[.ca] Out on a Leash: Exploring the Nature of Reality and Love (ISBN 0743485068)

What happened, Shirley?:
I was not only dissappointed, but saddened to read this book, at least some of it. The spirit was willing, but the more I read this book, the more I realized that the author was either deliberatly playing a joke on her readers, or that she had gracefully taken leave of a certain sense of reason, to be kind. I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but could not. I have actually, up to this point, defended Ms. Maclaines beliefs and experiences when others simply relegated her to an eccentric woman, and the source of ridicule. Sadly, after reading this book, I have found myself beginning to agree with the people with whom I have disagreed with, for the most part, for so long. I find it hard to believe that this was the follow up to "The Camino". Perhaps I am willing to give her one more chance, but after this book, it will take alot to gain my interest in one of her books. She is an intelligent woman, no doubt. I can only wonder what she was thinking here, and hope she overcomes it.

The Rat Terrier is remarkable and deserves Shirley's book.:
It seemed only natural to me that as far out as Shirley MacLaine has dared to go she should be drawn back into the reality of our human natures by a tiny dog that weighs only 4 to 6 pounds and has a heart as big as a lion, the grace of a gazelle and an unbounded joy in living. Shirley has captured the essence of this animal's nature and the inherent grace and understanding that refines true beauty, loyalty and love. Good girl, Shirley, you remain my absolute favorite, we are on the same wave length and our Rat Terriers must meet soon. We must be awfully good people to deserve to have such delightful creatures come into our lives at this stage.

Pure Inspiration:
Even though I don't currently have a dog, I was amazed at the level of touching wisdom, insight and phenomena in this book. I found this a fount of Higher Guidance type information given in a very deep heartfelt level - as this pet "teacher" can inspire. This is a very personal accounting from Shirley Maclaine of her personal spiritual journey. I live near her ranch in NM and really relate to the magic of the high desert where we can renew ourselves and contact with the entire Universe is possible. I heartily recommend this book to experience the heart and expand the mind!

I did not want to know the truth!:
I read this book, and was put into an incredible vision state while waiting for my laundry dryer buzzer to go off in the next room. I found myself slipping into a hypnogogic state, and this allowed the integral lessons of this book on dog-human relations throughout life times to be applied practically to my case. I do believe this can be true for any reader. However, you must be prepared for what you find out about your reincarnational resume! I found out that in a past life, my dog Rufus and I changed roles! In that life, I was the dog and Rufus was the human. I realize this may contradict some metaphysical tomes that proclaim that a human soul and canine mass-mind soul cannot switch roles, but it was a fact, my truth as I envisioned it. In the previous life, my dog Rufus was a kind gentle owner, and I was a terrible dog, refusing to be house broken, eating shoes and knawing on table legs. I was the hound from hell. I do believe, and I suspect Shirley would agree, that I was given the role of human in this life to experience this situation from the karmic reverse side, since I now have a dog that refuses to be house broken, chews on my shoes and table legs. Karmic justice, allowing all souls to learn, right? Nonetheless, I would have preferred this to stay unconscious. Alas, if I was a bigshot movie star with good friends in the book publishing area, I suspect I could sell this yarn in book form. But then I would need to throw in a few Egyptian and Atlantean references, and perhaps mysteriously tie all of this material mysteriously to the Dog Star of Sirius! Read enough of this trite self-obsessed stuff, and you can write it yourself! That is what we call being a co-creator with God in creating your own reality, folks. I advise you to avoid this book if you are not ready for the truth about your past life in the dog house and using your tongue to clean your private parts. Nonetheless, I compliment Shirley for her 30+ years of spiritual research and learning, which has led her to the ultimate enlightenment that a Dog is Man's Best Friend. Hmmm....I think I learned that when I was 5 years old and watched old LASSIE episodes on TV, but it is bad for my vibs to get sarcastic, since what you resonate is what you get. If you lay down with dogs, you may get up with fleas! Actually, THAT is probably one of the higher truths of the universe that Shirley didn't cover in this important but unnerving book.

Did not like it:
I haven't read any of Shirley's works till this one. I really enjoy her movies. I love dogs so I thought I would try to read this book. I found this book to be very lacking in dog understanding. So maybe she wasn't professing to really understand dogs and was just using them as a tool to convey some type of message. But if this was the case I found the tool/message lacking and not worth the money.