In Meghan Daum's book "The Unspeakable: And Other Subjects of Discussion," she explores the authentic nature of dogs, emphasizing their inability to pretend or conform to societal expectations. Dogs are depicted as genuinely who they are, without the filters of pretense or social niceties that humans often adopt. This highlights their straightforwardness and sincerity in relationships and interactions.

Daum humorously contrasts this with humans, suggesting that a dog that behaves in a contrived way is not truly a dog but rather a human trying to take on a canine facade. This commentary serves to celebrate the uniqueness and honesty of dogs, while also reflecting on the complexities of human behavior and the masks people wear in daily life.