Product Description
Meat Market elevates the debate over animal agriculture.Erik Marcus exposes and clears away the exaggerated claims and counterclaims put forth by the meat industry and its opponents.In the process, Marcus presents a thorough examination of animal agricultureÕs cruelties and its far-reaching social costs.Marcus then considers the discouraging progress made by the animal protection movement.He evaluates where the movement has gone wrong, and how its shortcomings could best be remedied. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Wish there was a way to reach the unconvinced
I bought two copies of this book - one for me and one for my son (lives overseas). Some might think these wereunnecessary purchases for a vegan to make, but there a benefits in having (and reading) such a book, particularly as in my case, the "unbelievers" around me really do treat their meat-eating as part of a belief system based on "It's what animals are there for" and "Humans are at the top of the food chain" and even "Carrots scream when you eat them, you are no better than me!". For those searching for reasons to give up meat, this is book is an excellent place to start and for those, like me, with almost hysterical (seriously, if I don't eat a sausage at the staff barbeque the sky will not fall) response to any food/ethical choice discussion from the omnivores nearby, this is ammunition (as I tend to get tongue-tied when affronted, it is handy to be able cite coherent details).

The chapter on Personal Action is particularly useful as a reminder of what one can do. Not a comfortable read for me, I heartily recommend Meat Market to all those already convinced, curious and especially to those deeply sceptical (may it open your eyes).

Great for vegetarians to read!
When I read this book, I had been consuming a mostly vegan diet for a few years, primarily to reduce my environmental footprint, and also because I've always gravitated toward lots of fruits, veggies, and whole grains, for their nutritional value, so my diet was de facto mostly vegan.I was only vaguely aware of the cruelties caused to animals in the fish, beef, pork, dairy, and egg industries.I never would have considered becoming a vegan activist, but this book opened my eyes and got me motivated and interested in going vegan and promoting veganism for others, too!Since then I've been leafletting and donating to organizations like Vegan Outreach, as well as reading more on the subject.This is an excellent book for vegetarians to read.

Want to know all the nasty details!
Not as descriptive as I would have liked but very informative of things I did not think about before

Love for animals
I hope someday we can change the natural order so that there is no nonconsensual suffering or harm done to any creature. Nature is set up for the powerful devouring the small, or harming the small against their will. I do believe humans can be truly loving and try to minimize this pain as much as possible. Go Vegan, treat animals as friends not as things to be consumed or used at the cost of their suffering. Make it a law not to kill or use animals for any reason other than companionship or kind joy. It seems impossible now, but I do think we could free and protect animals throughout the world. Slavery was once an intractable economic and pleasurable institution in America and perhaps people thought it was impossible then to abolish it and now at least the obvious forms of slavery are gone. We could do the same for animals. Maybe take a Gandhi or a peaceful resistance movement, but I could see a world where animals were never treated like things to be abused - at least by human beings.Science, our desires, everything - should serve love. Love is kind and gentle, love wishes every good for the beloved.

Can be life-changing
This book is required reading for a course I teach.I chose it because it it well-researched, brings together many sources of data regarding the treatment of animals in the food industry, and provocatively examines alternatives.In addition, it is very readable.My students, year after year, comment that this book "grabbed me,""changed my life," "was fascinating," "shocked me," and "makes me look at my personal responsibility in how our society treats food animals," and they always ask, "why hasn't anyone given me this information before?" This book gives me hope, because of the impact it has on the students, who as responsible citizens will one day be in a position to effect change for the animals. ... Read more

Product Description
Dogs chase each other and wrestle. Cats pounce and bite. These animals may look like they are fighting, but if you pay close attention - as world-renowned biologist Marc Bekoff does - you can see they are playing and learning the rules of their games. In "Animals at Play", Bekoff shows us how animals behave when they play, with full-color illustrations showing animals in action and having fun - from squirrels climbing up a tree to polar bears somersaulting in the snow.Bekoff emphasizes how animals communicate, cooperate and learn to play fair and what happens when they break the rules. He uses lively illustrations and simple explanations of what it means when a sea lion swims with kelp in its mouth or when two dogs bow to each other. Bekoff also describes what happens when animals become too aggressive and how they apologize, forgive and learn to trust one another. This entertaining and informative book will delight every child and show readers how animals - and humans - interact when they are having fun. The series "Animals and Ethics" is edited by Marc Bekoff. It is recommended for ages 9 -11. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Fair Play Beautifully Illustrated
A wonderful book that adults will enjoy reading to young children age 4 and which the children will enjoy because of the illustrations which are worth the price of the book just on their own.The lessons are that all beings -- animal and human have rules to live by and we can learn from watching how the animals do it.The paintings stay away from being cutsey and anthropomoric but are energetic, engaging, fun and just plain beautiful.A lovely book.

Animals and Kids Have Something in Common
Few kids will suspect what award-winning ethologist Marc Bekoff helped discover: animals have a moral code. Those that cheat, lie, or break the rules are shunned. In order to work their way back into the group, they must apologize. Just like humans. This revelation comes at the end of Bekoff's new 32-page, picture book, Animals at Play: Rules of the Game.
The rest of the book is devoted to explaining why and how animals play. Nineteen diverse species, from dogs to ravens, are discussed, and readers learn what to look for in order to tell whether they are playing or fighting. Complimenting Bekoff's descriptions are Michael J. DiMotta's whimsical, full-color illustrations of smiling critters enjoying themselves.
Animal lovers in grades 4 and up will enjoy reading about a topic relevant to their own lives. Parents and teachers can use this fresh evidence of fair play among animals to nurture a respect for all creatures, both four-legged and two.

Aline Alexander Newman
Teacher and Freelance Writer with bylines in Boy's Life, National Geographic Kids, Highlights for Children, and others.

Gorgeous illustrations and a very sweet and memorable story!
The illustrations in this book are GORGEOUS.They are so sweet, charming, and memorable. I love looking at every one of them.I actually want two of these books --- one to keep on the kids' shelf, and another to keep on MY shelf, because I want this book to stay in gorgeous shape. I just adore it, and know what I am giving as stocking stuffers to all the children I know this holiday season. Dimotta is a real talent -- his animals just make me smile. So, so sweet.

