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Growl: Life Lessons, Hard Truths, and Bold Strategies from an Animal Advocate
With a Foreword by Brian May
For four decades, Kim Stallwood has had a front seat in the animal rights movement, starting at the grassroots in England and working his way up to leadership positions at some of the best-known organizations in the world, including Compassion In World Farming, the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Yet, as Stallwood reveals in this memoir of an eventful life dedicated to social justice for the voiceless, finding the truest path for progress has meant learning a lot along the way.
Equal parts personal narrative, social history, and impassioned call for rethinking animal advocacy, Growl describes Stallwood’s journey from a meat-eating slaughterhouse worker to a vegan activist for all species. He explains the importance of four key values in animal rights philosophy and practice—compassion, truth, nonviolence, and justice—and how a deeper understanding of their role not only leads us to discover our humanity for animals, but also for ourselves.
For four decades, Kim Stallwood has had a front seat in the animal rights movement, starting at the grassroots in England and working his way up to leadership positions at some of the best-known organizations in the world, including Compassion In World Farming, the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Yet, as Stallwood reveals in this memoir of an eventful life dedicated to social justice for the voiceless, finding the truest path for progress has meant learning a lot along the way.
Equal parts personal narrative, social history, and impassioned call for rethinking animal advocacy, Growl describes Stallwood’s journey from a meat-eating slaughterhouse worker to a vegan activist for all species. He explains the importance of four key values in animal rights philosophy and practice—compassion, truth, nonviolence, and justice—and how a deeper understanding of their role not only leads us to discover our humanity for animals, but also for ourselves.
300 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 10, 2016
This is without a doubt a must read book for every animal advocate out there. Why? Because you'll really like it - it's about you, every single one of us. This amazing story shows not only impressive resume of Kim Stallwood - who is one of the most respected animal rights activists out there - but first of all it is a journey - through history, philosophy, psychology and our everyday struggles when we're trying to do our best to change something in the World. I read this book with an overwhelming feeling of mutual understanding with the author and acquiring deep but simply stated wisdom of a mentor that each of us is looking for at some point. The core values that Stallwood presents in this book don't depend on personal philosophical views but they come from years of experience that he gladly shares with us. I respond very well to his attitude toward animal rights activism - seeing it as a political or social justice movement instead of moral crusade. This book is truly inspiring with beautiful writing inside and emphasis on compassion, which makes it very special. I wish one day to have the "magical connection" with an animal (or animals) that Stallwood mentions and hope to be such a smart, talented writer and activist he is. Huge thank you for this book, I'll remember it for a long time <3!!!
June 10, 2016
Inspiring and insightful, Kim Stallwood’s “Growl” is an eloquent blend of history and hope. Both a personal narrative and a call to action, “Growl” considers what it means to care deeply about animals, and act on their behalf, and is essential reading for anyone who wants to better understand the animal-protection movement — and their place in it. The author asserts that, like the four points on a moral compass, our commitment to animal rights must be animated by four key values: compassion, truth, nonviolence, and justice. He returns to these principles throughout the book, elaborating on their meaning and demonstrating why they are crucial to the success of the animal rights movement. Kim Stallwood is a longtime activist with many fascinating stories to tell, and his immensely readable book is destined to become a classic in the field.
October 31, 2017
This is part memoir, part philosophy of animal rights, and part tactical primer. Stallwood has done quite a bit for animal rights and been in a wide diversity of campaigns with different groups, all of which like what he does. He believes that animal rights should take a more “political” turn and inject itself into mainstream debate, rather than styling itself as a group of lonely dissidents shouting slogans from the edge.
As literature, the book is at its best when it integrates memoir with tactical ideas, blending a discussion of his own life into an insight he is trying to convey. This works well in his discussion of “Camberly Kate,” a woman who took in stray animals and who made an impression on Stallwood before he was vegan. However, he often just uses straight exposition to make his points about animal rights tactics, or his points about philosophy, without really integrating them into his narrative.
