shopping cart
Save up to 30% on our Staff Picks
Call us:  800-878-7323 HELP
McAfee SECURE helps keep you safe from identity theft, credit card fraud, spyware, spam, viruses and online scams.
Interviews | November 19, 2009

Dave: IMG Finding John Irving: The Powells.com Interview



[Editor's note: The following is a reprint of our 2005 interview with John Irving, whose new novel, Last Night in Twisted River, has just come out... Continue »

Ships free on qualified orders.
Add to Cart
$25.00
New Hardcover
Ships in 1 to 3 days
Add to Wishlist
Qty Store Section
2 Beaverton Pets- Dogs General
1 Burnside Pets- Dog Care and Ownerships
4 Burnside Featured Titles- Science
1 Hawthorne Pets- Dogs General
25 Remote Warehouse Pets- Dogs General
9 Remote Warehouse Pets- Dogs General

The Wolf in the Parlor: The Eternal Connection Between Humans and Dogs

by Jon Franklin

The Wolf in the Parlor: The Eternal Connection Between Humans and Dogs Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

A man and puppy exhumed from a 12,000-year-old grave sends a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer on a journey to the dogs

Of all the things hidden in plain sight, dogs are one of the most enigmatic. They are everywhere but how much do we really know about where they came from and what the implications are of their place in our world? Jon Franklin set out to find out and ended up spending a decade studying the origins and significance of the dog and its peculiar attachment to humans. As the intellectual pursuit of his subject began to take over Franklin's life, he married a dog lover and was quickly introduced to the ancient and powerful law of nature, to wit: Love me, love my dog. Soon Franklin was sharing hearth and home with a soulful and clever poodle named Charlie.

And so began one man's journey to the dogs, an odyssey that would take him from a 12,000-year-old grave to a conclusion so remarkable as to change our perception of ourselves. Building on evolutionary science, archaeology, behavioral science, and the firsthand experience of watching his own dog evolve from puppy to family member, Franklin posits that man and dog are more than just inseparable; they are part and parcel of the same creature. Along the way, The Wolf in the Parlor imparts a substantial yet painless education on subjects as far ranging as psychological evolution and neurochemistry. In this groundbreaking book, master storyteller Franklin shatters the lens through which we see the world and shows us an unexpected, enthralling picture of the human/canine relationship.

Review:

"Pulitzer Prize — winning science journalist Franklin (Molecules of the Mind) draws on a slew of disciplines — evolutionary theory, zooarcheology, behavioral science, ethnology, bio-philosophy and keen firsthand observation — to formulate a challenging but enticingly plausible theory about the psychological leash binding humans and canines. His thesis: beginning about 12,000 years ago, as wild wolves evolved into 'follower wolves' and were subsequently domesticated by early man, a kind of mind meld occurred. As this neurological attachment took shape, the dog shed 20% of its brain mass because, biologically, humans had 'agreed to do its thinking' for it, while mankind lost 10% of its brain mass because dogs became 'our beast of emotional burden.' Franklin buttresses his inventive assertion with a combination of absorbingly loquacious ruminations on the behavior of his own dog, Charlie, and a rigorous compilation of scientific facts rooted in a decade of study about the nature of wolves and dogs. As concepts of the canine go, Franklin's is notably audacious. And among a plethora of books on breeding, disciplining, loving and lamenting the loss of man's best friend, this thoughtful discourse is a best of breed. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

What Our Readers Are Saying

Add a comment for a chance to win!
Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
laneybormel, September 13, 2009 (view all comments by laneybormel)
A breathtaking account of a thoughtful man's quest to understand himself, mankind and the role the dog has played and continues to play in our roles as humans. Franklin comes to understand not only the interraction between homo sap and the dog, but he posits a fascinating conclusion as to how man and canine came to rely upon each other as they barreled through evolution. Anyone who reads this impressive examination will never again look at his dog in quite the same way.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
Erica Horne, September 8, 2009 (view all comments by Erica Horne)
This thoroughly enjoyable book shows the power and joy that can be had from well-written nonfiction. The author's search for answers to an enigma is as gripping as the "whodunits" that I like to read. Yet, truth is more fascinating than made-up stories. A photo of a 12,000-year-old skeleton reaching out to the skeleton of a small dog entices Franklin on a quest that takes him from ancient caves guarded by wolf skulls to his own hearth where a Standard Poodle puppy named Charlie turns his world upside down. In this nonfiction mystery, Franklin sets out to discover why dogs are such an integral part of all societies, not only here in the U.S. This is more than a book about dogs; it is a book about what makes us human. It will appeal to anyone wanting to learn more about the world in which they live.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
View all 2 comments

Product Details

ISBN:
9780805090772
Subtitle:
The Eternal Connection Between Humans and Dogs
Author:
Franklin, Jon
Publisher:
Henry Holt & Company
Subject:
Human-animal relationships
Subject:
Dogs -- Behavior.
Subject:
Social Scientists & Psychologists
Subject:
Dogs - General
Subject:
Animals
Publication Date:
September 2009
Binding:
Hardcover
Language:
English
Pages:
304
Dimensions:
9.44x6.48x1.02 in. 1.07 lbs.

Other books you might like

  1. $9.50 Used Trade Paper add to wish list

    Flight: A Novel

    Sherman Alexie

Related Aisles

  • back to top

Powell's City of Books is an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, that fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. Shop those shelves — plus literally millions more books, DVDs, and eBooks — here at Powells.com.