The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived - by Will Pass (Paperback)

About the Book

I am a dog but I do not die at the end of this book. Who else could have written it?

Book Synopsis

SOUTHWEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR, 2025

I am a dog but I do not die at the end of this book. Who else could have written it?

The woman who saved me offers food, shelter, and affection. But I'm nobody's pet. Because I have the intelligence of a human. And I aim to find out why.

Accompanied by Shakespeare, a Pug with the intelligence of a Pug, I strike out into the desert. Cannibal coyotes. Stray humans. A city of sin. The dangers are real. So are my questions: Where did I come from? And is a human life really worth more than mine?

Equal parts dark comedy and quixotic quest, The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived delivers sharp humor, unexpected tenderness, and big, unsettling questions-all narrated by a dog who knows our deepest secret: we're animals too.

Readers are saying:

★★★★★ "I did not expect the complexity, the humor, the philosophy, and the humanness that exist in these pages! But don't be fooled-this is no boring, philosophical story. While the themes are underlying, the main force of this novel is action and movement."

★★★★★ "By far the best dog story I've ever read."

★★★★★ "A very impressive debut that works on a variety of levels."

★★★★★ "Insanely creative."

Review Quotes

"Pass masterfully blends humor, heart, and peril in this anthropomorphic tale, making it an unforgettable read."

- SOUTHWEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR, 2025

"Rou is a stalwart lead, smart as a whip and tenderhearted, and second banana Shakespeare is an endearing, jovial ball of energy."

- KIRKUS