As literature, the book is at its best when it integrates memoir with tactical ideas, blending a discussion of his own life into an insight he is trying to convey. This works well in his discussion of “Camberly Kate,” a woman who took in stray animals and who made an impression on Stallwood before he was vegan. However, he often just uses straight exposition to make his points about animal rights tactics, or his points about philosophy, without really integrating them into his narrative.
May 10, 2024
A WELL-KNOWN ANIMAL ADVOCATE SUMMARIZES, AND LOOKS BACK
Kim W. Stallwood (born 1955) is a British animal rights advocate and author, who is the European director of the Animals and Society Institute; he was also executive editor of ‘The Animals' Agenda’ magazine from (1993–2002).
He wrote in the Introduction to this 2014 book, “‘Growl’ is the book I would have loved to have owned when I was a young man and I discovered how widespread was the cruelty we inflict on other animals. The simple truth is I couldn’t have written it until now. I had to accrue from a lifetime of working for animals a deeper understanding of what caring profoundly about them truly meant. I needed to learn that, although we human beings are capable of unimaginable malice towards other living beings, we can also be astonishingly kind. It was necessary to gain a comprehension of animal rights---and through that wisdom to discover not only the transformative potential of kindness towards animals but how we need to apply that kindness to ourselves---to realize that although animal rights is … also about locating meaning in our lives and finding out who we truly are… [This book] is the story of an ordinary individual… who didn’t undergo an immediate personal conversion when he discovered the horrors inflicted on animals.” (Pg. 1-2)
He continues, “I also believe that our commitment to animal rights must be animated by four key values: *Compassion: our motivation for helping animals *Truth: our ethical relations with animals *Nonviolence: our value in the relations we have with animals *Justice: our commitment to all animals. Not only are these principles more powerful in combination than singularly, but they’re ones that most of us have already accepted for other members of our species… These values, therefore, possess a certain strategic value, since they form a quartet that people who may not share our dedication to reducing animal suffering can understand.” (Pg. 2-3)
He adds, “I’ve spent most of my life growling about and against animal exploitation---this the title of this book. Nonetheless… The book doesn’t contain graphic descriptions of the torture of animals. Instead, my goal is to explore how a deeper understanding of animal rights can lead us to discover what it means to be genuinely HUMANE… I’m most interested in our attitudes … that cause harm to others, and in presenting a way of being in the in the world that doesn’t involve exploitation of abuse.” (Pg. 4)
He comments, “Some within the animal rights movement may claim that speciesism … exists on a continuum alongside sexism, classism, and racism, but the manner by which some advocates and organizations have campaigned … reveals either no such commitment to moral consistency or convenient ignorance of it when it’s expedient to do so.” (Pg. 33-34)
He recounts, “When I worked in the chicken slaughterhouse, I saw institutionalized animal exploitation for the first time… The more I learnt, the more I needed to seek out animal cruelty and exploitation. As I discovered its pervasiveness, I had to learn how to cope with that knowledge. I had to reconcile myself with the truth that animals are being tortured and killed every second of every minute of every hour of every day… frequently for no other reason than momentary, gustatory pleasure.” (Pg. 44)
He outlines, “These are the first truths of animal advocacy: that what society considers usual is obscene; that the normative ‘truth’ about what is ethical to do to animals is in fact an ‘untruth’… (Pg. 45) He continues, “The second set of truths that animal advocates are forced to conform is that no one ever promised that caring deeply about animals would be easy. No one could have reasonably believed that society could transform itself as quickly as we personally believed that society could transform itself as quickly as we personally may have changed.” (Pg. 49) He adds, “the third truth that animal advocates need to face is that … not everyone reacts to moral shocks as they could or, we might hope, should. Some never respond. They don’t care about nonhuman animals and they never will. Instead, they make a virtue of their insensitivity.” (Pg. 50)
