The Animals Among Us: How Pets Make Us Human [Hardcover]

The bestselling author ofDog SenseandCat Senseexplains why living with animals has always been a fundamental aspect of being human

Pets have never been more popular. Over half of American households share their home with either a cat or a dog, and many contain both. This is a huge change from only a century ago, when the majority of domestic cats and dogs were working animals, keeping rodents at bay, guarding property, herding sheep. Nowadays, most are valued solely for the companionship they provide. As mankind becomes progressively more urban and detached from nature, we seem to be clinging to the animals that served us well in the past.

InThe Animals Among Us, anthrozoologist John Bradshaw argues that pet-keeping is nothing less than an intrinsic part of human nature. An affinity for animals drove our evolution and now, without animals around us, we risk losing an essential part of ourselves.


John Bradshawis the foundation director of the Anthrozoology Institute at the University of Bristol, and author of theNew York TimesbestsellersCat SenseandDog Senseand coauthor ofThe Trainable Cat. He lives in Southampton, England.


If you're comfortable with your own animality,The Animals Among Uscan be your bestiary and breviary. I found Bradshaw's arguments about the domestication of animals and the origins of pet-keeping perfectly convincing; and his conclusion--that we have now co-evolved long enough with dogs, and to some extent with cats, for it to constitute an effective symbiosis --rather comforting. Will Self,Guardian(UK), Book of the Day Bradshaw is a pioneer.... His answer...is richly, empathetically and affectionately respectful of the human-animal bond.... Readers may be less interested in themselves as pet owners, yet this is actually a bolder and more important book. Sunday Times(UK) Bral³°