The Animal Keepers

I have read it also, a great book. I would recommend it to anyone that has been a part of a team or has a kid on a team currently. It is a running story that also is a life story. Runners will appreciate the running portion, everyone should appreciate the rest of the story.

Great story. Pick it up. You're going to like it. The author is a legend when it comes to HS cross coaches.

Do your part to make sure that this book sells more than Suzy's.

I checked it out on amazon. Gets great reviews, looked good so I ordered it. Looking forward to reading it, thanks for the tip/recommendation.

Books like this make me want to hurl, and stop with the transparent self promotion. All of the Amazon reviews sound like they came straight from the publisher, who wants to turn the book into a movie. The overwhelming majority of reviewers had only posted a review of one item on Amazon ... this book. Of those who had posted two reviews, at least two had only reviewed the same two books. Amazing!

I assume many of the reviews are from former runners and parents of runners that have been through the SPASH (Stevens Point Area High School) program. That being said- this is a great book! I suppose you could compare it to the McFarland story. Donn Behnke was a teammate of mine at UW Stevens Point and I can vouch for his story telling exploits but this is the ultimate that as he says "needed to be told". I see movie potential.

Angry Willy wrote:

Books like this make me want to hurl, and stop with the transparent self promotion. All of the Amazon reviews sound like they came straight from the publisher, who wants to turn the book into a movie. The overwhelming majority of reviewers had only posted a review of one item on Amazon ... this book. Of those who had posted two reviews, at least two had only reviewed the same two books. Amazing!

You'll see this happen a lot on amazon. I was looking at the book and it only having positive reviews was a red flag for me. Over time, it will probably even out if the book becomes popular, although I've seen books where it looks like an author and his loyalest fans reviewed the same item over and over hundreds of times.

Angry Willy -

Any book that comes out is going to have reviews from individuals who either a) know the author personally or b) know the story that the book is about.

This is not a suprising phenomenon - except to you. If this bugs you so be it. Hurl away my friend. I would point out, however, Jonathan Gault from LetsRun.com gave the book a STELLAR review while having no horse in the race.

I bought a copy and it is a very good read. Definitely worth the time and money.

A great story, told masterfully. I recommend you pick up a copy today.

Coach Kedge wrote:

A great story, told masterfully. I recommend you pick up a copy today.

We reviewed the book last month here and also loved it and gave it 5 stars.

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If you are interested in a great book that is also about cross country running, pick up The Animal Keepers.

It is about a cross country team in 1985 and how they developed because and around a special runner and student. Do yourself a favor and pick it up.

Editor's note on 12/15/15 (The original post came from October 2015): LetsRun.com reviewed the book in November. We also loved it and gave it 5 stars.

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2015/11/book-review-the-animal-keepers-by-donn-behnke-a-terrific-tale-of-what-it-means-to-be-a-team/

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One of the best if not the best books about distance running I've read (and I have a substantial library), it's a true account of an unforgettable high school cross country season written by Donn Behnke (teammate of mine from UW Stevens Point). Chris Solinsky, a Stevens Point Area High School alum, wrote the forward and this just happened to take place in 985, Suzy Favor's senior year. Donn was always a great story teller but this one tops them all.

I don't thint there's room for another unlikely hero story after McFarland. Obviously this book has a lot of passion behind it but it's kind of a sad attempt to redeem Stevens Point from super who redo after Fast Girl.

Sex with a blonde or winter running with a re-re?

Blonde wins everytime even in Disney stories.

Got this book as a x-mas gift from the parents....very easy read. Motivational and fun read...lots of runner stories told across one big story

response wrote:

I don't thint there's room for another unlikely hero story after McFarland. Obviously this book has a lot of passion behind it but it's kind of a sad attempt to redeem Stevens Point from super who redo after Fast Girl.

Sex with a blonde or winter running with a re-re?

Blonde wins everytime even in Disney stories.

Donn started working on this book 5++ years ago...hardly an attempt to up do Fast Girl.

I am reading through this book now - about a third of the way through - and it is now one of my favorites, period. Absolutely makes me miss my own days running cross (and motivates me to get out there in bad conditions now).