He states, “the resident of the Misanthropic Bunker can scream all he likes at the injustice of the world, secure in the knowledge that his particular brand of perfection will never be adulterated by who’ll never understand what it means to be a REAL vegan or animal advocate… The Misanthropic Bunker mentality manifests itself in various ways: *If only ever pro-animal group exclusively promoted veganism, we’d achieve animal liberation much sooner. *We must abolish the property status of animals before anything else. *We should set free all the cats and dogs imprisoned in animal shelters if their only future is a cage or death by euthanasia. *Democracy has failed and illegal direct action is the only course to take, The bunkered worldview allows some people to behave in ways that would otherwise be seen as out of touch with reality—such as when they imply, threaten, or use violence towards things, the environment, and people, or when they denigrate others’ actions for animals and question their motives.” (Pg. 62-63)
He explains, “I was not an evangelizing vegetarian---a vegelical!” (Pg. 25) Later, he reveals, “Although some fortunate individuals may have experienced their moral awakening in such a way, it wasn’t the case for me… in reality, the differences between my unenlightened self, whom I’ll call ‘Kim the Chef,’ and ‘Kim the Vegelical’ weren’t all that substantial… let’s assume that one morning on his way to work at the chicken slaughterhouse Kim the Chef… had to cross a picket line of animal activists that included the Velegival?... how would they have reacted to each other?... Kim the Vegelical would have most likely shouted such slogans as MEAT MEANS MURDER!... later, the vegelical would be satisfied with the stand he’d taken on behalf of animals at the ghastly place where they were exploited… Although Kim the Chef would have hurried past the demonstrators, the protest would nonetheless have made an impression on him… He might even have felt uncomfortable for a day… [but] he would have been very careful not to reveal any nervous concern in front of his colleagues… he would have laughed off the protest and made fun of the animal advocates with his coworkers.” (Pg. 65-66)
He observes, “I’m not an animal advocate because I’m gay My involvement with animal rights helped me to discover compassion for myself, which led me to discover how I can live honestly, including as a gay man.” (Pg. 71)
He suggests, “In my optimistic moments, I see those fur protests as an example of how relatively few of us through persistence and dedication brought a once substantial industry to a halt in the U.K. One might have hoped that fur-wearing might have gone the way of bear-baiting and cock-fighting… as taboo expressions of pleasure, not least since… the wearing fur is considered déclassé---the expression of those with more money than taste. But I feel confident that the industry … won’t survive the next few decades.” (Pg. 103-104)
He recalls, “I was elected to the council of the RSPCA [Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] on a progressive platform, and… ran headlong into resistance from the Old Guard, which remained powerful. The dominant conservative ruling group used my criticism of the society’s investments as an opportunity not only to expel me from the council but from the society itself… The society found itself benefiting from owning stock in animal research companies and simultaneously criticizing them for their treatment of animals. Naturally, I protested this contradiction.” (Pg. 113-114)
He recounts that in 1987 “I moved to the United States to become the first executive director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).” (Pg. 118) Later, he adds, “My job at PETA was a hug challenge that I welcomed… All of it, however, came to a crashing halt in late 1991. For reasons I’ve never quite fathomed, the relationship between Alex [Pacheco] and, in particular, Ingrid [Newkirk] and me changed. I somehow became surplus to requirements… Although she never stated explicitly, Ingrid made it clear to me that she wanted me to leave.” (Pg. 131-132)
He goes on, “The chasing after publicity at all costs and the fetishization of celebrity and nudity seemed a long way from the brilliant simplicity of PETA’s original … approach of problem an solution… The pandering for publicity at all costs brought PETA attention, certainly, but in my judgement it overwhelmed the brilliant undercover investigations that had initially made PETA’s name… The disconnect between PETA now and then continues today.” (Pg. 134)
