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Animal Grace: Entering a Spiritual Relationship with Our Fellow Creatures
Animal Grace explores the human-animal relationship as a path to enlightenment. The author calls for readers to ensure that their interactions with members of other species are based on compassion and respect. “Mary Lou Randour invites us to open our hearts and minds to the animal lives all around us.” — Jane Goodall
- GenresNonfictionAnimals
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 21, 2025
Over the top-preachy. Nature is by definition awesome- it moves us to awe, stops us in our tracks- but this was heavy-handed, to put it lightly. No shot I ever pick it up again, I am confident I am the wrong audience.
April 11, 2011
This was the right time in my life to read this book - I found it very affirming. It discusses a wide range of religious and spiritual traditions and how they encourage compassion for animals, as part of a larger recognition of interbeing or interconnectedness or oneness.
I do have a few criticisms. I thought it could have included something about indigenous traditions - there's a focus on large established religions, which is a bit limiting. Also, it's dealing with faith and belief, which is of its nature a very subjective and sometimes murky territory... I'm open-minded and have had my share of spiritual experiences and so I was pretty open to these bits, but I had a sense in reading it that some folks would be put off by the seeming lack of rationality and logic in some passages. Finally, I think it could have used a final copyedit - typos turn me off. There are only a few but I wish there had been none - they don't help give confidence in the author and publisher, which is important in a work like this one.
These quibbles aside, I think this is a very valuable book. Anyone who practices Hinduism or Buddhism will probably find it tremendously affirming. Folks who practice Judaism and Christianity may find it more challenging. But folks who practice any kind of spirituality will find in these pages some very useful and beautiful ideas about our connections with other living beings (including touching anecdotes and references to specific scriptures and teachings), and what these connections demand of us, morally and spiritually. Randour's conclusion, and it's one I agree with, is that in facing these connections and in changing our actions to relieve our associated pangs of conscience, we open up a vast new world of joy and love and spiritual experience that may not have been available to us before.
The form of the book is noteworthy - after going over various traditions and their implications and interpretations, there's a particularly effective chapter where the author takes us through a day in the life of a woman who is beginning to realize a new connection with animals. Since I struggled with this myself for years (as do most vegans) I found it very sympathetic and effective... it brought up a lot of memories for me and helped me see how far I've come since those early days. All in all, I think this book is probably one of the most inclusive and compassionate books I've read on the subject of animal rights.
I do have a few criticisms. I thought it could have included something about indigenous traditions - there's a focus on large established religions, which is a bit limiting. Also, it's dealing with faith and belief, which is of its nature a very subjective and sometimes murky territory... I'm open-minded and have had my share of spiritual experiences and so I was pretty open to these bits, but I had a sense in reading it that some folks would be put off by the seeming lack of rationality and logic in some passages. Finally, I think it could have used a final copyedit - typos turn me off. There are only a few but I wish there had been none - they don't help give confidence in the author and publisher, which is important in a work like this one.
These quibbles aside, I think this is a very valuable book. Anyone who practices Hinduism or Buddhism will probably find it tremendously affirming. Folks who practice Judaism and Christianity may find it more challenging. But folks who practice any kind of spirituality will find in these pages some very useful and beautiful ideas about our connections with other living beings (including touching anecdotes and references to specific scriptures and teachings), and what these connections demand of us, morally and spiritually. Randour's conclusion, and it's one I agree with, is that in facing these connections and in changing our actions to relieve our associated pangs of conscience, we open up a vast new world of joy and love and spiritual experience that may not have been available to us before.
The form of the book is noteworthy - after going over various traditions and their implications and interpretations, there's a particularly effective chapter where the author takes us through a day in the life of a woman who is beginning to realize a new connection with animals. Since I struggled with this myself for years (as do most vegans) I found it very sympathetic and effective... it brought up a lot of memories for me and helped me see how far I've come since those early days. All in all, I think this book is probably one of the most inclusive and compassionate books I've read on the subject of animal rights.
December 30, 2014
While I do not share all the philosophical/spiritual perspectives of the author, I applaud her brave sharing of her journey to wrestle with some serious topics such as suffering of innocents. I also enjoy her ability to take from several different spiritual groups to inform her own path. A very quick read and one that will encourage you to think about your own path as you determine how to move forward in a world where we touch non-human animals each and every day, whether we realize it or not.
March 25, 2015
This book I have had for a few years . I read it a few years ago and just recently again to refresh my memory . This book was the book that really changed my viewpoints on animals , animal rights and veganism in general . It really opened my eyes to animals and their suffering . I have always loved animals and nature but the author shows you how to view them on a more deeper ,kinder level . Great book , I high recommend it !!
February 8, 2012
Though the book is much more all or nothing than I prefer I have to give this book a 5. The author does not come across as sappy and really makes her points in a clear and heart felt way that we should not eat meat. Though I disagree and will continue to raise animals to eat it reminded me that it is my duty to care for my animals with compassion and love.
September 8, 2016
This book filled me with the affirmation that my compassion for all living creatures is justified. I wish every person was required to read this book immediately.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews