The Dogist: Photographic Encounters with 1,000 Dogs

Friedman, creator of the popular Dogist blog, combines his love of dogs and photography in this lively collection of over 1,000 photos. Even readers who wouldn’t consider themselves dog lovers will have a hard time resisting this heartwarming collection of smiling, barking purebreds such as pit bulls, bulldogs, and Labs, as well as adorable mutts. Each pooch portrait is captioned with the dog’s name, breed, and (occasionally) location. Friedman keeps the commentary to a minimum, wisely allowing the photos to speak for themselves, though he occasionally steps in to point out rescued shelter dogs such as the rehabilitated pit bulls from NFL player Michael Vicks’s controversial dogfighting ring. Some of the highlights include the stately Theodore James Franco Gatsby, a two-month-old French bulldog; Peppermint, the tree-climbing miniature poodle; and the solemn Bob Marley, an 11-year-old Lab. These are just a few of the images that readers will likely return to. Friedman’s style and location (many of the photos are shot in N.Y.C., where the author resides) beg a comparison to Humans of New York, but Friedman’s subject is a little lighter. Readers will admire his talent for capturing the personality of his canine companions. (Oct.)