A Year of Living Generously:
Dispatches from the Front Lines of Philanthropy
“The “radical sabbatical.” That’s what friends call distinguished writer and journalist Lawrence Scanlan’s year-long immersion in the world of volunteers, non-profits, anti-poverty activists and general do-gooder . . . poignant, moving and, at times, scathing, leaving you feeling torn between picking up a placard, writing a cheque or running in the next election . . . A Year of Living Generously is about more than charity and volunteering, and the sense of purpose and fulfilment that comes from helping others. It is about how we see ourselves in relation to others and the need for a systematic, enlightened and equitable approach to caring for the vulnerable, the dispossessed and the downtrodden.”
– The Globe & Mail
“A Year of Living Generously is an ingenious, richly executed book . . . In this era of philanthropy, volunteerism, government cuts, unprecedented growth of not-for-profit organizations and increasing need, Scanlan’s book is also a timely reflection on our society. It is a mix of the ‘important’ and the ‘great read.’”
– National Post
In A Year of Living Generously, Scanlan, an engaging writer with a dry wit and a fine eye for detail, has done many things: he has produced a thoughtful and thought-provoking book about some of the most crucial issues of the day, from poverty and homelessness to pollution and international development. He has given a voice to the disenfranchised and shown that the helper and the helped are often separated only by a twist of fate… [And] he makes a compelling and eloquent case in the book’s epilogue for a concerted approach that encompasses social justice as well as government responsibility.”
– Montreal Gazette
“This is a good book that might also have made a good documentary film . . . It features indefatigable reporting, three-dimensional portraits of the poor and disadvantaged and shrewd examinations of public-policy issues concerning poverty, health and the environment — all packaged in writing that’s lucid and laced with literary flair . . . He’s an empathetic guide to near-unlivable neighbourhoods and the sometimes less-than-endearing types who inhabit them. In his hands, food banks and shelters are credibly portrayed as quietly dynamic, and oddly redemptive, places. And overall, he strikes a nice balance between personal engagement and the larger socio-economic issues raised by his dozen stories . . . Scanlan is adept at wielding statistics to support this argument, but it’s his journalist’s eye for small details and large differentials that gives them heft
. . . A Year of Living Generously succeeds every which way from Friday.”– Winnipeg Free Press
“The much-published author and community service activist spent a year living generously in a highly innovative way to demonstrate that individual kindnesses are as important as big-bucks philanthropy. He chose to be a volunteer, rather than mere observer, at 12 Canadian-based or Canadian-supported philanthropic groups . . . A big cast of admirable administrators, engaged volunteers and colourful recipients enlivens the story.”
– Toronto Star
“This powerful and personal exploration of generosity by one of Canada’s — and Kingston’s — finest journalists tells stories from 12 months of helping around the world. He probes the new face of philanthropy with the question, Can one person make a difference?”
– The Kingston-Whig Standard
Dr. Samantha Nutt
“A Year of Living Generously shows what is possible for us, as individuals – and not necessarily wealthy ones – to give back to the world. Scanlan’s journey is as inspirational as it is educational.”
Craig Kielburger
“Honest and inspiriting, Scanlan’s account encourages us to ask ourselves: what drives us to do good? By stressing the profound impact of simple acts of kindness, he shows us that we all have the power to create a better world.”
“Embedded at street level, Larry Scanlan returns from twelve months inside a range of domestic and international charities with a story that is riveting in its piercing honesty. Neither a gossamer tale of good works nor a cynic’s hard-bitten critique, A Year of Living Generously offers rare insight, myth-busting truth, and a whole new understanding of what it means to give to others.”
– Hugh Segal
The Horse God Built:
Secretariat, His Groom, Their Legacy
“ . . . a zealous researcher . . . a compassionate reporter . . . and an amiable companion on the road.”
– Bill Barich, writing in the Sunday New York Times
“Not just a wonderful and touching story about a great horse, but also a moving and beautifully told story about the subtle and endlessly fascinating relationship between a horse and a human being, made even more poignant by the fact that the horse is none other than the great Secretariat. For anybody who loves horses, and for all of those who are thrilled by horse racing and the behind-the-scenes drama of the track, The Horse That God Built is must reading.”
