Book summary

HEART IN THE WILD is another beautiful book on the healing power of animals and the natural world by the best-selling author of ANIMALS AS TEACHERS AND HEALERS. Susan Chernak McElroy's books speak of an innate connection between humans and the natural world, with animals being our most obvious interpreters. While ANIMALS AS TEACHERS AND HEALERS focused primarily on stories about humans learning from their pets, HEART IN THE WILD tells a different, much more personal story. When McElroy's mountain home was destroyed by fire, she again turned to her animal companions for comfort, but this time the animals were predominately wild. A six-point elk, a rattlesnake, and other fauna near her Colorado home became McElroy's guides to understanding the tragedy that befell her. The elk figured prominently in McElroy's daily life and even in her dreams, which she perceived as lessons in determination and strength in the face of adversity. The elk, like the other animals, helped her see life in heroic archetypes untouched by human frailties or frivolous human concerns. HEART IN THE WILD is a charming and inspiring book.