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Following is a discussion question from the author for the December 2014 book of the month, "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein.

Enzo's observations throughout the novel provide insight into his world view. For example:

• —"The visible becomes inevitable."
  —"Understanding the truth is simple. Allowing oneself to experience it, is often terrifically difficult."
  —"No race has ever been won in the first corner; many races have been lost there."

How does his philosophy apply to real life?

I think it is is amazing how apt these observations are. I also think it was makes the title of the book so awesome. Whether you are talking the law of attraction or what many people call karma or just having level-headedness and wisdom, it seems so clear that in everyday life "the car goes where your eyes go". Focus on and engage with the negative, and you meet more negativity. When people treat you bad or do things that upset you, if you stoop to their level you just make things worse for yourself. You can't control the weather, but you control how you react--wow what a perfect metaphor for life Stein has made using racing in the rain! What do you think?

I've definitely noticed that how we think affects what will happen, because it's a minor form of self-fulfilling prophecy. Karma is always something I've believed in, simply because it seems plausible and I've experienced things that I choose to view as examples of it. I don't know if the truth is easy to see, but that may be because humans have so many coping skills and self soothing techniques that our minds automatically do to help us cope with reality. So it may be that the truth is very easy to see, but we're hiding from it.

I agree that Enzo had many wonderful observations on the human experience. Of course that is because it was a human that wrote them. I think the second of Scott's example quotes resonates the most with me. We so often know things intellectually, but hesitate to really experience them. I am currently adjusting to a massive lifestyle change and I find that I spend a lot of time thinking about this truth.

The this one resonated with me the most. I've always been a runner and it reminds me that the hardest part of the race is not in the first corner, but at the end. If one doesn't venture forward into the unknown, they'll never win the race of life.

I too was struck by how many of Enzo's observations applied to real life. With regard to ""No race has ever been won in the first corner; many races have been lost there," I was struck by how it was exactly what I needed to hear at the time that I read the book. So many times in our lives, we're looking for quick fixes - whether it be quick meals, quick weight loss, getting rich quick, etc., when in reality so many things in our lives should be treated as a long game.

I especially like the observation "No race has ever been won in the first corner; ..." The older I get, the more I appreciate the virtues of patience.

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." (John Quincy Adams)

"Patience serves as a protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold." (Leonardo da Vinci)

I'm reviving this because I read this book before I found this site and really enjoyed it - for me, I resonated with "Understanding the truth is simple". Sometimes (often) I know a lot about what I need to do, but actually doing it is hard. Especially in relationships, just knowing that you're in an unhealthy one isn't sufficient, or even close to it. That's something I learned the hard way and I'm watching a friend go through now. But that's dogs for you - they're so often more intuitive than humans.

Scott wrote:Following is a discussion question from the author for the December 2014 book of the month, "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein.

Enzo's observations throughout the novel provide insight into his world view. For example:

• —"The visible becomes inevitable."
  —"Understanding the truth is simple. Allowing oneself to experience it, is often terrifically difficult."
  —"No race has ever been won in the first corner; many races have been lost there."

How does his philosophy apply to real life?

I find myself agreeing with the second and third.
Knowing the truth is simple, knowing is very different than accepting and feeling, but it's part of life.
And for the third quote, I learned all that I know about racing from this book, but when I apply this to life, it makes sense: you gotta keep going, you can't give it all at the beginning and save nothing for later. It gets tougher later and you have to have more to give.

I don't normally read books about animals, but I really liked this one and Enzo's thoughts on life.