《为什么狗是宠物？猪是食物？》

    How rational* are we in our relationship with animals? A puppy, after all, is “a family member in Kansas, a pariah* in Kenya, and lunch in Korea.”

    Animal behaviorist Hal Herzog shows us, in this readable study, how whimsical* our attitudes can be.

    Why do we like some animals but not others? One answer seems to be that babylike features like big eyes bring out our parental and protective urges*. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has started a campaign against fishing called “Save the Sea Kittens.”

    Research has shown that the human brain is wired to think about animals and inanimate objects differently, and Herzog shows how we can look at the exact same animal very differently given its context. Most Americans regard cockfighting* as cruel but think nothing of eating chicken, when in reality gamecocks are treated very well when they are not fighting, and most poultry* headed for the table lead short, miserable* lives and are killed quite painfully*.

    Combining anecdote* with scientific research, the clever and interesting book invites us to think deeply about how we define — and where we limit — our empathy* for animals.

    Herzog, a maverick* scientist and leader in the field of anthrozoology*, explores the psychology* behind the ways we think, feel, and act towards animals. (SD-Agencies)