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A review by ovenbird_reads
The Accidental Veterinarian: Tales from a Pet Practice by Philipp Schott
3.0
I received an advance review copy of this book from ECW press. Thank you to the publishers for sending me this book. All opinions are my own!
I was a big fan of James Herriot growing up so was excited to read a new book about veterinary practice. Schott's book is quite different from Herriot's. I was expecting a similarly deep look into the lives and personalities of animals. That's not what this is about, but it was enjoyable for a lot of other reasons. I would highly recommend Schott's book to anyone who owns a pet and visits a vet regularly, or to anyone who might be thinking of becoming a vet in the future. The essays are very much about developing an understanding of what it is that vets really do, and how pet owners can have the best relationship possible with their vets. There are lots of amusing anecdotes as well (I particularly enjoyed the story of the chihuahua who was one of the only dogs that actually bit the author, and in spectacular fashion) but they weren't the heart of the book as I had thought they would be.
Schott is clearly passionate about his practice and has written a book of essays in an accessible, friendly tone that really brings the profession itself to the fore. Schott has an essay on suicide rates among vets, on why pet owners should visit their vet regularly, and what sort of people should go into veterinary science. In many ways this is a handbook for pet owners and future vets. I am neither a current pet owner or a future vet, so I found some of the essays that were instructional in nature less engaging than others, but overall there was lots to enjoy for just about anyone who likes animals. Schott's kind and empathetic nature shines through in all the essays and I hope that if I do get a pet in the future I'll find a vet to care for us with a similar passion for their profession.
I was a big fan of James Herriot growing up so was excited to read a new book about veterinary practice. Schott's book is quite different from Herriot's. I was expecting a similarly deep look into the lives and personalities of animals. That's not what this is about, but it was enjoyable for a lot of other reasons. I would highly recommend Schott's book to anyone who owns a pet and visits a vet regularly, or to anyone who might be thinking of becoming a vet in the future. The essays are very much about developing an understanding of what it is that vets really do, and how pet owners can have the best relationship possible with their vets. There are lots of amusing anecdotes as well (I particularly enjoyed the story of the chihuahua who was one of the only dogs that actually bit the author, and in spectacular fashion) but they weren't the heart of the book as I had thought they would be.
Schott is clearly passionate about his practice and has written a book of essays in an accessible, friendly tone that really brings the profession itself to the fore. Schott has an essay on suicide rates among vets, on why pet owners should visit their vet regularly, and what sort of people should go into veterinary science. In many ways this is a handbook for pet owners and future vets. I am neither a current pet owner or a future vet, so I found some of the essays that were instructional in nature less engaging than others, but overall there was lots to enjoy for just about anyone who likes animals. Schott's kind and empathetic nature shines through in all the essays and I hope that if I do get a pet in the future I'll find a vet to care for us with a similar passion for their profession.