Table of Contents
Praise for Puppy Chow Is Better Than Prozac
This tender, joyous ode proves, once again, that happiness is a warm puppy. I hope zillions of readersmanic, depressive, obsessive compulsive, borderline, or just plain normalwill be inspired to visit their local shelters and adopt a canine bundle of joy today!
Lee Harrington, author of Rex and the City: A Memoir
of a Woman, a Man, and a Dysfunctional Dog
Goldsteins memoir is touching, inspiring and funny. It makes me wish that every psychiatrist would write a prescription for a pet.
Andy Behrman, author of Electroboy: A Memoir of Mania
If youre a dog lover, the subtitle will convince you to grab this book. Bend down, drop your umbrella and purse on the way, and see what Goldstein has to say for himself about his love affair with a Labrador retriever puppy... Is Puppy Chow overly sentimental? Maybe. But humor saves it. Is it for dog lovers only? Maybe. And then again, maybe not. Because the subtitle is right. Ozzy does save Bruces life. More, its about what we all, sick and well, must learn to expect from ourselves, no matter what. And finally, its about how the magic of love, even a dogs love, can save us when were lost.
Writing Doctors Blog
Funny. Tragic. Warm... Cleverly written, anyone who likes a grown-up dog story will be transported for the time it takes to enjoy.
The Yummy List
An uplifting romance that will inspire anyone whos suffered from depression and remind women everywhere why they started loving men in the first placebecause deep down, theyre pussycats.
Zink
From the opening sentence... to the last... readers will appreciate how one seemingly insignificant four-legged creature made a life-altering difference to a young, suicidally depressed man. Four paws up... Joining the recent wave of memoirs about dogs and their owners, Goldsteins book differs in that it focuses on the ability of canines to touch our souls and provide unconditional love and support during times of extreme psychological stress. In that respect, it is similar to Mark Dotys Dog Years.
LibraryJournal.com
In this man-boy-meets-dog memoir, first time author Goldstein hits a number of satisfying... notes relating his story of heartbreak, mental illness and redemption in the big city... Goldsteins chronicle is funny and absorbing, and should have dog lovers nodding along in happy recognition.
PublishersWeekly.com
Goldstein bravely shares what it is like to live with bipolar disorder... [A] heart-warming and at times heart-wrenching story.
Blogcritics.org
This is a 100% first-person account, and it is a harrowing one... The eventual ending of the book... is almost ridiculously tear-jerking, and at the same time so life-affirming that it is tempting to recommend that everybody with a mental disorder rush out and get a dog immediately. But that is not Goldsteins point at all: he tells the story of what worked for him, not what will necessarily work for others. But he tells it with such heart that it is impossible not to wish for an Ozzy for everyone.
InfoDad.com
The pace of Goldsteins words alone will suck you in to his story. His descriptions are so vivid youll feel as if youve taken up residence in his brain, riding the raging storm within him. Your heart will race with his, and your breathing will slow when he is calm. Perhaps most importantly, youll come to love Ozzy (his furry antidepressant) as much as Goldstein does.
Colorado Springs Independent
Its more than just a story about mental illness. The book chronicles the way that raising a dog changes your life for the better.
Dog Fancy
A very different, but wonderfully entertaining book... It is a chronicle of falling in love and experiencing all the joys of mans best friend... A wonderful true story.
Bookviews.com
Goldstein writes as a real person would. Not every author does that... If youre looking for a good book, and yes, it happens to be about dogs, look at this one.
Palm Beach Post (blog)
Goldsteins story is captivating, sometimes heartbreaking, and honest. It has the unique ability to promote an eye-opening understanding of bipolar disorder while appealing to the greater population of dog lovers. No doubt it will go far to help dissolve the stigma associated with bp.
BP Magazine
A true testament to why dogs are mans best friend... The transformation between Bruce pre-dog and post-dog... is astonishing to read... Goldstein is unflinchingly honest and real, tapping into a deep, dark pain that most people never personally experience. This book offers insight into the terrors of mental illness but also has the tender and humorous moments that many dog lovers can relate to.
Curled Up with a Good Book
To Mom, Dad, and Sharon,
To Brooke,
And to everyone who has ever loved a dog
In memory of Craig Demeter
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I never understood how it took some writers ten years to get a book published. Until mine took a little longer. Puppy Chow Is Better Than Prozac: 1997-2008.
There have been so many people that have helped me along my journey that I have a special place in my heart for every one of them.
First and foremost, I thank Tom Amico. He was with me as a dear friend, back when I was losing my mind and he was really with me ten years ago when we began writing all hours of the nightdowning pot after pot of black coffee. When I brought Tom on as collaborator back in 1997, neither of us had ever written a book before. I had the story, a really rough manuscript, and a great title. Once we got together, we just started writing, and thats when the project came to life. Tom also brainstormed promotional ideas with me, as well as conducted interviews with my family, friends, and doctors in order to help me tell my story accurately. He dedicated three years of his life to the beginning of this project. We never thought it would go for another eight years. And as I kept on rewriting and refining my voice, version after version, he was always there to read and give his input when I needed him. Tom, thank you.
Next, I thank Randal Alquist, the most amazing photographer on earth, for making Ozzy shine like the furry little angel that he is. He shot the front cover and all of the other stunning black-on-black Ozzy shots throughout the booksome of the best dog photography Ive ever seen in my life. Thanks man, for giving me all of your time and believing in my project.
I also thank my awesome New York Times photographer, Joe Fornabaio, for following us around the city, documenting a day in the life of me walking Ozzy. More like Ozzy walking me. One of my favorite shots is the one where Ozzy is dragging me down the street, smiling right into the camera. He also made me look pretty good for the inside flap shot.
I thank Keith Wallman (formerly of Avalon) for acquiring my book and getting his team behind it. I thank Shaun Dillon and Rene Sedliar, my amazing editors, at Da Capo, for sharpening the edges of my manuscript. I thank Cisca Schreefel, my project editor, for shepherding Puppy Chow
