The Hog Book

Many years ago, I was alone, floating on the sea of human companionship like a wretched speck of oil atop a great sea of cold, emotionless water. I drifted listlessly through the wasted years of my youth, never knowing the joy of friendship. Finally, I became a counselor at a summer camp in Vermont, where I came across Hedgepeth's great tome. I spent hours gazing at the image on the cover, of a beutiful, nude blonde woman riding bareback on a great specimen of swine. I taught the Hog Song to all of my campers and recited hog poetry in the forests under the moon. And not to go into specifics, but I learned quite a bit from the section about hog breeding. Quite a bit. I would just like to thank you, William Hegdepeth, for writing this remarkable book, and, if you are out there somewhere, please contact me so we can breed hogs--together. Sincerely, J--- W--- (Floating Feather)

In college days, a friend gave me a copy of this book for my birthday. In it was a picture of a hog, its face painted like a clown, a ruffled clown collar and a conical clown hat. I stared at that picture off and on for quite awhile vowing, I want to train "circus pigs" for a career. Eventually I went on to train hogs for movies, television and live performances. Keep this book away from your children and young impressionable college students unless you want to condemn them to a life of loving hogs ... and people too, because after reading this holy scripture, you will realize, we too are hog.

William Hedgepeth's The Hog Book keeps you alert. Reading along, you pause and ask yourself, "Wait, was that list of animals written in verse?" It was. You read more and wonder, "Did he really interview that farmer or did he make it up?" It doesn't matter. Hedgepeth's talent is to compel the reader then punctuate his yarn with a delightfully palatable, "Gotcha!" Just when you've fallen under the Hedgepeth spell of silliness, he tugs at your heart with an in-your-face look at the slaughter of these animals he's just caused you to fall in love with. Why should you read a book about hogs? Because Hedgepeth is a gifted writer, and it's a pleasure to read his words. Because Hedgepeth's instruction about hogs goes down as if with sugar. Because Hedgepeth borrowed from Cinderella and Pygmalion to reveal beauty in creatures frequently ridiculed and dismissed. Perhaps each of us sees a little of our insecure selves in Hedgepeth's recognition of the value and beauty of the oft-maligned hog.

William Hedgepeth has written one of the most unique books imaginable on the life of hogs. This dry and witty look at porcines is no quick compendium on the subject. It is a thorough and informative account of everything you could want to know about these creatures. And it's funny.An early Ally McBeal Show featured a case where Michael, a pig, gave up his life in order to donate his liver (or some organ) to the crass & orca fat Mrs. Goldstein. Instead of thanking the Doctor for life, she sued because she felt it beneath her to share an organ with a pig. Had Goldstein read The Hog Book, she might have requested Michael's heart as well. This animal's existential ability to accept itself and experience joy in living is a tall order that most humans cannot fill. I see a sequel to this book - The Tao of Being a Hog, Living in the Now. In any case, I wish this author would turn his journalist's eye and writer's wit onto another subject quick. He's a pleasure to read.

Who would have thought that a book about hogs could be both as funny and informative as "The Hog Book" by William Hedgepeth. I laughed, I cried, I had swine visions. Mr. Hedgepeth has managed to relate to the reader what, I believe every farm boy has secretly know for years, that hogs are magical, mystical beings worthy of our deepest respect and admiration. If you don't believe me just read the section on hog poetry or gather around the old piano and launch into a chorus of the Hog Song. Mr. Hedgepeth has a gift for weaving fact and fantasy into a fabric that is as hilarious as it is enlightening. The book is beautifully illustrated by John Findley (is this the same John Findley who wrote and illustrated "Tex-Arcana" for Heavy Metal Magazine?) with photos by world famous photographer Al Clayton. I highly recommend it and it would make a good gift for all the farm boys or girls for that matter on you Christmas list. I just couldn't put it down except when I was laughing to hard.