Jon Katz Books In Order

Death by Station Wagon

When two popular high school students are found dead on a deserted estate, soft boiled private detective Christopher ”Kit” Deleeuw finally gets a challenging case to solve. PW.

The Last Housewife

Defending a stay at home mother of three who is accused of murdering a feminist school principal, Kit Deleeuw finds the community, his wife, and the chief of police in an uproar about his participation in what becomes a controversial case. Tour.

The Father’s Club

For men in the 90s, the world is full of pressure, difficult choices, and the struggle to build and maintain friendships. For the men in Jon Katz’s fourth Suburban Detective mystery, it is also a world fraught with betrayal, greed, and massive fraud not to mention murder. As The Fathers’ Club opens, Kit Deleeuw is feeling particularly embattled in his dual roles as detective and family man: His son is in trouble at school, his wife is away much of the time, and he is feeling out of place in the affluent suburb of Rochambeau. Having seen too much of the dark side of suburban life, he worries about becoming one of those men with too many acquaintances and too few friends. Into the midst of this slough of despond walks Linda Lewis, who wants Kit to investigate her ex husband Dale. Normally a dutiful father, Dale has fallen behind in his child support payments, and hasn’t called, visited the kids, or responded to Linda’s calls in long enough to have her worried. When the deadbeat Dad turns up dead in his office, Kit decides to infiltrate the men’s group Dale belonged to, hoping to find some clue. Dismissive of such groups as gatherings of narcissistic drumbeaters, he is surprised to find the men not only warm and welcoming, but full of good advice. In the end, Kit finds himself not only involved with Russian mobsters, federal investigators, and the victim’s infidelity, but also a lot wiser about the need men have to talk to one another, about his relationship with his son, and about his place in the child crazed town of Rochambeau.

Rose in a Storm

From New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz comes a moving and powerful novel, the first one inspired by life on his celebrated Bedlam Farm and perceptively told from the point of view of Rose, a dedicated working dog. Rose is determined and focused, keeping the sheep out of danger and protecting the other creatures on the farm she calls home. But of all those she’s looked after since coming to the farm as a puppy, it is Sam, the farmer, whom she watches most carefully. Awoken one cold midwinter night during lambing season, Rose and Sam struggle into the snowy dark to do their work. The ever observant Rose has seen a change in her master of late, ever since Sam s wife disappeared one day. She senses something else in the air as well: A storm is coming, but not like any of the ones she s seen over the years. This storm feels different, bigger, more foreboding. When an epic blizzard hits the region, it will take all of Rose s resolve, resourcefulness, and courage to help Sam save the farm and the creatures who live there. Jon Katz consulted with animal behavior scientists to create his unique and convincing vision of the world as seen through the eyes of a dog. Poignant, thrilling, and beautifully wrought, Rose in a Storm is a wonderfully original and powerful tale from a gifted storyteller.

Virtuous Reality

New electronic technologies are ‘dumbing down’ America. Pop culture creates violent kids with short attention spans. The decline of the print media has made adults politically apathetic. Communicating by computer isolates us and erodes our civic life. The internet, MTV, live cable talk shows, and other multimedia are corroding our society…
right?Wrong!! retorts Jon Katz. In his brilliant ‘take no prisoners’ polemic, he explains that if you believe any of the above, you’ve been swallowing the propaganda expounded by the powers that be, including the likes of William Bennett, Bob Dole, Tipper Gore, and Bill Clinton all of whom are keeping us ignorant of the real problems. This cutting edge book as useful to media phobes as it is to Webheads brings a much needed voice of reason and clarity to the debate over technology’s impact on society. It will make its readers rethink everything they’ve ever been told or read about the interaction between technology, media, and culture.

Media Rants

The culmination of columnist Jon Katz’s year in cyberspace as one of the first interactive journalists on the Web, Media Rants dismantles the static, old media empire while exploring the organic qualities of the Web and its direct impact on democracy and the new American civility.

Running to the Mountain

Jon Katz, a respected journalist, author, father, and husband, was turning fifty. His writing career was taking an uneasy turn, his wife had a demanding career of her own, his daughter was preparing to leave home for college, and he had become used to a sedentary lifestyle. ‘I had settled down,’ he notes. ‘Any more settling and I would vanish into the mud like some fat old catfish.’ In Running to the Moun tain, Katz finds a way to redefine and lend new meaning to his life. He writes, ‘I bought a tiny cabin at the very tip of a mountain in a remote corner of upstate New York and went there by myself…
. I went for a lot of different reasons, but mostly, I think, to try to be a better human.’ Armed with the writings of Trappist monk Thomas Merton, his two faithful yellow Labradors, and the desire to confront change rather than simply react to it, Katz departs from his suburban en clave where, as a carpooling father, he is known as ‘The Prince of Rides’ and heads to a new world. What he finds is a community where a rodent problem prompts anyone within earshot at the hardware store to offer advice, and where the digging of a new well draws every neighbor within miles to his front lawn. It’s also a place where he can be alone in na ture, a new discovery for someone whose ‘favorite night out is a trip to a bookstore, the pizza place, and the Sony megaplex.’ Habitually skeptical about religion, Katz finds in solitude a chance to consider the questions that have followed him into middle age: Can one find spirituality outside of a church, temple, or mosque? Is it possible to build a rational, moral framework for one’s life amid the complexities of modern life? As Katz restores his old cabin, learns self reliance in a lightning storm, and helps a friend prepare for fatherhood, he gathers newfound knowledge that will be a source of inspiration and achievement as he returns to the life he left behind. ‘It is absolutely impossible,’ Merton wrote, ‘for a man to live without some kind of faith.’ Katz adds, ‘It is equally impossible to change your life without some.’ Running to the Mountain is an unex pected reading experience of adventure, humor, contemplation, and growth.’As notions such as solitude and spirituality have been made to seem godly, they appear to float high above our mundane and unheroic experiences. Working long hours for big companies, rushing kids around to malls and soccer games, squirreling money away for college and retirement, we want to read about conversations with God, but don’t really expect to have any ourselves…
. My hope, coming to the mountain, was that change, spirituality, and idealism aren’t only way Up There, but also Down Here, in the details of daily life family, work, friends, dogs, dreams.’ From Running to the Mountain

Geeks

Jesse and Eric were roommates in the tiny town of Caldwell, Idaho, nineteen year old working class kids eking out a living with their seven dollar an hour jobs selling and fixing computers. College was never in the cards. Their families had been torn apart by divorce and hard times, separation and illness. They had almost no social lives, and little to look forward to. They spent every spare cent on their computers, and every spare moment on line. Jesse and Eric were proud Geeks suspicious or disdainful of authority figures, proud of their status as outsiders, fervent in their belief in the positive power of technology. They’d been outsiders as long as they could remember, living far from the mainstream of school or town life. Nobody spoke for them, they were on nobody’s social or political agenda. Geeks is the story of how Jesse and Eric and others like them used technology to try and change their lives and alter their destiny. They rode the Internet out of Idaho to Chicago, a city they had ever set foot in, seeking the American Dream, a better life. Geeks describes this brave and difficult journey, as two self described social misfits use the resources of the Internet to try to construct a new future for themselves, escape the boundaries of their dead end lives, and find a community they could belong to. Geeks explores a growing subculture about which many of us know little, a world with its own language, traditions, and taboos. In telling the stories of Jesse, Eric, and others like them, Geeks is a story about the very human face of technology.

A Dog Year

Change loves me, defines and stalks me like a laser guided smart bomb. It comes at me in all forms, suddenly and with enormous impact, from making shifts in work to having and raising a kid to buying a cabin on a distant mountaintop. Sometimes, change comes on four legs. In his popular and widely praised Running to the Mountain, Jon Katz wrote of the strength and support he found in the massive forms of his two yellow Labrador retrievers, Julius and Stanley. When the Labs were six and seven, a breeder who d read his book contacted Katz to say she had a dog that was meant for him a two year old border collie named Devon, well bred but high strung and homeless. Katz already had a full canine complement, but instinct overruled reason, and soon thereafter he brought Devon home.A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me is the story of how Devon and Jon and Julius and Stanley came to terms with each other. It shows how a man discovered a lot about himself through one dog and then another whose temperament seemed as different from his own as day is from night. It is a story of trust and understanding, of life and death, of continuity and change. It is by turns insightful, hilarious, and deeply moving.