– Michael Korda, author of Horse People
“Once again Larry Scanlan has written an informative and thoroughly
interesting book. This time it is about one of the greatest athletes of the past century, the incomparable thoroughbred racehorse Secretariat, and his relationship with his companion and groom throughout his illustrious career. This well-researched book is a must for readers who are fans of the horse, but if you just want a good read, you’re going to love this animal/human interest story.”– Monty Roberts, author of The Man Who Listens to Horses
The Globe and Mail
“Secretariat, that magnificent running machine, arguably the greatest thoroughbred in the history of the sport, is buried in a graveyard of champions, at fabled Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. The site is surrounded by stately oaks, ponds and softly gliding swans. To this day, racing fans make the pilgrimage to this hallowed ground to pay homage to Big Red, who died in 1989. Hundreds of miles to the south and east, Eddie (Shorty) Sweat – who died in 1998 – is buried in the Rock Hill Church cemetery, a plain resting place in rural South Carolina. No one, save for the Sweat relatives, visits . . . Scanlan navigates the unfamiliar backstretch of the racetrack … to learn more about this groom of grooms
. . .He learns that life on the backstretch is not easy. Wages are low. Hours are long. But for most of these men, born in the Deep South to descendants of slaves, tending to horses, especially the good ones, is a labour of love . . . Lawrence Scanlan has paid tribute to both the man and the horse. He’s captured the spirit of this magnificent animal and the love of a man for him.”
“Eddie Sweat’s story represents the last great untold chapter in the Secretariat saga. Larry Scanlan has honoured both groom and horse by giving it to us at last.”
– John Jeremiah Sullivan, author of Blood Horses: Notes of a Sportswriter’s Son
“A compelling read, even if you know nothing about horse racing.”
– Ottawa Citizen
“Scanlan writes with empathy and emotion in this riveting narrative . . . It will evoke comparisons to Laura Hillenbrand’s Seabiscuit, and that’s not a bad thing at all.”.
– Regina Leader-Post
“It’s a thoughtful, thoroughly researched, balanced, frequently moving exploration of a conflicted industry, from the glory of the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes right to the abattoir.”
– The Sun Times (Owen Sound)
The Horse’s Shadow
An “Our Choice” selection of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre
Nominated for the Manitoba Young Reader’s Choice Award
“Lawrence Scanlan touchingly illustrates how knowledge and love forge an iron bond between horse and human. Both boys and girls will enjoy reading this action-packed, emotional adventure.”
– Shelly Peterson, author of Dancer, Abby Malone, and Stagestruck
Books in Canada
“Scanlan brings us a vibrant slice of North American history through the life of spunky habitant heroine, Claire Vigere. Claire, a young girl with an uncanny gift for horse relations, sets off on a wild adventure spurred by her great love of two family horses, Beau Albert and Tibeau, after they’ve been sold to an American buying fresh Canadian “soldiers” for his country’s civil war. It is easy to be swept up in Claire’s journey, as she makes friends, confronts enemies, and ‘lives’ a little bit of North American history.
Scanlan deftly sets the scene of life in lower Canada in the 1860s, including many references to la belle langue, which his heroine speaks better than English . . . Scanlan’s own love for horses is evident in the details of Claire’s relationship with Beau Albert, a character endowed with more depth and detail than Claire’s own mother or father.
The real drama begins … when Claire’s father decides to sell his two best horses to Tip WeIdon, an American horse trader, in order to avoid the possible repossession of the family farm. Claire’s love for horses wins out over her love for family and home, and she stows away in Tip’s wagon, eventually emerging at the end of a long voyage to participate in the American Civil War as a deaf-mute boy serving as a groom in the Northern Army. Here she meets Moses, a boy who is truly deaf, and who teaches her to sign. Through their friendship, we also learn of the story of African-Americans in the war, a testament to Scanlan’s dedication to recreating history through a variety of experiences . . . By embedding the details of history in the lively tale of Claire Vigere, Scanlan provides an opportunity for young readers to learn a great deal — almost without realizing it — that is useful for an appreciation of history.”
“Civil war buffs will also enjoy this highly-researched novel which is jam-packed with facts on New France, vivid battle descriptions and generous sprinkles of French expressions.”
– 24 Hours
Harvest of a Quiet Eye:
The Cabin as Sanctuary
“We’ve converted much of North America into a subdivision, but we’re still intrigued by Thoreau’s cabin and the argument it represents – that we’d all be happier, healthier and better people if we bailed out of the rat race and went off to live in some stylishly antique cottage in the woods … Harvest of a Quiet Eye, is a reiteration of that debate … this book is an entertaining account of [Scanlan’s] own attempts to build a sanctuary in the woods.”
– The Globe and Mail
Grace Under Fire:
The State of Our Sweet and Savage Game
“Will bring tears of both pride and joy – as well as anger and frustration – with the way this game is played in our county.”
– The Kingston Whig-Standard
Kevin Sylvester, sportscaster,
“Finally, a book that doesn’t just celebrate the game of hockey, but makes you understand it better.”
“A thoughtful, provocative quest to understand why he (and a few others) love hockey, despite its brutalities, and whether or not our love affair is doomed.”
– The National Post
“A timely and insightful look at how Canada’s national sport is played, and has been for most of a century … There is a huge amount to like in this book. It is meticulously written, and brings much-needed depth and context to our never-ending deliberations over violence in hockey.”
– The Globe and Mail
“A well-researched, well-written look at the yin and the yang of hockey.”
– Edmonton Journal
“Scanlan … writes with an assured and smooth style, whether recounting an old-timer’s anecdote or surveying hockey’s literature.”
