What's A Dog For? : The Surprising History, Science, Philosophy, and Politics of Man's Best Friend.
Language: English
Published by Penguin Press, 2012
- Hardcover
- Used

Seller: Books Revisited, Saint Cloud, MN, U.S.A.Books Revisited
AbeBooks seller since May 28, 2003
Condition: Used - Very good
£ 5.74
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
hardcover in dust jacket, minor wear, binding tight, pages bright, a very nice copy.
Seller Inventory # 276846
- Title
- What's A Dog For? : The Surprising History, Science, Philosophy, and Politics of Man's Best Friend.
- Author
- Homans, John.
- Publisher
- Penguin Press
- Publication year
- 2012
- Condition
- Very good
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1594205159
- ISBN 13
- 9781594205156
- Seller catalogs
- Pets::Dogs
John Homans adopted his dog, Stella, from a shelter for all the usual reasons: fond memories of dogs from his past, a companion for his son, an excuse for long walks around the neighborhood. Soon enough, she is happily ensconced in the daily workings of his family. And not only that: Stella is treated like a family memberin ways that dogs of his youth were not. Spending humanlike sums on vet bills, questioning her diet and exercise regimens, contemplating her happinesshow had this all come to pass, when the dogs from Homanss childhood seemed quite content living mostly out in the yard?
In Whats a Dog For?, Homans explores the dogs complex and prominent place in our world and how it came to be. Evolving from wild animals to working animals to nearly human members of our social fabric, dogs are now the subject of serious scientific studies concerning pet ownership, evolutionary theory, and even cognitive science. From new insights into what makes dogs so appealing to humans to the health benefits associated with owning a dog, Homans investigates why the human-canine relationship has evolved so rapidlyhow dogs moved into our families, our homes, and sometimes even our beds in the span of a generation, becoming a $53 billion industry in the United States in the process.
As dogs take their place as coddled family members and their numbers balloon to more than seventy-seven million in the United States alone, its no surprise that canine culture at large is also undergoing a massive transformation. They are now subject to many of the same questions of rights and ethics as people, and 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, Whats a Dog For? investigates how dogs have reached this exalted status and why they hold such fascination for us. With one paw in the animal world and one paw in the human world, it turns out they have much to teach us about love, death, and moralityand ultimately, in their closeness and difference, about what it means to be human.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
John Homans has been Executive Editor of New York magazine since 1994, and previously worked atEsquire, Details, Harpers, and the New York Observer. He lives with his wife, son, and dog, Stella in Manhattan. This is his first book.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Books Revisited
Saint Cloud, MN, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since May 28, 2003
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 2.97 | £ 8.43 |
Payment methods
Seller's business information
Books Revisited
607 W. St. Germain
Saint Cloud, MN U.S.A. 56301
Terms of sale
Prepayment in the form of check, Visa, Mastercard or Discover and Paypal. Orders can be placed via telephone M-Sat 10-6 Central Standard time over our order line @ 320-259-7959. Please contact us to confirm availability, we will hold books for all firm sales. Shipping is 3.50 for the 1st title(Book Rate) or $7.00 for Priority/UPS. Contact us for multiple titles, foreign rates or special circumstances.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Books Revisited, Saint Cloud, Minnesota, U.S.A., +1 320-259-7959, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.