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185th out of 396 books
—
947 voters
Dogs Never Lie About Love: Reflections on the Emotional World of Dogs
The bestselling author of "When Elephants Weep" provides surprising insights into the delightful and curious behavior of canines. Like the dogs he loves, Masson's writing--drawn from myth and literature, scientific studies and true accounts--will capture readers with its playful, mysterious, and serious sides.
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
September 8th 1998
by Broadway
(first published December 12th 1991)
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In his book, The Outermost House...
"We need another & a wiser & perhaps a more mystical concept of animals. Remote from universal Nature, & living by complicated artifice, Man in civilization surveys the creature through the glass of his knowledge & sees thereby a feather magnified & the whole image in distortion....more
We patronize them for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, & greatly err. For the Animal
I appreciate that the author set out to explore the emotional, higher consciousness of dogs in defiance of the traditional, rather cold-hearted "mere beast" stance science typically takes, but he waxes overly sentimental about his own pack. His position is that when you live with and really observe them, you recognize a deeper relationship with dogs. Then he dismisses cats the way he accuses typical scientists of dismissing dogs!
I lived with two cats for 12 years. They were communicative, social...more
I lived with two cats for 12 years. They were communicative, social...more
This was a very interesting book. I read it on the heels of Elizabeth Marshall Thomas's The Hidden Life of Dogs, which Masson cited on one of the very first pages of the book. I actually started this one first, but then when I hit that reference, read Thomas's book first. In general, I think Thomas was more successful than Masson, perhaps because she attempted less. A former psychoanalyst, with a long list of liberal arts accomplishments, Masson tries to interpret perhaps a bit too much. While T...more
I dug this book in that it has lots of interesting and cool stories about dogs. Dogs Never Lie About Love is not a scientific book. Masson stresses that he is trying not to anthropomorphize and it is clear he wrote from a lot of research based on observation (scientific and otherwise) and best guesses. Regardless, anyone who has observed dogs, living either with them or around them for long periods of time, will sense the inherent truth in what Masson is saying. You will recognize what he is tal...more
Aug 12, 2010
Ninya
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone especially dog owners
Shelves:
2010
A book of knowledge about the feelings and love of dogs! The best dog book I've read! Perhaps the best book Jeffrey Masson has ever written! Dog-owners should read this and also those that do not appreciate dogs as pets or as important as they should really be. I love my dogs much more now since I appreciate all that they do and I know their deep thoughts, feelings, and anxieties! Dogs don't think like humans, but they do not think like "real" animals.
"A dog is the only thing on earth that love...more
"A dog is the only thing on earth that love...more
Finally got to this one - interesting book. I felt like the author was very tentative in everything he was saying as if he didn't really want to commit to his words. He certainly cites a lot of sources. I did learn a few interesting things I didn't know - like that members of the dog family do not bark much, unlike domestic dogs. Also liked the chapter on how dogs relate to cats. The best parts were his personal antidotes about his own "pack".
This is basically just some guys' ramblings about his life with his dogs and how he loves them and thinks they have all these complex emotions. As a dog-lover myself I agree with him on most of it and it kept me entertained while at work. It didn't really tell me much I didn't already know just by having a dog though.
I read this book many years ago when I first got my dog and found it to be a fabulous read. There is so much "behind the scenes" when it comes to dogs - from their descendance from wolves, to domestication, to their role as (wo)man's best friend. I have a much better appreciation for my 'pet'!!
Eye opening, even more surprising for non-doggish people (from what I hear on the street). Dogs being everywhere, do we take for granted what they have to teach us? Or are we just too arrogant to want to know? This book creates some questions to keep in the curiosity file.
I highly recommend this book to any of my dog loving FB friends. The author does a great job of exploring whether or not dogs feel emotions such as embarrassment, humility, empathy, and even how deep they feel love. He makes a great point about why dogs are always so happy: they live in the here and now. They're not concerned with what happened yesterday or what's going to happen tomorrow; it's all about the living in the present. We could learn from them.
