Have you ever had one of those moments when you needed all of your willpower not to smack someone upside the head? One Good Dog is the story of what happens when one man’s willpower fails and someone does get smacked. The most important day in Adam March’s life begins with a failed alarm clock, only gets worse, and culminates with a furious slap to his secretary. Predictably, his career and personal life immediately unravel during the ensuing legal battles. Left with nothing, Adam rents a run-down, one bedroom apartment near the homeless shelter where he is to fulfill one year of community service. Obviously, there is a dog in the story and there will be no surprises if you’ve ever read a book with a dog in it. I choose not to mention the dog, however, because this is not just a book for dog-lovers. One Good Dog is rich with complex issues and myriad topics for discussion and therefore will be very popular among book clubs. It’s on track to be one of my favorites of 2010.