Author: Hal Herzog
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Source: TLC Book Tours
soft cover: 368 pages
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"foodie" elements: yes
random excerpt: "Then he tells me about the time he was having dinner witha a woman who was a turtle rescuer in Texas. When he ordered the shrimp special, she broke out into tears. It turns out that the woman was in a fight with local shrimpers over the use of TEDs - turtle excluder devices - that help loggerheads to escape from shrimp nets. Despite the TEDs, she believed that every shrimp cocktail translated into a dead loggerhead."
summary/synopsis: (from TLC site) Does living with a pet really make people happier and healthier? What can we learn from biomedical research with mice? Who enjoys a better quality of life—–the chicken destined for your dinner plate or the rooster in a Saturday night cockfight? Why is it wrong to eat the family dog?
Drawing on more than two decades of research into the emerging field of anthrozoology, the science of human–animal relations, Hal Herzog offers an illuminating exploration of the fierce moral conundrums we face every day regarding the creatures with whom we share our world. Alternately poignant, challenging, and laugh-out-loud funny—blending anthropology, behavioral economics, evolutionary psychology, and philosophy—this enlightening and provocative book will forever change the way we look at our relationships with other creatures and, ultimately, how we see ourselves.
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Drawing on more than two decades of research into the emerging field of anthrozoology, the science of human–animal relations, Hal Herzog offers an illuminating exploration of the fierce moral conundrums we face every day regarding the creatures with whom we share our world. Alternately poignant, challenging, and laugh-out-loud funny—blending anthropology, behavioral economics, evolutionary psychology, and philosophy—this enlightening and provocative book will forever change the way we look at our relationships with other creatures and, ultimately, how we see ourselves.
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my thoughts/review: I was thoroughly fascinated, thrilled, and enthralled by this book. Culture and upbringing and moral conscience. From careers to eating habits to how one persons pet is another persons pest. Anthrozoology is such a diverse field...one with the possibility for endless studies and numerous teaching/thinking paths to follow. Herzog captured my attention and made me slow down...made me contemplate. A few instances made me cringe. Some made me laugh. Not only was I entertained by his experiences, they were something to savor. Something to learn from. Studies that illustrated a point, yet left me wondering.
My mom stopped by for a visit this weekend and I turned around to find that she had picked up my copy of this book and (like mother, like daughter) was already lost in the pages. She made me promise I would pass it on to her as soon as I was finished with it.
Points to ponder: Would you be more likely to order a Patagonian Tooth Fish or a Chilean Sea Bass for your next meal? Would you rather have a dog or a beetle as a pet? Do dolphins have curative powers? If it is okay to run tests on rats, is it okay to run tests on dogs?
And it's true...this book will make you stop and ponder your own actions when it comes to the way you look at animals. If you enjoy science, psychology, animal/people studies, you may enjoy this book.
My mom stopped by for a visit this weekend and I turned around to find that she had picked up my copy of this book and (like mother, like daughter) was already lost in the pages. She made me promise I would pass it on to her as soon as I was finished with it.
Points to ponder: Would you be more likely to order a Patagonian Tooth Fish or a Chilean Sea Bass for your next meal? Would you rather have a dog or a beetle as a pet? Do dolphins have curative powers? If it is okay to run tests on rats, is it okay to run tests on dogs?
And it's true...this book will make you stop and ponder your own actions when it comes to the way you look at animals. If you enjoy science, psychology, animal/people studies, you may enjoy this book.
Author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight About Animals, Hal Herzog is also Professor of Psychology at Western Carolina University and lives in the Smoky Mountains with his wife Mary Jean and their cat Tilly.
Visit Hal at his website, and read his blog at Psychology Today, Animals and Us.
*I received a free copy of this book to review from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions stated in this post are 100% mine.
follow the tour:
I heard this author on a podcast i follow and indeed, was fascinated. Loan me this when Mom is done???
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a really interesting read! Thanks for sharing your review.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting!!! I'm off to see if this book is available for the Kindle. :)
ReplyDeleteFascinating Heather - - although some things he poses have had numerous studies - I love the way he packaged it together with the great title.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely going to pick this one up!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like such an interesting read!! I think I'll pick it up next time I'm at the store - thanks for the recommendation :)
ReplyDeleteRosie
What an interesting review, I am intrigued and will want to check the book out.
ReplyDeleteOK, you make me want to go out and buy this book. It sounds fascinating.
ReplyDelete;-)
I'm glad that you and your mom both found this one interesting! Thanks for being on the tour.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a cocky little book.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a really interesting book! I've always been interested in anthropology of this nature, I'll have to check this book out for sure. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDelete