The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod

I bought this book at the airport with high expectations and looked forward to pouring though it on a long flight. I expected great stories abouth the running of the Iditarod. I expected insighftful and visual characterizations of the Alaskan wilderness. And more, I expected a real page-turner as I thoroughly enjoy real-life outdoor adventures. The book had high points and a few instances of the content I expected. It mostly talked about dogs; dog feet, dog fights, dog food, dog naps, dog houses, dogs thoughts, and yes....dog poop. When the human element did enter, it was mostly tales of idiotic failure and the inability to learn lessons. For example, if you go into the woods at night and get sprayed by no less than 7-8 skunks that make you violently ill, you probably don't go back the next night for the same treatment. The author does. Time after time, the author pokes fun at himself and his seemingly endless streak of failures and accidents. After you learn about what not to do in the first half of the book, the author just barely sketches the running of the Iditarod from beginning to end. A little more time spent on the race and a little less time spent on the preparation for the race would have made for a better page-turn. If you like winter outdoor adventures, give it a try. If you have an overwhelming passion for dogs, give it a try. If you are looking for a full story about the Iditarod, give it a chance....but I warned you.

I have always been interested in the Iditarod,(I love the arctic breeds and we currently own a Samoyed, or rather he owns us -- heart and soul!) but never spent much time learning about it. That changed this past March when I began following the sport about midway through the race. The more I learned the more I wanted to know. That's when I found "Winterdance: The fine Madness of Running the Iditarod". What a find! I read the book to my husband every evening until we finished it in just a few days. We found it very compelling --- AND FUNNY! Many times we found ourselves laughing so hard we were crying. Mr. Paulsen's vivid descriptions of his steep learning curve in dog training and race preparation keep the reader turning pages! Two baby boomers who have long since left their teen years behind (and started into second childhood) highly recommend this as an entertaining and informative read about dog sledding and the Iditarod. Way to go Gary Paulsen! We plan to read more of your work.

I was hanging around the house with bronchitis when I picked up my daughter's copy of "Winterdance: the fine madness of running the Iditarod". What a surprise. This is a hilarious book by a driven man. Gary Paulsen and his wife, Ruth, are broke and down on their luck when they move to Northern Minnesota where Gary runs traplines using a dog team and sled. Eventually, he awakens to the idea of running the Iditarod. The book covers his experiences training for the race and then the race itself.
His experiences are heart-warming (or perhaps ball-warming as when he sets kitchen matches alight in his pants pocket)and display a determination that's nearly other worldly. But people aren't the main characters in this book, it's the dogs. We eat, sleep and run with the dogs. And it is a learning experience.
Gary Paulsen is one tough cookie who brings to life the hardship, wind, snowstorms, frostbite, dog fights, moose attacks, sleeplessness, hallucinations, concussions, physical abuse and brutal reality of the Iditarod. And gives us more: the magnificent beauty of Alaska and the strange, deep relationship that develops between dog and man.
This is one of the best outdoor adventure books I've read (and there have been many). I highly recommend it.

This is our favorite read-aloud ever. I've homeschooled my children now for about 15 years and in that time, I've read-aloud to them for approximately one hour per day. I probably read this to them for the first time 10 years ago but the "The Skunk Chapter" is still a frequent request on days when we are looking for something to lighten the mood. Every member of my family has this book in hardcover. I've got two copies so that I can lend one without fear.

If you like dogs, you will love this book but it isn't just about dogs, or animals, or even the Iditarod; although, all of those things play a prominent role. It's about being drawn to something that's bigger than you can handle but being unable to resist the pull. It's about beauty. It's about seeing the world in a different way. It's about what happens when your alligator dreams overload your hummingbird behind....you grow and often the growing pains are hysterical. It's about how what you are drawn to, shapes you and changes you and maintaining your sense of humor while it does.

