The Pawprints of History: Dogs and the Course of Human Events

by Stanley Coren

Book Overview

The Pawprints of History shines a new light on a favorite subject -- the relationship between humans and their four-legged best friends. Stanley Coren, a renowned expert on dog-human interactions, has... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743222288
• ISBN13: 9780743222280
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 322 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Love Dogs, Love History, Love this book!

I am throughly enjoying reading Pawprints of History. It is very insightful and easy reading about how dogs helped shape events and people of history. I have recently also picked up other Stanley Coren books- How To Speak Dog and the How Dogs Think. Mr. Coren is delightful and his love of dogs shines through in his work!!! Not to be missed.

Pawprints of History

This is an excellent and well-researched book describing how humans and dogs have interacted through history. It includes a wealth of interesting information about both individual and societal attitudes towards dogs and how those attitudes impacted events. Although the book is about the role of dogs in history, the stories humanize historical events by showing how compassion towards or fear of dogs affected individual people and societies. Great book.

A charming view of some wonderful friendships

This interesting book discusses the relationships between several noteable people and their dogs. At least one cynical Washington D.C. politician said that "if you want someone to love you in this town, buy a dog," and you will find he was not the first one to conjure up that thought. The author shows how people such as Florence Nightingale, Frederick the Great, Robert Burns, and Sigmund Freud were all warmly touched by the positive side of their dogs. These people, who somehow seemed so intensely boring in History class, never seemed so human as when interacting with their dogs. Dogs have served as companions for many others who needed a consistent friend, and they often served as inspirations for those who enriched our artistic and aesthetic lives (perhaps because they were so cheerful and so honest). Oh, by the way, the author gives us some pretty interesting lessons in history and the arts, too, so this story is not just about the canids. If you are looking for a good book to curl up with, and read to, your animal companions, give this one a try.

terrific book

I can't remember when I enjoyed a book more. It was insightful, fascinating, and difficult to put down. Surprisingly easy to read, I would enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who owns or loves dogs. I would also recommend it to history buffs or to those who want to read about famous people and events from a slightly different perspective. What a terrific read!

Very entertaining

I am an avid reader, history buff and dog lover. This book is wonderful and appealed to me in many ways. This book brings history to life by turning historical figures into real people. It also tells many stories that show how dogs have not only been a part of history, but have influenced it as well.