to save the lives of our closest relatives. Now, I always say how man is my least favorite ape and I don’t really care about their stories, but Nyandwi’s life is so remarkable, that I was just as engrossed by his story as by the chimps’. Goodall herself has done a great job of stressing how vital it is to take humans into consideration when working toward conservancy, but Nyandwi drives it home. He himself has known real need and hunger, so how can someone judge poachers when they live in such misery. I’m making this book sound depressing, but it isn’t because it’s also full of fun and funny anecdotes. Stany tells stories about his friends. Remember that time when Max, or Charlie did this or that? Since Max and Charlie are chimps, I’m all in. I also liked how he’s frank about his beliefs. This may turn some readers off, but it only added another layer of humanity for me. Dion Graham does a great job narrating the audiobook, keeping a local accent and really recreating the most difficult parts. I hope everyone reads the last part, which gives information as to how to help, not only financially but by making small daily changes that can make a difference for chimps and all wildlife.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#OrangeSky Audio!

[krysley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.

3.5-star read rounded up to 4 for the narration.

This was an interesting memoir of a person who cares for and studies the behavior of chimpanzees. But what drew me to it - and what ultimately made this a good memoir - was that Stany Nyandwi was a local. He was on the ground his entire life, not having the opportunity to leave as many conservationists he worked with did. And in that, the reader is able to see the impact civil war had on the people of Burundi.

Stany's story of his work with chimpanzees is great, but I honestly wanted more in-depth content. The stories often felt like snippets and I just wanted more.

The narrator, Dion Graham, is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I loved his narration of Concrete Rose, and he does an excellent job narrating Stany's life. What makes Graham so good at his job, especially for memoirs, is how he performs the narration as if he's relating a story to you, complete with emphasis, soft chuckles, exasperation. It's almost like he's sitting right next to you telling Stany's story. He was an excellent choice for this book.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent memoir not only about the author’s 30-year career working with chimpanzees, but also about his life. Nyandwi writes compellingly about the Civil War between the Hutu and Tutsi people in his home country of Burundi and the impact it had on him, his family, and his friends, many of whom were killed. Born very poor, as a teen he sought work in the city as a house boy to help support his family and was essentially treated as a slave, unable to leave and not paid but expected to work hard, sleep on the floor, and eat table scraps. Fortunately, he eventually managed to get a job as a janitor at a chimpanzee sanctuary, and when the chimps began to reach out to him as he worked, it opened the door to a lifetime passion to work with, understand, and protect these animals. This memoir traces his path as, despite having only a few years of schooling, Nyandwi became a foremost authority on chimpanzees, working with Jane Goodall and other experts in the field, and exchanging knowledge with zoos around the world.

I listened to the audio edition, and felt narrator Dion Graham did an excellent job. He had a rich African accent and I had bo trouble understanding him. He manages to add humor and an added dynamic as he reads that really brings the story to life.

I’d highly recommend this memoir, particularly on audio.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stany Nyandwi is completely inspiring and shows how strength of will, as well as perseverance, has power to move mountains. I was expecting the memoir to be mostly about the chimpanzee and how Stany becomes a caregiver and friend to them, but this book is so much more. Growing up in Burundi, born into a life in unimaginable poverty, Stany becomes a man without a country after a civil war leaves him no choice but to flee with the chimpanzee.

The story could not have been written without the historical aspects, as the genocide in Burundi ultimately shaped what Stany became. Along with the history lesson, the author also shines light on how the environment and human involvement with the chimpanzee has affected their abilities to take care of themselves. The book is a little repetitive, but it is so captivating that this fact does not matter. The strength of this book lies in the narration and I strongly recommend the audio version to readers. Stany's story comes to life and is so compelling that I could not stop listening.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Audio Copy of The Chimpanzee Whisperer by NetGalley and the publisher, OrangeSky Audio. The decision to listen to this selection and review it was entirely my own.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Chimpanzee Whisperer is a ghost-written autobiography of Stany Nyandwi, one of many unsung heroes trying to save and continue protecting endangered wildlife. In Stany's case, it's chimpanzees in Africa that are his special talent. By working with chimps over decades, and using his innate empathy and intuition, Nyandwi has been able to communicate with chimpanzees, calm and befriend them.

He's dealt with some difficult chimpanzees, but they are nothing compared to the difficulties he's faced in his personal life, having been separated from his wife by war and his work. He was fortunate to have loyal and loving friends who helped rescue his wife and children from the ethnic conflict in Burundi and get them to Uganda. Still, they all suffered continuing poverty and even criminal allegations against Nywandi over a ridiculous charity he involved himself in, which resulted in his losing his job.