Since I've recommended this as a read-aloud, I'll just add that some on-the-fly editing may be necessary for language issues and younger children. I suggest keeping a chapter ahead so that you know what's coming.

Paulsen, already a well known author of childrens' books employs his easily readable style to describe and explain the somewhat arcane sport of dog racing and his own learning experience as he came to decide to run the race himself. This is probably one of the best books on long distance dog racing, the sometimes unusual people involved and the frozen world they live in, the dangers they face and the satisfaction they find as they and their dogs move from a rabble to become a team.
Paulsen has run the race himself and his descriptions of his dogs as he and they learned to work with each other are alone worth the price of the book.
Having said that, I came to feel that Paulsen is perhaps a better story teller than a reporter, and that nobody's life is quite that hilarious as his seems to be. While it's no great fault one begins to feel that some of the events he describes are embellished to some degree, although the only real error I noticed was when he said, "...Cook was a fool who wouldn't use dogs and died because he tried to use horses." Cook of course was the medical doctor who entered into a long running dispute with Admiral Peary about who was first to reach the North Geographic Pole, and the man Paulsen means to refer to is probably the Englishman Scott who wouldn't use dogs because he couldn't bear the thought of having to kill them to eat. Overly sentimental perhaps, but hardly foolish.
Stll, this is a minor criticism. Go and buy Paulsen's book and travel with him over the thousand miles to Nome. I think you'll be glad you did.

a zillion 'stars' for this extremely well written and wonderfully told real life adventure. His love and insight into his dogs, their mishaps and heroism and humor, love...combine to make this hands down my most favorite book ever. I have read it countless times...but, really, even after one reading, the story is so unforgettable it will live forever in your mind and heart. It also left me totally convinced that you have to be more than a little bit crazy to ever attempt the Iditarod. I realized at once I would never have cut it... I have to say you will never regret getting this book if you like dogs or adventures or are interested in what has to be a fairly honest accounting of a newcomers attempt at the Iditarod. most highly recommended and thoroughly beloved by me.

As mentioned by almost every other review, this book is incredibly funny! & importantly this is done without coming across as trying too hard. Gary's straightforward honesty is shocking in that many people, myself included, would probably never try to get their many mistakes published out of sheer embarrassment. Telling friends & family of your funny learning experiences is one thing, but exposing your bad choices to the world for their entertainment takes an incredible level of confidence or great sense of humor & humility. My whole book club read this one all the way through no matter their reading material preferences. I'd recommend reading it around February or March since that is when the Iditarod occurs & will enhance your appreciation of the news coverage.

As some people note but it is not mentioned in the book (that i remember), the Iditarod race is a completely inaccurate replication of the original event it commemorates & there is little to no justification to put so many dogs through such a hazardous run. Everyone knows society has always used &/or abused animals for entertainment purposes but many have strong feelings against these practices. Horse racing, greyhound racing, dog fights, cock fights, circuses, agility courses, the Iditarod. Culturally, American acceptability seems to be based on the amount of physical harm the animal experiences & this book tends to minimize the bad while emphasizing how much the dogs love it. Having not done the race myself or known anyone personally who has, I am keeping an cautious open mind for now.

It's a great read!

