Dog Medicine

How My Dog Saved Me from Myself

By: Julie Barton

Narrated by: Julie Barton

An honest and deeply moving debut memoir about a young woman's battle with depression and how her dog saved her life.

At 22 Julie Barton collapsed on her kitchen floor in Manhattan. She was one year out of college and severely depressed. Summoned by Julie's incoherent phone call, her mother raced from Ohio to New York and took her home.

Haunted by troubling childhood memories, Julie continued to sink into suicidal depression. Psychiatrists, therapists, and family tried to intervene, but nothing reached her until the day she decided to do one hopeful thing: adopt a golden retriever puppy she named Bunker.

Dog Medicine captures the anguish of depression, the slow path to recovery, the beauty of forgiveness, and the astonishing ways animals can help heal even the most broken hearts and minds.

©2016 Julie Barton (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Dog Medicine offers a carefully measured appreciation of life, in which every step forward is a victory worth celebrating, and every dark day is something that must be endured before moving on. Barton’s story of her life with Bunker is truly moving, and provides heartwarming proof of the ability of pets to alter our lives for the better.” (San Francisco Book Review)

“A heartfelt page-turner about depression and how dogs can save us from ourselves.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“You may think you’re about to read a book about a charming dog, or about struggling with identity in your twenties, or about how a young woman pulls herself together after a diagnosis of depression. But you’d be wrong. Dog Medicine is a love story - a great big beautiful honest touching intoxicating riveting page-turning instruction manual on the palpable healing power of love and forgiveness. Every word in this book is as honest and courageous as any I’ve ever read, and I’ve read a lot.” (Robin Oliveira, New York Times best-selling author of My Name Is Mary Sutter)

So beautiful.

It's hard to see through my tears to write this review. I loved this book so much. I'm gonna snuggle my Bunker extra tight tonight. The author's narration is beautiful, too.

Educational about ptsd. Sibling abuse but most important., how a loving dog can provide healing, giving wounded person purpose

Educational about ptsd, Sibling abuse but most important., how a loving dog can provide healing, giving a wounded person purpose

Amazing

I’ve read this book twice. Amazing and cried both times. You can tell Julie truly loved her dog and he was such a big part of her life. Anyone that has suffered with depression can relate to julie’s story, and anyone with pets can as well. Thank you for sharing Bunker with us

PAWsitively, Paws down... Power of Dog Medicine

Where does Dog Medicine rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Julie Bartons rendering of her journey to the depths of depression and the powers of dog medicine in finding herself, life, and purpose is beyond moving and memorable. Her narration was beautiful and added an often palpable experience.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bunker Barton, of course! All of the characters played key roles in Julies journey! Her raw honesty of all of their parts in her evolution were key.

Have you listened to any of Julie Barton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not yet! But look forward to more work and narration.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Beyond sad, beyond pointless, beyond help, beyond hope...Nope, Dog Medicine!

Honest, at least

Would you listen to Dog Medicine again? Why?

Any additional comments?

Like another review says, Julie was probably not a great dog owner, and she is quite self-centered. But I think this book is honest because she didn't pretend that she was a considerate person during her depression time. Some sick people are really sick because they consider themselves normal. Julie Barton isn't one of them.

whiney

Very depressing but I understand. It was me. The difference is that I went on without making everybody else miserable. S he shouldn't narrate. Read too slowly and whiney.

Yet another reason we connect with dogs

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Would appeal both to dog-lovers and to those who have struggled with depression. This is a very accurate and hope-inspiring story.

What did you like best about this story?

The story was written in a straightforward and unselfconscious way.

What about Julie Barton’s performance did you like?

Knowing that she was the main character in the book made listening more meaningful. She has a good voice for narration.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes-I was captivated.

Very touching account

I almost didn't give it 5 stars because they define 5 stars as "Love it." Well, it's hard to say I love it if it makes me very sad, but oddly enough I did still love it, even if it reminded of my own "world's best dog," passed away these 6 years ago, thereabouts. I miss him terribly. This is a very good book. The writing is visceral. The story is touching. And the narration is good, though I'd have to say her voice sometimes made me feel sadder than I needed to. Her account of depression really shows how maddening it can be. And for anyone who doesn't think much of the relationship between a human and their dog, this should change your mind. Animal lovers, of course will love this book, as will anyone who is curious about the manifestations of mental illness. Highly recommended.

Wow

Such a raw and real description of the connection of dog and human. As I listened to the end of this book, I loudly sobbed and my dog climbed onto my chest to tell me I'd be okay. Just like Bunk!

It will take me some time to recover from this lovely story.

Courageous, naked and raw window into suffering

This book is very powerful, and powerful is what powerful is: it cuts both ways. I am very impressed with the author's honesty and courage to share nakedly her experience, her view, of how she as a young woman, fell into a deep depression, and her search for finding her way back to life.

As such, it's not a rosy 'Marley and me', as a matter of fact, the connection with the dog is in spite of the title, is not the strong part of this book, in my view. I'm an insane animal-person, so it was "dog" that made me listen to the book, but that is not what carries this story. I'm still happy I listened to it, due to the very, very naked and raw way Julie Barton tells her story.

She has courageously faced her own demons, and courageously dared to tell her story for others to learn and benefit from. Impressive. Thank you Julie Barton.