He admits, “I [formerly] supported violence against property: for instance, smashing up a laboratory that experimented on animals… I drew a distinction between harming any living being (human or animal) and breaking inanimate objects… I used to hold such a viewpoint. I don’t anymore… My objection to the activities that I formerly supported lies entirely in the INTENTION behind the violence and the STATEGY (or lack thereof) accompanying it… by vicariously taking out their aggression on inanimate objects, they … aim to scare the individuals who use them. After all, they wouldn’t feel the need to destroy property if they didn’t think it would make someone FEEL as if they’d been attacked.” (Pg. 159-160) Later, he adds, “we must stop the violence in ourselves, in our language, in our actions Violence… ultimately only leads to more… Unless we do this, then our goals won’t be achieved. This is why nonviolence is a key value for animal rights.” (Pg. 170)
He asserts, “In the course of my four decades in animal protection, I’ve worked, sometimes very closely, with leaders who were virtuous and selfless but still used people shamelessly… Human conceit, liquored up with religion or politics and often both, has frequently and tragically led to the use of force, violence, and injury in the pursuit of truth. I freely admit that in the course of my time in the movement I’ve been willfully confrontational. But it’s one thing to challenge a set truth to reveal fresh insight; it’s another to leave no room for humility, self-doubt, and alternatives to megalomania and arrogant self-righteousness.” (Pg. 179)
He explains, “Justice in relation to animals has three aspects: *Equality: to ensure that the law recognizes animals, like humans, as sentient beings in their own right in order for them to receive their due legal protection. *Fairness: to require the law to protect animals, appropriate to their needs, as subjects of a life with inherent rights. *Duty: to insist that individuals and society respect and enforce justice for animals.” (Pg. 205)
He admits, “Animals cannot organize themselves into their own social movement or be the agents of their own liberation. We have to do it for them, on their behalf. This onerous responsibility makes it even more important for us to understand how to achieve animal rights.” (Pg. 215)
He concludes, “My involvement in the movement helped to see that I could be connected with the world, that veganism was more than just the food I ate or the clothes I wore… It was also about living compassionately, honestly, nonviolently and justly… But we also need to be kind to ourselves, reach out to others, take ownership of our power, and feel confident in our vision. I say this because I was not always kind or considerate either to myself or others. I sat in judgment and pointed fingers… That is why this is the book that I wish Kim the Vegelical or Kim the Chef could have had all those years ago.” (Pg. 222)
This book will be of great interest (if sometimes controversial) to those studying the Animal Rights movement.
Kim W. Stallwood (born 1955) is a British animal rights advocate and author, who is the European director of the Animals and Society Institute; he was also executive editor of ‘The Animals' Agenda’ magazine from (1993–2002).
He wrote in the Introduction to this 2014 book, “‘Growl’ is the book I would have loved to have owned when I was a young man and I discovered how widespread was the cruelty we inflict on other animals. The simple truth is I couldn’t have written it until now. I had to accrue from a lifetime of working for animals a deeper understanding of what caring profoundly about them truly meant. I needed to learn that, although we human beings are capable of unimaginable malice towards other living beings, we can also be astonishingly kind. It was necessary to gain a comprehension of animal rights---and through that wisdom to discover not only the transformative potential of kindness towards animals but how we need to apply that kindness to ourselves---to realize that although animal rights is … also about locating meaning in our lives and finding out who we truly are… [This book] is the story of an ordinary individual… who didn’t undergo an immediate personal conversion when he discovered the horrors inflicted on animals.” (Pg. 1-2)
He continues, “I also believe that our commitment to animal rights must be animated by four key values: *Compassion: our motivation for helping animals *Truth: our ethical relations with animals *Nonviolence: our value in the relations we have with animals *Justice: our commitment to all animals. Not only are these principles more powerful in combination than singularly, but they’re ones that most of us have already accepted for other members of our species… These values, therefore, possess a certain strategic value, since they form a quartet that people who may not share our dedication to reducing animal suffering can understand.” (Pg. 2-3)