The New Work of Dogs

Sometimes human dog relationships are simple, unrelated to the emotional lives and histories of either species. But often people acquire and love dogs with little awareness that they might have complex and revealing reasons for choosing the dog or pet they choose, loving it the way they do. Writing about his own dogs in A Dog Year, Jon Katz became immersed in a larger community of dog lovers and came to realize that in an increasingly fragmented and disconnected society, dogs are often treated not as pets, but as family members and human surrogates. The New Work of Dogs profiles a dozen such relationships in a New Jersey town, like the story of Harry, a Welsh corgi who provides sustaining emotional strength for a woman battling terminal breast cancer; Cherokee, companion of a man who has few human friends and doesn t know how to talk to his own family; the Divorced Dogs Club, whose funny, acerbic, and sometimes angry women turn to their dogs to help them rebuild their lives; and Betty Jean, the frantic founder of a tiny rescue group that has saved five hundred dogs from abuse or abandonment in recent years. Drawn from hundreds of interviews and conversations with dog owners and lovers, breeders, veterinarians, rescuers, trainers, behaviorists, and psychiatrists, The New Work of Dogs combines compelling personal narratives with a penetrating look at human/animal attachment, and questions whether this relationship shift is an entirely positive phenomenon for both species. Katz offers us a portrait of a community, and by extension a country, that is turning to its pets for emotional support and stability a difficult job that more and more dogs are expected to do every day. The New Work of Dogs is a provocative and moving exploration of the evolving role dogs play in a changing and uncertain world.

The Dogs of Bedlam Farm

Dogs are blameless, devoid of calculation, neither blessed nor cursed with human motives. They can t really be held responsible for what they do. But we can. from The Dogs of Bedlam FarmWhen Jon Katz adopted a border collie named Orson, his whole world changed. Gone were the two yellow Labs he wrote about in A Dog Year, as was the mountaintop cabin they loved. Katz moved into an old farmhouse on forty two acres of pasture and woods with a menagerie: a ram named Nesbitt, fifteen ewes, a lonely donkey named Carol, a baby donkey named Fanny, and three border collies. Training Orson was a demanding project. But a perceptive dog trainer and friend told Katz: If you want to have a better dog, you will just have to be a better godd*amned human. It was a lesson Katz took to heart. He now sees his dogs as a reflection of his willingness to improve, as well as a critical reminder of his shortcomings. Katz shows us that dogs are often what we make them: They may have their own traits and personalities, but in the end, they are mirrors of our own lives living, breathing testaments to our strengths and frustrations, our families and our pasts. The Dogs of Bedlam Farm recounts a harrowing winter Katz spent on a remote, windswept hillside in upstate New York with a few life saving friends, ugly ghosts from the past, and more livestock than any novice should attempt to manage. Heartwarming, and full of drama, insight, and hard won wisdom, it is the story of his several dogs forced Katz to confront his sense of humanity, and how he learned the places a dog could lead him and the ways a doge could change him. From the Hardcover edition.

