Finding Gobi: A Little Dog with a Very Big Heart Paperback – June 13, 2017

I pre-ordered this book from Amazon and I bought the audio book and I recommend buying both!I love this book for many reasons! I'm an animal lover and this is incredible love story but it also about consciousness raising and the fact there are so many dogs in need of homes and the jeopardy dogs face if they are not in loving homes.You learn that Dion was a couch potato and really overweight -- there's one photo in the book - who's that guy? The book is a page turner and I love the photos of Gobi and Dion's family especially his grandmother who was a loving force in his life "Gobi-esque".The book is global and you learn people from all over the world even North Korea chipped in money to help bring Gobi home.Dion had major shocking traumas growing up. He felt very unloved and he was abused and through Gobi adopting him he is healed -- you'll note he wasn't at first even warm to Gobi focused on competition, self-preservation, food which he has to carry and he is worried about germs but he is eventually blown away by her ability to run alongside him happily joyfully (aprox) 80 miles on her teeny-weeny little legs. His wife Lucja inspired Dion to get off the couch to give up being a couch potato and introduced him to ultra marathons. Lucja a beautiful blonde is a loving dynamo and I love every time she is mentioned in this book she's an uplift like a human "Gobi" with a huge heart non quitting spirit loving soul. She also plays a key role in bringing Gobi home.Gobi is the name of formidable desert geographical wonder but for me Gobi now means a loving heart or dog with incredible spirit and non-quitting spirit never giving up and just loving with the biggest greatest capacity biggest heart even if you have a little body so "Gobi" has a new definition for me!This is a love story ( Global love people of every different background, love of a husband and wife, love of animals, love bridging any geographical boundaries and or politics - my guess the film will be a global success and touch even more hearts around the world) and Dion is extremely diplomatic in part because if you are not there you can be an incredible target for all kinds of retaliation in any country which I know living in New York City, United States of America!!!! NYC is not the liberal progressive City it pretends to be. I have PTSD -- I'm still in shock at what happened to me for being a blogger and just writing my opinions and also being a whistle blower about corruption here in NYC. I was savagely assaulted at an MD's in Soho NYC my left eye a hole in my retina floaters in both my eyes and after I was threatened with false imprisonment unless I dropped the charges -- the story and aftermath a shocker!!! Because of eyes trauma... and insomnia from attack -- I often buy audiobooks now and I love the Australian guy's accent that reads you Finding Gobi. I often listen to the book over and over and over because I do have PTSD.I've been really suffering and this book is giving me some kind of joy, hope and solace. I love seeing YouTubes of Gobi -- she is so beautiful and she pretty much always consistently wagging her tail even after surgery --you can see her on YouTube fragile carefully walking clearly in some pain but yet working her tail.One very painful disturbing aspect which again is very gently and diplomatically questioned is what happened to Gobi when she went missing...When she is discovered she has clearly had 2 severe impacts to her little body -- one to the top of her head for which she will always bare a scar and the other impact was so severe that it damaged her hip ---- she is found limping and in pain but her JOYOUS nature her loving big heart always transcends whatever terrible pains she feels --, she is the ultimate ultra marathoner and when you first see video of her running with the ultra-marathoner Dion she is always wagging her tail, she so happy that is her true nature and I guess we all wish we could do that no matter what our pain to tap into the ultimate joy and love that's what it's all about.I really would like to know what happened to her, was she kidnapped was it simply an accident?It's a great book with a happy ending we don't have enough happy endings in this world and there's an irony too for China a Country with terrible human rights and animal rights abuses China comes off like a shining star ultimately doing the right thing and we see into the lives of Chinese people who have the most beautiful caring humanity... their efforts were/are extraordinary and so loving and that's why this book is a winner the book unites people around the world many who did anything and everything to help even if it was pitch in a little bit of money or a lot of money.I hope the Chinese Government will be inspired by all the positive attention...(you can finish this sentence for me...).I highly recommend this book!!!!!ps I donated $ to gofund me page too

Loved this book and would definitely recommend to other animal lovers. Little Gobi and Dion were meant to be together.

I like this dog very much and this is a man who needs a dog. That said... The author went into China after his dog ignorant and unprepared and, seemingly, lacking curiosity about the the country. So much of what he experienced would have been easier for him if he'd educated himself ahead, but he didn't really know where he was going when he arrived at the race. At the end, I'm very happy to say, he does know where he has been and that is the nature of real travel, I think. I ended up feeling that Gobi is one of the luckiest -- and most lovable -- dogs in the world, but her owner needs some work. Gobi is definitely up to the task. It's a strong story but the writing doesn't live up to it.

As a dog lover, I enjoyed this book so much. Gobi stole my heart. I also liked learning about the world of long distance runners.

What a fantastic story of the special bond between a human and dog! Well paced, well written. A delight to read! Thank you Dion & Gobi!

I had ardently followed Dion and Gobi's adventure on social media from the beginning. I read about their friendship, and then was gutted to learn that (SPOILER ALERT!0 that Gobi had gone missing. I was elated to learn a few weeks later that (SPOILER ALERT) that she'd been found. I eagerly anticipated each "pupdate" that Dion posted on You Tube detailing the arduous process to take Gobi to the UK.I was excited to learn that their story would be made into a book, but I figured that it would be a rehash of everything that I already knew. Still, I wanted to support Dion and Gobi, so I happily pre-ordered it.Boy, was I wrong! Turns out the story has more twists and turns than I had ever dreamed of. Even though I knew that the story had a happy ending, there is still genuine, stomach turning suspense in the book, as forces so much larger than a man and his dog come into the picture. I have even more admiration for Dion than I had when I started the book, as their journey was so much more difficult and complicated than he'd let on in his social media postings and interviews.If you're a dog lover, there are many parts of the book that will bring you to tears, but even if you're not, you will still enjoy it. It's a very well written, insightful book about endurance and perseverance in the face of obstacles.I have pre-ordered the picture book for my year old niece and nephew. I want them to grow up knowing all about Dion and GobI! Also can't wait for the movie version, hopefully to begin shooting next year.

Being a dog lover with a little rescue terrier similar in size and color to Gobi, I did enjoy the book and the author's commitment to bringing her home. As I finished the book, I held some reservations about the seemingly overwrought emotions he displayed, and extensive resources expended. A little over a year ago my son and daughter-in-law brought home their new little daughter, Mia Grace from China. Though 20 months old, she wore 9 months size clothing, was almost bald, and could not walk. Now just a year later, she is an energetic little toddler who is blossoming under the love of family and friends. I am happy for Deon and Gobi; I only wish there could be as much acclaim in bringing home orphaned, unwanted babies.

Not sure what I was expecting, but that little dog was way more than expected! A heartwarming story with a satisfying outcome.