David W. Berner's "Walks With Sam" is a poignant exploration of the bond between a man and his dog, wrapped in the reflective embrace of a summer of hiking. While the book captures the essence of life with a loyal canine companion, the inclusion of philosophical elements may slightly test the reader's patience. Despite this, the overall experience is a delightful walk through the highs and lows of life, beautifully enriched by the presence of man's best friend.

The strength of "Walks With Sam" lies in its ability to evoke the deep connection between the author and his beloved dog. The chapters dedicated to each walk provide a snapshot of the author's life and the lessons he learns from Sam, showcasing the profound impact that animals can have on our perspective.

The narrative is at its best when delving into the ordinary yet beautiful moments shared between man and dog. Berner's writing captures the simple joys of a leisurely stroll, the changing seasons, and the small wonders of life. Sam, the four-legged protagonist, becomes a beacon of mindfulness, guiding the author to appreciate the present and find solace in the ordinary.

The inclusion of more philosophical reflections can affect the pace of the book. While these sections contribute to the overall theme of self-discovery, they might interrupt the flow for those seeking a more straightforward narrative. The balance between the personal anecdotes and the philosophical musings might sway readers' engagement levels.

Despite this minor drawback, "Walks With Sam" remains an enjoyable and heartwarming read, especially for dog lovers who understand the profound impact these furry companions can have on our lives. The book's authenticity shines through, and the moments of reflection are peppered with warmth and sincerity.

"Walks With Sam" is a four-star recommendation for anyone who cherishes the companionship of dogs and appreciates the beauty of life's simple pleasures.
While the philosophical elements may require patience, the heartfelt moments shared between the author and Sam make the journey worthwhile.

Embark on this reflective stroll and discover the joys of mindfulness, newfound perspectives, and the enduring bond between a man and his furry friend.

I enjoyed the bits in the book about describing the walks,and how happy Sam was with her smiling face.
Phillosophy parts weren't really for me,sorry,could relate to some ,but got a bit bogged down towards end.

This was such a sweet book to read and as someone who has grown up with dogs and still have a collie I felt I could relate to this book a lot which I really liked. Walking with a dog is therapeutic and this caught that perfectly.

The only thing I did find was that the chapter title kept coming up throughout the copy I was given in random places that wasn't meant to be there. However this hasn't altered my rating of the book.

31 insights gained by walking 31 times with Sam.
This is what I would call a glass of calm, refreshing water to offset all of the sad and bad news we are bombarded with this 2020.
Berner had written 31 chapters in which one of his walks with Sam are laid out. He describes the neighbours he meets or seeks out, the decorations put up around the neighbourhood, the animals he and Sam encounter, his conversations with Sam, and Sam's different moods and behaviours.
To be honest it was extremely cute, homely, and comforting. I'm glad I've read this.

Thoughtful look at the world. David is on a sabbatical from teaching, and these are the musings from his daily walks with his young dog Sam. As they ramble around, we get their observations and insights. Reminded me of what is really important and reinforced why I often prefer the company of my dogs over people.

Ever endearing, full of whimsical prose that eclipses the reader’s attention in refreshing wonder with each and every saunter with Sam. Highly recommend this book across all forms of leisure and recreation. I’d take this book on a plane ride and also give a copy as a gift to someone I absolutely adore. Well done!

I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. This book is a simple tale of how one man's mind goes through its cogitations whilst walking and caring for his dog - Sam - a dog with almost audible thought processes of her own. I can see why this book might be a bog hit for dog lovers as there is a real relationship between dog and owner. It is a gentle narrative which does open the reader to deeper thought. However It was not one that really grabbed me and my rating probably reflects me more than the overall appeal of the book

i really enjoyed reading this book, this was an adorable memoir I enjoyed reading these stories and look forward to more from the author.

Anyone who's had responsibility for a dog knows the joy and tedium of daily walks. David W. Berner uses the frame of walking his dog for this warm and entertaining memoir. Each chapter is about one walk, as he discovers new things about his neighborhood, his family, and his life. Will appeal to readers who love animals, philosophy, and personal essays.

This is a really beautiful book and perfect for the current world situation. The author goes for walks with his dog Sam around his local neighbourhood. Well, so what! But this is really well written, very meditative and full of wisdom. Mr Berner imagines what his dog - Sam - is thinking and the interactions are delightful. It allows the author to follow meandering ideas that would be otherwise difficult and we follow willingly. I found it relaxing, amusing, and I’d recommend it to anyone who is feeling cynical about the world.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

this book reminds me of marley but with more warmth as the dog teaches the man about life reawakening

Rarely does a book talk about Thoreau and walk like Thoreau. The musings of the author as he walks his dog are really enjoyable to read. You don't know where the book is going to go as it is literally dog-driven. I am known as someone who loves the writings of Danny The Dog by Andrew Joyce. Danny really needs to meet Sam. For Sam, he is ghostwritten by David. This is Danny the Dog from Andrew's perspective.

The musings range from weather to age to mortality to politics. They include the idiosyncratic occurrences that are found within a block of one's home. This was a great read. It is possible if you are a hardline right-wing, you might be offended by this book. To be fair, you are probably offended by any life outside of 1930's Germany.

This book just flows. You have no idea what the next page will bring. I loved the random nature. The only constant is that Sam needed to walk and David wrote what he thought the walk was about. Funny, entertaining, thought-provoking, this book is the best work this author has ever done. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

I recommend this book to every dog owner in the world. I also recommend this book to every armchair philosopher. You may be challenged by this book but in a good way. A terrific read.