He adds, “I’ve spent most of my life growling about and against animal exploitation---this the title of this book. Nonetheless… The book doesn’t contain graphic descriptions of the torture of animals. Instead, my goal is to explore how a deeper understanding of animal rights can lead us to discover what it means to be genuinely HUMANE… I’m most interested in our attitudes … that cause harm to others, and in presenting a way of being in the in the world that doesn’t involve exploitation of abuse.” (Pg. 4)
He comments, “Some within the animal rights movement may claim that speciesism … exists on a continuum alongside sexism, classism, and racism, but the manner by which some advocates and organizations have campaigned … reveals either no such commitment to moral consistency or convenient ignorance of it when it’s expedient to do so.” (Pg. 33-34)
He recounts, “When I worked in the chicken slaughterhouse, I saw institutionalized animal exploitation for the first time… The more I learnt, the more I needed to seek out animal cruelty and exploitation. As I discovered its pervasiveness, I had to learn how to cope with that knowledge. I had to reconcile myself with the truth that animals are being tortured and killed every second of every minute of every hour of every day… frequently for no other reason than momentary, gustatory pleasure.” (Pg. 44)
He outlines, “These are the first truths of animal advocacy: that what society considers usual is obscene; that the normative ‘truth’ about what is ethical to do to animals is in fact an ‘untruth’… (Pg. 45) He continues, “The second set of truths that animal advocates are forced to conform is that no one ever promised that caring deeply about animals would be easy. No one could have reasonably believed that society could transform itself as quickly as we personally believed that society could transform itself as quickly as we personally may have changed.” (Pg. 49) He adds, “the third truth that animal advocates need to face is that … not everyone reacts to moral shocks as they could or, we might hope, should. Some never respond. They don’t care about nonhuman animals and they never will. Instead, they make a virtue of their insensitivity.” (Pg. 50)
He states, “the resident of the Misanthropic Bunker can scream all he likes at the injustice of the world, secure in the knowledge that his particular brand of perfection will never be adulterated by who’ll never understand what it means to be a REAL vegan or animal advocate… The Misanthropic Bunker mentality manifests itself in various ways: *If only ever pro-animal group exclusively promoted veganism, we’d achieve animal liberation much sooner. *We must abolish the property status of animals before anything else. *We should set free all the cats and dogs imprisoned in animal shelters if their only future is a cage or death by euthanasia. *Democracy has failed and illegal direct action is the only course to take, The bunkered worldview allows some people to behave in ways that would otherwise be seen as out of touch with reality—such as when they imply, threaten, or use violence towards things, the environment, and people, or when they denigrate others’ actions for animals and question their motives.” (Pg. 62-63)
He explains, “I was not an evangelizing vegetarian---a vegelical!” (Pg. 25) Later, he reveals, “Although some fortunate individuals may have experienced their moral awakening in such a way, it wasn’t the case for me… in reality, the differences between my unenlightened self, whom I’ll call ‘Kim the Chef,’ and ‘Kim the Vegelical’ weren’t all that substantial… let’s assume that one morning on his way to work at the chicken slaughterhouse Kim the Chef… had to cross a picket line of animal activists that included the Velegival?... how would they have reacted to each other?... Kim the Vegelical would have most likely shouted such slogans as MEAT MEANS MURDER!... later, the vegelical would be satisfied with the stand he’d taken on behalf of animals at the ghastly place where they were exploited… Although Kim the Chef would have hurried past the demonstrators, the protest would nonetheless have made an impression on him… He might even have felt uncomfortable for a day… [but] he would have been very careful not to reveal any nervous concern in front of his colleagues… he would have laughed off the protest and made fun of the animal advocates with his coworkers.” (Pg. 65-66)
He observes, “I’m not an animal advocate because I’m gay My involvement with animal rights helped me to discover compassion for myself, which led me to discover how I can live honestly, including as a gay man.” (Pg. 71)
He suggests, “In my optimistic moments, I see those fur protests as an example of how relatively few of us through persistence and dedication brought a once substantial industry to a halt in the U.K. One might have hoped that fur-wearing might have gone the way of bear-baiting and cock-fighting… as taboo expressions of pleasure, not least since… the wearing fur is considered déclassé---the expression of those with more money than taste. But I feel confident that the industry … won’t survive the next few decades.” (Pg. 103-104)