It was interesting, but kind of technical. I thought 'Animals Make Us Human' by Temple Grandin was an easier, more fun read! (Maybe I'm partly autistic or something, because I really liked her direct style of writing and laughed aloud at some of her turns of phrase!)
I like this book because it tells you about how dogs like you and how can you like them. If you are a person that likes dogs and love you will put that together and taran you would like this book!!!!!!
Dogs may never lie about love, but they will lie through their little canine teeth about which of them chewed through the lamp cord and took a dump in the dining room.
A nice, quick read, but if you have dogs or read about dogs, there's not much new here. Very nice reproductions of pencil sketches of dogs throughout.
In spite of this rather ridiculous title, the author provides interesting research, interwoven with stories about his own, and others', dogs.
This was a really interesting book about dogs. The only problem is that it is quite old 1997. I would like to see an updated version.
One of the best books I've ever read. Masson is a great storyteller and philosopher. He makes profound connections seem so logical. Anyone who thinks that they really love dogs should read this book.
This was a Christmas present from my sister, so I can now blame her for the new dog we own. About half way through this book I gave into the pressure of my fiance and realized our current dog needed/wanted another dog around. So....we went to the animal shelter and picked out a new dog. It is really wonderful to have another dog around.
This book is awesome and should be read but everyone, including non dog lovers! The title is so true! DOGS NEVER LIE ABOUT LOVE! Dogs have the purest emotion and...more
This book is awesome and should be read but everyone, including non dog lovers! The title is so true! DOGS NEVER LIE ABOUT LOVE! Dogs have the purest emotion and...more
very good for people who absulutely love dogs.
This guy understands man's best friend.
I loved this book.
Jan 02, 2009
Suzie
added it
Okay book.
Jul 23, 2011
Darwin Lau
added it
Good book. Author cited a factoid that dogs only wag their tails at living things. Now I want to check if that's true!
Loved it!
How true a statement the title is. Indeed, they are not capable of deception.
From the back cover
"Everyone who knows dogs and who knows the ultimate joy o being loved by a dog will want this book."
Gifted to Jesse Moranti Oct 1, 2011.
From the back cover
"Everyone who knows dogs and who knows the ultimate joy o being loved by a dog will want this book."
Gifted to Jesse Moranti Oct 1, 2011.
A very heart warming view of a dog's emotions from someone who obviously loves his 4 legged friends. I enjoyed it very much.
I'm still in the first few chapters of the book. Thus, I can't write a concrete review yet; however, I can say that this book has a lot of insights on the psychological aspect of a human-dog relationship. It makes us understand the whys and wherefores of our dog's gestures/activities. I also noticed my head nodding as I affirm to some of the writer's observation.. I think this book is very insightful for all dog-lovers..Can't wait to finish it.
Sep 12, 2011
Colleen
marked it as quit-reading
Very interesting. I'm only on page 17, but already two ideas so new and interesting follow me around.
One is that long ago it was not wolves who entered into men's culture, but men who joined the wolves for protection and sustinance.
The other is an idea from philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach, God is nothing but our projection, on a celestial screen, of the essence of man.
One is that long ago it was not wolves who entered into men's culture, but men who joined the wolves for protection and sustinance.
The other is an idea from philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach, God is nothing but our projection, on a celestial screen, of the essence of man.
Very interesting, well-written and researched, with impressive insight into the emotional lives of dogs. Dog lovers will enjoy this.
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He has written several books books critical of psychoanalysis, psychotherapy and psychiatry as well as books on animals, their emotions and their rights.
He currently lives in New Zealand with his wife, two sons, three cats and three rats.
More about Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson...
He currently lives in New Zealand with his wife, two sons, three cats and three rats.
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“Perhaps one central reason for loving dogs is that they take us away from this obsession with ourselves. When our thoughts start to go in circles, and we seem unable to break away, wondering what horrible event the future holds for us, the dog opens a window into the delight of the moment.”
—
56 people liked it
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Sep 26, 2010 06:19am