But despite these difficulties, the friends who knew and loved him helped him financially and ultimately Jane Goodall herself, who knew of Stany's work, gave him a job that perfectly suited his talents. The book was written during the COVID lockdown, and so Stany's future has yet to be written. I hope the best for him and his family.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone has heard of Jane Goodall or Dian Fossey, but as the author points out, the names of African wildlife researchers remain mostly unknown. This book is the story of Stany Nyandwi who has dedicated his life to the care and conservation of the Chimpanzees of Africa. Stany shares the story of his home country, Burundi and the horrific civil war that shaped his life. Stany manages to get a job at a chimpanzee halfway house, where rescued chimpanzees are housed and cared for. This begins his life-long love of chimpanzees. It isn't long before people notice that Stany is gifted at dealing with the chimpanzees.and he begins his career working with these magnificent animals. Stany is open and honest about his background, his experiences and most of all his love for the chimpanzees. Referred to as the Chimpanzee Whisperer, his life story is remarkable, he has travelled all over the world and was lucky enough to meet and work with Dr. Jane Goodall.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Stany share his story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

[Barbara A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly interesting and compelling read!

As an anthropologist who has studied primates and followed the work of Jane Goodall for fifty years, this book was fascinating to me on so many levels. I know that many have read Goodall’s biography and accounts of her work, but it is extremely interesting to get some of the story from a different perspective. To read the account of what Stany and other Africans, as well as other nationalities, experienced while caring for the chimps and how tricky it was for them while the country was embroiled in a horrific civil war, was riveting. Their work was daunting and impressive.

I listened to this book quite quickly because I was so engrossed in what Stany and the chimps he lovingly cared for were going through. You truly feared for their safety on many occasions. Stany’s humility, humanity, and faith is an example to us all.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in chimps, conservation and preservation of animals in harmony with humans, and the ongoing work of the Jane Goodall Institute.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the playaway version of this book I had never heard of Stany Nyandwi before listening to this book. I like that there was a forward by Jane Goodall.

Stany has sure had a tough life. I was surprised that Stany was able to walk as much as he did to get to school, when he sold Sugar cane when he was younger. I think at one point he had to walk something like 19 miles. I don't remember if that was one way or not.

I would say my favorite part of the book is when Stany talks about some of the chimps he has know and their different personalities. I never thought that chimps could be so different. And another thing that I was surprised about was that Chimps at least adult's could be so dangerous to people.

And I also liked that at the end of the book their was links to different websites like Jane Goodall's institute and to an ethical buying guide, and different chimpanzee sanctuaries.

I thought Stany has had a tough and interesting life. And I found that The champanzee whisperer was definitely worth listening to. I now know a little more about chimpanzee's too.

[Kalyn OByrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Chimpanzee Whisperer is one of my favorite non-fiction reads of the year so far. Stany Nyandwi’s story is amazing and inspiring. You can hear his passion in his writing. Stany’s resilience is shown throughout his story despite the many hardships he faced. Even through his hardships Stany was dedicated to his chimpanzees and never took from them even when it would have benefited himself. The bond he was able to create with the animals was amazing and shows that you don’t always need a fancy education to have a great understanding of a species. I’m glad this book shines a light on an African researcher, many of which are unknown!

The audio was fantastic and it felt like Stany was reading it himself. Dion Graham did a fantastic job!

This memoir is so moving and is full of optimism and heart. If you are an animal lover I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Bill Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rating. This is a truly inspirational story, but, and this is especially true for animal lovers, it's often a difficult read. There were multiple times I had to stop and just prepare for whatever atrocity was about to be described. Both chimps and humans meet with horrific ends, this book does not spare the truth. However, the writing is skillful enough that you are able to find the hope in these terrible actions. All that said, the book is best when Nyandwi details his interactions with chimps and how he has used decades of experience and his deep love of these primates to communicate with them in profound ways. You really get the sense that both Nyandwi and the chimps in his care have been forever impacted by his positivity, determination and hope. Stany Nyandwi has suffered and suffered some more, but remains committed to helping and loving chimps. He truly deserves your attention and I'm very thankful he got mine with his story.

[Kerrie Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me say this about the narrator (Dion Graham) of this book. He was easy to understand and spot on in depicting the emotions, passion, and faith of Stany in reference to his life and his work with chimpanzees. I appreciate the resilient attitude of Stany despite the trials he endured to get to work with the chimps. In fact, he knew his young son would remember the civil war in his country, but he did not want the youngster to grow up and hate. Stany believes forgiveness and love are conquerors. The story also helped me understand the difficulties of managing wildlife conservatories and the need to work with the native people in times of conflict.
If you need an inspiring story full of optimism and heart, this book fills that need.
Thank you #netgalley, #thechimpanzeewhisperer, and #orangeskyaudio for the inspiring audio.

