What Shamu Taught Me about Life, Love, and Marriage: Lessons for People from Animals and Their Trainers Audiobook

" Writing's a little boring, but the message is good. i do wish she had kids, though, That'd move this book from good to awesome! "

" this book is based on a tremendously popular article in the New York Times. The idea? You can train the people around you to be less annoying, to whine less, not trail their dirty socks around the house, wait their turn, etc., using the same techniques animal trainers use. While the premise is intriguing, it's not really a how-to book, and the story-line drags after a while. I'm sure it was fabulous for Sutherland to hang out with tiger and seal trainers, but it's less fabulous for her audience. "

" Quick, enjoyable read about the power of positive reinforcement. "

" It was an interesting concept, but the author tended to ramble a bit and didn't really delve into the application of what she learned. I lost interest about 1/3 of the way into it. "

" Interesting way of looking at relationships! "

" I loved this book!!! What a fabulous look at behaviorism! The different methods she mentions in the book are really logical and easy to understand. Simply an enjoyable read. "

" So for those of you who have always wondered what learning processes and behavior analysis really means... or for those of you who have wondered how we can study animals and apply it to humans... well this book takes you through it in layman's terms. Not all of the scientific facts presented are perfectly accurate (though most are), but the book provides a general overview of behavior modification, and the idea that we are all manipulating behavior all the time, and ways in which the author became conscious of this and then used it to improve her relationships. The book can move slowly at times, but if you are at all interested in this topic, it's a good way to get a light overview. (For great textbooks check out Miltenbergers' Behavior Modification or Cooper, Heron, Heward Applied Behavior Analysis - more technical, but more thorough, or Domjan's Learning - more basic/animal psych). "

" A lot of fun for me as a married person and as someone interested in animal training & behavior. Would still be very engaging for the general public. "

" This is a fun and interesting way to look at relationships. I found ideas to use on my husband, my students, and of course, my dog, Peanut. "

" Not as interesting as I had hoped. "

" Nothing memorable, but it has prompted me to read more about exotic animal training techniques. And yes, I see how some of them could be applied to interaction with humans. "

" Having studied B.F. Skinner in college (and being a subject of my mother cum kindergarten-teacher's own personal experimentation with behavior!), I was very interested in her creative application of behavioral science. "

" Great ways to get people to do the things you want. Without nagging. "

" A quick, entertaining read that will teach you more about yourself and your expectations than about your partner. "

" Very funny, very interesting, a great book for book club discussion. I liked this one so much I got it for my mom. Anyone who has an interest in animal training / behavior modification, etc would enjoy this book. "

" This really drives home to me how emotional responses in certain situations never help... I really enjoyed this! Can't wait to try it out and practice my patience! :) "

" Fast, funny, oh, so valuable read. Author Amy Sutherland shares the secrets we all need to know. "

" If all humans read this book, it would be a nicer world. "

" Great intro to Behavioral Science. "

" Entertaining read, although I have mixed thoughts because it's about animal training and I have issues with animals being used for human entertainment. Other than that, I enjoyed reading about how Amy tried out the techniques on her family and how they worked for her. "

" Meh...not bad I suppose. Contained some pretty decent tips about how to "train" people to do stuff, although I don't understand how her technique of dealing with bad behavior by acting neutrally would change anything if they're just completely apathetic to your reaction. "

" You're better off just reading the NYTimes column. "

" listened to this in 1 day while doing mindless work -- v. welcome distraction! the book expanded on the story from a similarly titled ny times article, and lived up to the expectation i had from reading that piece. "

" I enjoyed this book tremendously. For me, it was a nice mix of learning animal training while self-examining how people interact with each other. I hope to practice what Sutherland writes in my own life. There is also a great glossary in the back of animal training terms, written in plain english. "

" I found this both enlightening and entertaining - a fun and informative read. "

" This is a short easy read. Ten chapters, no index, but there is a short glossary. It's not about training people really, it's more about not training them, more about changing your own reactions to other people. "

" Meh...not bad I suppose. Contained some pretty decent tips about how to "train" people to do stuff, although I don't understand how her technique of dealing with bad behavior by acting neutrally would change anything if they're just completely apathetic to your reaction. "

" She had a great idea for a NYT essay, but she had a little trouble stretching it into a book. Still, you can't blame her. Whatever gets you published... "

" Entertaining read, although I have mixed thoughts because it's about animal training and I have issues with animals being used for human entertainment. Other than that, I enjoyed reading about how Amy tried out the techniques on her family and how they worked for her. "

" There are some parents to whom I'd really like to lend this book. Funny, well-written, and to the point. Read it if you like animals; read it if you like essays and memoir; and read it if you're trying to learn or teach parenting skills. "

" A lot of fun for me as a married person and as someone interested in animal training & behavior. Would still be very engaging for the general public. "

" Really liked this book..... another book that teaches the very best teachers of relationship and awareness aren't human. "

" This really drives home to me how emotional responses in certain situations never help... I really enjoyed this! Can't wait to try it out and practice my patience! :) "

" I think I could read this over and over again - I certainly need to keep incorporating the lessons learned into my own life. Amy Sutherland's writing style is engaging and funny. Definitely recommend. "

" If all humans read this book, it would be a nicer world. "

" It took me the first chapte or so to get into this book but then I really enjoyed it. Most of it is common sense but so good to hear in different examples. The ideas and examples pertain to children as well. Good quick read! "

" A quick, entertaining read that will teach you more about yourself and your expectations than about your partner. "