The Best Dog in the World by Alice Hoffman

The Best Dog in the World

Essays on Love

Alice Hoffman

Scribner · Print & ebook · March 10, 2026

Fourteen beloved authors celebrate the life-changing bond with their canine companions in this heartwarming essay collection edited by New York Times bestselling author and lifelong dog lover Alice Hoffman.

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Who it’s for
These essays trace the joy, tenderness, and grief that can come with loving a dog.
Themes
Human–canine companionship, Love and loss, Empathy and unconditional love
Genres
Pet Stories & Essays, Essay Collections, Dogs

Nearest books

Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved. Most of these share its genre: Dogs.

  1. Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I've Cried AboutIsabel Klee59% match
  2. Dog ShowBilly Collins67% match
  3. Loves of Our LivesJosie Balka51% match
  4. How to Love BetterYung Pueblo48% match
  5. Pawverbs for a Dog Lover’s HeartJennifer Marshall Bleakley70% matchAlso shares Pet Stories & Essays
  6. Dog's Best FriendSimon Garfield67% matchAlso shares Pet Stories & Essays
  7. Our Dogs, OurselvesAlexandra Horowitz67% match
  8. Dog Is LoveClive D. L. Wynne67% match

For younger readers: A Book of Loves, Wish, Wayward Creatures

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About this book

Fourteen beloved authors celebrate the life-changing bond with their canine companions in this heartwarming essay collection edited by New York Times bestselling author and lifelong dog lover Alice Hoffman. Anyone who has ever been fortunate enough to share their life with a dog knows the experience is both profound and transformative.

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Here, in this charming collection of essays, fifteen celebrated authors share unforgettable tales of the dogs who left their pawprints on their hearts. With contributions from Isabel Allende, Chris Bohjalian, Bonnie Garmus, Roxane Gay, Emily Henry, Ann Leary, Tova Mirvis, Jodi Picoult, Elizabeth Strout, Amy Tan, Adriana Trigiani, Nick Trout, Paul Yoon, and Laura Zigman, The Best Dog in the World captures the full range of the canine-human connection, from the joy of welcoming a new puppy to the heartache of saying goodbye to a beloved friend. A love letter to the loyal companions who enrich our lives and teach us about empathy, joy, and unconditional love, this anthology is the perfect gift for dog lovers everywhere, offering a blend of laughter, tears, and inspiration that will resonate with anyone who has been fur-ever touched by the love of a dog.

The Dog-Shaped Bond

These essays trace the joy, tenderness, and grief that can come with loving a dog.

Come here for

  • Fourteen authors reflecting on the dogs who changed their lives
  • A warm mix of laughter and heartache

Expect

  • Personal essays spanning new-puppy joy to the pain of goodbye
  • A celebration of empathy, loyalty, and canine companionship

Where it sits

Dogs62%
Pet Stories & Essays54%
Essay Collections48%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Essay Collections
  • Animals & Nature in Literature
  • Dogs
Authors
Alice Hoffman
Publisher
Scribner
Published
March 10, 2026
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Human–canine companionship · Love and loss · Empathy and unconditional love
Reading lane
Essay Collections