Wild Animus Boxed Set (Book and CDs)

This gripping novel takes readers on a psychedelic trip from

Berkeley's student chaos to the untamable slopes of Wrangells in Alaska. Brought together by a campus riot Sam and Lindy quickly become a passionate couple, thanks to sex and LSD. This union of soul-mates ultimately causes him to abandon his former friends and his clinging family. Animated increasingly by a desire to seek out the spirit of the Ram, Sam renounces even his name to morph into Ransom. He yearns to imitate the golden-horned ram in his native habitat, to cast off the confines of human habitat in order to fully experience the wild animus of a Dall ram. Perseverating in this new identify he forsakes both career and the world, tramping ever northward--eventually dragging loyal and passionate Lindy with him.

This hot-blooded tale is set in the icy indifference of a volcanic wilderness. The story of drug-induced dementia and a gradual release of his grip on conventional civilization chronicles the gradual disintegration of both Sam's body and his mind. Assuming a new name along with his new Ram persona, Ransom demands increasing trust and loyalty from his devoted young wife. No sacrifice is too great in his spiritual lust for union with Animus in the crater. How much must Lindy give up to please her obsessive ram-man; is it fair to view her as the personification of an entire wolf pack?

Ransom unwittingly wins a few converts to his self-destructive lifestyle, with his primordial ideals and idolatry of Nature. Zealous unto the destruction of his dearest human desires and aspirations, Ransome remains hell-bent on his self-imposed quest for union with Animus. He is only at peace with himself when he is living out his dream, gradually rejecting

his own humanity in favor of four-footed hallucinations. The only way he will achieve Ecstasy on the mountain is to prove himself a willing--even joyous-- martyr to the god of Fire and Ice.

This novel is clearly for male readers who can identify with a bold anti-hero, a man willing to sever his bonds with humanity, who chafes under the shackles of conventional civilization. This book will surely provide inspiration for those yearning to develop a "Passion for the molten heart."

This album was being given away free at the Oregon Country Fair. We paid too much. This is the story of a ram being chased and eaten by wolves, told in recited poetry with singing interludes. The poetry is fair, the singing is abysmal. It has become a joke gift among our friends. We have 2 copies that make the rounds and are given for birthday presents. Not one person yet has liked it.

WILD ANIMUS chronicles the descent into drug-induced madness of a man as he journeys into the Alaskan wilderness on a spiritual quest to find his true self, and its effects on those around him, including the woman who loves him.

Sam Altman meets Lindy as a student at Berkley and realizes almost immediately that they are soul mates. Before long, they move in together, leaving their friends behind. Sam becomes obsessed with the Dall sheep that live in Alaska's mountainous wilds, identifying with them to the point that he engages in serious role-playing to discover his true heart. He takes LSD to aid him in reaching this other state of mind. Eventually he spends all his time in this state, convinced he has connected with a primal god he calls Animus.

I've seen an amazing amount of hatred directed at this book. I've seen it described as misogynistic and offensive to women. (What isn't, these days?) I guess only women are allowed to search for (and find) enlightenment. If you are that threatened by the thought of a man doing the same, take your issues to a therapist rather than transposing them onto a piece of fiction. Apart from that, you can't expect characters in a story to behave the way you want them to. If you want something that fits into a cozy, acceptable mold, find something with Oprah's sticker on it.

This is a heady novel and obviously not for everyone. At times it is difficult to get through, and I did find the hallucinatory passages tiresome as they increased in frequency. It's not a perfect book; the characters are fairly two-dimensional. But it's not really about them. Shapero writes beautifully and with first-hand knowledge about nature and the northern landscape. It's an interesting experiment that the adventurous will find rewarding.