He recalls, “I was elected to the council of the RSPCA [Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] on a progressive platform, and… ran headlong into resistance from the Old Guard, which remained powerful. The dominant conservative ruling group used my criticism of the society’s investments as an opportunity not only to expel me from the council but from the society itself… The society found itself benefiting from owning stock in animal research companies and simultaneously criticizing them for their treatment of animals. Naturally, I protested this contradiction.” (Pg. 113-114)
He recounts that in 1987 “I moved to the United States to become the first executive director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).” (Pg. 118) Later, he adds, “My job at PETA was a hug challenge that I welcomed… All of it, however, came to a crashing halt in late 1991. For reasons I’ve never quite fathomed, the relationship between Alex [Pacheco] and, in particular, Ingrid [Newkirk] and me changed. I somehow became surplus to requirements… Although she never stated explicitly, Ingrid made it clear to me that she wanted me to leave.” (Pg. 131-132)
He goes on, “The chasing after publicity at all costs and the fetishization of celebrity and nudity seemed a long way from the brilliant simplicity of PETA’s original … approach of problem an solution… The pandering for publicity at all costs brought PETA attention, certainly, but in my judgement it overwhelmed the brilliant undercover investigations that had initially made PETA’s name… The disconnect between PETA now and then continues today.” (Pg. 134)
He admits, “I [formerly] supported violence against property: for instance, smashing up a laboratory that experimented on animals… I drew a distinction between harming any living being (human or animal) and breaking inanimate objects… I used to hold such a viewpoint. I don’t anymore… My objection to the activities that I formerly supported lies entirely in the INTENTION behind the violence and the STATEGY (or lack thereof) accompanying it… by vicariously taking out their aggression on inanimate objects, they … aim to scare the individuals who use them. After all, they wouldn’t feel the need to destroy property if they didn’t think it would make someone FEEL as if they’d been attacked.” (Pg. 159-160) Later, he adds, “we must stop the violence in ourselves, in our language, in our actions Violence… ultimately only leads to more… Unless we do this, then our goals won’t be achieved. This is why nonviolence is a key value for animal rights.” (Pg. 170)
He asserts, “In the course of my four decades in animal protection, I’ve worked, sometimes very closely, with leaders who were virtuous and selfless but still used people shamelessly… Human conceit, liquored up with religion or politics and often both, has frequently and tragically led to the use of force, violence, and injury in the pursuit of truth. I freely admit that in the course of my time in the movement I’ve been willfully confrontational. But it’s one thing to challenge a set truth to reveal fresh insight; it’s another to leave no room for humility, self-doubt, and alternatives to megalomania and arrogant self-righteousness.” (Pg. 179)
He explains, “Justice in relation to animals has three aspects: *Equality: to ensure that the law recognizes animals, like humans, as sentient beings in their own right in order for them to receive their due legal protection. *Fairness: to require the law to protect animals, appropriate to their needs, as subjects of a life with inherent rights. *Duty: to insist that individuals and society respect and enforce justice for animals.” (Pg. 205)
He admits, “Animals cannot organize themselves into their own social movement or be the agents of their own liberation. We have to do it for them, on their behalf. This onerous responsibility makes it even more important for us to understand how to achieve animal rights.” (Pg. 215)
He concludes, “My involvement in the movement helped to see that I could be connected with the world, that veganism was more than just the food I ate or the clothes I wore… It was also about living compassionately, honestly, nonviolently and justly… But we also need to be kind to ourselves, reach out to others, take ownership of our power, and feel confident in our vision. I say this because I was not always kind or considerate either to myself or others. I sat in judgment and pointed fingers… That is why this is the book that I wish Kim the Vegelical or Kim the Chef could have had all those years ago.” (Pg. 222)
This book will be of great interest (if sometimes controversial) to those studying the Animal Rights movement.
