The Animals Among Us: How Pets Make Us Human (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780465064816)

A leading anthrozoologist and the bestselling author of Dog Sense and Cat Sense explains why we are so drawn to pets.

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.

Author: John Bradshaw
ISBN-10: 0465064817
ISBN-13: 9780465064816
Publisher: Basic Books
Language: English
Published: 10/31/2017
Pages: 384
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.45lbs
Size: 9.30h x 6.20w x 1.40d

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 09/01/2017