Katz on Dogs

In a nation where our love of dogs keeps growing and dog ownership has reached an all time high, confusion about dogs and their behavioral problems is skyrocketing. Many dogs are out of control, untrained, chewing up furniture, taking medication for anxiety, and biting millions of people a year. Now, in this groundbreaking new guide, Jon Katz, a leading authority on the human canine bond, offers a powerful and practical philosophy for living with a dog, from the moment we decide to get one to the sad day when one dies. Conventional training methods often fail dog owners, but Katz argues that we know our dogs better than anyone else possibly could, and therefore we are well suited to train them. It is imperative, he says, that we think rationally and responsibly about how we choose, train, and live with the dogs we love, and the more we learn about ourselves, the better we can recognize their wonderful animal natures. Misinterpreting dogs is a profound obstacle to understanding them. Katz believes that both people and dogs are unique a chow differs from a Lab just as a city dweller differs from a farmer and he describes how such individuality isn t addressed by even the best and most popular training methods. Not every training theory is for everyone, notes Katz, but almost anyone can train a dog and live with him comfortably. Katz on Dogs is filled with no nonsense advice and answers to such key questions as: What kind of dog should I have? Is there is a specific breed or kind of dog for my personality, family, or living situation? What is the best way to train a dog? Can I trust my vet? How often and for how long can a dog be left alone? Is it preferable to have only one dog, or are more better? What are the secrets to successful housebreaking? What are my dogs thinking, if anything? How can I walk my dog instead of having her walk me? Is it ever okay to give away a dog you love? When is it time to put my dog down?Katz draws from his own experience, his interactions with thousands of dog owners, vets, breeders, dog rescue workers, trainers, and behaviorists, and he has tested his approach with volunteer dog owners around the country. Their helpful and often inspiring stories illustrate how all of us can live well with our dogs. You can do it, Katz contends. You can live a loving and harmonious life with your dog. From the Hardcover edition.

A Good Dog

People who love dogs often talk about a lifetime dog. I d heard the phrase a dozen times before I came to recognize its significance. Lifetime dogs are dogs we love in especially powerful, sometimes inexplicable ways. Jon KatzIn this gripping and deeply touching book, bestselling author Jon Katz tells the story of his lifetime dog, Orson: a beautiful border collie intense, smart, crazy, and unforgettable. From the moment Katz and Orson meet, when the dog springs from his traveling crate at Newark airport and panics the baggage claim area, their relationship is deep, stormy, and loving. At two years old, Katz’s new companion is a great herder of school buses, a scholar of refrigerators, but a dud at herding sheep. Everything Katz attempts obedience training, herding instruction, a new name, acupuncture, herb and alternative therapies helps a little but not enough, and not for long. Like all border collies and many dogs, Katz writes, he needed work. I didn t realize for some time I was the work Orson would find. While Katz is trying to help his dog, Orson is helping him, shepherding him toward a new life on a two hundred year old hillside farm in upstate New York. There, aided by good neighbors and a tolerant wife, hip deep in sheep, chickens, donkeys, and more dogs, the man and his canine companion explore meadows, woods, and even stars, wade through snow, bask by a roaring wood stove, and struggle to keep faith with each other. There, with deep love, each embraces his unfolding destiny. A Good Dog is a book to savor. Just as Orson was the author s lifetime dog, his story is a lifetime treasure poignant, timeless, and powerful. From the Hardcover edition.

Dog Days / Saving Izzy

In Dog Days, Jon Katz, the squire of Bedlam Farm, allows us to live our dreams of leaving the city for the country, and shares the unpredictable adventure of farm life. The border collies, the sheep, the chickens, the cat, the ram, and one surprisingly sociable steer named Elvis all contribute to the hum and occasional roar of Bedlam. On timeless summer days and in punishing winter storms, Katz continues his meditation on what animals can selflessly teach us and what we in turn owe to them. With good neighbors, a beautiful landscape, and tales of true love thrown in, Dog Days gives us not only marvelous animal stories but a rich portrait of the harmonious world that is Bedlam Farm.

Praise for Dog Days:

Anyone who has ever loved an animal, who owns a farm or even dreams of it, will read Dog Days with appreciation and a cathartic lump in his or her throat.
The Washington Post

Katz proves himself a Thoreau for modern times as he ponders the relationships between man and animals, humanity and nature, and the particularly smelly qualities of manure.
Fort Worth Star Telegram

Katz constructs the perfect blend between self revelation and his subtle brand of humor.
The Star Ledger

City dweller turned farmer Katz…
returns with further adventures from his animal filled upstate New York sheep farm. Charming.
People

