Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Best Dog in the World by Alice Hoffman Narrator: Max Meyers, Karen Gundersen
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio on March 10, 2026
Genres: Non Fiction
Length: 4 hours, 46 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Anyone who has ever been fortunate enough to share their life with a dog knows the experience is both profound and transformative. Here, in this charming collection of essays, fifteen celebrated authors share unforgettable tales of the dogs who left their pawprints on their hearts.
With contributions from Chris Bohjalian, Roxane Gay, Emily Henry, Ann Leary, Tova Mirvis, Jodi Picoult, Elizabeth Strout, Amy Tan, Adriana Trigiani, Nick Trout, and Laura Zigman, The Dog Who Changed My Life captures the full range of the canine-human connection, from the joy of welcoming a new puppy to the heartache of saying goodbye to a beloved friend.
A love letter to the loyal companions who enrich our lives and teach us about empathy, joy, and unconditional love, this anthology is the perfect gift for dog lovers everywhere, offering a blend of laughter, tears, and inspiration that will resonate with anyone who has been fur-ever touched by the love of a dog.
When I saw The Best Dog in the World, I knew I had to have it. I started listening with my daughter as I knew she would also enjoy it. We were on the way to her physical therapy appointment which is an hour drive each way. It was convenient that this is a collection of short stories.
We listened and enjoyed, tears in our eyes. The memories and incidents recalled some of our own various experiences. I have mostly always had dogs. The stories of their quirks and support, their diseases and too short lives touched us.
Since I listened to the audio, it was not clear which story was about which author and their experiences. There were a few I could tell. For that reason, I might also purchase the ebook or print book. It’s certainly well worth having, for reading and rereading.
Narration:
I don’t believe I have listened to these narrators previously. Intensely focused on the story, I enjoyed their performance and was comfortable with their voices. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 26-Audio
- 26-COYER
I’m glad you reviewed this. I’d love to check it out too😁
Thank you. It’s just so great.
I’m listening to this now and am loving it. Great review, Anne💜
Here’s the link to the NYT article about the book:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/13/books/the-best-writing-tip-get-a-dog.html?smid=url-share
Thank you, Jonetta. It’s hard not to love this book. She could pick another set of authors and do another one every year and we would enjoy it.
Sounds like a lovely collection for dog lovers!
It is very special.
This sounds lovely. It would make the perfect gift for dog lovers in our family.
yes! It feels like those Chicken Soup for the Soul books.
Whelp. I may have to read this. I love a good dog story.
It is excellent but you know the dogs get old and die.
This is on my TBR as well. I might choose to read it like you mentioned for some reasons like who each story was by. Great review!
yes I could look up the table of contents on Amazon in the sample but it’s not the same as it being right there on the page as I went along. Audio just didn’t have that.