I understand dogs much better now. Very well written easy to read book. I look at dogs in a different light thanks to this book! Interesting facts, i.e. the meaning of different wags of a dogs tail, make this book a fine read for any dog owner.

I have this book and I could not put it down. I have had a dog for every year of my life. My parents got me my first dog when I was two years old. And from the moment on I was taught to respect others, and to take care of my dog as well as others. I have had one dog that I know could have read a book if she could turn the pages. I taught her to eat at the table with me and she would sing and spell. I could spell any one of her toys and she would go get what ever I would spell without me having to say the name of the toy (mouse,bird,duck,ball,bone,or treat). I got her after I went through my divorce and so she was my "BUDDY".. When I would brush my teeth at night she would come in the bathroom for me to brush her teeth. And when I would blow dry my hair I had to brush her with the blow dryer. I trained her without this book and I wish that I had read this book first. I am planning on getting another dog soon. And now that I have read this book I feel that I wil! l be better prepared to train my next dog.

I chose Coren & Ward because a GRE study guide recommended it. C&W was the best GRE studying I did.

The writing is clear, the organization is great, the illustrations, diagrams, and inset examples are excellent. You can't do better than this to get an overview of S&P. Good introductory or mid-level book. Starts with all the basics (how the ear works, how we see color) and winds up with complex topics like how we perceive music.

A good reference book, it's even fun for browsing, or for sharing with friends and saying "This is so cool! Check this out!" (regarding some of the perceptual illusions and demonstrations etc.) How many textbooks can you say that about?

Our intensely personal feelings for our dogs often result in sincere but maudlin attempts to articulate their importance. Strangers can not share our depth of feeling, which is often individualized toward one particular dog or set of experiences.

Stanley Coren avoids sentimentality by employing the distance and perspective of history, describing the historical situations in which dogs have left their paw prints. It is Coren's contention that dogs have been a motive force in history, not merely chasing sticks into the waters of our past but actually spreading ripples of consequence throughout our lives. The cumulative effect of these historical particulars is to see in them something enduring and universal.

His proof starts at the beginning of our history. And why not? Cave markings reveal that ancient man was greeted by a wagging tail. Coren describes many memorable scenes and anecdotes from the ancient world to the present in which dogs have changed the lives of such diverse figures as Sir Walter Scott, Columbus, Washington, Lincoln, Freud, and Alexander Graham Bell. It adds to my respect for Mr. Lincoln, for example, to learn that he leaped into an icy Wabash River waist-high in order to save his fallen friend. While composing, Wagner went so far as to use his dog's responses to the use of certain musical notes.

Coren's narrative history suggests that our relationship with dogs is significantly different from our relationship with other animals. No one writes poems about pigs or cows. Dogs, on the other hand, have achieved their vaunted status by demonstrating characteristics quite different from the rest of the animal kingdom, characteristics aristocratic and anachronistic in a modern, democratic society: loyalty, honesty, trust, discrimination, and an unconditional love which humans have never been able to match.

Equally remarkable in these stories is how often dogs naturally respond in the most appropriate, admirable ways. A dog's behavior is the result of nature and habit rather than rational calculation-his or ours. It makes sense that people in turn respond to these great gifts with reverence and gratitude. In the introduction to their training manual, the monks of New Skete write that, in a modern, technological world, dogs are the only connection to nature that many of us have and consequently the only connection to something uncreated by us.

This continuity with the infinite is one reason I found Coren's introduction poignant. He imagines a scene some ten thousand years ago where early man lies in a hut, at rest with his family around a dying firelight, while the dog perks his ears toward the primitive night. "What do you hear, my dog?" he asks. "You will tell me if I should worry?" Then he proceeds to relate a brief story, handed down through generations, of how dogs became man's hunter, guardian, and friend. After the story, the alert dog yawns and rests his hands on his paws. Before the man sleeps he asks the question that Stanley Coren ponders in these pages: "What would life be like without you?"

I liked this book a lot. I have learned many things from it. It has very interesting facts.

I can't remember when I enjoyed a book more. It was insightful, fascinating, and difficult to put down. Surprisingly easy to read, I would enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who owns or loves dogs. I would also recommend it to history buffs or to those who want to read about famous people and events from a slightly different perspective. What a terrific read!

Sleep is one of the most common activities in our lives. As such, one would expect that everybody would know a lot about it.

This book shows that this is not the case. Our western work-ethos has led us to believe that sleeping is for weaklings and that sleeping very little is a sign of discipline and diligence . This book is full of examples of the results of that attitude. As a renowned researcher into the science of sleep, the Author is able to list a considerable number of instances where a lack of sleep did not only lead to less productivity, but led to downright disasters such as the sinking of the "Exxon Valdez" or the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

I found that the book gives a real insight into the importance of obtaining enough sleep. In my case, I found it convincing enough to change some of my habits and go to bed earlier, if need be. As the author shows, a like change throughout society might safe us billions of dollars per year.