Lest my literary colleagues scoff at my giving this book three stars, they should first pause and consider this modifier: The stars are not for the elegant writing, and assuredly not for editing. They are for the daring concept and adventurous spirit of the work. Unlike some of his nastier critics, I will not trash Mr. Shapero's experiment because it is flawed. Nonetheless, I have a few observations. I found in the writing an uneasy balance between eclat and elan that caused a sort of armchair vertigo. To my taste, the book is overwritten; I grew impatient with experiencing the same or similar events too often, in too much detail. Ransom's journal would have been enough to convey his experience; I felt distanced when the narrator described what the journal had just (or would soon) reveal. Lindy and Sam/Ransom are (as we said in the 70s) "damaged goods"; as such, they engender pity more than empathy, which might have been mitigated by occasionally showing them at their best and providing enough infrastructure to propel us forward with them in their struggle to find meaning and authenticity. More simply said: I needed to like them more. I was hungry for clearer portraits of Lindy and Sam; some of the supporting and peripheral characters felt imbued with greater dimension than the protagonists. A quest this intimate and raw requires an animus that infuses the reader, as well as the teller, of the story. (Someone commented that Mr. Shapero did not know what the word meant, and with that I respectfully disagree. The word has complexity and nuance, which the book attempts and occasionally achieves.)

I was impatient, as well, with the insinuating presence of the LSD. If Mr. Shapero underwent his own real-life journeys with so constant an influence, it's a wonder he made it down off the mountain time after time. It also might explain some of the bizarre imagery and narrative--which leaps from captivating to fragmented to pedestrian and back again.

What intrigues me most about the book is the fact that it has somehow moved me to write these comments when "I have something better to do." It has stayed with me, as it has with my partner, an avid fan of Jack London. It is tempting to compare Wild Animus with other similarly themed books, and it would be a mistake to cave to that temptation. For reasons both admirable and not, it is not like any other book. I wanted from it depths and conclusions it did not offer me, but it is not my story. To disparage an effort because one does not embrace it may rise from the conceit that to be worthy, a book or film or piece of music has merit only if one happens to like it. If that were true, personal preference could be dispensed with altogether, and we could rely upon a small panel of critics to tell us what to applaud and what to pan. I am unwilling to sacrifice my freedom of thought, my taste, and my imagination to such arbitration.

Yes, there are exemplars (in all areas of endeavor) to which we can look for a glimpse of the transcendent, but how often do we find ourselves discomfited by our own attempts to analyze? Who has never, at such a time, shrugged and said, "I dunno, I just didn't get it," or "I can't tell you why, exactly, but I really loved it."

Could Mr. Shapero have benefited from insightful editing? I'm not privy to what kind of editing he did or did not have. Could the material have been better handled by another author? That begs the question. The book as written by Mr. Shapero is what it is. If one finds in it nothing of merit, no amount of criticism is likely to change that. Too, if one finds in Wild Animus something that triggers a useful question, reflection, or musing, then the harshest of critics will do well to gracefully be still. Whether the book is good literature or not, it prompted this posting. At the very least, that means that reading it was an experience I did not readily dismiss or forget. I have, perhaps, been as prolix here as Mr. Shapero has been accused of being in his book; so be it. In sum: while I am itchy from some of the writing, the tedium and predictability of the LSD factor, and the repetitive structure of his book, I commend Mr. Shapero's bravery and his research, his tenacity and his vision.

Probably the first novel I've ever given up on... The first 157 pages were insufferably self indulgent. Shapero didn't consider his readers when writing Animus, but then his perspective is 1st and 2nd Person Stoned, so, whatever, Dude.

"Powerful and interesting?" What are the professional reviewers THINKING? I picked up a used copy of this book because the premise looked promising. It's worth its weight in kindling. This book is unreadable. After just two chapters I sat, head shaking, thinking this is possibly the worst book ever published.

Quite simply, this book was beyond unreadable. The common sheep references, pages devoted to flowers, cardboard thin characters and dialogue written worse than the abilities of my fifth grade students. Whenever somebody I know talks about writing a book, I shall use this as an example that yes, anybody can get published. Go for it! The author should pay me for not only my time, but the fact I will never get the hours spent reading this effluvium back again.

I, like many others, received this book for free. And it is horrible! If you want real adventure, don't look here. Go Youtube "The REAL Desert Dogs" or something. At least you get some substance to the adventure.

