The Tao of Maggie: The Sound of One Hound Barking

...so goes our mistress of zen - our goddess of the couch. Bill Stanton is back with another installment of the wonderfully elegant Miss Maggie, Basset extraordinaire. As a Basset Hound owner myself, the humorous and poetic photos of Maggie entertain and crackle with aspects of the comical hound so familiar in my household, and in the fur flecked, drool drizzled homes of others as well. (Just kidding, we Basset owners know the goodness of a rag at arms length). Whether Maggie is swimming, laying on the sofa or pondering the horizon, we find our little friend expounding philosphical quotations while contemplating the next meal, exploring her neighborhood, or preparing for the next snooze. Much like his first published pictorial on Maggie entitled "Maggie's Way", Stanton's keen eye for nuance of the Basset's personality shines through. And on a side note: My Basset - Baldrick, and I had the pleasure of meeting Maggie and Bill Stanton a few years ago at a charity picnic to raise funds for a local Basset Rescue group. Maggie was charming and sweet, and Mr. Stanton was a pleasure. His love for Maggie is indeed strong, and flows gently from his camera's eye in "The Tao of Maggie", and in "Maggie's Way". If you buy one, the other or both, you'll find joy within each page.

I gave this book as a gift. The recipient was truly delighted and she still shows me particular pictures (and captions) that she most enjoys. This is a great photo essay that captures the essence of the bassett breed and the strong bond between humans and animals. Funny, heart warming, and a treat to share.

I lost my "Maggie" this year. I was so sad but Bill Stanton captures the essence of this wonderful species and let me grieve and laugh at the same time. What a wonderful book. You don't have to love Bassett Hounds to read this. But if you lose your Bassett be sure to get this book. Bill Stanton needs to get posters on the market for us. Each photo is a gem.

I'm a 30-year Basset lover and this book is one of the best. It's charming, funny and so very, very true. Bill Stanton is a master of getting just the right words to describe his hilarious (and superb) photos of Maggie, his now-11-year old Basset (check out the bagel pic and the one about "patience".). ALL Basset lovers should own this book (and his first one, "Maggie's Way"). I've given many as gifts and they are always a hit (also they're reasonably priced).

I would recommend this to book to any dog lover. I picked up this book on the way out of the store, and couldn't put it down. I had to go back and buy it. This is a a gem of a book, and I'm sure you'll treasure the sage wisdom of this floppy eared philosopher.