We spend a full third of our life sleeping, but what do we really know about it. Why do we sleep? What causes us to sleep? What happens when we sleep? All these questions remain unanswered, but scientists are working--dare I say it? oh, why not--around the clock to explain why we can't work around the clock.

Lighter in tone, and much more accessible to the most techno- or medio-phobic of lay readers is Sleep Thieves by Stanley Cohen. While Cohen's book does not have the same claim to impartial accuracy of the researcher, it gains ground by its engrossing style and an ability to merge folklore with medical studies. The whole, as it appears, is then dissected, and Cohen ends up destroying as many myths as Prof. Lavie in The Enchanted World of Sleep (in many cases, the same ones). Cohen does have a purpose with his book, and that is to say that as a culture, we are running up a "sleep debt"; that is, by denying ourselves the amount of sleep that our bodies need, we endanger ourselves and others. Before he gets to this conclusion, his common ground with Prof. Lavie is visited, including studies on sleep deprivation and its results, people's perceptions of sleep, and the amount of sleep that our bodies fall into without the self-regulating clock of the sun. His conclusion is tied together neatly, with a fine work of statistical research using the time lost and gained during the change from and to Daylight Savings Time. Lack of sleep, due to cultural demands, is a major cause of accidents that are often fatal.

Cohen's book, with its amazing conclusion that lives with you, makes it obvious that "sleep debt" is not just a funny phrase, but a real problem, and one that is being ignored by almost everyone. It is time, as Cohen ironically states, for us to wake up about sleep.

I ordered this book just because Dr. Coren is my favorite author (How To Speak Dog, The Intelligence Of The Dogs, Why We Love The Dogs We Do). I was certain that I would find this book very interesting, and I wasn't wrong. This book is truly wonderful. He explains how many hours should we sleep and what happens to us if we don't. How our mental and physical health depends on sleep, and gives advices as to how to improve the quality of our sleep.

There is a test you can perform in order to understand how many hours of sleep you need. It's just great.

I wish all doctors read this masterpiece and instead of giving Valium or whatever to people with sleeping disorders, were giving them advices taken from this book. Once more, thank you Mr.Coren

I first read this book when I was 15, and have reread it twice since then. Coren writes in a way that is very one-on-one and covers vast amounts of information, ranging from amusing dog quotes to myths of dogs to the ever-famous chart of dog intelligence. Throughout the book there is information to be gained and new ways of thinking to be considered. The focal point of this book is not the ranking of breed intelligence but rather the intelligence of dogs in general, hence the title. Areas focusing on ways to improve your dog's fluid and crystal intelligence open up an understanding of the dog's mind that is interesting for any dog owner. Stanley Coren is a psychologist as well as a dog trainer, and these two aspects of his life merged equally when he wrote this.

I loved this book! Its not because Stan Coren was my professor almost 30 years ago, or because there's a mixed Border Collie (Rank #1) / German Shepherd (Rank #3) savant sitting on my foot as I type. I loved this book because it is truly a celebration of the DOG. It captures the essence of that marvelous companion who unquestionably trusts us, undeniably loves us, and unconditionally accepts us wherever WE might rank on some psychologist's list. Coren eloquently captures the essence of our canine companions in his obvious affection for the subject matter.

The book's title, "The Intelligence of Dogs" should have been "The Intelligence of ALL Dogs," because some people seem to be hung up on "the list" and think the book is about "The Intelligent Dogs." As a psychologist myself, I know how people can focus on rankings and comparative lists, and in the process lose perspective of the whole picture. We get defensive because our Dalmatians were spotted 39th, and angry when our Afghans wagged the distribution's tail in last place. Know what? It doesn't matter. Don't throw the puppy out with the bath water; the rest of the book will balm you even though your Labrador retrieved only a 7 ranking. The canine history section alone is worth the price. But the real problem now is, how do I break the news to brilliance here that he was descended from a proto-cat?

Stanley Coren has given us a very interesting, well-researched book about the intelligence of our canine friends. I like the intelligence test. I have three dogs. One is really dumb but I grant him that he's old so he has an excuse. The middle boy is bordering on stupid, but the little girl is very wiley! Great read for the dog lover!

This is the greeatest book I have ever read about dog language. The way Stanley Coren have build up the book is perfect, for both beginners, and people who already know, how to speak dog.

It is put up in a way so that you read about different bodyparts communications in different chapters. Face talk, body talk, eye talk, ear talk and so on. Each signal from the dog, whether it is a tail wag or a growl is being translated to Human language, so that you better can understand the meaning, ( "If you dont back off, I will fight you" ) even when you have finish the book, you will rememeber the meaning.
The book also gives you a big laugh, when Stanley Coren tells about his own experiments with dogs.

The book is also wery easy to read for "not american " people.
I know because I am from Denmark.

Read this book and learn "how to speak dog".........

By far, this is the best book I've read to date that's provided a complete understanding of my dog and her behavior. I couldn't believe how many dog "body postures" I've been misinterpreting. I tried using a few of the "signals" explained in the book on my dog that another dog would use to communicate - and my dog actually seemed to understand. She definitely reacted the way I thought she would! Every dog owner should read this book. I also believe this book should be required reading for anyone who works in a shelter setting or in any capacity where they're dealing with strange dogs. A big thanks to Stanley Coran for improving and enhancing my relationship with my Rottie-mix, Molly!

