The powerHouse Arena invites you to
the book launch for

What's a Dog For?

The Surprising History, Science, Philosophy, and Politics of Man's Best Friend

by
John Homans

featuring the author in conversation with
Julie Klam

Wednesday, November 14, 7–9 PM


The powerHouse Arena · 37 Main Street (corner of Water & Main St.) · DUMBO, Brooklyn
For more information, please call 718.666.3049
RSVP appreciated: RSVP@powerHouseArena.com

The powerHouse Arena welcomes John Homans in celebration of the publication of What's a Dog For? The Surprising History, Science, Philosophy, and Politics of Man's Best Friend. Author and fellow dog lover Julie Klam will join him in conversation.

About What's A Dog For?:

John Homans remembers that his childhood dog ran freely without a leash, slept outside, and spent most of her time happily exploring the yard. She was a companion, but not exactly a member of the family. So when he adopted Stella, a Labrador mix, from a shelter as a birthday present for his son, the images from his youth were strongly imprinted in his mind. Though neighbors on his New York City block lavished expensive clothing, doggie birthday cakes, and thousand-dollar medical treatments on their dogs, Homans was determined to draw a boundary. But he soon found himself treating Stella like a person, trying to decipher her emotions and questioning her diet and exercise.

Stella's quick assimilation into his family sparked Homans' curiosity about the complex and evolving relationship between dogs and their owners. In WHAT'S A DOG FOR?: The Surprising History, Science, Philosophy, and Politics of Man's Best Friend Homans, executive editor of New York magazine, conducts a sweeping survey of canine culture. From dogs' ancestral beginnings as wolves to their current pseudo-human status, Homans investigates virtually every facet of the human-canine relationship. He draws upon a growing body of serious research on pet ownership to reveal how dogs have transformed from utilitarian working animals to loved members of our families.

More than just a memoir, WHAT'S A DOG FOR? is a beautifully-written natural history of the age-old, yet ever-changing connection between dogs and people. Homans approaches his subject with a deep curiosity that is emotionally and intellectually fueled, and discovers what dogs have to teach us about love, death, morality, and what it means to be human.

About the Author:

John Homans has been the executive editor of New York magazine since 1994, and previously worked at Esquire, Details, Harper's, and the New York Observer. He lives with his wife, son, and dog Stella in Manhattan. This is his first book.

About the Moderator:

Julie Klam is the author of You Had Me At Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness, and Love at First Bark: How Saving a Dog Can Sometimes Help You Save Yourself, among other books. She has written for Rolling Stone, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, Redbook, Family Circle, and The New York Times Magazine.