Animals at Play is delightful!
Marc Bekoff's Animals at Play is a delightful and informative book that gives children the tools to understand the importance of play in an animal's life.The book provides detailed information about how animals go about engaging friends or family members in a bit of fun and also explains how they indeed abide by rules during these social interactions. The illustrations are amusing and thoughtful and accurately depict how a variety of animals play as they run, chase, wrestle or just stroke each other. Children will truly enjoy learning something new while reading Animals at Play: Rules of the Game! ... Read more

Product Description
When Mandy's dad diagnoses an Old English Sheepdog puppy as deaf, Mandy feels sorry for it.But it isn't until she finds another Sheepdog puppy weak and abandoned that she and James begin to get suspicious. Could a local breeder be mistreating these poor puppies? It's up to Mandy and James to save them! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A remarkable addition to the series
Future veterinarian Mandy Hope, and her best friend James Hunter can't wait until the last day of school - which is quickly approaching. It is at this time that they'll finally be reunited with their close friend, John Hardy, the son of the proprietors of the Fox and Goose, who is currently away at boarding school. But the end of the school year also marks another very special occasion - We Love Animals Day! Mandy has participated in We Love Animals Day for years, and each year she strives to come up with a wonderful idea to raise money and awareness for animals. This year, however, she is determined to do everything she can to raise as much money as possible. And with the help of James, she knows that she'll be able to do just that. But Mandy's mind keeps wandering away to the tiny Old English Sheepdog that her father, and resident Animal Ark veterinarian, Dr. Adam, diagnosed as being deaf. Mandy can't help but feel sorry for the puppy, who will spend the rest of his days in silence, never knowing what it's like to hear his name called, or hear the voices of children playing. But Mandy's sadness turns to frustration and anger when she stumbles upon another Old English Sheepdog puppy abandoned in the parking lot of the Fox and Goose. The little pup is weak, and hungry, and made up of skin and bones, and no one has claimed her. Mandy knows that something strange is going on - and so do her parents. So, with the help of James, Mandy begins investigating the situation, attempting to pinpoint where these Old English Sheepdog puppies are coming from, and who would treat them so cruelly. But then she begins to wonder whether they're being mistreated by a local breeder, and realizes that maybe she'll need more than just James' help. Maybe this time, she'll need the help of someone more powerful - like the SPCA.

As someone who volunteered at an animal shelter for years, and is the owner of a deaf cat - who I adopted - I have seen various animals come and go who have been mistreated by not only their owners, but breeders, as well. These animals are often overlooked by society, so I was thrilled to find that Ben M. Baglio would shine a spotlight on the problem by creating an entire ANIMAL ARK book about it. PUPPY IN A PUDDLE is a wonderful depiction of puppy mills and the breeding business, in general. It not only shows the genetic problems puppies (or any animal, for that matter) can inherit from their parents, as well as how they are often cast aside by the people using them as a business. Mandy, as always, is a sympathetic character, whose determination to get to the bottom of the problem is admirable, as well as heroic. Her ability to stay cool, calm, and collected as she investigates the problems - no matter how harsh - are inspiring; while her kindness towards the "suspects" still shines through. Mandy's sidekick, James, also deserves a mention, as he is quick-thinking, and slightly calculating, and Mandy would not survive without his wits. A remarkable addition to the series.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

The best Animal Ark book
This book has all you could want for a good child's read: characterisation, drama and fun.
Brilliant!

a puddle of pups
a dog is brought for his 12 week vacinations and theres a problem - the dog seemes to be much less then 12 weeks old. It soon becomes aparent that this dog is deaf. Then when mandy finds a dog almost identical to the deaf one a few days later she believes something is wrong.

Could a local dog breeder be mistreating puppies? Not only that but several liters? And seperating them from their mom too soon? fond out by reading.

This book blew me away!
This is one of my favorite animal ark books!It is about an owner who comes into the ark with an Old English sheep dog puppy that isn't responding.It turns out that the pup is deaf and cannot be a working dog.Then one day Mandy and James are having a dog wash and at the end of the day they find and old English sheep dog puppy supposedly abandoned in a water puddle.I won't give the book away but it has to do with a puppy mill and two people mixed up in it!Please read this book it is great! ... Read more

Product Description
The animal liberation movement is growing in size and strength -- but so are the industries that exploit animals. These industries have vastly more resources at their disposal than activists do. Given this tremendous power differential, how can activists hope to compete? The good news is that there is a way to shift the balance of power in favor of the movement. And strategy is the way.

In Strategic Action for Animals, Melanie Joy explains how to use strategy to exponentially increase the effectiveness of activism for animals. Drawing on diverse movements and sources, she offers tried and true tactics based on well-established principles and practices. She also explains how to address the most common problems that weaken the movement, such as dissidence among organizations and activists, inefficient campaigns, wasted resources, and high rates of burnout. Whether you're working alone or with a group, whether you're a seasoned activist or new to the movement, Strategic Action for Animals can help you make the most of your efforts to make the world a better place for animals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Most important book for the animal rights community
If we are actually going to make progress and continue to move forward as a movement, I recommend every animal advocate read this book and pass it around to others.

Clear, no-nonsense guide for effective activism for animals.
If you are new to making change for animals, Dr Melanie Joy has complied an excellent guide for understanding what we are up against, the weaknesses that exist in the systems that support animal abuse and where the opportunities for effective advocacy for animals lie.

As someone that has been working to help animals for the past five years, I wish this book had been available earlier to help guide me in an area fraught with distractions, trauma, burn out and wastes of resources.

Essential reading for anyone interested in becoming effective in animal advocacy,

A True Inspiration for any Animal Activist
"Strategic Action for Animals" is more than a handbook, but rather a fundamental treasure that will guide any animal activist. This book articulates and outlines a crucial component to the movement - -strategy. The Animal Liberation Movement could become overwhelming, challenging and disheartening at times. However, Strategic Action provides a step-by-step "game plan" and illustrates the principles of strategy, to become more effective and efficient in the movement.

As an animal activist and lifelong animal friend, I found this book to be honest, positive and inspirational. Dr. Melanie Joy is a true inspiration to activists everywhere and has become a key player in the Animal Liberation Movement. Her work is profound and empowers even the youngest of activists to believe in oneself to achieve anything.

Strategic Action, through and through has an unforgettable positive tone that inspires the reader to become empowered by the movement to reach what Joy states as "sustainable activism." I highly recommend this book and believe that its a must for anyone that loves animals and believes in the power of their liberation.

A Fantastic Book for People Who Want to Help Animals
Melanie Joy's book Strategic Action for Animals is basically all the wisdom of the animal movement distilled into 160 pages. Joy's practical take on activism, her focus on the reality of our fight and not on the theoretical, will help both new and experienced activists find their way towards effective advocacy. She covers many of the hangups we face when organizing groups of people or campaigns and offers solutions to them. This book is not only a refreshing read, but a great resource for those who want to do all they can to help animals.

Become the Change!
THANKING THE MONKEY: RETHINKING THE WAY WE TREAT ANIMALS. STRIKING AT THE ROOTS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO ANIMAL ACTIVISM. FARM SANCTUARY: CHANGING HEARTS AND MINDS ABOUT ANIMALS AND FOOD. SKINNY BITCH...IN A BOX.With all the recent popular releases on the topic of animal advocacy, 2008 feels as though it's shaping up to be the year of the veg*n. (Even Oprah's getting into the act, y'all!)

