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Reviewed by Carine Engelbrecht for Readers' Favorite
When Jim Duke first sets out to become a cowboy, he doesn't quite anticipate just how bumpy the road ahead will be, but this is exactly what makes Dances with Donkeys: The Memoir of a Half-Assed Cowboy such a fun read. Written with the perfect blend of self-awareness and insight, his career begins with a redneck/hippy culture clash, but then he is introduced to the world of donkeys and mules. And what an introduction it turns out to be. The first donkey is an almost untameable hooligan, and his first broodmare turns out to be a bad-tempered nag. But the mule that had been part of the original package deal turns out to be a real treasure, and Jim's teacher on how to train and orient an equine. More equine characters lead to more misadventures. At times, he comes close to turning "applied ignorance" into a superpower. In between sharing comical anecdotes, he muses about the environment, sustainability, and the role of animals in our lives.
Dances With Donkeys by Jim Duke is an entertaining, informative, and thought-provoking read. It provides lots of perspective on the reality and challenges of living with equines, especially donkeys and mules about whom considerably less is written than their more glamorous cousins, horses. He makes a strong case for the impact we have on the lives of the animals we own and handle, illustrating through several practical examples how poor handling can have a life-long effect on the value and soundness of the animal. I appreciated the author's ever-resourceful nature and his deep empathy for each of the critters that cross his path. It's a genuine pity that some of his schemes did not turn out better, but on the other hand, the greatest tales are spun from disasters. This book could be a valuable read for anyone planning to own or live with equines.