There is a sort of `wild appeal' that the Iditarod holds for most of us. As in its incipiency, the race is still a race for survival. A trek across a frozen ocean, a climb over the largest range in the U.S., the killer storms, the unimaginable fatigue, marauding moose, fear, constant cold, etc. It is easy to admire the dogs and mushers who attempt, finish, and win this amazing Alaskan race.
As one examines this race closer, there is also a lot of science that goes into the race. Which is not to say a description of this race needs to read like a text-book, its just that, in order to do the race justice, we must - as rational people -- understand that this race is constrained by physical metrics, by science. Animal behavior is a science, and within this science, animals do act in discernable, predictable patterns. It is this aspect of sled dog racing that Mr. Paulsen chose to trample. As a professional in the field, I found this book disappointing - but oddly enjoyable.
The science of Animal Behavior was dramatically subverted by the emotional naivete of the author. The author confounds rational behavior with questionable `observations' that may make for better reading for the uninitiated, but create nothing but suspicion for those who are knowledgeable about animal behavior. The introduction of "Maggie" the wolf, is one such example. The author describes one of his day trips along his trapline wherein Maggie the wolf follows or leads his dog-team across the Minnesota countryside. Maggie takes little side-trips to catch rabbits or grouse as her hunger dictates and brings them back into view for the author to enjoy. Interesting. The wolf is able to secure more food in a matter of hours than most wolves can take in a week. Instead of eating it in a protected cover, as wolves and coyotes will do, Maggie happily trots back on the trail with the prey in her mouth - the dog-team meanwhile, continues trotting along. No matter that Maggie also happens to be on her estrus. Indeed, Mr. Paulsen was able to see more fauna on any one of his trapline visits than if he were a full time researcher on Isle Royale.
I understand that the innocence of the animals with which we live and work can create emotional bonds. This emotion is worthwhile and sincere. But it should not displace real observation into this race, which is what this book did.
Dogs are not mythical creatures who depart wisdom on progressive humans who are humble enough to open themselves to canine sagacity. Dogs are not agents of enlightenment, or precipitators of epiphanies. The only thing that they can teach is how to eat, reproduce and protect against their enemies - and to pull a sled in the case of these particular dogs. Period. All the other `lessons' that the author learned along the way was due to his relative ignorance and naivete before he began the quest toward the Iditarod. It was life that revealed itself to Mr. Paulsen. Had Mr. Paulsen paid closer attention, he would have seen that Life was teaching him about himself. Tragically, he was too smitten with the idea of a deeper, more metaphysical truth from his lower mammals, and he missed the real truths that Life was trying to teach him. Like learn from your past mistakes and don't replace you leader three minutes before start time . . . To the chagrin of the author, he may never know that he did not find mystery, enlightenment, and wonderment in his canine companions. Unfortunately, he projected that unto the dogs. The dogs wanted no part of it.
Still, in light of the subversion of `precise observation' I found that I continued reading Winterdance with enjoyment. Gary Paulsen is a wonderful writer. He has a descriptive, humorous manner that is seductive. I was offended by the lack of factual adherence, but I also found that I looked forward to the moments I could steal to read this book. Mr. Paulsen's journey was worthwhile, and worthy to put down in text. Although I would not waste my time engaging Mr. Paulsen in a discussion of Animal Behavior, I would defer to his ability to write a book. He really is a fine writer, and worthy of respect in this craft.
I would recommend this book to young adults - before they get to be Zoologists, Cetologists, Biologists, etc. I read Farley Mowat's book when I was around fourteen, and I believe this book could serve as an excellent guide into animal studies for a young adult. Unfortunately, I was to later discover that Mr. Mowat adhered to precise, factual observation no more than did Mr. Paulsen.

Given Gary Paulsen's past of being somewhat like Jack London, many people will recognize his name splayed across the cover. What could have been a story of survival like his most notable novel, Hatchet (or Brian's survival stories) , Paulsen brings a comedic view of training for the last great race of the Iditarod.

If one thinks this is a story about someone blazing off the front of the dog race and going on to victorious endorsements, one would be redirected fairly quickly. Immediately Paulsen establishes his voice as a struggling musher. The stories are absolutely hilarious. While I've read funny parts to books, I've never laughed as much reading a book in all my years reading. The part that was especially funny was Paulsen's description of the start of the Iditarod and his dog team's unsuccessful navigation of the first turn.

This is a perfect winter book that flows so quickly that it almost becomes sad to finish. One does not need to be well-versed in dog sledding to understand this story. Paulsen may not have won the Iditarod, but he got farther than almost the entire population of the planet.

Paulsen captures captures the challenges of the Idatarod, the challenges of the brutal cold that is part of an Alaskan winter, and the challenges of training and handling a team of dogs that just love to run. Many of Paulsen's books are about dogs and he clearly loves and understands them. He writes beautifully. He captures both the beauty and the hardships, and the reader comes away with some insight into what drives someone to subject themselves to this ordeal. And if some of the pages in Winterdance don't make you laugh out loud you better get yourself checked for pulse and respiration.

Gary Paulsen is witty, charming and down to earth, as always, in this fantastic Iditarod story. His descriptions of the race and the dogs themselves carries the reader right song with him, as he does the "impossible", and runs the Iditarod. Highly recommend this and any book he writes.

I laughed so hard reading this book, it hurt. Gary Paulsen has no business deciding to mush dogs in the Iditarod race and he is so excruciatingly hard on himself -- but not as hard as 15 wild dogs dragging him upside down on a sled on the ice through the backyards of bewildered Alaskans.
This true narrative is hilarious and unforgettable. I learned all about the Iditarod, which is the stuff of myth and endurance and madness. This book may be your best-ever trip to Alaska.

I started reading this book on a cross country plane trip today and finished it before I landed in Charleston, SC. Once I started I just couldn't put it down, a very good read and the author has a great writing style. The stories about running the Iditarod are sometimes hilarious and sometimes sad, but always captivating. I also loved the connection between the author and the dogs, truly a moving story.I would definitely recommend this book.

An awesome book that keeps you entertained from the moment you pick it up to the moment you put it down. The book is touted as a "must read" for dog lovers. I'm not a dog lover, nor am I a dog owner. Yet I believe you could claim this is a must read for anyone. The book is so much more than a dog lover's book. It's a great story regardless.
The guy writing the book tells the story of his adventure training for, and running, the Iditarod. As you likely know, this is an extremely long dog sled race across a part of Alaska. From the moment he decides to do this, a litany of bad decisions and on-the-fly learning experiences make the author realize that nothing is ever as easy as he thinks. This is especially true when you line up so many sled-pulling dogs and try to contain them in any way, shape, or form. The story plunges through miles of snow packed narrative that makes you laugh with almost every paragraph. In addition to his hilarious trials and tribulations, the author comes to love the outdoors and be at one with his dogs. His relationship with the dogs grows to a point where considers himself one of them. He comes to understand this is part of what the Iditarod is; becoming part dog. Together they endure the brutal weather, the long days, and slowly become a team.
The narrative is engrossing, pulling you in and letting you out only when the words run dry. The book is short; you could read the entire thing in a long afternoon. But it's too good to read that quickly. Consuming it in one sitting would be a waste of enjoyment. It's much better to give yourself small doses of laughter instead of ingesting it all at once.
It's a great book. I'm not sure there's much more to say about it than that. Well worth the read. I highly recommend it.

Winterdance, by Gary Paulsen, is an autobiography of a courageous musher with a drive to succeed. We learn of the life threatening situations he goes through, the beauties of Alaskan nature, as well as dangers faced by those who race in the Iditarod. One simple choice can save you life or lead you to disaster. It also tells the wonderful bond between a musher and his dogs, the unique love that comes with racing in the mountains of Alaska. You will never find another dog book this compelling. This book is beautiful and funny and contains details that allow you to thoroughly understand the characters. You will find yourself with great admiration for the man who is one with nature and really get a feel for the Alaskan wilderness. The novel will move you in a way so unlike any other. If you are interested in reading about a life-altering adventure, you cannot go without reading Winterdance. You will see life like you never have before.

This book is absolutely great and surprising. It's not "only" about the Iditarod, it's about Life. Paulsen is a surprise: he is a truly gifted writer and he writes with his heart! I love this book! It's one of those rare life-touching, life-changing books.

Winter Dance gives a comical and yet realistic glimpse of what the Alaskan Iditarod Race is all about. After reading this account, I understood the running of the dogs and the human challenges and I laughed all along the way.