December 11, 2014
Kim is a friend, so I can't pretend dispassion. I will say that this book is worth the price of the ticket for the stories alone. VINE Sanctuary cofounder Miriam Jones will take up some of the ideas in a review on our blog soon. But, for sure, people who are serious about animal advocacy will want to read this in order to school themselves on some movement history while also learning the conclusions that a particularly thoughtful activist has drawn from those events. I've always appreciated Kim's capacities for both self-reflection and willingness to rethink, and both are on display here.
September 30, 2014
I liked that it was written on a personal level, not just theoretical. Although it is important to read theoretical works about animal rights, from time to time one just needs to hear about personal stories and struggles to know how to cope better, to know that someone else has had a similar experience, that someone else has felt the same.
I also appreciated the history and the background information of British animal rights movement. All in all I think it´s an important book and I do hope people will read it.
I also appreciated the history and the background information of British animal rights movement. All in all I think it´s an important book and I do hope people will read it.
October 11, 2017
Growl by Kim Stallwood is a combination of autobiography and a treatise on animal rights. The autobiography follows Stallwood's career through a variety of animal rights organizations, the best known of which is People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, where he was president from 1987 to 1992. Someone evangelical about animal rights than I am would likely be more fascinated by the autobiography than I was. The treatise explores topics like truth, compassion, nonviolence and justice. Someone with more of a philosophical bent than I have would likely have gotten more out of the treatise than I did.
My personal interest in animal rights centers around what might be called the rights of nature: preservation of wild species and their habitats. The most interesting part of the book for me was a brief section that noted the potential for conflicts between environmentalists and advocates for animal rights.
My personal interest in animal rights centers around what might be called the rights of nature: preservation of wild species and their habitats. The most interesting part of the book for me was a brief section that noted the potential for conflicts between environmentalists and advocates for animal rights.
October 26, 2017
Stallwood does more here than just recount his eventful career working for some of the best known animal advocacy organizations in the world, although that would be sufficiently interesting in itself. In addition he takes care to explore the underlying philosophies that he feels should be at the heart of our work for animals--qualities such as compassion and justice--and to discuss strategies most likely to succeed in achieving better conditions for animals.
January 27, 2021
A powerful personal story of a life dedicated to helping non-human (and human) animals. Kim selflessly shares important lessons and wisdom that can help guide us towards a more compassionate, truthful world.
May 28, 2020
Deeply insightful and hopeful advice from a dedicated soul. Stallwood outlines a political and legal strategy to secure justice for animals. A must read for everyone who advocates for animals.
August 22, 2014
Growl is part memoir and part philosophical discussion, written from the perspective of Kim Stallwood, longtime advocate for compassionate treatment of animals by humans.
If you are open to hearing the thoughts and story of a man who has dedicated his life to the cause of animal advocacy, this book is for you. What I appreciated the most was the intense honesty through the book. Mr. Smallwood doesn't glamorize his life, his mistakes, his accomplishments, or his dilemmas -- he describes them with stark bluntness for your consideration.
He also details memorable stories and poignant moments from his life, both positive and negative, to place the reader in his shoes for that moment in time.
I love a book that causes the reader to think, as does Growl.
If you are open to hearing the thoughts and story of a man who has dedicated his life to the cause of animal advocacy, this book is for you. What I appreciated the most was the intense honesty through the book. Mr. Smallwood doesn't glamorize his life, his mistakes, his accomplishments, or his dilemmas -- he describes them with stark bluntness for your consideration.
He also details memorable stories and poignant moments from his life, both positive and negative, to place the reader in his shoes for that moment in time.
I love a book that causes the reader to think, as does Growl.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews