Buffalo for the Broken Heart is at once a tender account of the buffaloes' first seasons on the ranch and an engaging lesson in wildlife ecology. Whether he's describing the grazing pattern of the buffalo, the thrill of watching a falcon home in on its prey, or the comical spectacle of a buffalo bull wallowing in the mud, O'Brien combines a novelist's eye for detail with a naturalist's understanding to create an enriching, entertaining narrative.
"A deeply felt story of life on the Great Plains that strays through time and history, touching again and again on the two great themes of the place--rapture and ruin--and finds its way finally to Dan O'Brien's patient heart."
--Pete Dexter
"This is a bold, brave, and beautifully written book that should be required reading for every cattleman and beef eater in America."
--Outside
"Dan O'Brien's memoir is a poignant portrayal of our link to the land, and to each other. As personal as a confession and as sweeping as the South Dakota sky, Buffalo for the Broken Heart will leave you entertained, moved, and changed."
--Tom Daschle, majority leader, United States Senate