Reviews of the Book: Eyes of the Wild
Published & professional reviews
“We fell in love with this book the moment we saw it. Eleanor O’Hanlon takes us into the magnificent wilderness areas still remaining on Earth to experience the wisdom and wonder of the natural connection between animals, the rhythms and cycles of the Earth and the waking of the soul within each person. Her eloquent descriptions of the stunning landscapes and the wild creatures she meets will fill you with understanding, love and respect for the animal-beings with whom we share this planet.”
— Cygnus Book Reviews.
“This wonderful book takes us to the land of Whale, Bear, Wolf and Horse, and describes the path of the shaman with a good degree about biology, indigenous cultures, mythology and travel adventure as well. A delight of a book, beautifully written and full of insight. I read and savoured every word and didn’t want this book to end.”
— Maddy Harland. Editor, Permaculture Magazine.
“In Eyes of the Wild we hear once again the song of creation, the words that resonate with the soul of the world, and with the mystery and majesty of creation. There is in your writing a deep kinship with the animals, as if you too know their names and you know the magic in their names.”
— Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee. Sufi teacher, author and editor of the Spiritual Ecology anthology The Cry of the Earth.
“Through her journeys and her powerful connections with the people and animals she encounters, Eleanor O’Hanlon shows how to find inner freedom if we meet the natural world on its own terms. Eyes of the Wild is a rare and wonderful book. Its treatment of nature is holistic. The author will take you deeper into wild places on many levels.”
— Rick Minter, Editor, ECOS, Journal of the British Association of Nature Conservationists.
“This is a wonderful book and I could not recommend it more highly. It is a heartfelt, eloquent tribute to the mysterious connection between human beings and wild animals, both riveting and deeply moving.”
— Dick Russell, author of Eye of the Whale Epic Passage from Baja to Siberia.
“It has become a cliché to say of books that they are ‘important’ or ‘beautifully written’. Yet this book is truly both. It is one that touches on our deepest bonds with animals, with Life and the Universe…I found this book rekindled and renewed my own connection with the wild.”
— Dr Haydn Washington. Author, Human Dependence on Nature and A Sense of Wonder.
“I’ve been deeply struck by Eleanor O’Hanlon’s wonderful book Eyes of the Wild.Her insights as she describes the impact of her encounters with grey whales in the Bering Straits strike me with their truth and beauty. Her thinking is profoundly affected and transformed by the grace and gentleness, the endurance and strength, of these huge animals. She apprehends the divine, not as a voice calling from somewhere up in heaven, but within all life and embracing all life, and within her own self too. She feels what one might call teshuvah or ‘return’, in the genuine sense of ‘coming home at last after long unhappy wandering to your true belonging in the stillness’, to ‘the deepest reality within,’ which is also the deepest reality of everything which exist.”
— Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg. Author and Rabbi of the New North London Synagogue.
“This extraordinary book explores the inestimable religious value of reclaiming relationship with the animal kingdom of which we are so intrinsically a part but from which we in the western world have largely divorced ourselves, to our human impoverishment and spiritual peril….With the sensuous wonder and poetry found in the writings of D.H. Lawrence, O’Hanlon describes her deep fascination with the the symbiotic sustaining power of the natural world. In her purposive quest for her essential self through her direct contacts with wildlife, there is also a good deal that is reminiscent of the teachings of the great Jewish mystic Martin Buber… ”
— Dr Michael Wynne Trinity College Dublin. Editor Brigid’s Fire Magazine.
“An absolutely gorgeous book, in both form and content. In Eyes of the Wild, Eleanor O’Hanlon shares with us what her publisher describes as: ‘… an epic, personal journey to meet whales and wolves, bears and wild horses, guided by outstanding biologists and other observers who are renewing an ancient way of connection with the wild.’ Eleanor’s writing has that indefinable, haunting lilt that one finds in so much Irish literature—and music also—and for me that makes it utterly delicious to read. … Eyes of the Wild is a unique and fascinating blend of personal experience, science, shamanic wisdom and storytelling.”
— Marion Van Eyk MacCain, Editor GreenSpirit Magazine.
What Readers have said:
“I have just finished your wonderful book, Eyes of the Wild, and want to tell you how beautiful and insightful I found it to be.. Your words speak to me on so many levels. The stories you tell are truly memorable, and the way you surround them with deep spiritual and psychological insight is especially appreciated, and something that is greatly needed in today’s world. Warmest wishes,”
— Dr Paul Crawford, PhD
“I just so loved your Book, it has been a rare treat and it’s been by my bedside for months now! I really liked the way it integrates .. so seamlessly…mythology, spiritual wisdom and insight with a real knowledge of animal behaviour. I am a Shamanic stone sculptor and am deeply inspired by mythology and the Nature of animal power and wisdom.. especially Bears..so your book, so eloquently and poetically written, is a real gift to me.”
— Araboushikha Art
“I so loved reading your book Eyes of the Wild and the connection with the wild and the earth. Many times while reading I felt some of the magic you experienced and I felt myself return ‘home’. It is one of those books that I will return to again and again. Thank you from the depths of my soul.” — Janice
“This is an extraordinary book for many reasons. First, it bridges the worlds of biology and spirituality: throughout the book we hear the voices of the scientists studying the animals-wolf, bear, horse, and whale–who are the subjects of the four “books” of this work— but we also hear the other, wilder, voices of indigenous wisdom and spiritual experience. I remember as a child reading David Attenborough’s early books and being thrilled by their revelation of new worlds. This book has that magic, but it also has a strong spiritual element. This book is beautifully written, in poetic but easy to read style. Eleanor does not let the style act as a barrier to the story, but lets it, and the poetic images which stud it, flow naturally and easily. In this I am reminded of the great nature writer Annie Dillard.”
— Amazon.co.uk 
“By far, this is one of the most beautifully written works of art I have read for many years.I look forward to reading more books written by this author with great anticipation. Deeply impressive.”
— Amazon.co.uk
“The most moving and evocative book I have read on the natural world.”
— Amazon.co.uk
“One of the most beautiful books I have ever read. I would like to thank her deeply for sharing her profound knowledge and insights.”
— Amazon.com
“If everyone read this book, this beautiful planet would flourish, there would be no war or abuse of any form of life. Thank you Eleanor for sharing your beautiful experiences of the animal kingdom and those special people who live so close to the animals. It is an important tool in assisting the transformation of the human race with regard to all living creatures. One cannot remain untouched by Eyes of the Wild.”
— amazon.co.uk
UK/Europe/other:
U.K. paperback |
U.K. Kindle
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Americas:
U.S. paperback |
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Testimonials
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