{"product_id":"whats-a-dog-for-isbn-9780143124122","title":"What's a Dog For?","description":"As dogs take their place as coddled family members and their numbers balloon to over 77 million in the United States alone, it’s no surprise that canine culture is undergoing a massive transformation. Now subject to many of the same questions of rights and ethics as people, the politics of dogs are more tumultuous and public than ever—with fierce moral battles raging over kill shelters, puppy mills, and breed standards. Incorporating interviews and research from scientists, activists, breeders, and trainers, \u003ci\u003eWhat’s a Dog For? \u003c\/i\u003einvestigates how dogs have reached this exalted status, and why they hold such fascination for us humans.\u003cb\u003e\"Smart, insightful, and engrossing—a wonderful field guide to the heart and soul of dogs and our intimate and enduring connection to them.\"\u003cbr\u003e—Susan Orlean, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eRin Tin Tin\u003c\/i\u003e and\u003ci\u003e The Orchid Thief\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"[An] \u003cb\u003eengaging, informative\u003c\/b\u003e book that is both a survey of the latest research on canine cognition and a memoir of [Homans's] years with his Lab mix, Stella... \u003cb\u003eperfect and poignant\u003c\/b\u003e.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A remarkable chronicle of the domestic dog’s journey across thousands of years and straight into our hearts, written with equal parts tenderness and scientific rigor... \u003cb\u003eBeautifully written and absolutely engrossing\u003c\/b\u003e.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eBrain Pickings\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"[\u003cb\u003eAn] artful exploration of human-canine relations\u003c\/b\u003e... Homans travels around the country, exploring various dog cultures and speaking to scientists, aid workers, lawyers, and breeders to discover how dogs have achieved this 'honorary personhood.'\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “A remarkable chronicle of the domestic dog's journey across thousands of years and straight into our hearts, written with equal parts tenderness and scientific rigor… Beautifully written and absolutely engrossing, \u003ci\u003eWhat's a Dog For? \u003c\/i\u003egoes on to examine such fascinating fringes of canine culture as how dogs served as Darwin's muse, why they were instrumental in the birth of empathy, and what they might reveal about the future of evolution.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Atlantic\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"Through careful observation and analysis, \u003ci\u003eNew York\u003c\/i\u003e executive editor Homans opens the door into the world of dogs, from the scientific to the humorous... illuminating nuggets of information on the ever-changing and complex world of people and their pets.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eKirkus\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"If you've ever pondered the lump or fluff on your rug and wondered what he's thinking—and why you care—this \u003cb\u003ewonderful \u003c\/b\u003elook at dogs' increasingly central place in our lives will strike a chord.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePeople \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Writing in an engaging, straightforward manner, Homans combines great personal charm with an intense interest in his subject matter.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A \u003cb\u003efascinating \u003c\/b\u003etour through ever-changing perceptions of dogs as pets.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eNew York Post \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Retraces [the] journey from Darwin's study of canine emotions to puppy mills to a canine-science conclave in Vienna... covers doggie consciousness and evolution... Homans hits his stride on topics like the read-state (pro)\/blue state (con) divide over euthanasia and the aristocratic origins of canine pedigree. Sprinkled throughout are charming anecdotes that will delight dog lover and even likely appeal to die-hard cat people.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eMother Jones \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"John Homans has written an intensely readable, thoughtful look at man's best friend and its place in our world. Factually fascinating and emotionally satisfying, \u003ci\u003eWhat's a Dog For?\u003c\/i\u003e is a great gift for dog lovers and those who wonder what they're about.\"\u003cbr\u003e—Julie Klam, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eYou Had Me at Woof \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eFriendkeeping\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"John Homans's \u003ci\u003eWhat's a Dog For? \u003c\/i\u003eis a romp across time and space and evolution that ends right up right in our own living rooms—a book as winning and companionable as the canines snoozing on our sofas. It's a fresh and amicable look at dog science, history, and training, both an indispensable guide for dog lovers and a terrific read for anyone looking for an enlightening glance at the world we live in.\"\u003cbr\u003e—Melissa Fay Greene, award-winning author of \u003ci\u003ePraying for Sheetrock \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eNo Biking in the House Without a Helmet\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A few years ago, John Homans and his family walked into a Long Island animal shelter petless and emerged, fortunately for readers, with a lovable, slightly skittish mongrel named Stella. Her almost instant transformation from stranger to a family member with 'honorary human' status inspired Homans to plum the mysterious, age-old bond between humans and canines—a quest that takes him from Darwin to Updike and from New York City dog runs to a Vienna conference on 'canine science.' The result is a beautifully written natural history of the complex and evolving relationship between dogs and their owners and \u003cb\u003ea sort of thinking man's \u003ci\u003eMarley \u0026amp; Me\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e. It will enlighten pet owners not just about their beloved animals but also themselves.\"\u003cbr\u003e—Warren St. John, author of \u003ci\u003eOutcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eJohn Homans\u003c\/b\u003e has been the executive editor of \u003ci\u003eNew York\u003c\/i\u003e magazine since 1994. This is his first book. He lives in New York City.","brand":"Penguin Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46305382301925,"sku":"NP9780143124122","price":24.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780143124122.jpg?v=1767743926","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/whats-a-dog-for-isbn-9780143124122","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}