Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals

by Karen Dawn

The animal rights movement has reached a tipping point. No longer a fringe extremist cause, it has become a social concern that leading members of society endorse and young people embrace. From Michael Vick's dog fighting scandal to the incredible success of the bestselling Skinny Bitch veggie diet book, animal rights issues have hit the headlines—and are being championed by students and senators, pop stars and producers, and actors and activists.

Don't you want to be part of the conversation? In Thanking the Monkey, Karen Dawn covers pets, fur, fashion, food, animal testing, activism, and more. But as the title playfully suggests, this isn't like any previous animal rights book. Thanking the Monkey is light on lectures meant to make you feel guilty if you're not a leather-eschewing vegan. It lets you have fun as you learn about Paul McCartney's love of lambs and why Prince won't wear wool. You'll meet Fall Out Boy's Andy Hurley and Pete Wentz—and their favorite traveling companion, Hemingway, Pete's dog. You'll read why Natalie Portman, Alicia Silverstone, and so many of those skinny but not bitchy actresses won't eat or wear animals. And you'll laugh over dozens of cartoons from Dan Piraro's Bizzaro to other animal-friendly comics.

This fun primer for a smart and socially committed generation delivers some serious surprises in the form of facts and figures about the treatment of animals. Yes, it will shock you with tales of primates still used in animal testing on nicotine or killed for oven cleaner. But it will also let you lighten up and laugh a little as we work out how to do a better job of thanking the monkey.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Vegan, Vegetarian, Food, Environment, Philosophy

386 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2008

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book; it’s among the best of its type of animal rights philosophy and information books.

Twenty years ago I was reading animal rights books as fast as I could find them, but for quite a few years now I’ve avoided most of these books because I find them highly disturbing. I figure that I am already vegan and I’ve already educated myself so why should I inflict more pain on myself.

However, I like Karen Dawn (I subscribe to her Dawnwatch email list) and was intrigued by this book. I owned it for a long time before I got the courage to read it, and I’m really glad that I finally read it. For the most part I was not devastated, but felt supported.

There is disturbing content including some graphic details, but there’s also uplifting and humorous content. The author uses a lot of common sense, is not too dogmatic, and is non-judgmental. She gives completely accurate information, something that I think is paramount to vegan education. She is not at all strident. There’s a perfect ratio of serious and funny, facts and entertainment. A lot of the cartoons included happen to be on my refrigerator and many of my beloved Bizarro cartoons are in the book. The author expresses her opinions and feelings but much of the book simply gives the information. Mentions of scientific and psychological studies of various types are included but mostly the stories of how animals are used by people are just told.

This is a terrific introductory book if readers want to be educated about reasons to be vegan or to take any other actions to help end animal suffering.

Along with 101 Reasons Why I’m a Vegetarian and a few other books, this is one that I can recommend to all non-vegans who aren’t overtly hostile about trying to prevent animal suffering/the vegan lifestyle. The humor and non-judgmental attitude and personal honesty make this book a perfect choice.


She’s smart to have the first chapter be about our companion and service animals as the majority of readers, even those hostile to the idea of animal rights, can empathize with them. She waits until she’s gotten a few sections into the book to address food animals, to which most omnivores seem uncannily attached.

This is a somewhat comprehensive book. The book’s chapter sections are:

Welcome to the World of Animal Rights
Slaves to Love (about companion and service animals)
All the World’s a Cage (about animals in entertainment)
Fashion Victims (about animal parts in clothing and other items)
Deconstructing Dinner (about animals as human food)
Animals Anonymous (about animal testing for medical, cosmetics, household products, etc. purposes)
The Greenies (about ramifications to the earth’s environment re using animals)
Compassion in Action (about animal rights activism; also a section on personal change)
Recommended Resource Groups (which is selective, not comprehensive)
Notes (basically citations in lieu of footnotes)
Acknowledgments
Index (which is a very helpful feature in my opinion)

I like that she acknowledges that doing anything whatsoever for the animals (and humans and the earth) is better than doing nothing, and that nobody is perfect. At one point she refers to herself as veganish, which I found delightful. I’m actually not quite as flexible as she is, but I’m also not 100% vegan. Nobody living in human society really is as far as I can tell. Everybody has to draw their own line as to what they consider constitutes ethical behavior in life and practice that to the best of their ability.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book for those who may be interested in animal protection issues and would like to know more. Karen Dawn brings her unique perspective and even some humore to difficult topics, making the material much more readable.Really great book.

