This book should be read by everyone who has loved a pet. The book takes thru the circle of life, embracing the journey and making us feel we are there. Every feeling the author shares becomes ours. The book reminds us it is okay to have loved and lost, if not we would, as Garth Brooks says "would have missed the dance" - as we enter into a pet relationship we are glad we are not thinking of how it might end, if we were we would probably pass, and oh, how much we and that pet would have missed.
Thank you Mr. Levin for sharing your journey.

Great story about a lucky dog and dog lovers whoe rescued him.
It made me feel great about the love and dedication in rescuing a great dog.
Friendly warning: If you start reading in late evening, you may not get enough sleep because it is hard to put down this book.

I bought this for a friend who has a very sick dog they have owned for 8 years. We both read it, it is wonderfully written, sad and yet encouraging when you realize other people have lost pets and cared as much as you do.

O my GOSH, this brought tears while reading it stranded in an airport. I have lost a forever special dog (my best friend) & now I have 2 more dogs the same breed. One I was blessed with when he was 4 years old & the other his granddaughter who is now 3 years old. They have my heart in their paws for ever. It's always so hard to let go of some one you love, doing it at the right time is the hard part.

I love Mark Levin even more now than I did before reading this book. I must admit that I cried through most of it, but I highly recommend it to all animal lovers.

I actually like Mark's radio show since my political views are somewhat close. However, his book about Sprite's life and death was so sappy I just couldn't believe it.

I love and have trained many service dogs and truly appreciate their value in my home and business life; my Dobermans are in my office right now.

The book just droned on and on; I kept hoping Mark would just "cowboy up" and understand that death is a very important part of life and while I totally sympathize with the loss of a great dog, I kept saying to myself for Mark to "just deal with it."

And by the way his other great dog while temporarily being down about the death of his "friend" got over the loss much better than Mark. Mark must know that dogs live "for the moment" and have no conception of what's happened and what will happen.

All in all, the book was a waste of time; I'm glad I bought it used and cheap!

The guy spent half the book mourning the loss of the dog. Now, I love my dog and will be sad when she passes away, but I don't want to subject a reader to me crying over my dog. I'd rather spend the time remembering the dog's life.

I've read some of the negative reviews about this book and they are either negative because they are politically opposed to Mark or because the book isn't a literary masterpiece.

I listen to Mark's radio show and his book is sort of the anti-Mark. The book talks about Mark and his family's raw emotions about losing a family friend -- Sprite. Mark is a tough political commentator and his book shows him in a completely different light. He wrote it in a time of emotional distress and never intended it to "paint pictures" for people --- it was an emotional purge.

One of the reviews I read said that Mark was close to his parents yet never visits them...??.. The reviewer missed the part in the book where Mark says that he talks to his father EVERY night after his show ends.

If you've ever had to put down a dog, not had a dog die but YOU decide it's time for the dog to die, you'll agonize through this book just like Mark agonized through that time in his life. I know, I've done it.

I just had the misfortune to stumble upon Rob B's "review" of "The Great One" Mark Levin's book "Rescuing Sprite." Rob B. must not have read this great book, (he probably can't read at all) because politics is NOT MENTIONED ONCE in it.
I'm writing this as someone who has gone through the same anguish as Mr. Levin and who related to the same feelings he had. For Rob. B to write this hateful diatribe shows that he, like his Leftist buddies, not only doesn't have a heart, he doesn't have a brain.

I am suprised Levin did not blame his dog's death on Clinton, Levin is scum and lives like scum and his dog probably died to get away from him.

This is a dog lover's book. My dad purchased and sent this book to me a week ago just after I lost my 15 year old puppy. I read the book in one night and it helped because I could sympathize and empathize with the author... and I cried my eyes out.

Our dogs choose us no matter how much we think we choose them. Every dog is special and different and we are truly blessed to have their companionship.

So, am I dog lover? Well, yes. We used to have the world's greatest dog, a Dachsund-Jack Russell cross called Trixie who became an indispensible member of our family. And we are thinking of getting another. But this book almost puts me off....

Here we have a dog lover with a very lovable pet who brought so much pleasure and fulfilment to his life. But in the end, this book really is the longest lament to a dog that passes away and I'm really looking for much more than that in the story of a relationship between dog and dog owner. I have every respect for Mark Levin and his pet. But there's so much anguish in this desperately sad book that I honestly would not recommend it. Sorry to present a contrary view to many other readers, but this book is not particularly well written either. Just read 'Marley and Me' and you'll see how it can be done.

