Play Audiobook Sample
The Wolf in the Parlor: The Eternal Connection Between Humans and Dogs Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.04) - 237 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Of all the things hidden in plain sight, dogs are one of the most enigmatic. They are everywhere, but how much do we really know about where they came from and what the implications are of their place in our world? Jon Franklin set out to find out and ended up spending a decade studying the origins and significance of the dog and its peculiar attachment to humans. As the intellectual pursuit of his subject began to take over Franklin's life, he married a dog lover and was quickly introduced to an ancient and powerful law of nature: Love me, love my dog. Soon Franklin was sharing hearth and home with a soulful and clever poodle named Charlie.
And so began one man's journey to the dogs, an odyssey that would take him from a 12,000-year-old grave to a conclusion so remarkable as to change our perception of ourselves. Building on evolutionary science, archaeology, behavioral science, and the firsthand experience of watching his own dog evolve from puppy to family member, Franklin posits that man and dog are more than just inseparable; they are part and parcel of the same creature. Along the way, The Wolf in the Parlor imparts a substantial yet painless education on subjects as far-ranging as psychological evolution and neurochemistry. In this groundbreaking book, master storyteller Franklin shatters the lens through which we see the world and shows us an unexpected, enthralling picture of the human/canine relationship.
Download and start listening now!
"It's hard for me to rate non-fiction because I don't read a lot of it. I thought this book was interesting, especially when the author talked about how dogs perceive the world versus how we perceive the world. I found myself bringing up things from the book in conversation. If you're a dog-lover or interested in psychology (I'm both) then you might find this an interesting read."
— Mandy (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
A welcome---and surprising---view into the canine soul from somebody who clearly understands and loves dogs.
— Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, author of the international bestseller Dogs Never Lie About Love
The Wolf in the Parlor Listener Reviews
-
" Human-canine symbiosis? I'm afraid Jon didn't quite sell me. His thesis would have made for a great 50-page essay; at 274 pages, it's a bit much. "
— Bill, 2/8/2014 -
" Finally finished this very long and sometimes repetitive treatise on the human/canine relationship. It was good, but as I said....long. "
— Jan, 1/21/2014 -
" This guy is a pompous boob who can't seem to follow a thought through to completion. Do NOT recommend! "
— Anjie, 1/19/2014 -
" This showed up as 'The Wolf in the Parlor: The Eternal Con" on my library receipt *chortle*. Despite a glaring (to biologist me), albeit minor error about mitochondria, this was an interesting reflection of a science writer on the relationship between humans and dogs in general and his relationship with his own dog. "
— Jenifer, 1/17/2014 -
" If you like dogs and want to learn more about them from a historical and scientific standpoint, this is the book. "
— Deb, 1/17/2014 -
" I really enjoyed this book! Anyone who is a dog-lover, has a dog or is thinking about getting a dog should really consider reading this little gem! "
— Angie, 1/12/2014 -
" Very interesting! I loved the psychological connections. A must have for any dog lover! "
— Shay, 12/8/2013 -
" If you like dogs and good science writing, don't miss this one. "
— Jean, 12/3/2013 -
" Explores the mysterious origins of the domestication of the dog from follower wolves. An interesting blend of science and personal stories, if you stick through the first few dry chapters, you will be rewarded. "
— Steph, 11/25/2013 -
" Significantly more how-I-became-a-dog-person memoir than I had expected, but engaging enough that I didn't mind. "
— Thethockmonthter, 8/31/2013 -
" Got to keep up with my vampire reading friends. "
— Papajack, 7/15/2013 -
" While not what I was expecting based on the jacket description, this was a great philosophical and zoo-anthropological look at how dogs and humans came together and why we've stayed together. "
— Rachel, 5/21/2012 -
" Really, really fun book that traces the origins of dogs from wolves and why we humans have such a close relationship with them. "
— Scheufler, 1/13/2012 -
" "A Wolf in the Parlor" is about the search for the history of the man/dog connection- REALLY interesting book, well written, in conversational style...I just may be sad to finish it (not something I often say about non-fiction!) "
— Annie, 11/22/2011 -
" this book had just a little bit too much science for me - these non-fiction slow reads just don't work for me sometimes. also, the author's hypothesis was not presented quickly or clearly enough for me. "
— JBF, 10/18/2011 -
" kind of scattered, scientific yet personal...makes some thought provoking points on the relationship between humans and domestic canines. "
— Cicely, 8/15/2011 -
" I'm amazed that this guy is a Pulitzer-winning journalist. He renders an interesting topic boring due to his tiresome love for his own prose style. Not recommended. "
— Jennifer, 7/1/2011 -
" I find the relationship between dogs and people fascinating, so I was patient with this leisurely, rambling exploration of the topic. Spoiler alert! Franklin believes dogs caused humans to evolve just as much as humans caused dogs to evolve from wolves. "
— Rebecca, 6/22/2011 -
" I didn't care for this book. It poorly compares to Inside of a Dog. It is a combination of info about dogs in history and the senses of a dog and a memoir about the author's experience with his own dog and his career as a journalist. "
— Emily, 5/27/2011 -
" A good intro. to current theory on the relationship between humans & dogs. Might have been better as a long article instead of a book. "
— Donna, 4/6/2011 -
" I really wanted more dog and less human - this felt like way too much human time. "
— Jennifer, 3/27/2011 -
" The entire book was fascinating to me. I loved how the author based the book on research but also on his own connection with dogs in his life. Great book for any dog lover. "
— Amy, 9/26/2010 -
" If you like dogs and want to learn more about them from a historical and scientific standpoint, this is the book. "
— Deb, 7/2/2010 -
" I really enjoyed this book! Anyone who is a dog-lover, has a dog or is thinking about getting a dog should really consider reading this little gem! "
— CaliAngie, 4/25/2010 -
" I didn't care for this book. It poorly compares to Inside of a Dog. It is a combination of info about dogs in history and the senses of a dog and a memoir about the author's experience with his own dog and his career as a journalist. "
— Emily, 4/12/2010 -
" "A Wolf in the Parlor" is about the search for the history of the man/dog connection- REALLY interesting book, well written, in conversational style...I just may be sad to finish it (not something I often say about non-fiction!) "
— Annie, 4/2/2010 -
" Really, really fun book that traces the origins of dogs from wolves and why we humans have such a close relationship with them. "
— Scheufler, 3/29/2010 -
" I wanted more science and way less introspection. "
— Anne, 3/20/2010
About Jon Franklin
Jon Franklin is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism and the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing, among numerous other awards. He was a science writer for the Baltimore Evening Sun and is now a journalism professor at the University of Maryland. He is also the author of The Molecules of the Mind, a New York Times Book of the Year.
About George K. Wilson
George K. Wilson is a working actor in stage, film, television, and commercials with almost one hundred audiobook narrations to his credit. He began in broadcast journalism with American Forces Radio and Television and is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He had a lead role in the cult film classic Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and appeared on television’s One Life to Live, Ryan’s Hope, and The Doctors and has been heard on voice-overs for The Guiding Light and The Cosby Show, as well as many television and radio commercials.