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Making Kind Choices
Ingrid Newkirk offers humane choices for everyday living that make you feel good about yourself, your relationships, and how you treat others (from the mouse in the house to the sheep whose coat ends up as wool). Listening to her personal stories and her tried, true, and brand-new compassionate options for furnishing a home, planting a garden, volunteering your time, and more will brighten your journey!
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First published September 5, 2000
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About the author
Ingrid Newkirk
43 books57 followersIngrid E. Newkirk is a British animal rights activist and the president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world's largest animal rights organization. She is the author of several books, including Making Kind Choices (2005) and The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights: Simple Acts of Kindness to Help Animals in Trouble (2009). Newkirk has worked for the animal-protection movement since 1972. Under her leadership in the 1970s as the District of Columbia's first female poundmaster, legislation was passed to create the first spay/neuter clinic in Washington, D.C., as well as an adoption program and the public funding of veterinary services, leading her to be among those chosen in 1980 as Washingtonians of the Year.
Newkirk founded PETA in March 1980 with fellow animal rights activist Alex Pacheco. They came to public attention in 1981, during what became known as the Silver Spring monkeys case, when Pacheco photographed 17 macaque monkeys being experimented on inside the Institute of Behavioral Research in Silver Spring, Maryland. The case led to the first police raid in the United States on an animal research laboratory and to an amendment in 1985 to the Animal Welfare Act. Since then, Newkirk has led campaigns to stop the use of animals in crash tests, convinced companies to stop testing cosmetics on animals, pressed for higher welfare standards from the meat industry, and organized undercover investigations that have led to government sanctions against companies, universities, and entertainers who use animals. She is known, in particular, for the media stunts that she organizes to draw attention to animal-protection issues. In her will, for example, she has asked that her skin be turned into wallets, her feet into umbrella stands, and her flesh into "Newkirk Nuggets", then grilled on a barbecue. "We are complete press sluts", she told The New Yorker in 2003: "It is our obligation. We would be worthless if we were just polite and didn't make any waves."
Although PETA takes a gradualist approach to improving animal welfare, Newkirk remains committed to ending animal use and the idea that, as PETA's slogan says, "animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment". Some animal rights abolitionists, most notably Gary Francione, have criticized PETA, calling it and other groups "the new welfarists". Some members of the animal advocacy movement have responded that Francione's position is unnecessarily divisive. Newkirk has also been criticized for her support of actions carried out in the name of the Animal Liberation Front. Newkirk's position is that the animal rights movement is a revolutionary one and that "[t]hinkers may prepare revolutions, but bandits must carry them out". PETA itself, however, "maintains a creed of nonviolence and does not advocate actions in which anyone, human or nonhuman, is injured". Newkirk and PETA have also been criticized for euthanizing many of the animals taken into PETA's shelters, including healthy pets, and opposition to the whole notion of pets, and her position that "There's no rational basis for saying that a human being has special rights. A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy," as well as seemingly seeing eradication as a goal. PETA has responded to this line of criticism.
Newkirk founded PETA in March 1980 with fellow animal rights activist Alex Pacheco. They came to public attention in 1981, during what became known as the Silver Spring monkeys case, when Pacheco photographed 17 macaque monkeys being experimented on inside the Institute of Behavioral Research in Silver Spring, Maryland. The case led to the first police raid in the United States on an animal research laboratory and to an amendment in 1985 to the Animal Welfare Act. Since then, Newkirk has led campaigns to stop the use of animals in crash tests, convinced companies to stop testing cosmetics on animals, pressed for higher welfare standards from the meat industry, and organized undercover investigations that have led to government sanctions against companies, universities, and entertainers who use animals. She is known, in particular, for the media stunts that she organizes to draw attention to animal-protection issues. In her will, for example, she has asked that her skin be turned into wallets, her feet into umbrella stands, and her flesh into "Newkirk Nuggets", then grilled on a barbecue. "We are complete press sluts", she told The New Yorker in 2003: "It is our obligation. We would be worthless if we were just polite and didn't make any waves."
