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Beautiful Jim Key: The Lost History of the World's Smartest Horse |  | Author: Mim E. Rivas
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy Used: $4.95
as of 11/22/2009 18:30 MST details
You Save: $10.00 (67%)
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Seller: patricobooks
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 7674
Media: Paperback
Pages: 368
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.5
ISBN: 006056704X
Dewey Decimal Number: 179.3
EAN: 9780060567040
ASIN: 006056704X
Publication Date: April 1, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Beautiful Jim Key -- the one-time ugly duckling of a scrub colt who became one of the most beloved heroes of the turn of the century -- was adored not for his beauty and speed but rather for his remarkable abilities to read, write, spell, do mathematics, even debate politics. Trained with patience and kindness by one of the most renowned horse whisperers of his day -- former slave, Civil War veteran, and self-taught veterinarian Dr. William Key -- Jim performed in expositions across the country to wildly receptive crowds for nine glorious years, smashing box office records, clearing towering hurdles of skepticism and prejudice, and earning the respect and admiration of some of the most influential figures of the era, from Booker T. Washington to President William McKinley. This is the remarkable true saga of a truly exceptional animal -- and the no less exceptional man who led him to greatness.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
A very interesting read October 21, 2009
Middle aged Mother
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I purchased this in soft cover, planning to give it to my mother for Christmas, but I read it first and liked it enough that I ordered the hard cover for my mother and kept the soft cover for myself. This is a fascinating read. What makes it more than a great animal story is the way it is told within the historical context of the time. There were so many interesting facts and descriptions detailing the period from before, during, and after the Civil War, Reconstruction, and into the early 20th century. The subject matter is extremely fresh, told in an easy manner that makes it fast and easy to read and yet memorable and thought provoking. The subtitle of the soft cover is slightly different from the hard cover -- soft says, the Lost History of the World's Smartest Horse; hard says, the Lost History of a Horse and a Man Who Changed the World. I suspect the change was made to attract readers. The text is the same in both versions.
 Read about Clever Hans instead September 1, 2009
rob stock (brooklyn, NY)
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Beautiful Jim Key was a smart, smart horse, there is no doubt about it.
So was Clever Hans who was famous years later.
Hans was shown to be not a fraud or a con but a very clever horse who knew how to trick people into thinking he could do arithmetic and spell etc.
No one did that with Jim but it took a long time to figure out what was going on with Hans and I'm certain that if they had tried it with Jim they would have found the same thing.
This is a good account of things and it makes a nice story but in the end it's just sloppy journalism.
 A Must Read for Animal Lovers August 21, 2009
probook
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
Beautifully written. A tribute to all animals. A strong reminder not to take our beloved animals for granted and to treat them with love, patience, kindness and understanding everyday. Very interesting history intertwined in the story.
Great Horse Story May 25, 2009
Eileen M. Carlson (St.Louis)
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
Beautiful Jim Key is a heart-warming story of a very smart, unusual horse which is impossible not to love. This book is for anyone who loves horses or animals in general. The story is well written and entertaining. An easy read with lots of good information about a little known phenomenon.
A Beautiful Book September 29, 2008
Michael Mayo (Simi Valley, Ca.)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Am a little shocked to find such harshly negative reviews of the book; this is easily one of the best animal books ever written. Arguably one of America's first media "superstars", Beautiful Jim Key toured the country for many years performing and was a major catalyst for both animal rights and human rights as well. It should also be stressed that the horse's act was minutely scrutinized by reporters and a team of professors from Harvard, who found no secret coaching or cues were given to the horse - he really could do everything it was claimed he could do, although the book only lightly touches on how long and arduous a process teaching him must have been. Any animal lover and/or history buff will fall in love with this book and never want it to end.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
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