In this heartfelt, thoughtful, and inspiring memoir, New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz tells the story of his beloved rescue donkey, Simon, and the wondrous ways that animals make us wiser and kinder people. In the spring of 2011, Jon Katz received a phone call that would challenge every idea he ever had about mercy and compassion. An animal control officer had found a neglected donkey … found a neglected donkey on a farm in upstate New York, and she hoped that Jon and his wife, Maria, would be willing to adopt him. Jon wasn’t planning to add another animal to his home on Bedlam Farm, certainly not a very sick donkey. But the moment he saw the wrenching sight of Simon, he felt a powerful connection. Simon touched something very deep inside of him. Jon and Maria decided to take him in.
Simon’s recovery was far from easy. Weak and malnourished, he needed near constant care, but Jon was determined to help him heal. As Simon’s health improved, Jon would feed him by hand, read to him, take him on walks, even confide in him like an old and trusted friend. Then, miraculously, as if in reciprocation, Simon began to reveal to Jon the true meaning of compassion, the ways in which it can transform our lives and inspire us to take great risks.
This radically different perspective on kindness and empathy led Jon to a troubled border collie from Ireland in need of a home, a blind pony who had lived outside in a pasture for fifteen years, and a new farm for him and Maria. In the great tradition of heroes—from Don Quixote to Shrek—who faced the world in the company of their donkeys, Jon came to understand compassion and mercy in a new light, learning to open up “not just to Simon, not just to animals, but to the human experience. To love, to risk, to friendship.”
With grace, warmth, and keen emotional insight, Saving Simon plumbs the depths of the bonds we form with our animals, and the rewards of “living a more compassionate, considered, and meaningful life.”
Praise for Saving Simon
“Heartwarming . . . a touching tale.”—USA Today
“Highly recommended . . . an enjoyable and thoughtful work.”—Library Journal (starred review)
“[Saving Simon] handles the emotional highs and lows of living with animals with empathy and thoughtfulness, forcing readers to re-examine their own meanings of compassion and mercy.”—Kirkus Reviews
“The message of this true story will linger with the reader long after the book has been placed on the shelf.”—Bookreporter
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I loved this book! You’ll never look at donkeys the same way again. Highly recommended.
This book was very enjoyable. Simon desperately needed to be rescued and brought back to health. The special relationship between donkey and author was developed very well. I especially enjoyed the accurate depiction of the less positive aspects of Simon’s personality, and the acceptance of animal nature as opposed to the human personification people tend to impose on pets.
So sad about Simon, but this author is wonderful. Simon was rescued and loved for the rest of his life. He taught the author a lot about life.
Awesome book
Jon Katz writes wonderful tales that inform and hopefully make us more aware and sensitive to the animals we share our lives with. It also helps us be more aware and sensitive to the humans we share our lives with.
I am a donkey lover and it was so sad at the onset but it shows how both humans and longears can be compassionate with one another’s
This book was very educational and definitely pointed out what compassion should be all about. The discussions of the human-animal bond are heartfelt, but also the job we as human beings have been charged with while living on this earth as regards compassion was exceptionally well explained. Thanks to author John Katz for his insight and for sharing it.
I love stories about animals!
great story. about our love of animals and the humans that make them a central part of their daily lives.
Loved this book. So well written. Loved Simon!
excellent for animal lovers. Life as it really is.
Written by an animal lover for animal lovers. An inspiring story but realistic too.
A good book to read. Very well written. Took you on a journey that had you experiencing a variety of emotions. Didn’t want the story to end.
I learned so much and believe it even changed my life regarding compassion. A lovely book.
Such a heartfelt story and so inspiring. We all need a little more love and compassion in our lives and the author knows how to make you understand at a visceral level.
Join the author as he works to save the life of an abused donkey and how that donkey taught him that we are all damaged and worthy of compassion.
A very heart-touching book that touches caring souls. I learned so much about the character of animals and how they interact with each other.
Absolutely loved this book. All the characters including Simon were just so endearing
Loved learning about all things “donkey” and coming to know about their wonderful traits. The love and compassion for people and animals shown by the author was so inspiring. It touched my heart, made me laugh and cry, and set me thinking about my own sense of compassion, Enjoyed this tale and its author very much and look forward to reading more of his work.
Great story except I was wondering why he didn’t just separate the Simon and the horse. Seamed to me to be an easy solution to the aggression.