Although PETA takes a gradualist approach to improving animal welfare, Newkirk remains committed to ending animal use and the idea that, as PETA's slogan says, "animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment". Some animal rights abolitionists, most notably Gary Francione, have criticized PETA, calling it and other groups "the new welfarists". Some members of the animal advocacy movement have responded that Francione's position is unnecessarily divisive. Newkirk has also been criticized for her support of actions carried out in the name of the Animal Liberation Front. Newkirk's position is that the animal rights movement is a revolutionary one and that "[t]hinkers may prepare revolutions, but bandits must carry them out". PETA itself, however, "maintains a creed of nonviolence and does not advocate actions in which anyone, human or nonhuman, is injured". Newkirk and PETA have also been criticized for euthanizing many of the animals taken into PETA's shelters, including healthy pets, and opposition to the whole notion of pets, and her position that "There's no rational basis for saying that a human being has special rights. A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy," as well as seemingly seeing eradication as a goal. PETA has responded to this line of criticism.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 4, 2016
Making Kind Choices, written by the cofounder of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk, is an informative, well written, and a definite must-read for any animal lovers or equality activists. The book focuses on the right choices to make when it comes to choosing food, clothing, and products that are fair to animals. Along with her expert advice, Newkirk includes small anecdotes from her own experiences and a foreword written by Sir Paul McCartney.
One of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much was because I felt like I was not being ‘preached’ to. Many of books I have read in the past about a debatable topic have made me feel as if they are stating why their opinion is right for the majority of the book. Newkirk took an approach that was educative, but not forceful. On the topics she covered, it was obvious what position she took on the subject, but she didn’t spend the time trying to convince the reader she was right. Because of this, the book was a lot more enjoyable to read.
In addition to Newkirk’s writing style, the book was set up so that any person could read it and easily understand what she was talking about. Before starting my research project on animal testing, I didn’t know much about it. Unlike most people, I had no prior knowledge while reading Newkirk’s book. By organizing the book into parts, and then chapters within those parts, I was able to quickly locate any topic easily and still understand what she was writing about.
Overall, I would rate this book 5/5 star. Newkirk used her knowledge on animals and animal-friendly lifestyles to help educate others on how to have one as well. I enjoyed reading the book because of its interesting content and fluidity. The book was very easy to understand and as an animal lover I enjoyed learning about the little things I can do to make my lifestyle better for myself and animals.
One of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much was because I felt like I was not being ‘preached’ to. Many of books I have read in the past about a debatable topic have made me feel as if they are stating why their opinion is right for the majority of the book. Newkirk took an approach that was educative, but not forceful. On the topics she covered, it was obvious what position she took on the subject, but she didn’t spend the time trying to convince the reader she was right. Because of this, the book was a lot more enjoyable to read.
In addition to Newkirk’s writing style, the book was set up so that any person could read it and easily understand what she was talking about. Before starting my research project on animal testing, I didn’t know much about it. Unlike most people, I had no prior knowledge while reading Newkirk’s book. By organizing the book into parts, and then chapters within those parts, I was able to quickly locate any topic easily and still understand what she was writing about.
Overall, I would rate this book 5/5 star. Newkirk used her knowledge on animals and animal-friendly lifestyles to help educate others on how to have one as well. I enjoyed reading the book because of its interesting content and fluidity. The book was very easy to understand and as an animal lover I enjoyed learning about the little things I can do to make my lifestyle better for myself and animals.
May 15, 2014
Ms. Newkirk does give some excellent ideas and suggestions for making one's life "kinder" in regards to both the animals and the environment. Many of these tips come in the form of little vignettes or personal stories, and I think the real drawback of this book is that format, in that there seems to be no actual research or proof backing up her suggestions (I'm a graduate student, I like knowing where information is coming from!) The other real problem however, is less with the book, than that this knowledge is coming from a woman who heads an organization that believes it is better to euthanize (or give a peaceful death, as she would say) to mass numbers of animals instead of trying to help them or rehabilitate them. PETA has been in the news a lot as an organization who would rather kill "pit bulls" that come from dubious backgrounds instead of trying to give them a normal life, something which goes against the very core of my beliefs. So, although this book was useful to an extent, I cannot give Ms. Newkirk a lot of credit.
