Overview

The Will of Heaven is the powerful true story of how one woman overcame a debilitating addiction-rising from the courtrooms of her past to the grass plains of Kenya as a conservation research scientist. It was there she could finally fulfill her lifelong dream of working with wild elephants. Debbie Ethell became obsessed by a group of elephants in Kenya when she was eight years old after seeing them on a PBS nature show. Over the next several years, her obsession grew-until a group of school bullies left her contemplating suicide. By the time she was twenty-six, an addiction to alcohol robbed her of nearly everything except her dreams ... and it nearly took those too. Left with one final option and more judges in her life than friends, she entered a treatment center and then a halfway house, where she slowly learned how to live life sober. The Will of Heaven vividly captures her serendipitous journey as she discovers her inner strength-not unlike that of the elephants whose stories she tells. Part biography, part revelation, this story will inspire others to reach further than they ever thought they could. Above all, it conveys a strong message of hope, both for elephants fighting to survive poaching and for alcoholics fighting to survive addiction.

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9781733588706

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Reviews

REVIEW #1: Spellbinding Story of Loss, Redemption, and Elephants I purchased this book having no expectations. The author, Debbie Ethell is well known and respected in the elephant rescue community of which I am a member, but having a sterling reputation in a particular field does not guarantee brilliant writing, so I approached with caution. Fortunately for me, from the very first page until the last I was completely engaged. Ms. Ethell tells her personal story with candor and charm, allowing us to see her harrowing personal battle with alcohol addiction in a no holds barred style that anyone who has known an addict will instantly recognize as completely authentic. Interwoven with her mesmerizing personal drama are stories of real African elephants whom Ms. Ethell has spent her life researching. The trials of the author meld seamlessly with those of rescued and endangered elephants, who live and die in shifting plains of East Africa. While I perhaps know more about elephants than the average person, I found many well told anecdotal elephants stories to amaze and enlighten me! This book is a must read for people in any stage of recovery as well as people who love, study, care about elephants. - Thyra Rutter, Arte for Elephants REVIEW #2: A Passionate True Story About a Woman's Recovery and Discovery Ms. Ethell takes you on an amazing journey through her life and parallels her struggles with the struggles of African elephants. Her attention to detail and her passion for elephants as well as recovery are described as if you were her best friend with nothing held back. I think it is brilliant and can hardly wait for the next two books. Rose Man off of Amazon

One of the best Alcoholism books of all time! --BookAuthority, THE WILL OF HEAVEN chosen #8 on the list I all-caps LOVE this book! --Zach Ellis, author of BEING I don't remember the last time a book made me cry. I don't remember the last time I read a memoir that I couldn't put down. THE WILL OF HEAVEN, by Debbie Ethell, managed to do both. Her story of overcoming a debilitating addiction to alcohol and fulfilling a lifelong dream of working with wild elephants is nothing less than extraordinary. --Shannon Leonetti, Amazon and Goodreads Professional Reviewer (unpaid) Debbie's deeply personal account of her addiction, recovery, and building a new life dedicated to conservation would be compelling and deeply moving if told on its own, but combined with the insights and stories of the remarkable elephants that encouraged her recovery, her story is elevated to a truly inspiring memoir. You are guaranteed to learn something about the world reading this book, and I think it will leave you feeling very hopeful; however desperate the challenges, together we can overcome adversity to secure a future for elephants, and for ourselves. -Dr. Lucy Bates, Research Fellow, University of Sussex

Debbie's deeply personal account of her addiction, recovery, and building a new life dedicated to conservation would be compelling and deeply moving if told on its own, but combined with the insights and stories of the remarkable elephants that encouraged her recovery, her story is elevated to a truly inspiring memoir. You are guaranteed to learn something about the world reading this book, and I think it will leave you feeling very hopeful; however desperate the challenges, together we can overcome adversity to secure a future for elephants, and for ourselves. -Dr. Lucy Bates, Research Fellow, University of Sussex

Author Information

Debbie Ethell has followed a group of more than 400 elephants since she was eight years old. She is the founder and former executive director of The KOTA Foundation for Elephants as well as a conservation research scientist. She currently resides in Portland, Oregon. Please visit her website at debbieethell.com to learn more.

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