I can probably walk blindfolded into a Barnes & Noble, accidentally stumble into the kid's section, and pick out a random book there that is much more meaningful then this.

as many of the other reviews stated I received an advanced copy as well. As someone who loves to read I felt I had been bestowed a wonderful gift. Little did I know it was really a horrible trick. Someone was trying to get me to trudge through this unreadable novel. I wonder if the people handing it out knew how bad it was. Were they relishing the fact that now unsuspecting people were going to waste precious time reading or rather trying to read this novel.

Our book club discussed this book because we received it free! Even being free, the book was not worth reading! I think the publisher spent way too much money promoting and not enough time reviewing!

Unfortunately, I can't give this book ZERO stars because the minimum is one - actually, I'd give it NEGATIVE stars! I received a free copy of this book a year ago and did my best to try and get through it, but I just couldn't do it, it's got to be the WORST book I have ever read. I can't even tell you all why in more specific terms because I've done my best to eradicate from my memory the disgust I felt at having read as much as I did.

I, like everyone else in the world, got this book for free in Santa Monica.

I tried to like it. I really, REALLY did. I got abotu halfway thru it, and just can't get up the energy to finish it off. It was a bit too far fetched and odd for me. I like the 60's era, and only being 29, I can tell the author didn't live through it. The writing seemed forced at times, and just never seemd to go anywhere.

You might like it. It seems peopel either love or hate this book.

Jeff

The fact that this book was published (and given out for free all over the US - I got mine in Boulder) is an insult to talented writers everywhere who are not published. When I got this book for free I was thrilled until I actually read it: to my dismay the characters lacked substance and the "plot" meandered around uselessly.

Like several other reviewers, I read the whole cussed thing thinking it must get better sometime. Otherwise why would it even be in print? Alas, no such luck. However, it does make a wonderful warning to would-be authors - there is obviously not one good book in everyone.

Truly unreadable, sprawling, rambling garbage. Once the first italicized paragraph hits, the reader is in for it. Like everyone else in America, I got this book for free on a street corner. What the author tries to do is admirable, but Wild Animus is just choked with god-awful metaphors and flowery prose poetry. If you can wade through them, maybe you'll find a story worth reading, but I'm not sure the chore was worth it.

I am disappointed that so many people gave this book poor reviews -- this just shows what people expect from a "typical" novel nowadays. If you're expecting to pick up the novel and have a quick read that requires no thought, no interpretation, and no reflection, then this is certainly NOT the book for you. If, however, you want something more -- if you have an open mind and are receptive to new, unique styles and stories -- if you are someone who reads for the "experience" -- this is definitely worthwile.

Admittedly the writing itself is not bestseller quality. On the other hand, the imagery can be so strong and the interpretations so numerous that I found myself "becoming" the main character more than I have with any other novel -- even as bizarre as this main character and his life are. All you need to do is look past the text to enjoy what Wild Animus is really about. Once you attempt to understand it, you'll get hooked.

The only complaint I have is with the ending. It's a bit of a let-down, as if the author was sick of writing and just scribbed something down so he could get it off to press. But even in retrospect, that would not stop me from reading it.

In short: this is not going to be anything like what you'd expect -- even after reading all these reviews. You'll have to put more energy into a reading of Wild Animus than you would for a typical novel. If this is a problem, don't bother. But if you're like me and enjoy that type of reading, I'd highly recommend it.

Luckily I received a copy for free during the Art on the Green festival. Author Shapero should invest in psychotherapy or at the very least a dictionary. He seems to be permanently lost in metaphorville. His strange mixture of opposing adjectives and adverbs has left me confuzzled (direct quote)! Mr. Shapero's prose would be better served in art critiques. In short, it was simply baa - aa - dd ram writing! You really do get what you paid for.

yes, not the perfect book, and i can understand why some/most readers would be even pissed off. i listened to this book in its audio format, and i strongly believe this format is so much superior for it; the vivid scenes come to live aided by the incredible job Peter Coyote is doing here narrating, especially rhe "ram" scenes, in which he switches into a raspy, chanty voice that carries you into the dream state.
not sure if same effect would carry into the printed form, but for those of you facing daily commutes of more than half an hour, give it a shot!