[Christina Stind · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book about animal cruelty and how to end it. Karen Dawn discusses practically all aspects of animal cruelty - eating animals, animal tests, hunting, zoos and circuses, the fur industry and pets. The book is composed of short paragraphs and with pictures of celebrities endorsing animal rights and comics about animal welfare etc so it's a very easy read, probably targeted to young adults.

The book gives a broad introduction to the various aspects of the discussion of the areas in which we interact with animals and the way we treat them. It was eye-opening for me in several areas - like the way animals are treated in circuses and how dolphins are treated in aquariums.
Other areas like animal testing and the fur industry are more well-known, at least to me, but is still interesting and scary reading. But the worst part is the meat industry and the slaughter houses. That's just cruelty on a level that's almost impossible to believe. That animals are cut up alive because the workers have to meet a quota or something so they don't have time to make sure each animal is dead before it's being skinned or cut up is just ... I don't know what word to use for it...

One of the things I really liked is that she is a very down-to-earth animal rights activist. She believes that each little thing helps - so even though you don't want to go all the way and become completely vegan, every pro-animal choice helps animals. It's not an all or nothing deal - you can help animals by choosing some areas to do things in, like getting eggs from free-ranging hens instead of caged birds, avoiding furs and leathers or eating vegetarian/vegan a day a week or something. Each choice helps fewer animals suffer.

The one thing I have against this book is that I think she doesn't get the philosophy of Peter Singer - she accuses him of being a speciesist because he values normal human life above animals. But I don't think she interprets him correct. As I recall Peter Singer's arguments, he bases his distinction between animals and humans on our ability to predict the future - because we are not able to just feel the here-and-now pain but also predict that we will suffer in the future. This means, that if we were put in a painful situation alongside an animal, we don't 'just' suffer the here-and-now pain, but also because we know we will keep on suffering - and that's why it's worse for us than for an animal. But his focus is on pain and he believes that if we wouldn't do something to a baby, we shouldn't do it to animals on the same mental level - and that's a lot of animals that are exempt from suffering then!

It seems that Europe, where I live, are better to enforce animal rights and welfare than the States but we all still have a long way to go - and even though I think it's hard if you choose to go the all veggie way, it's still worth it to educate yourself and be able to make more informed choices.

[d4 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this is a more-than-decent reference book and place to start for people interested in various animal welfare/rights issues. The format isn't the most fluid and the writing isn't the most inspiring although it does have its moments of humor. Issues are broken down into chapters and then smaller sections, much like a textbook, only less dry. I don't see this effectively influencing most omnivores to make major lifestyle changes, but it might sway those already on the path towards being vegetarian or vegan.

The photographs included are largely courtesy of PETA, and this, of course, has its drawbacks. PETA often looks stupid just to get the media's attention. On the negative side, animal rights just becomes more of a joke to some people. On the positive side, animal rights gets coverage it arguably wouldn't otherwise. Which side outweighs the other? I haven't decided, and when I do, I'm sure my own answer won't be definitive. Just the fact that I have to ask myself this will clue you in that I'm leaning towards the negative at this point in my life. Still, the "hip and trendy" celebrities may draw the interest of teens and tweens. (One of the female stars of Twilight posed naked for PETA's anti-fur campaign recently. Is this publicity that might cause some Twilight fans to consider the plight of animals? Maybe, or it will at least give young boys something to masturbate to. But personally, eh, it's not for me. I don't even want the music I like associated with Twilight, much less a serious cause.)

On the other hand, there are a few amusing comics, mostly Bizarro.

