Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Pg. 99: John Woestendiek's "Dog, Inc."

Today's feature at the Page 99 Test: Dog, Inc: The Uncanny Inside Story of Cloning Man's Best Friend by John Woestendiek.

About the book, from the publisher:
What Stiff did for the dead and Fast Food Nation did for the burger, Dog, Inc. does for the stranger-than-fiction world of commercial dog cloning.

It all began with a pit bull named Booger. Former Miss Wyoming Bernann McKinney was so distraught over the death of her dog, whom she regarded as her guardian and savior, that she paid $50,000 to RNL Bio for the chance to bring her beloved companion back to life. The result were five new Boogers-the first successful commercial cloning of a canine- delivered in 2008, along with a slew of compelling questions about the boundaries of science, commerce, and ethics. Blending shocking investigative reporting with colorful anecdotes, Pulitzer Prize-winning John Woestendiek takes readers behind the scenes of this emerging industry.

But Dog, Inc. isn't just a book about pets. Nor is it just a book about science. Rather it's a fascinating look at how our emotional needs are bending the reaches of science and technology, as well as a study of this uncharted territory. With our pet obsession climbing to new heights and our scientific abilities even more so, this combination raises a serious concern: Are we crossing the boundary of controlling science in the name of science, in the name of love, in the name of merchandising-or a blend of all three?
Visit the official Dog, Inc. website, and learn more about the book and author at John Woestendiek's website and blog.

Writers Read: John Woestendiek.

The Page 99 Test: Dog, Inc.

--Marshal Zeringue