From The Washington Post
From The Washington Post’s Book World/washingtonpost.com Reviewed by Jonathan Yardley Six of 10 U.S. households own pets, up 12 percent between 2000 and 2006. Spending by Americans on their pets more than doubled from $17 billion in 1994 to $41 billion in 2007 and is expected to rise at an 11 percent clip over the next two years. No doubt most of that spending is for routine stuff, but as Michael Shaffer recounts in his informative, entertaining and sobering book, our most privileged pets “live in a world of dog walkers and pet sitters and animal trainers and canine swim therapists and pet Reiki masseuses. . . . [a] baroque and endlessly subspecialized array of service providers.” That is the world into which Schaffer plunged while writing “One Nation Under Dog.” The title was dreamed up by his wife, he says, but he seems to have failed to consult the Googlesphere, which would have alerted him that it’s also the name of a company that sells (click here for further information)
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A hilarious yet pointed read
ONE NATION UNDER DOG: ADVENTURES IN THE NEW WORLD OF PROZAC-POPPING PUPPIES, DOG-PARK POLITICS, AND ORGANIC PET FOOD tells of a couple who adopt a dog from an animal shelter and…
5.0 out of 5 stars
I guess I am a “fur baby” parent
One Nation Under Dog explores the ways that we pamper, care for, and lavish money upon our pets. Each chapter focuses on a specific topic, and each chapter could be read as a…
5.0 out of 5 stars
Two paws up!
As a urban dwelling dog owner I found this book to be an entertaining and insightful examination of current “yuppie” culture. I highly recommend it!
2.0 out of 5 stars
spotty
I’m a dog lover (I have two of them) so pretty much anything dog grabs my attention. Unfortunately, even the most ardent dog lover will feel let down by this book.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Recommended for soon-to-be dog owners too
My husband and I are awaiting a litter of labs to be born so we can take home our first dog. Though my husband grew up in a household that had dogs, I did not, so I am looking to…
2.0 out of 5 stars
Incredibly Boring
I love dogs and was looking forward to reading One Nation Under Dog. However, I just couldn’t get into it and ended up skimming it and finally giving up.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not for Me
I own three dogs, but I just couldn’t get into this book about the national obsession with canines. The writing seemed okay, but I was laboring to get through the first few…
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting, Funny, and Insightful
This is a very interesting book that covers many, many subjects dealing with owning an animal. And as others have mentioned, it is both funny, insightful, and informative.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally an expose of the dog worship fad!
I was given this book as a gift; a “must have” for me if ever there was one, as I’ve been an avid observer of the dog pampering/elevation shift for over a decade.
5.0 out of 5 stars
America’s fur babies
First off, I must say I have a tremendous amount of interest in this subject as I currently have two dogs, (up to seven at one time as a breeder) and have had dogs all of my adult…