Fascinating book!

This book will touch you deeply and leave you believing there is hope in the world. Laurel Braitman begins with the story of her own adopted dog Oliver, who was clearly emotionally disturbed (at some point diagnosed with separation anxiety, phobia of thunderstorms and a form of animal OCD). Her interest in the plight of Oliver eventually led her to start combing the records for stories of other animals who had strange behaviors, not always understood by their owners, to see if there were indications that other animals have emotional illnesses, much as humans do.

The stories she tells, of dogs, cats, elephants, gorillas, etc...who exhibited unusual, sometimes frightening behaviors, have often resulted in tragic outcomes. But she is able to trace many of the conditions described to similar backgrounds for the animals--such as too early separation from a mother, abusive care from humans, being uprooted from familiar surroundings. She talks with animal behavior specialists and human psychiatrists about treatment for such animals.

There is extrapolation from the suffering of animals to the suffering of humans--in both cases leading to mental illnesses (and in more recent times the knowledge and ability to treat them). But she is very careful not to anthropomorphize (project our human beliefs and conditions onto the other animals). This book is fascinating to listen to. If you love animals it should be a "must read" (listen) on your list. It reminded me, in some ways, of the very moving book by Virginia Morell, "Animal Wise," in which she shows repeatedly how our fellow animals have a wisdom in life that we often miss.

The narration is very good, but in books of this sort, I often find myself wondering why they are not read by the author. Nevertheless, this book is wonderful. I stayed up late into the night listening to it. Highly recommend!

14 people found this helpful

Offensive, disturbing redundant

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Nothing. I hated this book. The advertising, blurbs, etc. were misleading. I did not finish it because I got tired of listening to her heartbreaking stories of horrific animal abuse and simplistic theorizing. And then she started on with her political propagandizing about captive animals. I don't even disagree with her for the most part, but that is not what I got the book for. I have no interest in paying her so she can vent.

What was most disappointing about Laurel Braitman’s story?

Pretty much everything.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I don't know how this could have been narrated well so I hate to blame anything on the narrator. Her semiamused tone was perhaps as appropriate as any.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Not for me.

Any additional comments?

I'm a psychologist. I have studied primate behavior. I expected more from the author that heartwrenching anecdotes about animal tragedies.

4 people found this helpful

a magazine article at best

This is a meditation that goes nowhere. The narrator has a very pleasing voice and delivers the prose in a robotic formula. Altogether I just could not finish the book. I am interested in the subject but the subject never really seemed to arrive. Altogether too personal both in the prose and narration and never really finds the rest of us.

4 people found this helpful

We have so much to learn.

What made the experience of listening to Animal Madness the most enjoyable?

Probably the author's innate curiosity and desire to know what made her dog act as he did. It was very relatable.

What did you like best about this story?

Hmmmm... Probably the stories about primates and a close second about the elephants. There are so many people in rural parts of this world who sacrifice so much just so, for example, an elephant doesn't have to cry himself to sleep.

What about Madeleine Maby’s performance did you like?

She disappeared into the story. She didn't get theatrical and let the stories stand on their own merit.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I hate crying while listening because I don't want to look like a nut, but the parts about the abuse of circus, and other, elephants hurt me to my core. That, and the testing animals had to go through so we could learn fundamental truths in psychology.

2 people found this helpful

If you love animals.... you will love this book

If you could sum up Animal Madness in three words, what would they be?

We're not alone.

What other book might you compare Animal Madness to and why?

I am not sure there is a book that compares the kind of writing this book has. It moves from animal treatment - pet, zoo and wild - to the pharma industry pretty seamlessly.

What about Madeleine Maby’s performance did you like?

She read the book like it was her own. In fact, I thought she WAS Ms. Braitman.
However, one thing that bothered me was she mispronounced the word "supposedly" several times. Suppos-ob-ly. Yikes. When you listen to books, word pronunciation is so important. I have not liked a couple of books solely based on the readers, and that is unfortunate.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Come into the world of synapses, mania, depression, prozac, fido and zoos.

Any additional comments?

I did not want this book to end! It was so full of great stories and information. I picked it up because of a pet who has had some "issues." I found out that we are not alone. Then I found out that there is a world out there that is so much bigger when it comes to these kinds of things. It made me think about brains, mental illness and all animals in an entirely different way. I have never been a fan of caged animals but this gives a whole new meaning to the word.

Really - cannot say enough good about this topic, writing and book.

I would have liked end notes, footnotes, etc. I contacted both Audible and the author. When there are so many things referenced in a non-fiction book, a file of some sort should be included. A paper book is easily flipped through but not so with audibles.

2 people found this helpful

Sentimentality and Propaganda

I won't say I'm not biased in writing this review, but at least I have the decency to admit it, unlike Braitman. As a zookeeper, her denouncement of the entire existence of zoos based on anthropomorphic guesses on animal behavior strike me as particularly offensive. She alternates the entirely personal (and admittedly tragically moving) story about her own dog with what is supposed to come across as journalism into the history of animal mental illness, but serves as little more than a platform for her to voice anticaptivity sentiments. For her to claim to have spoken to zookeepers and trainers, she seems to have very little understanding of how much work goes into planning and executing enrichment programs in zoos designed to alleviate stress or under-stimulation in captive animals. I cannot follow the logic in thinking that a tiger who paces because he's excitedly anticipating dinner being placed behind the scenes is clearly miserably suffering. She also offers no alternatives to the road to extinction that so many animals face, so what would she like keepers to do? Release all of our charges into a wilderness they have never known to be killed by predators, poachers, injury, or disease?
Between sentimentalizing and sweepingly anthropomorphizing animals, claiming to want to end their suffering, and degrading the environmental, behavioral, and occasionally pharmaceutical tools utilized by their caregivers to improve their lives, she swings back and forth more than my (very happy and healthy) gibbons.

1 person found this helpful

Disappointing in the last chapter

A few portions I liked. It was similar in many ways to the book Woman and Madness. More of a history lesson on psychology experiments.

mental illness and pharmaceuticals for animals

I never would have imagined these things to be true. Animals with mental illness and animal flavored Prozac. are just a couple of the things that shocked me in this book.

outstanding book

just an outstanding gut wrenching heart breaking book. for anyone who has a pet, this book is for you.

Wow I learned so much

What did you love best about Animal Madness?

This book was full of stories and information that I had not completely understood

What other book might you compare Animal Madness to and why?

Can not think of any at this time

Have you listened to any of Madeleine Maby’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I have not

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No it is too long for that