After a year of pondering this text, I thought to read the the store reviews. I was surprised by how vitriolic many were. Only two of the reviews made sense to me: Gandalf's and explodingwhale2's. As a graduate student, I read non-fiction constantly and love it, but occasionally want to take a breather and just indulge my non-critical imagination. This book was one I felt especially compelling, this and Arthur Phillips "The Egyptologist." Without passion, life isn't really interesting enough to put up with all the hassles. With passion, no obstacle, or delusion, however ridiculous to others, is insurmountable or without beauty and satisfaction. Curiosity killed the cat, but SATISFACTION brought it back. I'd say it is little more than sophomoric to insist on technical bravado or politically correct behavior all the time. That is truly passionless and probably accounts for the vitriol - acid better than bland nothing.

Like everyone other review, I agree this book is awful. It was sitting on my bookshelf for 2 years before I read it. It was free and I had read all the other books I own. II managed to finish it, and when I was done, I threw it at the wall. Never has a book frustrated me more.

For your own sake, don't read this piece of junk.

In 1969, Sam Altman struggles with Berkeley, protests, riots, police intervention, and all the other negativeness that society is unraveling. When the National Guard uses tear gas on students, Sam aids a young woman whose eyes were blinded temporarily. He feels that he knows Lindy although he believes this is the first time they met while she commisnerates with his sadness. On Telegraph Avenue, she leaves her number on the cover of an Alaska Sportsman magazine.

Sam falls in love with the mysterious Lindy, who understands his inner turmoil and encourages him to do something about it. He heeds her advice and heads to Alaska. He climbs Mount Wrangell by himself seeking to release his long buried inner self. No longer being Sam, he uses the name Ransom and begins to act more like a ram than a man. Ransom leaves the mountain feeling better, but yet incomplete as if his destiny still remains to be fullfiiled. With Lindy accompanying him on his second trek up the mountain, his transformation continues, but danger exists behind every inch of nature.

Fans who want something different on two planes (metaphysical and nature) will take immense pelasure with the well written, deep WILD ANUIMUS. The story line has the audience pondering what is a human, what is ciilization, and what is love as Sam chnages into Ransom to complete his quest to determine who he is. Lindy is more than just Svengali as she encourgaes him to reach inside and out to seek his heart's desires. Complex yet simple, readers will enjoy climbing the rugged Alaskan wilderness with sam and Lindy as they seek the unknown.

Harriet Klausner

Somehow I managed to read this book from cover to cover. I think I kept hoping it would get better...but it never did. By far, one of the most bizarre books I have ever read. I usually enjoy "fanatasy" novels, but this was just too "out-there", even for me.

This book suffers from a number of obvious flaws, but it isn't (as so many suggest) completely worthless. My favorite parts were where it gives you glimpses into what it might be like to be a wild animal.

A very creative story; scary, but awesomely descriptive of a possible state of mind. Who can say just how crazy one could get, when passion and drugs are involved? I felt a lot of sympathy for the girl, who was exploited for the sake of his big adventure. Having lived in Alaska, I found the descriptions accurate, especially of Doug the charter plane pilot and Bill the hunter. There was a familiar Christian theme and a wholistic Eco undercurrent. All in all, I found the book fascinating, both the adventure plot and the poetic ram self-talk.

