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Book Review of Bad Dogs Have More Fun: Selected Writings on Animals, Family and Life by John Grogan for The Philadelphia Inquirer

esjro avatar reviewed on + 947 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8


This book is clearly intended to appeal to fans of Marley and Me (aka every literate person in America who has ever owned a dog), but those expecting more of the same may be disappointed. The "animals" section is brief, though it does contain an enjoyable essay about how the author's life changes after Marley and Me became a best seller. Most of the book is short essays on news happenings, people (mostly old or sick), or rants on smoking, smoking bans, (?) and littering.
As another PBS reviewer said, this is a waiting room read. I can see how Grogan's column would be enjoyable as a periodic newspaper feature, but as a collection I don't think the essays hold up as well.
The other strange thing is that the book clearly states that John Grogan had nothing to do with the publication. Although they are giving some of the proceeds to charity, the whole thing just smacks of someone else trying to profit from Grogan's success.