The author takes on issues from fur to circuses to eating meat, but her stance is surprisingly more supportive of being vegetarian than vegan. It isn't until the last chapter that this becomes apparent. In a way, she makes a compelling argument. She says at home she eats vegan, but in a restaurant she will order a vegetarian option such as a veggie burger without asking about trace amounts of egg or milk. Her reasoning is that an increase in sales for veggie burgers (and other vegetarian meals) combined with contacting restaurants thanking them and requesting more vegetarian/vegan options will encourage others to eat less meat. She believes that being a strict vegan in social settings sometimes makes not eating meat appear too difficult to friends who might otherwise consider changing their lifestyle.

But doesn't this also add to the confusion about veganism when Karen Dawn is referred to as "wisecracking vegan ambassador"? It might seem like a small point, but it makes a big difference to people transitioning into a vegan lifestyle who are faced with people constantly trying to tempt them to "cheat" a little by eating something with dairy or eggs, as if it were the kind of dieting where it's okay to intentionally slip up now and then. It's also fuel for those antagonistic meat-enthusiasts searching for inconsistency/hypocrisy. It would be nice if these weren't concerns, but as it is, vegans are often put on the defensive and so it remains a concern.

Thanking the Monkey introduces a variety of animal welfare/rights issues and offers some enlightenment, but mostly opens the door for more questions, which isn't a bad thing in the least. These issues deserve more thorough research, which I suppose is why Karen Dawn includes website, book, and movie recommendations along the way. Dubious PETA association aside, the existence of this book is a good thing although (personally) it doesn't earn the same strong recommendation as Jonathan Safran Foer's recently published Eating Animals.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depressing tour of the various awful ways in which we have treated animals, from horse racing industry through circuses to slaughterhouses, fur coats, lab testing of medicines and cosmetics, and on and on.

I withheld the fifth star because the book is essentially unorganized, and it reads more like a website than a book -- lots of sidebars with vegan-celebrity photos and quotations, for instance.

In terms of content, though, it is highly informative. I also found appealing the author's perspective of moderation. She has paid attention to research on the psychology of persuasion and takes the reasonable perspective that every small act of compassion is useful, as opposed to an absolutistic purist approach. So if, like me, you think there is some value in some medical and psychological research on animals, and you plan to continue eating cheese and chicken etc., you can still get some good ideas from this book and not feel put off by the tone or rejected by the author.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe that I can probably safely credit this book for a large portion of my current beliefs. I had been a vegetarian before picking this up off the shelves, but this book convinced me to take that final step to veganism - and it never fails to make me feel bad when I eat dairy or eggs. Admittedly it does present a fairly radical viewpoint, but Dawn does try to be at least a bit more neutral than other organisations. What would be a thoroughly depressing read is made bearable through the author's witty prose and some comics. I think this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to or needs to have their mind opened.

[BookMouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book that gives the details about how animals are used (badly) by the entertainment, food, clothing and chemical/beauty sectors, as well as talks about what part you can play to help millions of animals not suffer needlessly in the name of the almightly dollar. The details aren't sugar-coated, but the author doesn't try to shock you like Peta does. She gives the facts for you to go away and think about and understand why the Animals Rights people feel the way they do. An excellent book.

[Bonnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a flashy book promoting PETA with lots of celebrity photos, sob stories about sad experiences with animals, and numerous animal cartoons. I looked at most of the cartoons, but just skimmed the book, finding it not worth my time. I viewed a link to a PETA video of horrific animal slaughter which was supposedly done in secret. I mistrust PETA and disagree with their tactics, though I agree with their assessment of factory farming. The answer is for people to support their local farmers or raise their own meat, which is what we are trying to do.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting news about the meat, fish, dairy industries along with animal entertainment industry that is just down right heartbreaking... Pick this book up if you've ever bitten into a tumor in your chix nugs and want to know why?, owned a pet, or are brave enough to face the fact that meat is not what our ancestors ate...it is a filthy industry that is polluting our environment far more than farming crops. Give it a shot...it is a very enjoyable book regardless if you are going to BK for dinner afterward (but you prob won't).

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very thorough review of all the ways animals are exploited in our society. It also discusses the different ways vegans have tackled this exploitation, from violent opposition to every use of animals to attempts to work within exploitative systems to reform them.

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is why I thought this book was great: To many people veganism is scary, extreme, and somewhat elitist. Karen Dawn presents a different perspective. A more realistic perspective. Instead of bashing us over the head with her intended purpose from the word go (which is absolutely to convince readers that a vegan lifestyle is not only the morally correct choice but also the healthiest diet option) she begins her book by tackling the broadest topic involved: animal rights. Animal whats? Rights....oh right...they don't have any. At least not the animals who contribute to what you eat, wear, or put on your skin or use in your household. Dawn starts her look at the world of animal cruelty by addressing the questions vegetarians and vegans face on a regular basis from others. Questions like: why do you work so hard for animal rights when there is so much human suffering in the world? Shouldn't that come first? Or: Don't animal rights activists prefer animals to people? She addresses these common questions and tries to put the misconceptions to rest by fully explaining what we mean by the term animal rights and why its so important to be the voice of beings that can't contribute their own voice.

Next she moves to a topic we can all show some interest in: pets. She addresses topics in this chapter such as: what exactly is in your pets food, the practices of animal shelters, keeping wild animals as pets, debunking the myth that fish are unintelligent (really interesting studies she quotes), animals as part of a family unit (and how the government doesn't consider them so, leaving them open to abandonment when disasters like Katrina happen and survivors are forbidden to bring animals to shelters) breeding and the ethical questions that come along with that like tail docking, selective breeding that is detrimental to the breed (think the smashed faces of pugs, adorable, but absolutely detrimental to the species) and puppy mills.

From here she moves into animals in the entertainment industry. From circuses (the elephant stories are heartbreaking and amazing) to zoos to the animals that perform and die making the movies we pay so much (too much man, theaters are so expensive these days. When I was young.....ok I'll stop) to see. This section get me thinking about animal rights and animal cruelty in a way I had never even considered. So wait... the animals that play in the movies sometimes die making it? And if they don't die they can be sold to laboratories or slaughterhouses? What kinda thanks is that for a part well learned?

The rest of the book gets into the things you pretty much expect. The issues with fur, leather, wool, and silk. The absolutely inhumane way we raise and slaughter animals. And the pointless tests we run on animals to proves things like: consuming alcohol and smoking cigarettes while pregnant can damage fetuses.....did you really need to test thousands of animals to prove something we already have lots and lots and lots of concrete human evidence on? These three sections of the book: fashion, diet, and testing presented me with a lot of squirmy information. I remember shirking away from PETA volunteers and their gruesome brochures or looking the other way when those terrible commercials about abused animals would come on the tv. These sections, while reaffirming my choice to go cruelty free, brought back those familiar queasy emotions I always tried so hard to avoid. It was a tough read. But some of it was completely new information for me. Completely heartbreaking but necessary for me to ingest, process, and hopefully one day share with others who are curious about how we treat animals.

This book is gruesome. Really gruesome. She spares no details. But she also acknowledges the fact that we don't want to sit through a book that makes us feel terrible the entire time. She tries to lighten the mood (while still being absolutely serious mind you) by using ironic titles for sections like: Confining Nemo, Going Clubbing, Finger Lickin Bad For You, The Right to Arm Bears? and All the Worlds a Cage. She also includes loads of cartoons pulled from newspapers, quotes and photos from vegan and vegetarian celebrities, and artwork on pretty much every page. Another thing that hooked me with this book is that she pulls her information from real, recognizable stories. This isn't a book full of finger wagging and "lets just do the right thing because its what I believe is the right thing" kinda talk. Every topic she puts forward in the book is supported by studies, news reports, newspaper articles or interviews. She cites newspapers like the New York Times, Reader's Digest, the Los Angeles Times, and surprisingly several publications geared towards farmers and hunters. In her last chapter she also explains how having a real relationship with our media can have a surprising impact. Letters to the editor, calls to radio stations, and praise for stories well reported and represented can mean future stories and follow-up stories that might otherwise be canceled due to networks fear that the information is too sensitive or gruesome for the American public.

At the end of the book you will leave with your head swimming full of information. Both heartening and disheartening. You will be itching to tell people things you learned, like: Did you know that bees have the second most complex language of any species (ours is most complex of course). Or: Did you know that male chicks born on hatching farms are considered practically worthless and most of them are ground into pet food?