Social psychologist Melanie Joy joins the conversation with her first book, STRATEGIC ACTION FOR ANIMALS: A HANDBOOK ON STRATEGIC MOVEMENT BUILDING, ORGANIZING, AND ACTIVISM FOR ANIMAL LIBERATION. Joy's goal is simple: to encourage fellow activists to maximize their effectiveness, by carefully weighing, analyzing, and strategizing their activism. Because the animal liberation movement will never have more money or (entrenched) power than the corporate and political forces we're fighting, the only way we can triumph is through strategy.

A "strategic movement," Joy explains, is one which thinks globally, but acts locally. Before engaging in a piece of activism, animal advocates must think about how the action will impact the animal liberation movement as a whole. Additionally, every isolated piece of activism must be considered in relation to those that precede and succeed it. Every lofty goal is comprised of a series of minute steps or tasks; instead of shooting for the stars and burning out before takeoff, animal activists must set reasonable goals and embark on a carefully mapped journey. Such meticulously crafted plans take time, dedication - and strategy, strategy, strategy!

Part of "strategic activism" involves diversity: in individual activists, in the goals and approaches of various animal liberation campaigns and organizations, in the messages employed and the demographics targeted.

Citing Bill Moyer's DOING DEMOCRACY, Joy describes the "different types of activists and organizations that work simultaneously and in different roles": the Citizen - "the upstanding member of society, the one to whom the mainstream can easily relate"; the Reformer - who "may or may not be more radical than the Citizen"..."he or she typically works in a professional opposition organization"; and the Rebel - who "is more confrontational, participating in rallies and perhaps civil disobedience". As examples of each, Joy offers up the SPCA, the PCRM and ALDF, and PETA, respectively.

Joy touches upon several controversial topics in her discussion, namely "mainstreaming" the movement, the use of violent vs. non-violent tactics, the abolition/reform divide, and coalition building, particularly in relation to intersecting or parallel oppressions. While I don't wholeheartedly agree with her perspective on the first three issues, I'm both happy and grateful for her emphasis on intersecting "isms". Too often, animal advocates must deal with speciesism in other social justice movements; yet, I've also encountered a disturbing amount of misogyny, racism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, ageism and sizeism among animal activists. Activists of all stripes must accept that these forms of oppression are all related - and in order to defeat one, you must defeat them all.

Many of the suggestions within STRATEGIC ACTION FOR ANIMALS are geared towards grassroots animal advocacy organizations rather than individual activists. For example, you'll find chapters on organizing and managing a grassroots organization, developing and waging successful campaigns, and maintaining the health of your employees, volunteers and organization. Since it's a rather slim volume, I thought the book could have covered the topics of time management, conflict resolution and leadership a bit more, rather than referring the reader to additional resources. However, for organizations, it's a useful starting point for building a successful, long-lasting animal advocacy group. If you're in a position of leadership in an animal advocacy organization (or are thinking about starting your own group), I recommend reading STRATEGIC ACTION FOR ANIMALS in conjunction with pattrice jones's AFTERSHOCK, also from Lantern Books.

Individual activists will also enjoy STRATEGIC ACTION FOR ANIMALS. If you're looking to volunteer for (or work with) an animal advocacy group, you can use the lessons in STRATEGIC ACTION FOR ANIMALS to "shop around" for the right group for you - a sustainable, strategic group with a cooperative (vs. competitive) power structure that will value both your hard work as well as your personal wellness.

For fellow activists, I recommend STRATEGIC ACTION FOR ANIMALS along with AFTERSHOCK and perhaps Mark Hawthorne's STRIKING AT THE ROOTS. Whereas STRATEGIC ACTION FOR ANIMALS concentrates on movement-building, STRIKING AT THE ROOTS offers a number of specific types of activism that the individual can engage in, either alone or as part of a group. ... Read more

Product Description

The second edition of The Animal Ethics Reader is the most current and comprehensive anthology of readings on the subject of animal ethics. Whilst keeping the best of the previous edition, the editors have updated readings to reflect ongoing developments and emerging issues like rehabilitation of oiled wildlife, human elephant interactions, and animal consciousness and emotion.

Classic and contemporary readings are arranged thematically, carefully presenting a balanced representation of the field as it stands, and include selections from leading experts in the field. Each chapter is introduced by the editors and study questions feature at the end.

The second edition also contains a new foreword by Bernard Rollin.

Product Description
Two-thirds of Americans polled by the Associated Press agree with the following statement: 'An animal's right to live free of suffering should be just as important as a person's right to live free of suffering'. More than 50 percent of Americans believe that it is wrong to kill animals to make fur coats or to hunt them for sport. But these same Americans eat hamburgers, take their children to circuses and rodeos, and use products developed with animal testing. How do we justify our inconsistency? In this easy-to-read introduction, animal rights advocate Gary Francione looks at our conventional moral thinking about animals. Using examples, analogies, and thought-experiments, he reveals the dramatic inconsistency between what we say we believe about animals and how we actually treat them. "Introduction to Animal Rights: Your Child or the Dog?" provides a guidebook to examining our social and personal ethical beliefs. It takes us through concepts of property and equal consideration to arrive at the basic contention of animal rights: that everyone human and non-human has the right not to be treated as a means to an end.Along the way, it illuminates concepts and theories that all of us use but few of us understand the nature of 'rights' and 'interests', for example, and the theories of Locke, Descartes, and Bentham. Filled with fascinating information and cogent arguments, this is a book that you may love or hate, but that will never fail to inform, enlighten, and educate. Gary L. Francione is Professor of Law and Nicholas de B. Katzenbach Scholar of Law and Philosophy at Rutgers University Law School, Newark. He is the author of "Animals, Property, and the Law" and "Rain Without Thunder: The Ideology of the Animal Rights Movement" (both Temple). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

NE PLUS ULTRA!!!! (LATIN TERM FOR A MASTERPIECE!)
I got this book about a year ago and I wish I had done a review sooner.This book is a masterpiece of work on behalf of the rights of non humans.This author is exceptionally intelligent and compassionate.He is a Law Professor--a Super Lawyer, and thanks to his training in Law, he REALLY drives his argument very very deep and straight into the heart of the matter leaving little forgotten.This book seems small, but it has more depth and coverage inside than you think.It is for those newly interested in the subject, it is for old pros and it is for anyone or everyone to read regardless of your animal-rights evolution.This author has written other books (I would like to suggest "Rain Without Thunder") in which he analyzes the animal rights movement even more deeply.He is absolutely phenomenal!!!

This book is very very deep, very very probing and the author does a FANTASTIC JOB in his arguments.

This book ranks at least 7 from a choice of 5 stars for me.I had to give it a five star rating because that was the limit.

