So Much to Drool About: Lessons for Living Large
Barbara Stone
Wildebeest Publishing Company (2025)
ISBN: 978-1958233467
Reviewed by Diana Coyle for Reader Views (11/2025)
In So Much to Drool About: Lessons for Living Large by Barbara Stone, readers are taken on a whimsical, while also inspirational, journey of life lessons seen through the eyes of four Great Danes named Jazz, Beau, Aryanna, and Zeus. Such life lessons as learning to forgive, embracing your uniqueness, finding the courage to overcome small and large obstacles, and even finding the joy in the simple things in life (enjoying a nap or savoring dinner) can all be found in this delightful and inspirational book.
What was truly enjoyable about this book was that Barbara Stone wrote it through the eyes of all four of her Great Danes. Each inspiration offered was done through one of the Great Danes and emphasized how that life lesson was as unique a lesson learned as each dog that experienced it. Presenting the book in this way allowed readers, young and old, to savor each inspiration offered and opened up the opportunity to see if they could apply it to their own lives.
One example that can be applied to any age reader is that you need to let go of perfectionism and allow yourself the space to make mistakes and learn from them. So many of us aim for such unreachable perfection, and we are hard on ourselves when we fall short. Seeing it through the eyes of a loveable Great Dane allows readers to learn that life isn’t about perfection, but the lessons learned along the way of the life you live every day.
Another wonderful inspiration that readers can incorporate into their lives is that being different is okay, and you should embrace your uniqueness as well as that of others around you. This is what makes us different from one another and allows us to stand out from everyone around us.
One more inspiration that we can follow, no matter what stage of life you might be in, is when you’re disappointed or angry over something; instead of letting it overwhelm you, you should do something to make yourself feel better. In doing so, you allow yourself to focus and feel better again.
The illustrations provided by Kristina VanOss are found throughout this whimsical and enlightening book. They are done in black and white tones and allow readers to feel like they are looking at a comic book of sorts, as each Great Dane is illustrated performing their inspiration throughout the pages.
Barbara Stone built a successful 25-year career as a senior leader in manufacturing. Wanting a deeper fulfillment in life, she studied resiliency and positive psychology, which helped her become a leadership development coach.
Overall, So Much to Drool About: Lessons for Living Large by Barbara Stone is one book with two great joys. Readers can not only savor the inspirations offered throughout the pages, but they can also enjoy the illustrations of the individual Great Danes that provide each particular inspiration. This is a lighthearted book that readers of any age can enjoy. Well done, Ms. Stone!