For those of you who are already vegetarians or vegans, go ahead and pat yourself on the back or give yourself a gold star and just feel warm and fuzzy after reading this, knowing that although millions of animals are out there suffer, YOU aren't contributing and hopefully you are even working against it. You'll come away from this book with a bit more knowledge and a few more facts to share with curious non-veg friends and family, while simultaneously reaffirming your life choice.

For those of you who are still eating the carnivorous Western diet most of us were raised on: After you've spent a good half an hour rocking yourself back and forth, tightly rolled into a ball, in the corner of your house that gets you furthest away from the bacon staring you down from the fridge, while clutching your fuzzy little cat or your yappy little dog to your chest, promising that HE wont ever be abandoned or abused or sold to a lab for testing or fed ground up baby male chicks....well, once you've recovered from that. Let me welcome you to the club. If you really read this book all the way through you should be fully on your way towards an animal friendly lifestyle. You wont regret your choice.

Dawn chooses to close out the book by letting her readers in on a little secret. She's a vegan - but she sometimes bends the rules when she feels its acceptable. She gives the example of going out to dinner with non-vegan friends and ordering the veggie burger, even if it may contain traces of eggs or dairy, to show her friends that making kinder choices isn't as impossible as it seems, and to show the restaurant that there are in fact customers who will choose the veggie burger over the beef burger. She reminds her readers that lifestyle is a personal choice. If what you feel you can contribute is not wearing leather, not visiting zoos and cutting out eggs from your diet, well great. You ARE making a difference. If you want to cut all animal products from your life and adopt a dog. Awesome! The point is: being animal friendly doesn't need to be scary or extreme or elitist. Anyone can do it and we are all free to choose at what level we commit ourselves to the cause.

In closing: I heartily recommend this book.

[N Dorville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering that it is written by neither a scientist nor a philosopher, and in the early 2000s, this is an excellent book.
I would have given it 5* if I read it then.

It is a subtle expose into the greed of the US and a cautionary tale of modern, western and especially American society: overestimated, overeating, overdosing, overindulgence, which is killing a lot of wonderful creatures

This book has a lot of extensive coverage of stories, philosophy and facts, peppered with cute comics and celeb opinions. Great for someone interested in getting involved or understanding more about the plight of animals.

However, though her writing and layout is incredibly level-headed, fair and not lacking in fear mongering, I fear that the structure of the chapters may only capture the hearts and minds of those, a "preaching into the choir". Her last chapter should have been earlier. The book would have benefitted in not only highlighting the intrinsic value of animals, but also their part in the wider ecosystem, and the services that many provide.

Also, it is very American/Western, although I will encourage everyone elsewhere to read it and take away the important lessons. Depending on who you are and what your science background is, you may either find it interesting or idiotic (and very mainstream American imo) that there are so many celeb blurbs, and that news pieces and scientific and philslosophical thinkpieces are reduced to footnotes. Reliable footnotes, but still footnotes.

These footnotes are plentiful and generous too, and I appreciate them. Many of them are still functional today, although I only looked through about 10 of the 200+ of the online references.

[Gabriel Loyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believed this to be incredibly excellent to the beginning of animals rights which is connected to planetary rights. Miss Dawn is subtly persuasive and holds true and fast to her beliefs while making sure her beliefs do not force themselves. She honestly believes in what she writes, not because she was told to, but because she chooses to through experience and fact-checking.
The horrors that humans perpetrate knowingly or unknowingly are worth of re-examination. I've been a vegan for a year now and have just now ventured into animal activism. However, I am a firm believer in animal rights and ahe presents their case with humor and with and her pathos is deeply cutting and self-examining.
This book is a great introductory on the causes that need our help and offering an incredible debate towards the end of the difference between militancy and non-violence. This is a great resource for non-vegans as well.
I would highly recommend it to any who wish to know the blight of animals that we have imposed on them.