I loved this book. It is very well written and gave me a whole different opinion of the author as someone who is very kind and tenderhearted.

I cried all the way through. It had not been long since I had had to put my best friend to sleep so that probably made me more emotional, but being the dog lover that I am, I think I probably would have cried about as much even if I hadn't lost my angel.

Thank God for people like Mark Levin who take in rescue animals instead of buying pure breds.

I highly recommend this book...it's one of the best I've read in a long time in spite of the tears, and I'll always treasure it in my library.

First and foremost, I must say that I am a dog lover and bought this book because I have a twelve year old boxer dog that is beloved to me. He was my first child before I had my own children. I know that given his failing health, we don't have that much time left together. I bought this book thinking that reading about someone else's experience may make mine easier to deal with. I found that this book did not meet that need.

I made myself finish reading this book, even though it really wasn't terrible "gripping" as another reviewer noted. I guess after all these great reviews, I really expected more. The author is obviously devoted to his dogs, but reading this book is like reading a middle schooler's diary. The language is simple and most of the time, quite juvenile. It almost reminded me of reading the essay of a 10-year old child that never ends: "I like my dog. He likes to play ball with me. He sleeps on my bed. He likes food from the table. We love him a lot. He got sick and we were very sad." OK - so it is not quite that simplistic - - but from the level of language used in the book, I would suspect that the target audience is intermediate level children and not adults.

I am sure that this book comes from the heart, and may be very "therapeutic" to some owners who have just lost their dogs, but it is a little too simple for most adults and really lacks a "story" behind it.

Not only is this author the best talk radio host in the world, but he writes very well. You feel like you are walking along with him as he experiences the events leading up to this painful decision of putting his beloved dog down. Let's face it, most of us at some time in our life will have to go through this, and its very difficult. I am also touched by the small details he adds about his family and friends. He is a family man who loves and cherishes them. We should all be so lucky to have someone like that in our lives. The book is wonderful, and so is the author. I just noticed i could have gotten it in the large print version. (damn)

Kind of a boring book. Too much about the man instead of the dog.

I loved this book. I received it for my birthday (last year I got Marley & Me), and wondered if it'd be as enjoyable as Marley & Me. Well it was, and I'm glad to say they are both on my 'fave' list.

This book is a touching view on living with a dog that's not going to be around for too much longer, and I know in a few years I fact that situation with one of my dogs.

Just a lovely, lovely book.

I liked Rescuing Sprite. It is a quick reading book and one to read in between other heavier subject matter (like histories). I like narratives that remain simple, yet get the details of the scene and the feeling of the moment in. This was one of those. It was not depressing at all to me. Mark Levin handles the life and death aspects of pet companionship in a way that will not weigh too heavily on the heart when one reads the entire book. I suggest pet owners read this book.

Why all the fuss about a dog when we kill and eat other animals. Does'nt other animals have feelings as well. Try take a knife and cut off the head of a Cow or Sheep. See that animal cry and wither in pain. All because you want to eat it.
The writer is a hypocrite. Advocate for no animal cruelty then I will be on your boat.

This is a great book, one for anyone who's ever loved an animal. There's a message of hope and love - and eventually sadness, but well worth it. I've rescued two cats in the last year and I often have the same thoughts that Levin had about Sprite. What was their life before, what harshness did they see, and are they happy to be here.

I requested the book through the library loan system, and they decided to buy the book instead. Since a portion of the book's proceeds go to various animal charities, I'm glad they did.

I think Gross's review of the book missed the mark, pun intended. This is not the next great American novel, nor was it intended to be. It is a rather simple story of a man's devotion to his dogs and the emotional journey of saying goodbye to a beloved friend. I do agree that the writing is not "imaginative" or "original," and whoever penned that should be fired. But what I did see was a compelling story written from the heart. The point the story makes, and does it quite well, is that we learn a great deal about ourselves and about life from our experiences with our pets. This book took me back to my experience with a wonderful little Exotic shorthair kitten we named Cody. He had an inoperable liver shunt and was not expected to live beyond 4 months. He died a week before his first birthday, and my daughter and I learned more about living with a terminal condition and dying with grace than any human could ever have taught us. This little Angel never ceased to be loving, sweet and if it can be said of a cat, upbeat. His strength, his will to live, and the love he showed us will forever remain as one of life's greatest lessons for me and my daughter. There is much more to this story -- perhaps I should write it, lol -- but the fact remains that Mark's book reminded me that my experiences with Cody are not isolated and that we can all learn about compassion, loyalty, love, strength, and grace from our beloved animal friends. Thank you, Mark, for sharing your story with all of us.

