While the title is rather lengthy and perhaps quirky, this is a charming and convincing book about the innate sixth sense
that many dogs and other animals seem to possess. There is a sense in which Rupert Sheldrake does not need to convince you about his basic premise - the evidence that he presents speaks for itself. It is difficult to ignore the fact that some of our canine companions have the ability to know when their owners are about to arrive home, without possibly being able to smell them or without any routine external trigger.
As far as the reader can ascertain, Sheldrake is not presenting the evidence in this book because he has some sort of personal agenda. He is simply observing what many animal lovers have themselves observed. Because animals cannot speak, they attempt to communicate with humans intuitively, with mixed success. This is not just speculation - it is based on
scientific fact. The concept of dogs (or other animals) using ESP (extra-sensory perception) to convey their feelings is an intriguing one; readers can make up their own minds on the extent to which they feel this is manifested, both in the author's text and in their own real life experiences.
Rupert Sheldrake has obviously put a significant amount of effort into researching what is a considerably
neglected area of study. He alludes to this neglect in the book's introduction, and in so doing highlights a salient point - why is this area of study so neglected? Is it considered somewhat trivial by the scientific community? Is it perhaps too contentious or controversial? Hypothetical questions aside, this book is a must read for animal lovers. The text is both absorbing and delightful, and on reading it you will feel that you have only scratched the surface of what is a rather mysterious subject.