THE GOSPEL OF ZIP: A Canine-Human Love Story Exploring Why Most Dogs (and a Few Humans) Live Joyful Lives

With candor, vulnerability, and his characteristic sardonic humor, Schaeffer brings his reader along for the "how to" journey of a lifetime that taught him the ways to build a lasting marriage defined by ever-deepening love. Schaeffer also shares the priceless wisdom that his luminous wife, Genie, has gathered and what they have learned from their dog. The Schaeffer’s married as teens after Genie became pregnant and they lived in a religious commune in Switzerland, as a "hippie princess" (Genie) and a nepotistic sidekick to his dad (Frank). For a time, Schaeffer followed in his famous parents’ footsteps and consorted with prominent members of the (then new) Religious Right. After fleeing his evangelical faith and "GOD CASH" connections, Schaeffer worked as a film director in Hollywood, and began writing novels and nonfiction books. Then the Schaeffers made it a priority to live in close proximity to their children and grandchildren, and the experiences they’ve had in these roles, while working with intention to maintain a healthy and happy marriage are at the core of this book. Endorsements... “I’m such a big fan of this project. We’ve connected on this topic of childbearing, and on the purification of what it means to devote our lives to others.” — Catherine Ruth Pakaluk, Director of Political Economy and Associate Professor at the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University Of America, Author of Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying The Birth Dearth. “I really enjoyed reading THE GOSPEL OF ZIP, so much. I think it is a lively and very humane book. I really liked the kind of fragmented structure, with the very short sections. I think it gives the book a good rhythm. And it helps that the sections themselves are well structured, it's not done as a gimmick but with intention and thoughtfulness.” —Jessa Crispin, author of What Is Wrong with Men: Patriarchy, the Crisis of Masculinity, and How (Of Course) Michael Douglas Films Explain Everything. “They got off to a rough start, but Frank & Genie Schaeffer have forged a lasting and satisfying marriage defined by ever-deepening love. In his new book, Frank shares the priceless wisdom and gratitude they’ve learned about life and love.” — Brad Wilcox, Professor of Sociology and Director of the National Marriage Project at UVA, and Author of Get Married “What draws readers or listeners to books is authenticity of the narrator, and an authentic narrator. I think your readers and listeners will be grateful for that…I’m excited to see what comes of you putting this book out there.” — Melanie Brooks, Author of A Hard Silence: One daughter remaps family, grief, and faith when HIV/AIDS changes it all “Congratulations again on the book. I’m glad Zip is now much more famous than he used to be, and I commend it to your viewers and readers. I hope it gets a good shake out in the world, and it sounds like it should really be a stimulant to some good critical but also constructive thinking.” — Christian Smith, PhD, Wm. R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Sociology Department of Sociology, University of Notre Dame, and Author of Why Religion Went Obsolete “In The Gospel of Zip, Frank Schaffer has masterfully woven colorful threads of personal narrative and confessional together with cutting edge science, to share his experience of becoming a better person and, especially, a better husband to his wife Genie, all with the help of a dog named Zip. The question isn’t “What would Jesus do?” Or “What would the Buddha do?” The real question is, “What would Zip do?” —Jessica Pierce, Ph.D., leading bioethicists and author of twelve books, including Run, Spot, Run: The Ethics of Keeping Pets (Chicago, 2016) and The Last Walk: Reflections on Our Pets at the Ends of Their Lives View Less