I don't think you will find a better book than this one that drives the argument straight home.May I suggest Animal Gospel as an equally good book from the viewpoint of Christianity.

I take this subject matter to be my PRIORITY in life.So please trust me on my opinion as this being a SUPERB BOOK!! NE PLUS ULTRA!!!!--meaning nothing better than this--it is top of the line!!

Tip from someone who has learned from life:No one is free until all are free.We suffer knowing our fellow beings are in deep hell.It affects everyone in one way or another.Therefore, the fight for animal freedom is a fight for our own freedom.Don't let superficial needs take priority over the need of our fellow beings to be free and free from pain.Keep romantic love in perspective.It's not the real deal.Compassion is the real deal and that is what needs priority.

An important perspective but ultimately unconvincing
Gary Francione is an important thinker in the animal rights debate. His abolitionist views have proved influential in certain sectors of the movement, and for that reason alone it is important to read his work.

The problem with Gary is that I get the impression he thinks his views are obviously watertight and thoroughly convincing and seems surprised anyone would disagree with them. His arguments are presented in a simple (almost syllogistic) format that circumvents the complexity of the issues. Writers like Robert Garner have drawn attention to the problem with thinking that the property status of animals is the ultimate, foundational issue that should be the heart of the movement's concerns. But as I said, Gary's arguments are important to consider and he makes some genuinely insightful remarks.

If you buy one book on animal rights theory...
Buy this book, a coherent, refined and logical approach to animal rights that gets to the root of modern society's animal problem without going out on a limb. Finally, understand animal rights without wading through philosophy or complicated arguments. And it might just change your life.

introduccion a los derechos animales

el libro me parecio fascinante, desde un principio, pero en un par de capitulos daba muchos ejemplos que ya sabia, pero para quien lee sobre derechos animales por primera vez muy utiles, y lo mejor es el capitulo 6, donde hace refutaciones al utilitarismo.

The most succinct and thorough animal rights book
The three most well known authors of 'animal rights' books are Tom Regan, Peter Singer and Gary Francione.
Tom Regan's writing is good but I find it has inconsistencies, for example, he attributes non-human animals with inherent value, yet he asserts without justification that killing a human causes more harm to a human than killing a dog causes harm to a dog. Also, he draws the moral line between mammals and the rest of sentient life. Surely sentience, the ability to be the subject of experiences (both painful and pleasurable experiences), is the only factor that has an impact on the moral matter of our treatment of animals. A non-human animal may never experience the pleasure of playing a musical instrument or writing a piece of music, the satisfaction of completing a challenging essay or the stimulation of a game of chess - but neither will most humans. Whatsmore, I will never be able to experience the euphoria of smelling a multitude of scents at the park, the amazing anticipation of going for a run that my dog experiences and the joy of fetching a ball. These experiences are all subjective - to a dog (as an example of a non-human animal) going for a walk is as exciting as composing a piece of music and playing tug of war over a rubber toy is as fun as human competitive sport. We can't say that because the things animals derive pleasure from are not typically what we derive pleasure from that their experiences don't matter as much as ours. Going for an explore in the park amongst the myriad of sights, sounds and smells is to a dog what life is all about.
Of Peter Singer I say this, his writing is commonly confused as animal rights writing - he does talk about AR, but in no way does he support it. Peter Singer does not think using an animal for human ends (e.g., killing an animal to eat it, use in experiments or otherwise utilize) is wrong. He believes non-human animals (perhaps with the exclusion of the great apes - his reasoning: they are too alike to normal humans) are property for 'normal' humans to utilize as long as 'suffering' is minimalised. Singer draws an arbitrary line to protect 'normal' humans like himself from exploitation whilst justifying the exploitation of those who fall below the arbitrary line.
Francione on the other hand, argues that sentience is the only thing that matters in the determination of whether a being has the basic right to freedom from expoitation. He argues his case for animal rights clearly, thoroughly and succinctly without the major inconsistencies that appear in Singers and Regans work. At the end of the book he has provided commonly occuring questions and his respective answers. I found his answers intelligent, original and highly persuasive.
Francione's book is the bible (without the Judeo-Christian dogma) of the true Animal Rights movement. It is a must buy. Regan's work is still important and worth looking at because we must still recognise the importance of his pioneering efforts in animal ethics. Singers work should only be borrowed from the library - to be able to effectively deal with utilitarian arguments when they are presented.
Note: I have a sneaking suspicion that Singer or one of his clones (PETA??) was responsible for the reviews: "Francione not realistic and nor constructive" and "Going down a well travelled path". Singer must be very defensive now that his 'ivory'(the death of the elephants was relatively painless he assures you) tower that he built from sales of 'Animal Liberation' is starting to crumble. The big Animal Welfare organisations also have a lot to lose from Francione's criticism - they get a lot of revenue... from people who think their money is going to be put to good use. ... Read more

Product Description
Gary L. Francione is a law professor and leading philosopher of animal rights theory. Robert Garner is a political theorist specializing in the philosophy and politics of animal protection. Francione maintains that we have no moral justification for using nonhumans and argues that because animals are property& mdash;or economic commodities& mdash;laws or industry practices requiring "humane" treatment will, as a general matter, fail to provide any meaningful level of protection. Garner favors a version of animal rights that focuses on eliminating animal suffering and adopts a protectionist approach, maintaining that although the traditional animal-welfare ethic is philosophically flawed, it can contribute strategically to the achievement of animal-rights ends. As they spar, Francione and Garner deconstruct the animal protection movement in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and elsewhere, discussing the practices of such organizations as PETA, which joins with McDonald's and other animal users to "improve" the slaughter of animals.They also examine American and European laws and campaigns from both the rights and welfare perspectives, identifying weaknesses and strengths that give shape to future legislation and action. ... Read more

Product Description
People often feel deep emotions in response to the lives of animals. Learning of one animal’s suffering or many animals’ suffering may touch us very deeply. Sometimes, we do not want to be that deeply touched since we know how much it hurts to care about another’s suffering.

Praying for animals allows us to unburden ourselves of these feelings by sharing them. In opening ourselves, we are kept open to the lives of others. Prayer connects us with God and all of Creation. Through prayer, we are made one with all of God’s creatures.

Arranged across the arc of the day, this book includes original prayers by Carol J. Adams:

-Morning Prayers and Prayers of Adoration
-For Our Relationships with Creatures and the Creator
-For Our Special Friendships
-Prayers of Mourning and Grief
-Prayers of Petition and Intercession
-Evening Prayers

Here are prayers for parents of children who have lost special animal friends, prayers for farmed animals or animals imprisoned in laboratories, for the hunted and endangered, for the well being of all animal caretakers, for animals in shelters:

May you know the touch of kindness.
May you know a warm blanket, a special treat.
May you know a walk outside.
May you know another day. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Sincere, spoken prayers for living beings everywhere
Adams takes her prayers for animals very seriously - much to our benefit. The book is simply written, divided into useful categories, and the prayers aim to reach all animal beings everwhere, especially the ones we don't see, the ones we try not to think about too often, the ones we use to our benefit: laboratory animals, animals destined not just for slaughter but also for the suffering that slaughterhouses harbor; there's even a prayer that animals may be kept safe and far away from roads, from cars, tractors and machines.