– The Vancouver Sun
“a winning meditation on where hockey is headed, largely based on where it’s already been . . . [Scanlan’s] thoughtful prose – and his deft evocations of hockey’s intrinsic rhythms – are reward enough for the serious hockey fan. A marvelous book.”
– The Ottawa Citizen
“[Scanlan] talks with a wide range of thoughtful characters, draws on practically every resource available in both the history and literature of the library, then filters it through an obviously sharp mind . . . we’d highly recommend it to anyone who wants to go beyond the usual superficialities.”
– The Toronto Star
Wild About Horses:
Our Timeless Passion for the Horse
Monty Roberts, author of
“In Wild About Horses Lawrence Scanlan has created one of the most comprehensive books on the horse I have ever read. Knowing Larry, I expected the book to be educational, and it was. What pleasantly surprised me was how entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable it was as well. You will love this book.”
“Scanlan asks, just what is horse fever, and why are so many held in its grip? In this ranging and light-footed history, he comes as close to an answer as anyone is likely to do . . . [Scanlan] enters the heads and barns of horse people and tries to take a fix on the nature of their connection to Equus. He does an excellent job . . . Scanlan, a three-time National Magazine Award winner, knows how to gently poke fun at our horsy obsessions and also how to tease the horse manure from the many wonderful stories of horse sense
. . . The simple fact that horses have intruded upon our imaginations to such a vast extent suggests that our bond with the beast is more than merely practical, and Scanlan is an ideal guide to that secret world of connectedness, with its crazy and sublime turnings.”– Kirkus Reviews
“ . . . entertaining . . . [Scanlan] weaves together historical information, modern iconography and mythological lore in his exploration of the profound human love of horses . . . [he] writes eloquently about race horses like Ruffian and Secretariat. One of the most moving chapters is devoted exclusively to war horses.”
– New York Times Book Review
“Scanlan’s discussion of horses through history – horses in war, horses in sports, wild horses, the gentling of horses through ‘whispering’ – at times approaches the lyrical and has the power to move the reader to tears. The author’s ability to explain the importance of horses to different people in different times places this work beyond the realm of standard horse books, and recommends it highly.”
– Booklist
Michael Enright
“ . . . a fascinating documentary record of our obsession with the horse. It is a work of great craftsmanship laid against a template of unconditional love . . . A magnificent narrative with universal appeal. And [Scanlan] tells such very good stories . . . Scanlan is so assiduous a researcher that he virtually begins with Horse One and carries on up until yesterday afternoon . . . It is when Scanlan talks about his relationship to horses, his experiences with them, that he soars. To sit on a horse in open country, to just sit there – that, to Scanlan, is magical.”
“For anyone who loves horses – or wonders why other people do – Lawrence Scanlan’s Wild About Horses is a treasure trove of fascinating information, fact, and legend honoring the long, enduring relationship between human beings and our nobler and more graceful companion, the horse.”
– Michael Korda
Maxine Kumin
“In addition to exploring the history, mythology, and contemporary iconography of the horse, Wild About Horses is delightfully well written.”
“ . . . a journey of discovery . . . As an author, journalist, producer, and editor, Scanlan’s expertise is evident. Wild About Horses is an extensively researched visual and literary work that is interesting, informative, and entertaining.”
– Quill & Quire
“ . . . a book that both entertains and educates, bringing you to rising cheers over equine heroics and moving you to tears at their calamitous deaths . . . Scanlan’s exhaustive research gives readers an insight into why horses continue to gallop through our lives, long after the arrival of motorized horse-power . . . Wild About Horses has bred the poignancy of Black Beauty with the spirit of Ruffian – the progeny is a book worthy of a spot in horse literature’s finest paddock.”
– The Calgary Herald
“Scanlan writes with sweeping scope and a journalist’s eye for colourful anecdote and riveting detail . . . ”
– The Kingston Whig-Standard
Ian Millar
“When Larry Scanlan collaborated with me almost ten years ago on my memoirs, I saw him as a fine writer whose education in the world of horses was just beginning. But all those years of hanging around barns and show rings – and asking question, always asking questions – have paid off. Wild About Horses is a very special and insightful book.”
Elizabeth Atwood-Lawrence
“Scanlan writes in a comfortable, conversational tone, reaching out to readers and evoking the pleasure that comes from ‘talking horse’ with a warm, insightful, horse-loving friend. Confirmed horse devotees, those who admire the equine animal from afar, and anyone who wants to learn about the variety and complexity of human-horse relationships will find this book indispensable.”
Holly Menino,
“Wild About Horses will bring pleasure and a lot of new information to the old hand as well as the complete greenhorn. This wide-ranging book introduces some intriguing characters, some remarkable horses and it lights up unexplored trails that run through horsemanship to culture. Scanlan reminds us that the horse is essential to who we are.”