As I was reading this book, I had to put it down frequently to wipe the tears from my eyes. There have been several books over the years where people have loved and lost their pets but the issue that Mark Levin addressed was not only losing his dog but having to put it to sleep. We put our doberman down a couple years ago and it was heart breaking. The thought that we decided when to end his life was very hard to deal with. Although I know we provided him with an abundance of love and the best medical care possible. (Over the years, he had three cardiologists)

This book is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. Being a true dog lover and having experienced the loss of my sweet bichon, Sunny,I can identify with his joy and grief. A must read for the true dog lover. It will bring smiles to your face and tears to your eyes.

Nationally syndicated radio talk-sho host and conservative lawyer/legal scholar Mark R. Levin has penned what is destined to be a classic story that will touch the heart of any pet owner.

As a soon-to-be proud owner of a Standard Schnauzer (and former owner of a Pug that had to be put down due to chronic illness in her old age), I could appreciate the raw emotion Levin shared first of adopting Sprite from his foster home, then nursing Sprite through several illnesses, until finally having to part with his beloved companion at the end.

What was most touching was the email correspondences shared with people like Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity; all of whom shared Levin's love of pets and who offered their compassion and strength in his time of loss.

This book is an easy read; I was able to finish it in two evenings. However, it gave me a greater appreciation for those compassionate individuals who dedicate their lives to animal shelters. I have a newfound respect for life and for the dedication of the men and women who care for abandoned animals until they are reclaimed, adopted or euthanized.

Rescuing Sprite will cause you to give your dog an extral hug tonight. Thank you Mark Levin for sharing your story with dog lovers everywhere.

This tender story exposes the underbelly of loving someone you may one day lose. I admire Mark for taking on a difficult situation and seeing it through to its conclusion. Rescuing Sprite speaks of true love wrapped in courage and serves as a example of staying the course regardless.

This is a wonderful book as soon as I started reading it I could not put it down. I laughed and cried and it touched my heart.

Although the book does a nice job promoting rescue dogs, it also does a nice job promoting the author's republican friends! I thought all his name dropping was unnecessary and distracting.

If you do not LOVE dogs - don't waste your time reading this book b/c you will not UNDERSTAND. It was okay - but it kind of dragged on - it was easy to read but not necessarily COMPELLING. I mean, you kind of KNOW what is going to happen just by reading the cover. We all have DOG/animal stories - the only difference is.... this guy WROTE about it. His experience is in black & white. I'm sure it made him feel better sharing his story & it is GOOD he is donating profits to an animal shelter. "DOG PEOPLE" will most likely enjoy reading this despite it being sad.

Each time I hear of a new book involving dogs and our bond of love with them I am eager to rush to read it. Of the significant number of my previous reads I have to say this was the most uninspiring and worst of any. The author's writing style is juevenile and displays a lack of creative and moving vocabulary. He does not weave a good tale. The content of the story itself is mundane, nothing particularly insightful in this book. I found the author to be self surving as well. There are some lovely stories of love and loss of pets available. This is not one of them. Sure we dog lovers can be easily moved to tears at a sad story of losing one of dear pets, but that alone does not a good read make.

I'm a sucker for a good dog story and this one is among the best. Mark Levin did an exceptional job of explaining the link between humans and their canine companions, about unconditional love and how the loss of that love leaves a hole in your heart forever.

For all the dog lovers in the world, reading this story about "SRPITE" will make you think of every dog you've ever owned and have you grieving all over again for their loss in your lives!

I wept through 118 pages of this book so it's not for the faint of heart. Then again, as I said, I'm just a sucker for a good dog story.

Owned by dogs and cats my heart goes out to the Levin family. I too had to put my cat down and felt the same thing Mr. Levin did. Beautifully written and so so real you can reach out and touch Pepsi and Sprite and give them love. Though much sadness in the loss of any animal you have the memories are the greatest joy. By remembering they live on forever in your heart and thoughts.

For any pet owner who has ever lost a pet, or for those of you who are first time pet owners this book is a must read. It show a owner's devotion to his pet that any true pet owner would. And the heartache over losing a beloved pet. Whether you own a dog, cat, fish or whatever...buy this book. You won't be disappointed. Besides, proceeds from it will go to animal shelters.

Call me a curmudgeon, but I didn't like this book. I mean--what's not to like? It's about an abandoned dog who is rescued and adopted and the dog eventually dies. It has all the elements I would normally love - animals, pathos, tear-jerking finales.

