The Education of Will

A Mutual Memoir of a Woman and Her Dog

By: Patricia B. McConnell

Narrated by: Ellen Archer

In this powerful, soul-searching memoir, beautifully written in the vein of A Pack of Two and Wild, animal behaviorist Dr. Patricia McConnell recounts for the first time the compelling story of her dark past, memories of which are triggered by a troubled dog named Will.

World-renowned as a source of science and soul, Patricia McConnell combines brilliant insights into canine behavior - gained from her work with aggressive and fearful dogs - with heartwarming stories of her own dogs and their life on the farm. Now, she reveals that it wasn't just the dogs who had serious problems. For decades Dr. McConnell secretly grappled with her own guilt and fear, which were rooted in the harrowing traumas of her youth.

Patricia is forced to face her past by her love for a young border collie named Will, whose frequent, unpredictable outbreaks of fear and fury shake Patricia to her core. In order to save Will from this dangerous behavior, she must find her own will to heal and along the way learn that willpower by itself is not enough.

Interweaving enlightening stories of her clients' dogs with tales of her deepening bond with Will, Patricia recounts her fight to reclaim her life. Hopeful and inspiring, the redemptive message of her journey is that while trauma changes our brains and the past casts a long shadow, healing, for both people and dogs, is possible through hard work, compassion, and mutual devotion.

An Audible for Dogs Pick: Make your dog's day. Cesar Millan shares how audiobooks can make dogs happier and calmer. Learn more.©2017 Patricia McConnell (P)2017 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Learned so much

of course thinking this was a book about dogs I found out it was a book about the author Patricia but mostly what I learned about myself what a surprise loved it so much because I learned so much about myself a recommended highly

A beautiful tapestry.

Ms McConnell's extensive knowledge and intense understanding of behavior, both of dogs and people, has really opened my eyes. I've spent a lot of years studying other trainers and animal behaviorists, and there is no comparison to what I've learned from her stories. My relationship with my dog has improved so much in just the last few months since I discovered her books. This book is no different, and yet there is so much more
The summary written for this Audible book is an accurate and thoughtful description for what I feel is an emotional and insightful journey for the reader.

Excellent!

This is an amazing book! The comparison of fear in human and dog is a wonderfully different approach to healing.

Life Changing

I am a trauma survivor and just got a puppy a month ago. He is a little ball of milk chocolate fur, who I aptly named Mousse. This book helped understand why Mousse entered my life now. I am in counseling to recover from childhood trauma, I live alone. Mousse has brought immeasurable joy and healing to my heart and soul, he truly is my best friend and the love I feel for him can’t be explained with words.

This book drew the connection between my healing and the love of this puppy. I walk away changed for the better from reading this amazing book! I am grateful.

Bravely written!

I learned so much from this book! Patricia’s open and courageous baring of her soul has given me the push I needed to recount my own past trauma and to admit that fear has controlled my behavior more than is healthy.
Thank you for sharing your life with us and for helping us to start our own journey toward happiness and wholeness!

Powerfully accurate describing untreated trauma.

Being a dog lover of dogs who have issues, as well as someone who has some serious trauma in my life, well, this was a very powerful book. I also was able to share it with family as a way to explain “why I am the way I am” and it was quite the conversation beginner.

I am so grateful for this book!

The writing is terrific. The emotional arc of this narrative felt really genuine.Also her voice and whole approach gripping and gut-wrenching and rare. Thank you for being brave.

tough and moving memoir

Its empowering to hear how this strong woman faced her traumas head on.

I'm currently going through an unexpected breakup where I have strong feelings of abandonment/worthlessness. A friend recommended this book and I think it's been very helpful to hear her story.

Additionally, my sister has an aggressive dog and I was hoping this book could give further insight into his behavior. I think I respect that he's very fearful rather than inherently mean/angry after reading this book. I'm not sure I'm ready to live with the dog, but I do feel more compassion for him than I did before.

Exceptional book by an even more exceptional women

I absolutely LOVED this book. This is the first memoire that I've ever read. I originally was only passively interested in reading it until my co-worker recommended it. Patricia McConnell is a gift to the animal training and behavior community and hearing her story was inspiring. I didn't except that a 'THE' Patricia McConnell has struggled with some of the same things that I've struggled with. I felt empowered and very introspective after "reading" this. If you have ears you should listen to this book.

Thank you Patricia for writing this book- It made a huge impact on my life.

Not prescriptive, and amazing in its own right

Beautiful and elegantly written, The Education of Will is a must for dog owners; especially those who struggle with bad doggy behaviors. It is not prescriptive, by which I mean it doesn’t tell you how to help your dog. Instead, it helps you understand who your dog is. And who you might be underneath too.