[MC Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. This book was a fascinating combination of learning about the life of Stany Nyandwi, who grew up in extreme poverty in Burundi while his country fell into a civil war. He worked as a servant for wealthy families for basically no pay, then lucked into a role as a janitor for a Jane Goodall facility. His role initially didn't have him working with chimps, but over time, he began working with them (basically, because the chimps were interested and drew him into their world!). This was a fascinating story of his life in Africa, as he moved for various chimp-care opportunities, and his life with chimps. The book was well written and very interesting. A surprise favorite for me!

[Cindy H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for gifting me an advanced copy of The Chimpanzee Whisperer. In exchange I offer my unbiased review.

The moment I saw the beautiful cover photo of a smiling man embracing a chimpanzee, I knew this book would be magical. This is the story of Stany Nyandwi, a native of Burundi who withstood terrible persecution and dire situations yet managed to maintain a life filled with hope & perseverance. Stany’s positivity, work ethic and resilience found him working at a chimpanzee sanctuary where Stany realizes he possesses a unique skill - the ability to “communicate” with the primates. It’s a remarkable story and one that will make you appreciate the comforts we often take for granted.

Dion Graham does a fantastic job of narrating this memoir.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful and informative read. Stany is a humble man who never had much in life. However, that never stopped him from being kind to both humans and animals. This is a great reminder that everyone, regardless of their upbringing or education, has something to offer to the world. Stany has a unique ability to read chimps and earn their trust. Thankfully, he used his unique ability for good and did whatever he could to help conservation efforts for these remarkable creatures. While Stany's life had more despair than most people have to endure, it is with great perseverance that Stany stayed positive and refused to let this get him down. I hope his story continues to inspire a new generation of conservationists.

[K Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a true story like no other. The hardships of Stany parallel the perils the chimpanzees face at the hands of humans as well. It is fascinating how the strength of the humans is used to better the lives of the chimps. We need to understand the consequences of our actions, as well as failing to act, for these complex animals. This book is riveting and Stany makes a simple plea to not hate humans and don't kill chimpanzees. He is a remarkable man sharing his personal experiences with the wild chimpanzees that we must not destroy. Dr. Goodall's mentoring was well invested in a man of honor. This story makes a great, thought-provoking book club read.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to OrangeSky Audio and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy of this book.

I have always loved primates, especially chimpanzees, apes, and bonobos so I leaped at the chance to listen to this audiobook. With a foreword by Dr. Jane Goodall, I was even more excited to learn about Stany Nyandw, AKA the chimpanzee whisperer, and his work with our magnificent relatives. Stany has dedicated his life to chimpanzees in need of refuge after being exploited, and often abused, by humans. He has given up years of time with his own family to care for them. While parts of the book offered glimpses into the lives of chimpanzees, the book often focuses more on Nyandw than the animals. I really wanted to know more about the intelligence and social lives of chimpanzees. I wanted to know how Nyandw is able to connect with them and calm them. There were some things lacking for me, but it was still an informative listen.

[DB Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stany Nyandwi is a remarkable man. He has led the most incredible life. From the first page this book is filled with the most amazing stories: of poverty and injustice; of love and hate and forgiveness; of horrific war and true peace. It's a story about a man and his unique relationship with the creatures most like us. If you think you know chimps, then you may be in for some surprises when you read this book. I know I was.

And I read it twice!

[Ann Haefele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Special

What a very fine Human this person is. What a hard life, beyond our ability to imagine. What a faithful follower of Jesus he is, conducting his life along the teachings of God . What an intellect he has to study the personalities of each chimp, and the ways of their society. Most of all, how wonderful that he was able to really make a difference in the lives of so many chimps. I will be giving money to the organizations recommended at the end of the book.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any follower of Jane Goodall who has fallen in love with her work to save chimpanzees and the environment will want to read this book. Stany writes with a bright, positive tone about his thirty years of work providing haven for chimpanzees whose mothers have been slaughtered, often in front of them.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure how this man has survived and is still positive. It was mind blowing to read about the events of this book because they’ve happened in my life time. Oh how spoiled I am. I applaud and am amazed at his resilience, love, forgiveness, passion for animals, and belief in God. I loved reading about his faith and how God has worked in his life. One of my favorite reads from 2023.