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Historically, we relied on our pets to herd livestock, guard homes, and catch pests. But most of us don't need animals to do these things anymore. Pets have never been less necessary. And yet, pet ownership has never been more common than it is today: half of American households contain a cat, a dog, or both. Why are pets still around?
In The Animals Among Us, John Bradshaw, one of the world's leading authorities on the relationship between humans and animals, argues that pet ownership is actually an intrinsic part of human nature. He explains how our empathy with animals evolved into a desire for pets, why we still welcome them into our families, and why we mourn them so deeply when they die.
Drawing on the latest research in biology and psychology, as well as fields as diverse as robotics and musicology, The Animals Among Us is a surprising and affectionate history of humanity's best friends.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
October 31, 2017 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780465093151
- File size: 39553 KB
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780465093151
- File size: 39553 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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September 1, 2017
A British animal expert examines the complex, evolving connection between dogs and cats and their human companions.Initially a biologist, Bradshaw (Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet, 2013, etc.) has gradually turned his attention to anthrozoology, the study of "the personal relationships that people have with animals and, to a lesser extent, that animals have with people." After some soul-searching, he decided to use the traditional term "pet" rather than "animal companion" to describe the bond between the animals he studies and the people who live with them, and that common-sensical choice is reflected in much of his analysis. The author clearly enjoys the company of dogs and cats (other pets are mentioned only in passing), but his pleasure in hanging out with them doesn't prevent him from gently casting doubt on the alleged benefits they offer to humans. He cites research, for example, that suggests that people with cats actually live slightly shorter, and more anxious, lives than those without and that the positive effects of owning a dog may be attributed mainly to the increased exercise and socialization involved in walking it. The most intriguing chapters deal with the roles of these domesticated animals in historical or current hunter-gatherer societies, where the human breast-feeding of dogs, pigs, and other animals was relatively common. Bradshaw also explores the psychological projection of human feelings onto pets and the effect of that projection on pet and human, and he speculates about the genetic basis of affection for animals, more prevalent in some people than others. While the text sometimes drifts into repetition, and many of Bradshaw's points will already be familiar to readers, his gentle warmth and intelligence make the book enjoyable. A sound introduction to a relatively new area of study, both for those who share their households with animals and those who never would.COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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