My Rating: 5+ stars

This book is a delight. This is a series of short chapters by the author about a summer he spent mindfully walking with his dog Sam . Once only focused on his career he takes time to get know his dog and communicate with him on their series of daily enriching walks. I loved the sweet relationship between the author and his Sam and how he learned to be in the moment with what is truly important in life.


Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. This book I highly recommend.

Walking with Sam is a very pleasant reading, one of those books that you love from the first pages. David’s season of walks with his dog is the perfect occasion to reflect and meditate during his sabbatical year. These occasions gave him the opportunity to contemplate on deep thoughts and to notice things and people he would have never noticed in his regularly and chaotic life. What I really liked is the strong relationship that develops throughout the walks between David and his dog, a special bond that helped him to see things fresh and to rediscover himself.

I adored this book!
Slow-paced and revolving around the mundane task of walking your dog, David [the author] begins to document a season of his walks with his dog Sam in order to rediscover himself and learn about what he loves and cherishes. The book is broken down into walks instead of chapters and each walk comprises of short little life lessons, sayings, muses, or just plain things that David notices in his environment that gets him thinking.

The conversations that David has with Sam are adorable and endearing. He speaks to Sam in full conversations as if they were chatting over a cup of tea. Sam is absolutely adorable and clearly a very active dog. My favorite moments are where David and Sam "chat" or where David tries to put words into Sam's head for him. His expression could mean this or his body language looks like he's trying to say that.

I loved this book and it'll be one that I could read over and over again, even if it's just to get me to think.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an honest review. I loved this book. Just like walks are relaxing, and I think about things and sometimes things become clear, that is what this book is. It was short walks with his dog and like most dog owners he talks to Sam about the things he did and learned while doing them. With all that is going on today, this is a perfect book to read to escape it for a little while and I am so glad I did read this book.
I am adding, since reading the book, I find myself at night opening the book and reading a walk or two because I find it quiets my brain and seems to be the perfect transition from the energy of my day to the peacefulness of sleep.

This non-fiction narrative relates deeply contemplative walks with Sam, the author’s doggy-doodle, a scruffy-haired 40 pound going on two year old enthusiastic female dog.

Berner has taken a sabbatical from his college position to reflect, regroup, and reinvest in himself and the world of this amazing canine who teaches him with each walk to live in the moment. Forced to slow and enjoy the neighborhood, noting all the nuances that he’s previously breezed by, his focus is on the minutiae gone unnoticed and now a full on profound and enlightening discovery.

The author has chronicled each walk beginning early spring through the summer and in each proceeds to have heart-to-hearts with his loyal canine buddy. He waxes poetic, he turns philosophical, he turns the mundane into prose. He can go to extraordinary lengths to explain himself to the dog, who in turn grins and wags her tail. But each walk serves up a lesson and tries to make a point—not all succeed.

The walks are leisurely and the author manages to find mysticism in the most simple of experiences—confronting a doe with her fawns, the jealousy of Sam when he pays attention to another dog, or his repeated attempts at training with a special treat. I found it interesting that both his current canine and that of his previous, had their names shortened to the more common male form—Sam and Mike (Michelle, a yellow Lab).

An interesting narrative that goes beyond anthropomorphic discussion, I discovered two common experiences—one, that Sam obviously knows (after she’s been groomed) that she’s pretty. And while his communication with Sam tends to morph into long-winded attempts at conversation, his wife’s stays on a canine level (i.e., commands), which is the same in our house.

A collective of essays dissecting the author’s philosophy, thoughts, and meditation bounced off an overly-exuberant two year old doodle. FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts. 3.5 stars rounded up

We live in a crazy, hectic world. This book takes us out of there, even if just for a short time. The author, having reached the age of 60, takes time to look back on his life while staying in the present, while walking with his faithful dog, Sam, around his neighborhood. The author does not spend a lot of time telling us what to do or how to cure or end all the chaos we may encounter; he just notes items of interest as well as lessons brought out by his dog Sam, or his reactions to Sam’s reactions. Each chapter follows a simple walk, generally through his neighborhood, with his and Sam’s reactions and thoughts about what is going on or about to go on. The interactions come across as genuine. The insights and ideas put forth, while not always earth-shattering, lead one to ruminate on things that may never have come up otherwise. This a good book for the busy, busy person in a very harried world, as it shows that we can all settle back and “smell the roses” every now and then. I thoroughly enjoyed the simplicity of the book, as well as the closeness between the author and Sam, as it is and has always been between me and my dogs. Definitely a must read for the busy person in today’s hectic world. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

I loved this simple but profound book on the author’s walks with his “doodle” puppy, Sam.

The author has turned 60 and is in a reflective mood, looking back but also trying to stay mindful in the present. Sam teaches him how to live in the moment.

Each chapter details a different walk around nearby blocks where they meet neighbors and their dogs, and take the pulse of their quiet community. It felt as if I strolled with them, enjoying Sam’s vibrant energy and David’s wise musings — a lovely pastime!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 28 Aug 2020

Thanks to the author, John Hunt Publishing Ltd, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#WalksWithSam #NetGalley

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

This book is written in a series of short chapters dedicated to one walk during a summer of hiking, the author finds that it's his beloved pet that allows him to awaken to a new spirit of mindfulness, finding beauty, winder abd comfort. Seeing his neighbour with brand new eyes.

David W Berner has a labradoodle called Sam and this is a series of short stories about their walks. This is a light and refreshing quick book to read. There's less than 180 pages to read. It's also an interesting book to read.. It's well written and Sam (who is a bìtch) is adorable. Sn enjoyable read for dog lovers everywhere.

I would like to thank NetGalley, John Hunt Publishing and the author David W Berner for my ARC in exchange for am honest review.