Chew on Things Workbook for Fellow Worriers

Iris Bell
Creative Bookworm Press (2007)
ISBN 9780979165344
Reviewed by April Sullivan for Reader Views (11/07)


“Chew on Things Workbook for Fellow Worriers” is the follow-up to Iris Bell’s photo and quote book “Chew on Things-It Helps You Think,” inspired by her dog Casey B. Worrywart, Dogtor of Philosophy.  Iris Bell capitalizes on two big audiences with this book: dog lovers and worriers.  There are a lot of both out there. 

The workbook is structured in a journal style with lined pages for the worrier to fill in Date, Worry, Woe-Is-Me Rating, and Next Ball.  Opposite of this page is a quote and a blank spot for an image.  The concept is that the worrier will draw, collage, or somehow visually represent their worry on this page to accompany the written expression.

The Woe-Is-Me Rating is listed in the back of the book and is a cute system devised by the dog with a rating from Hyperventilate to Bark Like a Doberman and Run Like a Rabbit.  After rating your worry, you write down your Next Ball.  This means what will you do next or move on to instead of getting stuck in your current worry.  Iris tells a story in the Acknowledgements about Casey never catching and returning a ball, but always dropping it and moving on to the next ball.  This is the analogy she uses for dropping worry and moving on.

I really liked the quotes in this book.  There are over 100 quotes and they all relate to worry.  The author really did some research to come up with some of these.  It shows her dedication to the subject matter.  She put a lot of thought into this workbook as a practical hands-on tool for a daily worrywart.  While I think it is too simplistic of an approach for someone with an Anxiety Disorder, it is a great idea for those who worry consistently for no good reason.  Writing and drawing the worry is a good way to give the worry the attention it wants, and then no more.

I recommend readers get both “Chew on Things” and the “Chew on Things Workbook for Fellow Worriers” for a complete collection of fun quotes and readings about a dog, his owner, and his worries.  Maybe it will inspire you to look to your own dog for some pet therapy and words of wisdom.    

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