By John Grogan, HarperCollins Publisher, October 2005

The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life

Dog lovers will delight in the antics of Marley, a yellow lab, as he happily terrorizes the Grogan household. John Grogan, columnist for the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, reads this account of life with, arguably, one of the world's worst dogs. The reader gets to delight in Marley's mischief without having to deal with the mess or the embarrassment of such a dog. You can hear the affection in Grogan's voice, even as he relates his frustrating, humbling, and humiliating experiences with such a lovable menace. Grogan starts out reading a bit stiffly, but he soon finds his groove and delivers a listening experience that will keep one wishing for a longer commute. 

John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.

Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good—Marley was expelled. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, "Don't hesitate to use these."

And yet Marley's heart was pure. Just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. Marley shared the couple's joy at their first pregnancy, and their heartbreak over the miscarriage. He was there when babies finally arrived and when the screams of a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night. Marley shut down a public beach and managed to land a role in a feature-length movie, always winning hearts as he made a mess of things. Through it all, he remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit's end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.

Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans.

About the Author

John Grogan is the Pennsylvania columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer and the former editor in chief of Rodale’s Organic Gardening magazine. Previously he worked as a reporter, bureau chief, and columnist at newspapers in Michigan and Florida. His work has won numerous awards, including the National Press Club’s Consumer Journalism Award. He lives on a wooded hillside in Pennsylvania with his wife, Jenny, and their three children.

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