I first discovered this gem while perusing the streets of Chicago during the city's annual jazz festival. A group of Rick Shapero patrons were standing on a street corner handing out this epic FOR FREE to all who would take it. Unfortunatley, many of the ignorant music lovers walked right by, passing by what some have called "the greatest...book...ever written." Once I started reading Wild Animus, I couldn't put it down. Its wall-to-wall action/adventure/romance kept me excited page after page. You might be wondering, "Hey, that sounds great, but I've read plenty of novels which have all of those elements. What sets this one apart?" Well, I'll tell you: the bestiality. That's right, when the story's protagonist discovers that he is really a ram in spirit, he proceeds to fulfill his wildest ram-on-human sexual fantasies; and Shapero's vivid storytelling leaves nothing to the imiganiation! Yet, even amidst all of this "fauna"cation, the story never strays far from its original message. Its a classic coming-of-age tale that both children and adults can relate to, and therefore I highly recommend this book to everyone who knows how to read (plans for an all-braile version are in development). Here's hoping for a sequel!

I found this book to be refreshingly original, charged with rich metaphoric language, and containing an important message: "Bliss beyond fear." It is not a lengthy read, which is also refreshing in the world of bloated fiction. I will admit that the book isn't for everyone. If you're not into transcendental shamanic experiences involving psychadelic drugs and anthropomorphism, well then, you may not enjoy the story. The writing itself is very evocative in its descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness, and I was especially moved by Mr. Shapero's characterization of the relentlessly pursuing wolf pack and indeed, the primal earth forces he dubbed "Wild Animus."

Most of the reviews of this book are so charged with vitriol, that I wonder what this book had done to offend so many, so easily. I wonder if any of these reviewers are actual literary critics? Are they writers themselves? Self-publishing haters? Personal enemies of Mr. Shapero? I am amazed to see such a loathing consensus over one book. I challenge readers to look beyond the utilitarian uses of this book (i.e. coaster, tofu press, etc.) and give it a shot.

I think that this was a really interesting...definitely different read, and I enjoyed it. I was also given it for free at the Boulder Creek Festival and I thought it was a challenging read--Shapero is a very talented writer, I especially liked his detailed description of the love/interaction between the main character, Sam/Ransom and Lindy. You could really understand the depth of their connection, and while some of Ransom's expeditions in Alaska are kind of crazy, I enjoyed reading about the Alaskan wilderness and think there is a cool message from the book....Definitely try this book, you'll find that it pulls you in!

I enjoyed the animated reading by Peter Coyote. Reading the book was a bit difficult for me however when I was shot in the head and died my brain was rewired (160-200). It's to bad most are stuck in Beta brain waves to experience the Alpha message which was beautiful, exciting as I felt I was there inches away from survival. I wondered why there were so many low reviews and the only thing I can think of is that they were from individuals that had issues with something other than the novel? I suffer from foot in mouth issues so if you are a low IQ idiot and you can not climb out of your little boxed in world you will not be able to experience this book which should be a movie.It would have you at the edge of your seat and exhausted yet high by the end. Issues & obstacles of your life will seem like nothing when you re live real experiences of a wild animus. or not

OK, so it'll never make the NYTimes bestseller list. It's not a casual read. In fact it's unlike any book I've ever read. But it deeply conveys one man's experience in the upheaval of the '60's Owsley-fueled Reagan-attacked Berkeley and his on-going quest for deepest experiential reality in the wilds of our world. It takes guts and dedication to be willing to write down what really happened then and so very very few have done it. Coming back from the outer realms with a literate share-able art... well, it takes a special mind and awareness and will. This book has been carefully crafted, from start to finish, and I thank you for giving it to us. By the way, I was at the West Gate the day the future President of the United States conducted his chemical-warfare training operation on the entire University campus. I always wondered what it was like at Sather Gate. Nothing was really ever the same after that.

Conservatives beware! This is a book about people who willfully choose not to follow the straight and narrow. I guess you could treat it as a cautionary tale (don't want to give it away, so I'll leave it at that), but it's so much deeper than that. A book of ideas-and what some might deem "dangerous" ones. I loved it!

Mr. Shapero is a talented writer who had a vision and wanted to share his story. I admire him for writing this book, its an awe inspiring tale of a magical and mesmerizing volcano, Alaska's Mt Wrangell.

Mr. Shapero is a talented writer who had a vision and wanted to share his story. I admire him for writing this book, its an awe inspiring tale of a magical and mesmerizing volcano, Alaska's Mt Wrangell.