June 2, 2015
I bought this book because I liked the idea of it; however, I couldn't finish it - and I always finish books. I am a confirmed animal lover, but could not stand the tone of this book. It felt preachy. In addition, I thought many of the author's suggestions were unrealistic and not well researched. Overall, if you are an animal lover and supporter of animal rights, this book isn't going to provide you with any new information. And if you think animals are dispensable, this book probably will not change your mind - just annoy you.
December 26, 2016
Love it. It could have been redundant and elitist. In fact i was mentally prepared for that before diving in. However, Ingrid does a great job of breaking down her principles and giving the reader the basics while still exploiting cruelty. She does it in a way that doesn't imply as much guilt and hate mongering as is so often suggested with PETA. As a person still in a gradual transition towards making kinder choices, i found this book just as helpful as it is thought provoking.
*Donated
*Donated
April 12, 2008
For me, just okay. First off, I am not vegan or even vegetarian so I am partial. Partial to the flavor of bloody steak. No, sorry. Tons of good info, simply too much for me. Worth a flip through if your library is as awesome as mine. I like the chapters on enviro friendly cleaners and bug deterrents.
August 23, 2009
First let me say I applaud the idea of this book. Just wish it was applicable to the Australian community ie I've heard all the messages before, and was looking for some useful resources only to discover the references were for the American world. Would score it highly for the American readers, and just 2 stars for the rest of us.
November 20, 2008
Being a vegetarian already I was amazed at how much I didn't know. Ingrid Newkirk is the reason I stopped eating meat and buying leather and this book is filled with such good ideas about how to keep that lifestyle going. Its a great resource.
June 17, 2008
I loved this book. i worried that it would be preachy, but really it's just cool solutions and ideas for being animal and eco friendly. quick read!
August 11, 2008
Excellent guide to animal-friendly consumerism.
November 7, 2009
Every little helps
July 2, 2017
Some great ideas for living a kinder life. Some not pertinent to my life, and many would be "easy" if very wealthy, not average.
Read
August 25, 2017A really easy to follow book on all the things we can do to live compassionately. You will never believe how many things have animal byproducts in them.
October 9, 2025
I've tried in my way to contribute to being kind to animals, not eating them, treating them well not wearing them. But some of the suggestions. You have to have money to do, and the author recommends buying home friendly items, Funiture, everything in a home, she suggests no cotton clothing or bedding, but linen, and some other things, that are hard for some people to do unless you have the money to do it. She suggests your furnishings, and many other things I've not considered before such a s blubber from whales being in some cleaning products or detergents. I do have cotton sheets, cotton tee shirts. I guess there is more to it than everything I will ever know. But I try as best I can to do no harm.
March 31, 2021
A perfect guide to a compassionate lifestyle for those new to it,old hat to the rest of us.
I've been veg for 15 years so most of this is stuff I've known for a long time. It's also a very similar book to Ecoholic and Skinny Bitch At Home,it goes into everything from attracting butterflies to what makeup brands are cruelty free to rainforest friendly furniture and recipes. Except she introduces each topic with a little memoir or story which I found to be extraneous clutter and I skipped most of them.
The best part was the large Animal Ingredients list,a few I hadn't realized a before.
I've been veg for 15 years so most of this is stuff I've known for a long time. It's also a very similar book to Ecoholic and Skinny Bitch At Home,it goes into everything from attracting butterflies to what makeup brands are cruelty free to rainforest friendly furniture and recipes. Except she introduces each topic with a little memoir or story which I found to be extraneous clutter and I skipped most of them.
The best part was the large Animal Ingredients list,a few I hadn't realized a before.
August 23, 2019
Many thanks to Ingrid for expanding my knowledge in some areas (ie: eco-friendly home and trips), much of this book ended up repeating the same ideas in a rather condescending tone. She did elevate other veg- and animal friendly organizations, a majority of the effort consisted in pr0omoting HER organization. (I understand the reasoning, but the schtick got old quickly.)
May 7, 2019
A great overview of how we as consumers can be more thoughtful about our choices. It is not an in-depth examination alternatives in lifestyle choices and could probably be updated. The book contains ideas that are not commonly discussed and information not readily available.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews