“Here is why I would be a good person. Because I listen. I cannot speak, so I listen very well. I never interrupt, I never deflect the course of conversation with a comment of my own…Learn to listen! I beg of you” (102).
This is my favorite quote because it is often something I remind myself of, and believe to be one of the most important qualities in a person.
Financial problems are a theme throughout the book, keeping custody of children, struggling with work and paying lawyers, also fixing relationships with money
Loyalty is the other theme. The book is told through a dogs point of view so naturally it is about loyalty. Also loyalty and lack there of between grandparents and family.
SUMMARY
The Art of Racing in the Rain is about a dog owner and husband named Denny, who has a child with a woman named Eve. Eve dies of a brain tumor early in the story. Denny then has to fight for custody of his child Zoe from Eve's parents. The story then goes on to his sexual assault allegation with a 15 year old girl the grandparents set up so they can have Zoe. Denny then is fighting a loosing battle and doesn't know when it is time to give up, and not being able to afford a lower becomes an issue too. Denny convinces the girl to tell the truth that he didn't rape her.
He get's Zoe back and lands the job of his dreams, then moves to Italy to test drive Ferraris. The story is told through the dog Enzo's perspective. Enzo believes he will come back as a human after he dies, and his thoughts are very intelligent. He grows older throughout the story, and by the end he dies, but it is a happy ending.
ESSAY Silent but Deadly Listen. Our world has become corrupt and dysfunctional, all because we are all trying to be the smartest person in the room, hoping to be the big dog in our capitalist society. We all fight for power by out voicing each other, pushing our way into the spotlight. In the novel, The Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth Stein writes through the eyes of the dog, making the point that the most insight comes from those who say the fewest words, making listening the most important quality of a human being. First of all, every great person who did notable things was a great listener. This makes sense because we learn by listening, from animals, to cavemen, to humans. Turns out these great listeners are also some of the most insightful people, such as Mahatma Gandhi. He says, “We cannot be speakers who do not listen. But neither can we be listeners who do not speak.” Imagine our world tomorrow if all of our great leaders cared about listening to the people. Imagine if they took the time to look at every side of an issue before making a decision. It should be second nature to do this, but in today’s world, everything has become a competition. We drive fast cars and rush through life, not taking the time to know the stories of the people around us. Great listeners are comedians like Ellen DeGeneres, and inspirational people like Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama. To further prove my point, a great counter example of this would be our president, Donald Trump. He is funding his own wall with billions of dollars instead of listening to the cries of the people he was elected to represent. Those cries for the DACA Act, for environmental issues to be taken seriously, and for health care to be in the best interest of the public. A good listener does not wave fingers at people, and a good listener does not interrupt. Most of all, a good listener will radiate respect, not demand it. This makes him fall into the bad listener category, along with dictators and ruthless rulers such as Stalin and Hitler. Listening is critical for success, but also has astounding benefits. By keeping eye contact and genuinely listening trust is built between you and the speaker. Keeping a level head and listening to what people have to say without interruption keep conversations civilized. Those who practice good listening skills often have more confidence, because they say what they mean and build relationships. Finally, it reduces the chances of miscommunication, and makes you retain more knowledge if you are able to quietly comprehend the information given. Not only is listening an obvious characteristic to an admirable and respectable human being, but this is also backed by science. We listen more than we speak, read, and write, making it critical that we utilize this skill in the best way possible. Sadly, “Less than 2 percent of people have had any formal education on how to listen.” Why is it that we get taught the rest of these skills vigorously, but never receive education on the foundation of learning? It is a crime we don’t have listening skills classes for children, a skill even more valuable than reading, writing, or speaking. To conclude, Stein literally begs for us to get this message from his book. He says, “Here is why I would be a good person. Because I listen. I cannot speak, so I listen very well. I never interrupt, I never deflect the course of conversation with a comment of my own…Learn to listen! I beg of you” (102). A dog is a prime example of how listeners are loved and admired. They are man's best friend, the greatest listener on earth. Because of this skill, they are free of ignorance. A lesson we could all learn from. What would happen if we were to think before we spoke, and condensed our words to only what we mean. We would be more thoughtful humans, and we would finally be serving our full potential, as Stein hopes we do.