Horse Crazy

by Sarah Maslin Nir Narrated by Sarah Maslin Nir

Overview

ONE OF USA TODAY'S “20 SUMMER BOOKS YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS”

In the bestselling tradition of works by such authors as Susan Orlean and Mary Roach, a New York Times reporter and Pulitzer Prize finalist explores why so many people-including herself-are obsessed with horses.

It may surprise you to learn that there are over seven million horses in America-even more than when they were the only means of transportation-and nearly two million horse owners. Acclaimed journalist and avid equestrian Sarah Maslin Nir is one of them; she began riding horses when she was just two years old and hasn't stopped since. Horse Crazy is a fascinating, funny, and moving love letter to these graceful animals and the people who-like her-are obsessed with them. It is also a coming-of-age story of Nir growing up an outsider within the world's most elite inner circles, and finding her true north in horses.

Nir takes readers into the lesser-known corners of the riding world and profiles some of its most captivating figures. We meet Monty Roberts, the California trainer whose prowess earned him the nickname “the man who listens to horses,” and his pet deer; George and Ann Blair, who at their riding academy on a tiny island in Manhattan's Harlem River seek to resurrect the erased legacy of the African American cowboy; and Francesca Kelly, whose love for an Indian nobleman shaped her life's mission: to protect an endangered Indian breed of horse and bring them to America.

Woven into these compelling character studies, Nir shares her own moving personal narrative. She details her father's harrowing tale of surviving the Holocaust, and describes an enchanted but deeply lonely upbringing in Manhattan, where horses became her family. She found them even in the middle of the city, in a stable disguised in an old townhouse and in Central Park, when she chased down truants as an auxiliary mounted patrol officer. And she speaks candidly of how horses have helped her overcome heartbreak and loss.

Infused with heart and wit, and with each chapter named after a horse Nir has loved, Horse Crazy is an unforgettable blend of beautifully written memoir and first-rate reporting.

Editorial Reviews

SEPTEMBER 2020 - AudioFile

Sarah Maslin Nir has been obsessed with riding horses since she was 2, when her parents put her on a horse in a desperate attempt to get her to sit still. Nir’s voice is lively and expressive, and she has marvelous comedic timing. Her joy and comfort in the company of horses is crystal clear. Horses provided her a lifeline when she was a lonely child—even the one horse that always spooked at the noise of a plastic bag. Her father, a Holocaust survivor, viewed every horse show victory as a defeat of Hitler. HORSE CRAZY becomes more than a memoir as Nir explores the curious world of plastic horse model enthusiasts, delves into the forgotten history of black cowboys, and exposes abusive horse trainers. A warmhearted book is raised another notch by an appealing performance. A.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

SEPTEMBER 2020 - AudioFile

Sarah Maslin Nir has been obsessed with riding horses since she was 2, when her parents put her on a horse in a desperate attempt to get her to sit still. Nir’s voice is lively and expressive, and she has marvelous comedic timing. Her joy and comfort in the company of horses is crystal clear. Horses provided her a lifeline when she was a lonely child—even the one horse that always spooked at the noise of a plastic bag. Her father, a Holocaust survivor, viewed every horse show victory as a defeat of Hitler. HORSE CRAZY becomes more than a memoir as Nir explores the curious world of plastic horse model enthusiasts, delves into the forgotten history of black cowboys, and exposes abusive horse trainers. A warmhearted book is raised another notch by an appealing performance. A.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940177418452
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	08/04/2020
Edition description:	Unabridged

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