But Mark R. Levin (radio talk show host and author of the best-selling book, "Men in Black: How the Supreme Court is Destroying America") gives it all the warmth of a book about the Supreme Court. "Marley" tells the same story, but John Grogan does it with such style that we love Marley and we weep at his demise.

Levin gives us nothing to love. It's a dog, everybody worshipped him, and he died. We don't get a feel for his quirks, for his personality. We get an overly long gut-wrenching treatise on the decision to end his suffering, and an overblown period of guilt that they didn't do more to save him.

I'm certainly not a heartless person. I've loved, and lost dogs (and a cat or two). I have buried children. I know the pain of loss, but Levin's problem is not making us care about Sprite the way we did about Marley. In the end the book seems overly maudlin and, quite frankly, self-serving. I'm not sure why it was a best seller except, perhaps, that people like me who gobble up books like this thought we might be discovering another "Marley."

We weren't.

Don't waste your time on this book.

A few months before this book came out, our cat, who we had rescued from a shelter only a few years earlier, had started getting very ill and having seizures. This book came out the day she passed away. Within a couple hours telling people about our cat, at least 3 people told us about hearing about this book and suggested it to us. I purchased it, but when it arrived was still to upset to read such a story, so it got put away. This past weekend, while cleaning out some cabinets, I came across it and sat down to read it. It's a very quick and easy read, but so powerful. Even though it has been months since we lost our cat and have since adopted a new one, this book really helped. It it reassurance that as humans we should not feel guilty over losing a pet or embarrassed by our extreme sadness or numbed by the loss. It is also a reminder that are attachment to our pets (and them to us) is a wonderful bond that should be celebrated and honored. For anyone who has loved and lost a pet and especially for anyone going through that mourning period right now, I highly recommend this book - just be sure to have some tissues nearby.

This book is a tribute to a wonderful dog who was well loved. This story is touching and one that I believe any pet owner can relate to. I cried because it reminded me of my cat and us. It shows the love between a family and their dogs and how difficult it is when their lives end. I could certainly relate to what the author was going through when his dog was deteriorating and he was faced with the decision to put it to sleep. I knew exactly how he felt having gone through the same thing with my cats. It is a very quick read because once you start, it's hard to put down.

I found it interesting that he said writing this book about his dog was cathartic for him because writing My Funny Dad, Harry in memory of my dad after he died was cathartic for me as well. When my cat died, I wrote a short essay about him too which helped me grieve so I liked this book very much and identified closely with the author since apparently we both grieved in the same way.

OK, so Mr. Levin tugged at the strings of all dog lovers hearts. I have 3 sitting near my feet in my basement office as I type. He also pointed out the plight of abandoned animals - commendable. The finger pointing at the invisible "bad guys" who abandoned these poor creatures could have been left out. He obviously has the means to provide MRI's and comprehensive care to his pets, whereas, I would assume (without actual statistics) that people who could not afford such testing have abandoned their pets in the hopes that someone with his means would adopt them. ALL of the proceeds should have benefited animal rescue and animal shelters not "some" as noted at the end of the book if he feels that strongly about the cause of aiding these lovable and precious friends.

What a loving and wonderful book this is. It hit me especially hard because I lost my second best friend on New Year's Eve, my precious MOE CAT!! I cried while reading this book, but also smiled and laughed too. Sprite was a fantastic dog and Mark Levin tells the story wonderfully. THIS IS A MUST READ BOOK! You owe yourself this book.

Thanks, Mr. Levin. I will never forget Sprite or my buddy Moe Cat.

--Gerard Zemek, husband of author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"

I bought Rescuing Sprite about one month ago, but did not pick it up to read until this morning...and finished right after lunch, and about 10,000 tears of joy and sorrow later.

This book is like a narrative, not a novel. It speaks to you as if the author is having a conversation with you. It's not meant to be elegant, eloquent, or fancy. It's a story, plain and simply told. It shares real life experiences in real ways. This is what makes this book so unique.

We lost our beloved Sammy, our 'forever family dog', in November of 2007. Some of the authors experiences were told as if I had written them myself. Some of his descriptions were exactly the thoughts and questions I faced.

This book is a marvelous story of a man and his dog, his family, his job, his friends. This is a slice of life. Thank you Mark Levin for sharing this with us.

"NewLand"

It is a very compelling book. Would touch your heart, make you cry and give you joy as well. It is a must read especially for pet lovers.

I read this book recently and was touched by Mark's sincerity for other creatures. He demonstrates conclusively that he isn't a one-dimensional person. Most people know him as a talk show host or constitutional lawyer. I recommend this book to all dog lovers and people who have suffered a loss in their lives.

