One Nation Under Dog: Adventures In The New World Of Prozac-Popping Puppies, Dog-Park Politics, And Organic Pet Food (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
Yes, I took my time reading this. It's not because it wasn't interesting. It was filled with lots of great stories about our fascination and sometime obsession with our four-legged friends. It took me so long because the way this book is set up, it is easy to put the book down for a few days, or months, and pick it back up again. Though I don't agree with everything Schaffer says, it is enlightening looking back at how our dog's role has grown over the years. From being kept on leads in the backyard to being pampered with beds, clothes, and organic food, our understanding of Fido's needs has matured and our relationship with them has become stronger than ever. I recommend this book to anyone who has seen that over-pampered pooch being chauffeured around and wondered what is going on there. And to those, like myself, who feel that our furry friends are worth every penny and every bit of our love. One Nation Under Dog is an amazing, fact-filled book on our nation's obsession with what Michael Schaffer refers to as our "fur babies". His journalistic distance and love for his St. Bernard, Murphy, make for an excellent balance. A book that could be dry with studies, facts and figures is enlivened with anecdotes that touch the hearts of those of us who love the dogs we consider cherished members of our families. Sometimes, we are made to feel that we need to apologize for the expense and care that we lavish upon our dogs. It's wonderful to know that there are so many of us out there doing the same thing. I gained a better understanding of the problem that caused the tainted pet food that killed so many pets. The medical technology and treatments that are now available is amazing. It is a book where the reader can learn from the experiences of others how to improve the lives of their own pets. There are many new services available for our dogs. The market for pet services and products is expanding exponentially. Near the end of the book, Michael Schaffer describes how he had acquired more than enough material for writing the book and how his deadline was closing-in. "I'd started doing research on the new pet world--way back when--feeling mainly bemused about how I'd been sucked into the universe of dog walkers and pet hotels and veterinary antidepressants. I thought of it as a chronicle of absurdities, albeit absurdities in which I was a participant. I'd imagined the pet universe being full of people much farther gone than myself. My early expectations of the pet bereavement group, in particular, had involved crazy cat ladies rather than sophisticated grievers like Makowski, who sought support in the only place she could find it." (p. 249-250) Schaffer's book is a wonderful dialog on "America's Love Affair with Our Dogs." It's a concise reference on the cultural, political, and medical changes that have brought our dog lovin' country to the place where we are today. Thanks go to Schaffer for taking us along on his journalistic expedition.
What do You think about One Nation Under Dog: Adventures In The New World Of Prozac-Popping Puppies, Dog-Park Politics, And Organic Pet Food (2009)?
Fact filled book. I found the subject interesting, but overall the book was uninspiring.
—Dremad
The intro. is funny and poignant but the rest of the book is mediocre.
—cabeazer
Looking forward to this book... because I love reading about dogs :)
—crystal