The perfect summer book…
You will not be disappointed.
The Philadelphia Inquirer

A new twist on the American dream.
The Christian Science Monitor

Thoroughly enchanting.
The Dallas Morning News

Soul of a Dog

Do animals have souls? Some of our greatest thinkers Aristotle, Plato, Thomas Aquinas and countless animal lovers have been obsessed with this question for thousands of years. Now New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz looks for an answer. With his signature wisdom, humor, and clarity, Katz relates the stories of the animals he lives with on Bedlam Farm and finds remarkable kinships at every turn. Whether it is beloved sheepdog Rose’s brilliant and methodical herding ability, Mother the cat s keen mousing instincts, or Izzy s canine compassion toward hospice patients, Katz is mesmerized to see in them individual personas and sparks of self awareness. Soul of a Dog will resonate with anyone who loves dogs, cats, or other animals and who wonders about the spirits that animate them and the deepening hold they have on our lives.

Izzy & Lenore

In his previous books, New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz introduced us to the delightful menagerie at Bedlam Farm, including Izzy, the unforgettable border collie rescue. Now, in Izzy & Lenore, Katz delves deeper into his connection with the beautiful, once abandoned dog, learning yet again about the unexpected places animals can take us. Affectionate and intuitive, Izzy is unlike any dog Katz has encountered, and the two undertake a journey Katz could not have imagined without the arrival of a new companion: a spirited, bright eyed black Labrador puppy named Lenore. As trained hospice volunteers visiting homes and nursing facilities in upstate New York, Katz and Izzy bring comfort and canine companionship to people who most need it. An eighty year old Alzheimer’s patient smiles for the first time in months when she feels Izzy s soft fur. A retired logger joyfully remembers his own beloved dog when he sees Izzy. As Izzy bonds with patients and Katz focuses on their families, the author begins to come to terms with his own life, discovering dark realities he has never confronted. Meanwhile, Lenore quickly dubbed the Hound of Love arrives at Bedlam. Her genial personality and boundless capacity for affection steer Katz out of the shadows, rekindle his love of working with dogs, and restore his connection to the farm and the animals and people around him. Humorous and deeply moving, Izzy & Lenore is a story of a man confronting his past, embracing the blessings of his current life, and rediscovering the meaning of friendship, family, and faith. Katz shares an uplifting tale of love, compassion, and the rich and complex relationships between dogs and their humans.

Going Home

In Soul of a Dog, Izzy & Lenore, A Good Dog, and other acclaimed works, New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz has written meaningfully about the cherished bond between humans and animals especially our intense connection to our pets. Now, in this moving and thoughtful book, Katz addresses the difficult but necessary topic of saying goodbye to a devoted companion, and offers comfort, wisdom, and a way forward from sorrow to acceptance. When Jon Katz first brought Orson home, he couldn t predict how this boisterous border collie would change his life, most notably by inspiring him to buy Bedlam Farm. Yet for all of Katz’s years as a dog owner, Orson s death shook him in a deeply profound way. I was embarrassed by my grief, he remembers. What right did I have to fall to pieces over a border collie? Drawing on personal experiences, stories from fellow pet owners, and philosophical reflections, Katz provides guidance and support for those in mourning. By allowing ourselves to grieve honestly and openly, he posits, we can in time celebrate the dogs, cats, and other creatures that have so enriched us. With great compassion, Katz compels us to consider if we gave our pets good lives, if we were their advocates in times of need, and if we used our best judgments in the end. In dealing with these issues, we can alleviate guilt, let go, and help others who are undergoing similar passages. Full of empathy, insight, and sage advice, Going Home is an invaluable guide and touchstone for anyone who has lost a pet. Jon Katz honors the animals that have graced our lives and reveals their truly timeless gifts: unwavering companionship and undying love.

Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm

Welcome to Bedlam Farm! Meet Rose, Izzy, Frieda, and Lenore, four dogs that work hard on the farm doing various jobs. They’re good friends now, but it wasn’t always this way. Just as each dog has a different role on the farm, each has a unique story. Filled with his captivating photographs, bestselling author Jon Katz’s heartwarming account of his dogs’ lives on Bedlam Farm is unforgettable.