Learning to Play With a Lion's Testicles: Unexpected Gifts From the Animals of Africa Author: Melissa Haynes | Language: English | ISBN:
B00BAH8RA2 | Format: PDF
Learning to Play With a Lion's Testicles: Unexpected Gifts From the Animals of Africa Description
The cheeky title of Melissa Haynes's story of adventure in Africa, Learning to Play with a Lion's Testicles, earned the book some big publicity on NBC-TV/Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on September 4,2013 where it topped the show's list of "Titles Not to Read" for September 2013. Melissa's book was also a big smash on the March 11, 2014 Ellen Show, where Ellen and guest Ricky Gervais highlighted the book throughout the entire hour.
Playing with a lion’s testicles: An African saying that means to take foolhardy chances.
Melissa, an exhausted executive from the city seeks meaning and purpose from her work, and volunteers for a Big Five conservation project in South Africa. Her boss, an over-zealous ranger, nicknamed the Drill Sergeant, has no patience for city folk, especially if they're women, and tries to send her packing on day one. But Melissa stands her ground with grit and determination, however shaky it may be.
Conflict soon sets the pace with a cast filled with predatory cats, violent elephants, and an on-going battle of wits with the Drill Sergeant. Even Mother Nature pounds the reserve with the worst storm in a century. But the most enduring and profound conflict is the internal battle going on within Melissa, as she tries to come to terms with the guilt surrounding her mother's death. When death grips the game reserve, it is the very animals Melissa has come to save that end up saving her.
For the reader who has ever dreamed of going to Africa or knows the pain of loss and guilt, LEARNING TO PLAY WITH A LION’S TESTICLES will fill your soul.
- File Size: 388 KB
- Print Length: 235 pages
- Publisher: Behler Publications (April 16, 2013)
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
- Language: English
- ASIN: B00BAH8RA2
- Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray:
- Lending: Not Enabled
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,895 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #6
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Business & Money > Job Hunting & Careers > Volunteer Work - #29
in Books > Travel > Africa > South Africa > General - #37
in Books > Business & Money > Job Hunting & Careers > Volunteer Work
- #6
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Business & Money > Job Hunting & Careers > Volunteer Work - #29
in Books > Travel > Africa > South Africa > General - #37
in Books > Business & Money > Job Hunting & Careers > Volunteer Work
When I was about 9 years old, at the Omaha zoo, I first attempted to play with a lions testicles. It didn't end well ... for me. The lion certainly seemed satisfied, but I was wholly unprepared for this "adventure".
A full 10 years later, and after reading this book in preparation, I returned to the same zoo to finish the job I started. Surprisingly, the same lion was there. Perhaps not surprisingly, he apparently recognized me immediately and was excited to see me again.
This time, I knew how to do the job more productively. The book taught me the "Three Steps To Playing Ball" correctly.
1. Mind you, the lion is a fierce animal, but also fiercely loyal ... so the first step is to establish trust and loyalty. If you can, show the animal (by example) the enjoyment you can have with your own testicle play.
2. You must offer testicle play to the lion. As the king of the jungle, he is often offered testicle play, but since you've established trust (and competence) in step one, he may accept by rolling to his back.
3. Finally, the third step is where you (the testicle player) need to "earn your keep". The book highlights moves such as the "Jungle Juggle" and the "Reverse Double Play" that may surprise and entertain your lion.
In summary, NEVER EVER attempt to play with a Lions Testicles before reading this book.
By Michael Johnson
This book had me in tears, both by laughter and emotional impact... Learning to Play With a Lion's Testicles: Unexpected Gifts From the Animals of Africa by Melissa Haynes. The title was enough to intrigue me into considering it for reading and reviewing. It didn't take long before I knew it was a great decision.
Haynes went to South Africa to volunteer on a wild game reserve, seeking to find some perspective and purpose in her life. What sounded like an adventure quickly turned into a stubborn contest of wills between her and the park ranger, nicknamed the Drill Sergeant, who didn't much care for city volunteers... especially those of the female persuasion. He was determined to send her packing as early as possible into her three-week stint, and she was just as determined to prove herself as something more than a woman who needed babysitting. Along the way, she learned some tough truths about life, death, and self-imposed limitations. While she had gone to help the animals, it ended up being the animals that helped her.
Had the story been nothing more than her experiences on the reserve, it would have been a fun read. Haynes does an excellent job in capturing the humor and bizarreness of life on the plains of Africa. However, there's a serious thread that winds through the pages, one that ties together the lessons of the reserve with the realities of life and death. Her mom had passed away due to cancer, and Haynes was dealing with massive guilt over not being able to handle the final hours. She comes face-to-face with that guilt and fear in a very primal way during her stay, and it's hard to keep a dry eye as the events unfold.
Learning to Play With a Lion's Testicles is a 200 page roller-coaster of emotions, and it's a ride that's well worth experiencing. You'll laugh and cry, sometimes both at the same time...
Disclosure:
Obtained From: Publisher
Payment: Free
By Thomas Duff
HALL OF FAME TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE VOICE
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