Contains a smattering of memoir and hefty doses of cognitive science, but it is primarily a work of philosophy ... Rowlands’s book is...as much an inquiry into the nature of humanity as it is a celebration of dogs and their virtues. It does not, however, paint a very flattering portrait of dogs’ handlers ... Sometimes, The Word of Dog is a bit in the weeds, which I mean as a compliment. Rowlands is at his best when he refrains from simplifying or sugarcoating and dives headfirst into some of the thorniest arguments in the history of philosophy.
Deeply moving and lyrically written ... Rowlands is hardly obligated to give us an account of his relationship to the divine. Yet an intellectual history of consciousness...demands at least some engagement with religion and, in particular, the Genesis version of it
Rowlands has written a profound and funny examination of what it means to be fulfilled, both for canines and humans. By the end, you will envy your dog’s every waking moment ... You don’t need to be a dog lover – or even a dog owner – to enjoy this book, but it helps.