There are prayers for animals with legs and without, for birds, for sea creatures - I think that the author has really tried to include all of the wonder of God's creation in these prayers. We human creatures also feature in these prayers - one of my most favourite prayers is addressed to homeless creatures, including homeless human beings, and praying that they are taken care of in the harsh months of winter. Parts of prayers are also addressed to people who act on behalf of the welfare of animal beings.

There are, of course, prayers for the animal companions in our lives who most often in our relationships with them, reveal our own humanity to us just by being themselves.

This was a very touching book, and though it brings tears to my eyes to pray in such ways for the silent, innocent and invisible creatures of our world, as the previous reviewer mentioned, it is a great and true comfort to know that there are people like Carol J. Adams (and other folks who love her prayers) alive today. With the power of prayer, the clear-mindedness, courage and conviction that comes with prayer, we, all together may be able to make ourselves more worthy to live in this world that was meant for all manner of the Almighty's creation.

For Anyone Who Loves Animals
Anyone who has worked actively to help animals oranyone that simply loves them, will find this very helpful.When you are frustrated at how the world treats the innocents who can not help themselves, this will soothe your soul.It will comfort you to know that there are others like you out there and you are not alone in your deep feelings for all sentient beings.The prayers are moving and written from the heart.If you have ever prayed for an animal, you will appreciate this book.

Animal Prayers
The book was what I expected and was very helpful to me in a streesful period after the loss of a pet. ... Read more

Product Description
In "Just a Dog", Arnold Arluke argues that animal cruelty must be understood in terms of social relationships rather than an individual's psychological problem or personality disorder. Arluke situates cruelty in actual situations where groups of people decide, on their own terms, what constitutes the wrongful harm of animals and how best to communicate their understanding to others. He captures how law enforcement agents, shelter workers, humane marketers, the general public, and animal abusers (or neglecters), make sense of animal cruelty. In each case, cruelty's meaning reflects the practical, personal, and ideological concerns of these groups and the wider social and cultural confusion over the nature and significance of animals and their proper treatment. He shows that these divergent definitions are not mere reflections of the social world but are actively created and used by group members to achieve sought-after identities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Just a Dog
I chose this book for a class assignment, but it's a great book and came in a very timely manner and in really great condition. I'd definitely purchase from this seller again in the future.

Great background about animal shelter workers
I was doing a research paper on animal shelters and while trying to understand the euthanasia debate, Arluke gave great unbaised research especially about the choices animal shelter workers must make when working at an open admissions shelter.

Although extremely informative, it should be updated (i.e., Utah is not an entire state of 'no kill' policies, although it is striving to do so). ... Read more

Product Description
The most detailed and authoritative treatment of the current state of animal welfare law in Britain to date.This book provides a full analysis of the substantive law, considers its objectives, application and effectiveness, the background to the current debate and the arguments for and against further reform.It includes full coverage of key topics such as agricultural production, transportation, scientific procedures, entertainment, domestic pets, wildlife, hunting and enforcement. ... Read more

Product Description
Most people go their entire elementary, high school and college years without learning of the horrors that take place behind the closed doors of slaughterhouses, vivisection labs, entertainment "training" complexes, fur farms, product-testing facilities and animal factories. Even throughout our adulthood, the business of exploiting animals for human convenience, amusement, taste or profit is generally well hidden -- and for good reason: too much of this knowledge would threaten these industries. The good news is word is getting out -- and animal activists are responsible for informing both the public and policymakers. "Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism" brings together the most effective tactics for speaking out for animals and gives voice to activists from around the globe, who explain why their models of activism have been successful -- and how you can get involved. Concise and full of practical examples and resources, this guide dispels the myths surrounding animal activism and will empower you to make the most of your skills. From simple leafleting to taking direct action, each chapter clearly explains where to begin, what to expect and how to ensure your message is heard. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

An Activist's Handbook
This proved to be a very straight forward and useful compendium. A lot of stuff is common sense, but it's nice to have everything in one place and set out nicely. It is also nice to read the brief anecdotes on numerous activists around the world and know that there are plenty of them out there. For anyone who is feeling isolation because surrounded by a world that seems clueless about animal rights issues, this book will give some comfort. One criticism is that in promoting websites, the text could become dated very quickly. One site praised in the book did not seem to have much to it, as if it's potential, when initially appraised by the author, had not been fulfilled.

Puts the Act in Activism
Hawthorne channels his passion and unparalleled knowledge through this superbly written guide, making animal activism something meaningful and achievable by all.Although not a vegan myself, I learned valuable lessons from this guide, and discovered how even rudimentary awareness and minor changes in lifestyle can avert animal cruelty.Where activism may reside in the public imagination as something accomplished by an elite and enlightened few, Hawthorne's guide shows how everyone can make a stand.This all-inclusive guide is a must read for anyone with even a recreational interest in animal activism.

Exactly the book I needed to motivate me to turn my anger and frustration into a positive force!
Feeling frustrated at my lack of knowledge of where to begin as an animal activist, Mark Hawthorne's book has given me the wind in my sail.Loaded with details of starting from the little things to dealing with the painful emotions you experience,I found every chapter full of excellent ideas which narrow down such a wide area to be covered.I would recommend this to anyone who doesn't know where to begin but is tired of not doing anything to help.I read it in a day and I am raring and ready to start my fight against animal cruelty!Amazing guide-absolutely the best inspiration!

Amazon dot com KILLS ANIMALS
Amazon dot com kills animals by supporting the fur industry.

I liked the book, but am saddened that I bought it from a company that SELLS FUR. I am sick and sad that I ever gave Amazon a single dime. I am not the only one. Amazon execs should understand that there are many more people out here who are offended at the butchering deaths of helpless animals for ridiculous VANITY, than there are people who would actually go to amazon to buy their FUR COATS. I ask that others please reconsider buying any more products from these people until they stop selling fur, and stop sending out cookie-cutter form letters to those of us who give a damn about the lives of others. (No, it is not enough to claim that they're merely trying to "give the customer what they want even if it offends some people. Would they say that if I wanted to buy heroin? If I wanted to buy a nuclear weapon? If I wanted to buy an Indonesian House Boy??? Not good enough. Some things are so reprehensible that society demands that they NOT sell them. Although, I'm sure that if they could, they would, so long as it was profitable.)

Take the profit out of death and join me in boycotting Amazon. And tell your friends. There are hundreds of other sites that sell great books, often cheaper, that do not profit from the deaths of innocent animals.