No one knows dogs like the author. I have read all his dog books and he continues to teach me new things about my favorite animals. I decided to get a pair of dogs rather than only one after reading "Intelligence of Dogs" - it is a decision I have never regretted. This new book helps me to understand how they talk to each other and how I can talk to them! I fianlly learned why a dog won't respond to a finger point. If you are fascinated by dogs, this is the book for you.

When my young daughter began favoring her left hand I decided I should read up on lefties to understand how she sees things. I was very disappointed to read that the left is associated with the devil, that left handedness could be a result of brain damage during birth. Not what I wanted to hear. I was looking for direction on teaching her how to play mini golf (how to hold a club) and eat with chopsticks (this has been a difficult one). In kindergarten she has a left handed teacher fortunately and we learned alot. Lefties sometimes read right to left, often picking up a magazine and reading it from back to front! If I had the time I would write a practical book I didn't learn anything from the "science" of it all. I'll keep looking!

This book is an interesting combination of fairly good writing and fairly poor science. The information on which the author draws is taken out of its context, so while his conclusions have an internal logic, that logic is far-fetched and has almost no bearing on the rest of the world. But the author's writing is good enough to keep this from being self-evident. I found the book an easy but worthless read.

This book doesn't tell left-handers how best to live in a right-handers' world, but it doesn't purport to. It does, however, live up to its title. Coren presents a range of very interesting theories and conclusions about left-handedness. Crucially, he also describes the actual studies and presents their results, and is fairly clear about when something's just a theory and why one might believe it, so you get to see some raw facts and judge for yourself. I'm strongly left-handed and am not in the least bit offended by the idea that it could have possibly been caused by something going slightly wrong somewhere. Some of the theories did actually explain a few things about my family and myself quite well, which was an added bonus.

Stanley Coren, a psychologist famous for his popular 'The Intelligence of Dogs,' attempts in this more recent book to categorize the various dog breeds by their phychological natures in order to best match prospective owners and dogs.

An intriguing idea, but unfortunately not accomplished in this work.

Coren places each breed in one of seven rather indistinct categories: Friendly, Protective, Independent, Self-Assured, Consistent, Steady, Clever.

He tests your personality and indicates which of the groups is best for you. You are then encouraged to choose from among the breeds in that group, breeds he bills as fairly interchangeable compatibility-wise.

A large flaw in this is that no breed is described as having more than one strong characteristic: for example, no breed is listed as both friendly and clever.

Additionally, no other compatibility issues are considered. For example, in matching you with a breed, no consideration is given to the breed's needs/demands for attention and exercise. Nor is consideration given to the breed's tolerance for children and other dogs.

The most noteworthy accomplishment of this book is Coren's very extensive historical description of famous people and their relationships with their dogs, but the contribution of such anecdotes in establishing breed characteristics is rather ambiguous.

While full of fascinating anecdotes, this amusing book is only =useful= if you already know a great deal about dogs. And cats, may I add; cats, too, come with differing personalities depending on breed/type, and are social domestic animals. The entire chapter spent cat-bashing was totally uncalled for, not to mention wildly peculiar. I've been to both dog and cat shows, and let me tell you, cat shows do NOT smell and are NOT full of yowling cats. The statement that dog shows are quiet was sort of mindboggling. And most unfortunately, the editing on this book was incredibly sloppy, resulting in such howlers as the statement in an opening chapter that Queen Victoria was George IV's daughter! I wouldn't use this to research the Right Dog For Me, but it's an amusing bedtime read.

I don't know how many people I know who have bought a puppy because they like the look of the breed or because they see one on TV, only to find out that they and the dog don't get along. This book can help the potential dog buyer avoid the heartbreak of choosing the wrong dog.

Coren groups breeds by personality and matches them to corresponding human personalities. If you're more extroverted or controlling or trustworthy or whatever, you can find the breed to suit you best.

Coren's typing is also useful for the potential owner looking for a mixed breed dog. "Mixed breed" isn't a breed of its own; every mixed breed dog is descended from purebreds, and the genetic components of those dogs' temperaments are passed on to the mix. (Genes don't disappear just because they're in a mixed breed dog.) With this book the potential owner has a better idea of what temperament a little mixed breed puppy will have, and can match the dog to their own personality with greater confidence than otherwise.

This is all very well and fine if the dog you're planning to choose is well-bred. Unfortunately, most dogs out there aren't. Pet store puppies, puppy mill dogs, and puppies bred by people who want the kids to see 'the miracle of life' don't have consistent temperaments. Puppies from these sources have a far higher chance of having both physical and mental problems. In fact, most of the modern prejudices against purebreds come from people who have bought badly tempered dogs from backyard breeders or puppy mill outlets. Coren doesn't address this vital issue. This is far more than an unfortunate oversight; it's forgetting a major piece of the puzzle.