I got this book out because since becoming a dog owner a couple of years ago, I have become a sap for dog stories. I love dogs and stories that people have about their animals.

I had no idea that this man was a radio host - I had never heard of him.

This book is very poorly written. I came on here and was shocked that it is rated 4 1/2 stars.

The story is very sad and it happens all the time. I felt that this would have been much better if he had written more about his family and less about radio hosts.

This really bugged me too.(Possible Spoiler) The dog is sick - you think he is going to die very soon. And you stil go on a trip to the Bahamas for a week? No way. I don't care if I had put money down on it. If a member of my family, which is what he says his dog was, was going to die within a couple of weeks, I would not leave it in the care of someone else. I would not go on a vacation! Their vacation was during Thanksgiving. Sprite died a couple of weeks before Christmas.

Mark Levin's "Rescuing Sprite: A Dog Lover's Story of Joy and Anguish" is a story about one man's love for his dogs and the anguish of losing one's pet. Mark Levin, the radio talk show host owns two dogs, Pepsi and Sprite and the first half of the book focuses on how the family rescued Sprite from an animal shelter and how the dog became part of the family. As I have never own a dog, it was very touching for me to learn about how much the author loves his dogs and how hard it was to let go and to deal with his inevitable death. I disagreed with reviewers who think that there is a political agenda in his book because one can clearly see how this wasn't a book about politics but it was about a man who had to deal with the loss of his best friend. "Rescuing Sprite" wasn't as engaging as "Marley & Me," but it was still a great read. Highly recommended.

Get ready to cry. I absolutely loved this book! I read this book in one night and had swollen eyes the next morning. I don't own a dog, but my kids and husband are putting on the pressure for us to get one. I know the love of a dog is unconditional, but Mr. Levin really let us in on how it really feels to love and lose a dog. Superior! I read it because my husband shares the same name as the author, so I thought it must be good- AND it was!

If you love dogs you will love this book. I have had Shetland Sheep Dogs for more than 40 years and they have enriched my life in many ways. Mr. Levin has opened his heart for the world to see as he tells his story of "Sprite" and how this adopted dog pound mutt became a precious member of his family. A dog lover will identify with Mr. Levin's highs and lows of letting a dog become your very best friend. This is an emotional story telling that will in fact tell you a lot about Mr. Levin. Although he is a well known political author and national legal figure, with a surface reputation as a tough guy, his story reveals much of his caring and nuturing side. It takes a real man to tell the world how he liked to hold "Sprite's" face in his hands and gently nuzzled the dogs cold nose.

This is a fabulous story of the man/dog relationship that most of us have with our pets. A real touching story, and a tear-jerker.

I won't kid you, this is a true tear jearker and will tug at your heart strings. Having to face loosing one of our "fur babies" that we have had the best 17 years with, I felt all the same raw emotions and questions that the author is going through with his beloved, Sprite. While tearing so badly at times I couldn't see the page to read, I felt that his story was healing to me as I face losing our "Henry". Once my own emotions are not so raw, I intend on rereading the book. This is a must read for every dog lover. "Dogs are not, pets, they are family"

Every dog lover will relate to this. To hear this side of Mark Levin come out is endearing, and he expresses the love of his pet so well. A fast, enjoyable, relatable read. And yes, sad...

I read this book, and was very touched by it. It brought back memories of the many pets I have had and lost due to old age. I loved all of my pets, but have a special fondness for dogs. They have such great personalities. I plan to share this book with my friends who are also dog lovers.

I loved this book and intend to read it again and again. After being a fan of Mark Levin's conservative radio programs, I was somewhat, but not totally, surprised by this softer side of him. Over and over I wonder why the Good Lord chose the relatively short time period of 12 to 15 life years for dogs. We can always get another, but like Mark explains in his book, each one is completely different and unique. I cried when Sprite had to go. A definite winner!

I'll have to agree with many of the other reviewers here. I also got this book as a Christmas present from a relative and was excited to start reading it. Rescuing dogs is something near and dear to my heart.
Once I started reading, I kept waiting for the story to pick up, but then Mr. Levin started dropping names and after that point, I was pretty much done. I didn't like his style of writing at all.
I wish Mr. Levin hadn't brought his political agenda to this book, I feel it had so much potential but didn't really go anywhere.
That being said, it did make me cry. Not because of the story itself, but because it brought back memories of my childhood dog that I had to put down a few years ago.
I am glad I didn't spend the money myself. As some others recommended, I would agree: get it at the library and spend your money on donations to your local shelter instead.