Everything you need to know
This book has detailed everything you need to know to be effective for animals. It outlines stategies and explains them well. I enjoyed the book.Animal Rights forever! ... Read more

Product Description
This volume provides a general overview of the basic ethical and philosophical issues of animal rights. It asks questions such as: Do animals have moral rights? If so, what does this mean? What sorts of mental lives do animals have, and how should we understand welfare? By presenting models for understanding animals' moral status and rights, and examining their mental lives and welfare, David DeGrazia explores the implications for how we should treat animals in connection with our diet, zoos, and research. Animal Rights distinguishes itself by combining intellectual rigor with accessibility, offering a distinct moral voice with a non-polemical tone. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A solid discussion of the issuing surrounding our treatment of animals
In the early 1980s I read very deeply in the writings of Mahatma Gandhi and was especially struck by his discussion of reverence for life.These writings had a huge impact on me and made me reconsider a number of aspects of my life.While in the midst of reading his writings I came across Peter Singer's ANIMAL LIBERATION.Right book at the right time.I quickly followed the reading of this with Mary Midgley's ANIMALS AND WHY THEY MATTER and Tom Regan's THE CASE FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS.While I did not buy into the specific arguments of each of these writers, the aggregate influence of Gandhi, Singer, Midgley, and Regan was immense.I made a number of major changes in my life, including limiting the amount of leather I wore, becoming a lacto-ovo vegetarian (I didn't make the shift to veganism), taking care not to buy any products that were tested on animals, and doing what I could to support animals rights causes.I was even a member of PETA before it adopted strategies that I could not condone.

The remarkable thing about writings on Animal Rights in the early 1980s was that you could fairly easily read all of the literature on the subject and I pretty much did.While I have from time to time dipped back into the subject over the past twenty-five years, I have not been able to keep up with all of the literature, and couldn't catch up even if I strove to do so.To say that there has been an explosion in the literature would be an understatement.Where in 1985 there was perhaps 7 or 8 major works in the field, today there are 80 or 90.Even people who are not within the field are writing books on the subject.For instance, Cass Sunstein (who could well be an Obama nominee to the Supreme Court) and Martha Nussbaum have undertaken an anthology by a number of major intellectuals who would not be associated with the subject of Animal Rights.

David DeGrazia's contribution to the Oxford Very Short Introduction series could have taken either of two paths.He could have chosen to survey the thoughts of the major animal rights theorists and the debates that they are engaged in.Or he could have chosen to discuss the major issues.He took the latter approach.There is merit to this, but the fact is that virtually every other book on the subject of Animal Rights takes the same approach.I personally think that DeGrazia would have made a more valuable contribution to the study of Animal Rights if he had instead taken the survey of major thinkers approach, if he had laid out the major figures and their ideas.As it is, the book merely does what countless other books have done.DeGrazia's discussion is a fine one, but it really doesn't distinguish itself from the many other books similar to it. ... Read more

Product Description
Can animals be regarded as part of the moral community? To what extent, if at all, do they have moral rights? Are we wrong to eat them, hunt them, or use them for scientific research? Can animal liberation be squared with the environmental movement? Taylor traces the background of these debates from Aristotle to Darwin and sets out the views of numerous contemporary philosophers - including Peter Singer, Tom Regan, Mary Anne Warren, J. Baird Callicott, and Martha Nussbaum - with ethical theories ranging from utilitarianism to eco-feminism. The new edition also includes provocative quotations from some of the major writers in the field. As the final chapter insists, animal ethics is more than just an "academic" question: it is intimately connected both to our understanding of what it means to be human and to pressing current issues such as food shortages, environmental degradation, and climate change. ... Read more

Product Description
Over half the households in America include an animal companion.Yet behind this immense love of animals lies an equally immense tragedy: each year, community animal shelters take in eight to twelve million lost and unwanted dogs and cats who face an uncertain fate.

One at a Time: A Week in an American Animal Shelter brings this issue vividly to life via a true account of 7 days in a typical U.S. animal shelter.With compelling photos and moving vignettes, this book chronicles the stories of 75 animals who passed through a Northern California animal shelter during one week.Their gripping stories include excerpts from actual shelter records; the words of shelter workers, volunteers, and visitors; and the final conclusion of each animal's journey through the animal shelter system.

Look into the eyes of these animals and let their stories give you a riveting and unforgettable glimpse into this nation's homeless animal tragedy.Whether it is the lost dog quickly reunited with his family because he was wearing an ID tag, the frightened cat given up by guardians who didn't understand the commitment of caring for her, the cat facing euthanasia or the dog joyfully adopted into a new home, each animal in One at a Time has an important lesson to teach and a powerful message to share.

One at a Time will help you to see the real faces behind the numbers, and to experience the miracles and heartbreak that play out every day in our nation's shelters... one animal at a time.

Even more importantly, One at a Time will give you hope, because this tragedy can be ended and each one of us can be part of the solution... offering us the chance to become better people, to reawaken our connection with other living beings, and to reaffirm the sanctity of life itself.The animals of One at a Time will show you how. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

A Real Eye Opener
This book is heartwrenching and very truthful to what happens to millions of unwanted animals in shelters across America. Any person who thinks that pets are throw-aways, believes that spaying and/or neutering is unthinkable or to expensive to do, and irresponsible pet owners (for one reason or another) should have to read this book!! It is a real eye opener to what really happens to millions of dogs and cats every year but yet they stay loyal, to whomever, until that animal does or does not have a happy ending.

A book everybody should read!
If you're reading this review it's probably because you love animals and you want to buy a book that talks about them. The truth is that, well, it's not easy to go to the end of this book without feeling anger and sadness! But it's important to know that getting to know the reality is the only way to take action. I want to thanks the authors to gave the public this beautiful book and most of all, to gave the animals a voice.
Everybody should read it and have a copy at home!!!

Compelling story--
An amazing story of a typical animal shelter and the plight of lost or abandandoned animals.A difficult read, tear stains were left on most pages.It pays tribute to shelter workers and the animals who are cared for by these selfless individuals.I wish everyone would read this book.It is a compelling argument against puppy mills and for all spay/neuter campaigns.

Extremely moving account of life in a shelter
I don't remember the last time that I was as affected by a book as this one.There are stories and descriptions in this book that just won't leave me.The one that I remember most is the one where the authors describe how, for that brief instant, an animal no longer wanted by its owner being left at a shelter comes to the sad recognition that its guardian will never be coming back.I am also sickened and disheartened by the reasons that some owners give for leaving their pets in shelters.This is a very difficult book to read for people that love animals and their pets.The authors have done a terrific job describing the inner world of the animal shelter and I highly recommend this book to all.

Very moving and opens your eyes
One At A Time says it all about a situation in this country that needs to be brought to the fore front of our society. The book was moving, touching, and most of all it tells it like it is in what shelters across this country have to deal with. It touches on the emotions of not only the authors but also what the staff at shelters deal with day to day. We as humans need to open our eyes and realize that we share this planet with not just ourselves but with dogs and cats that some would just treat as disposible and not think twice about doing so. The animals have feelings and the authors touch on the saddness of being given up and some the joy of finding new hope in a new home. The pictures in the book of each animal and what the out come is for each one can at times break your heart. The book is up front on showing statistics and how we as a society can turn the tide and make a better life for our four legged companions. Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! Be prepared to have tissues on hand as this can be a difficult read at times but one that needs to be shared by many. Thanks to the authors that have written a beautiful and eye opening book, I now volunteer for two no-kill shelters. ... Read more

Product Description
Practitioners in the animal welfare field, law enforcement circles, and social services arena have often maintained that childhood cruelty to animals is a forerunner to violence against people. Does this behavior serve as a red flag with respect to extremely violent offenders, such as serial killers? Merz-Perez and Heide provide the first scientific examination of this relationship and examine issues of cruelty across different types of animals (pet, wild, stray, farm). The authors evaluate the correlations between childhood cruelty and adult violent behavior, utilizing interviews and criminal records of violent and nonviolent inmates in a maximum security prison. Their findings will be of importance to a diverse audience, including researchers and practitioners in the field of juvenile justice, violence and domestic abuse, social welfare, animal welfare and animal rights and developmental psychologists and counselors, as well as law enforcement officers, district attorneys and judges, county and municipal officials, animal control officers, veterinarians, and school administrators, especially those concerned with intervention and prevention strategies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Laura's Review
I was required to read this book for a college course, and am glad I was!Although this book was graphic and at times difficult to read emotionally, it conveys a powerful message, with data to back it up.Even if you are unsure of the statistical lingo, the authors do a wonderful job of clarifying and explaining the results of their study.This book is an excellent example of how severe the effects of animal cruelty can be and that changes in society are desperately needed.

Animal Cruelty: Pathway to Violence Angainst People
This book by Linda Merz-Perez and Kathleen M. Heide provides for a valueable resource for animal avocates and people concerned with interperonal violence as well. I found this book to be very helpful in assisting me in my studies to understand the connection between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence. From theories as to why people commit such crimes to case studies, this book keeps you interested. Not only is it interesting but also educational. Many other resources regarding this subject are included in this book. They prove that cruelty to animals is a cause for concern and leads to the perpetuation and continuance of violent crimes against people. I recommend this book to everyone, especially parents and people involved in child care, so as to broaden the knowledge society has on the link between cruelty to animals and human violence in hopes of reducing the violent tendencies of our society. We owe it to ourselves, the animals, and each other to become more educated on problems in our society, such as interperonal violence and animal cruelty, and what we can do to help reduce these occurences in our population. This book should assist people in taking a step in the right direction. This book provides much insight and background for those already in the field of victim advocacy (whether they are human or animal victims.) It supports, with fact, what may be seen as only an opinion, therefore giving respect to the views of animal advocates like me. The background this book and its references have given me have provided me with more confidence to continue on in my crusade to help animal and human victims of violence.

A must have for Social Services and Animal Welfare Professio
"This book is a must have for anyone working in or interested in the animal welfare or human services fields.Most of us already in these fields find our time to relax and enjoy a good book very limited or otherwise nonexistent, and may find writings related to our work to be very technical and mundane.Linda Merez-Perez and Kathleen Heide have combined years of experience to develop a very clear, concise, intriguing work on the link between animal cruelty and increased human violence in the pages of "Animal Cruelty: Pathway to violence against people".Within these pages you will find a wealth of knowledge spanning the history of the relationship between animal cruelty and human violence, the current state of this relationship, methods used to evaluate this relationship, case studies that will pull at your heart, and suggested avenues of approach to both further increase awareness of the correlation between animal cruelty and increased human violence, and steps that can be taken to reduce these instances.After reading this book I am compelled to purchase a copy for both our County Adult and Child Social Services Departments and the County Animal Control Administrator in hopes of building a combined relationship to combat both animal cruelty and human violence in our area."
Jennifer Sherian - Manager, Animal Protection Society of Durham, North Carolina

An excellent book full of educational research
This book is a great resource for anyone concerned with the field of animal welfare or anyone seeking to grasp a greater understanding of the link between animal abuse and human violence.By giving a clear concise definition of animal cruelty, and examples of various types of aggression and violence people engage in, the authors show the complex nature of the issue.The compilation of various studies conducted by credible animal welfare professionals provides a wide spread knowledge base for the reader to draw from.Due to the magnitude of facts from the studies, it is necessary to have a highlighter in hand while reading to note the crucial conclusions that can be drawn from the studies. The purpose of this book is clearly to make society aware of the link between animal cruelty and human violence.This book was one of the first works to broach this topic and because of the ability of these two authors to present the facts in a conclusive manor; my hope is that others will become more aware of the realities of the problems at hand.

"Animal Cruelty ..." disturbing to read; highly informative
"Animal Cruelty Pathway to Violence against People" takes an in-depth look at the link between animal cruelty and violence against people.Starting with chapter one, this book gives the reader the background knowledge to be comfortable enough, even with no prior knowledge of the subject, to get through the rest of the book with ease of understanding. The book itself is not meant in any way to breeze through for leisure.Reading it takes a lot of energy (to absorb so much information some of it rather disturbing). I found a lot of the information unsettling and depressing, but of course understood the need for that. Some of the information given is difficult to grasp and understand at first, but the authors do not leave you with out detailed guidance and explanation. This book helped me greatly in participating in and performing in the class I read it for.
I came away empowered and highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a greater understanding of the mysteries of cruelty and violence. I know I will look to this book for information frequently. It is an invaluable resource. ... Read more

Product Description

Since its original publication in 1975, this groundbreaking work has awakened millions of people to the existence of "speciesism"—our systematic disregard of nonhuman animals—inspiring a worldwide movement to transform our attitudes to animals and eliminate the cruelty we inflict on them.

Customer Reviews (104)

A definitive read
This book is a requisite read for anyone with interest in animal rights/ethics.I began reading this book when I became a vegan.I started reading the 2nd. edition (1990) that a vegan friend gave to me, and decided to finish reading with the most updated/ 4th. edition (2009).This book is a great reference for ethics/philosophy.It also seems like the closest thing to what most of us will have to being a student of Peter Singer.

GOOD
The information/data is detailed and precisely pertinent to the topics.The updated and supplemental information keeps the present-day reader connected to Peter Singer's legacy with the Animal Liberation movement.

BAD
The writing is at times difficult to fully comprehend on the first read.Peter Singer definitely authors on a university level that may prove to be intimidating for younger/ less experienced readers.

Too Disturbing To Get To The End
Frankly, I had to throw this book away. I ordered it after reading about it in a New Yorker article about the senseless killing of songbirds for fun and food. I expected the book to be a philosophical take on the issue of animal cruelty, which has been something of a big concern for me for many years (pretty much since I become fully cognizant of the fact that poultry and beef didn't grow on trees, and that, in fact, poultry and meat were not some abstract substances, but, at some point, none other than living, breathing, conscious creatures.)

The book, however, offers a very detailed and extremely disturbing descriptions of various forms of physical and emotional suffering that billions of animals are subjected to in the course of their very short and very miserable lives. The author depicts the practices of the "personnel" (supposedly human) working in the food industry (its first link - the meat/dairy plants) and the scientific/laboratory research - which presentthe two most horrific forms of animal abuse. Speaking about the often used in a "cute" context term "guinea pigs," lab animals are put through unthinkable suffering varying from suffering the process of harsh chemicals being instilled in their eyes (rabbits) while they are restrained by special equipment that doesn't allow for any type of movement, as the "scientist" diligently observes and records the damage the chemical does to the eye over the course of several days (the end result - destroyed pupil of the eye.) And let's just leave it at that, it's the mildest of the experiments sited by the author. I was only able to go a few pages into the chapter before I had to put this book aside due to the palpitations I felt in my chest. I stopped at the "humorous" description in a catalog of the laboratory animal equipment that left me grasping for words: it mentioned a restrictor for rats where "the only thing that will wiggle is the nose." Next thing I did was throw the book away, especially that it also came with several disturbing photographs: I simply did not want to have this kind of "material" sitting in my book case.

That said, if someone has thicker skin or can skip through the chapters that deal with the "underbelly" of the food industry and scientific progress (although the author argues with the notion that experimenting on animals actually entails that much of a progress) and onto the chapters that deal with how each individual can contribute to reducing the amount of suffering, this book can be more than a useful read. It could also be a good eye opener for those who still think that animals feel no emotion and so "their suffering is pretty devoid of anything conscious," or that tender veal chops are too, well, tender to pass up on at a restaurant (hopefully their opinion will change after they find out what is done to baby calves before they become those tender delectables.) Animals do have the same pain receptors as humans, and they do feel fear and anxiety, and great psychological suffering.

the standard (of sorts)
I read this book in high school and it, literally, changed my life. I immediately became a vegetarian. Any book that can lead someone to make such a drastic change (I still, on occasion, crave bacon!) is worthy of your time. For that reason alone, I give it a high rating. At the same time, I eventually found myself no longer impressed by the utilitarian arguments underwriting much of his philosophy, nor do I find such an account that consistent. That is, I need something more substantial than just this book. For what it is, it is a classic and deserving of your time. I think, however, you may move on to other writers for a different approach that may provide a stronger grounding (e.g., Stephen Clark, Stephen Webb, Tom Regan or Carol Adams). Nevertheless, this may be the place to begin!

Batton change
I read this text over thirty years ago and it made quite an impression.Lucid and relying more on evidence than emotion, I was convinced that we owed sentient life forms more respect than I had previously thought.Now I have students who wrestle with the justifications for their claims to vegetarianism.Singer's seminal arguments are still valid.I bought this to pass on to one of my more idealistic charges.It may put meat on the bones of her posturing.

This book made me a vegetarian
This book made me a vegetarian, because it made me aware of all the cruelty that is imposed on animals.Ethically, this is not justified by no means at all.If man is supposed to be the superior animal, then why should he treat animals as if they were "animal objects" ?(I would also like to recommend the new DVD Our Daily Bread so you can actually see how our soulless economy of food production is performing nowadays.)

Never before in human history have we eaten so much meat.Not only do the poor animals suffer in their cages, the people eating this "artificial" meat are suffering too, because a big load of pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, etc. are delivered together with the "food".

Now, I didn't become a vegetarian immediately after reading this book, but its arguments percolated through my conscience and finally did me make the final step, eliminating meat altogether from my menu.This was 5 years ago.It is best to do this gradually.I would also recommend anybody willing to take this step to take a vitamin B12 supplement (under the form of complex B) to feel great, since vitamin B12 is only present in animal foods. ... Read more

Product Description
This book addresses practical and philosophical issues regarding animals in biomedical research, testing and teaching. It does so with the aim of presenting in some detail, from numerous perspectives and at different levels, facts and arguments to encourage scientists, whether researchers, doctors, veterinarians, laboratory animal technicians or science students, to reconsider their views about animal experimentation. The essays range from animal rights philosophy to the reduction of suffering in laboratory animals, from human/animal relations to the legislative scene, from science policy to humane research and many areas in between. ... Read more

Product Description
Does animal welfare have a place in sustainable farming, or do the demands of a rising human population and the threat of climate change mean that the interests of animals must be put aside? Can we improve the way we keep animals and still feed the world – or is it a choice between ethics and economics?

The aim of this book is to challenge the “them-and-us” thinking that sets the interests of humans and farm animals against each other and to show that to be really “sustainable,” farming needs to include, not ignore, animal welfare. The authors of this remarkable book come from a diversity of backgrounds: industry, animal welfare organizations, academic institutions, and practical farming. They are united in arguing that farm animals matter and that sustainable farming must have animal welfare at its ethical core, along with the production of healthy, affordable food and care for the environment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The beginning of the end of agricultural abuses
It seems like at least once a month we read of a huge beef recall due to E. coli 0157, lettuce or tomato recalls due to Salmonella or other problems with our food supply. Initiatives to prohibit the use of gestation crates are raising the consciousness of the unknowing public to issues of animal welfare. Less often, but still way too common, we read of gross abuses of animals in the care of processing plants by ignorant employees and farming procedures that are, by most standards, cruel to animals.

This book is the beginning of the end of such totally unnecessary and appalling activities which are examples of the modern abrogation of the Ancient Contract captioned in the title.

Dawkins and Bonney have gathered together a most impressive list of experts in their fields relating to the issues of animal welfare in today's agriculture. Most are from the UK where the best work is being done currently to renew the Ancient Contract. A notable exception however is Temple Grandin, truly an American treasure, whose outstanding work with farm animals has set new and better standards for the world.

This team elaborates on the issues of the Ancient Contract and provides practical and economical solutions to the problems created by the "bean counters" that are destroying agriculture by ignoring the Ancient Contract.

In recent years we have been deluged with books by "animal rights" supporters who only write about the mistreatment of animals and who ignore the realities of the human animal and the non-human animal equation. The Future of Animal Farming; Renewing the Ancient Contract deals with those realities and offers much hope for the future. Hopefully, this is the first of many to come that will begin to bring rationality and compassion to these important issues of morality, public health and agricultural economics.
... Read more