[Amy Dobrzynski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was already 25 yrs old by the time I got to reading it so it would of been interesting to see how laws and rights for animals have changed since then.
Otherwise, a good read, though I think more stories of cruelty would have hit home a little more.
The author does a very good job of citing her findings with names and dates of events that took place to fight for animal activism from every angle.

[rylie ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

compassionate wisdom

karen dawn delivers hard truths with a smile and it hurts but you just have to keep reading… a little slower after the chapter on meat, but i got through it. i recommend this book to anyone who loves animals even a little. if you’ve ever been interested in vegetarianism or boycotting sea world, read this!!

[Hayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-researched compilation of animal-welfare issues. I do disagree with the author on some of her personal opinions that she writes about, but as an informational book "Thanking the Monkey" is great.

[Harris Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

dynamic and charming greatest hits of animal rights.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a vegan for 10 years +, not for my health, for the animals that suffer.

[Catherine Kelaher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers the essential facts about many issues in animal rights, but manages to add wit and a fresh perspective to the mix. The book has vibrant colour pictures and uses cartoons and celebrity quotes to help illustrate the issues.
As well as learning a lot of new information, I found this book very entertaining. It was also my husband’s toilet read (men love to read on the toilet). That’s the thing about this book; you can read it a bit like you would a magazine. It will make you laugh and make you angry, but it will definitely get you revved up and ready to take action. It would be perfect for a teenager and anyone who keeps up with current trends.
The use of celebrity culture makes it seem especially relevant to today’s generation. The tone is light and it would be good to give as a gift, as there is no sign of a lecturing tone that many people shy away from.

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, sincerely loved this book. It provides all sorts of basic information, laid out in a clear way, on anything that anyone might possibly want to know about the concept of animal rights. The author includes sections on animals used for clothing (including wool, silk and down), laboratory testing (very often unnecessary or inexplicably cruel), the animals we consume (and animal products, such as milk and eggs), animals in entertainment (movies, circuses, and theme parks), and a wealth of other information. Nine times out of ten, the author delivers the information without a judgmental or condescending tone- I really do believe she is out to inform. I plan on purchasing this book and recommending that friends and relatives take a glance at my copy when they have questions, concerns, or uninformed ideas regarding animals. While I knew about a lot of the things in this book (most of the chapter on eating animals, and the stuff about circus elephants), I did learn a lot of new stuff. For instance, I learned that the laws in place to help protect animals used for food from unnecessary cruelty does not apply to birds- and chicken accounts for a huge amount of meat we consume. Additionally, the Animal Welfare Act, designed to add some protections to animals used in testing (vivesection) does not apply to mice and rats. And when you think of testing on animals, what do you think of? Those animals, because they are so frequently used. The author also fills us in on some differences and similarities between different types of animal rights activists, and between animal rights activists and conservationists. I was saddened to learn that organizations which I have supported for quite some time are totally ok with hunting for sport- including the Sierra Club and the World Wildlife Federation.
I'm very glad I came across this book at my local library, and am looking forward to adding it to my bookshelf.

[Adrienne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been vegetarian for the past 8 years (although I did eat fish occasionally until the past year) and have been cooking and baking vegan for a year. As someone who cares about becoming more educated in my own beliefs, I was very excited to read this book as it had high praise. However, as someone who loves art and literature I was disappointed by both the visual aesthetics and Karen Dawn's writing. 

It is one of the most poorly designed books I've seen and is simply unattractive. While there are many good facts in this book it reads as a disjointed text book for kids with way too many cartoons, photos, and text blurbs (there is at least one image on practically every page). It is as if no one took the time to edit but rather crammed every single thing they ever saw relating to animal mistreatment in this book. All the images distract rather than illustrate the text. The author seems more interested in silly titles for the many different sections of this book (i.e. Power to the Poopers and Living with Electile Dysfunction) and celebrity endorsements.

I don't think this book would appeal to people not already interested in animal rights and vegetarianism/veganism. I would however recommend this book to younger readers who want to know more about how humans treat animals. 5 stars for her dedication to animal rights and needing to write this book, but 2 stars for the finished product.

[Lauri · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book that covers all of the injustices that animals endure in our society, then look no further. This book paints a cursory picture of all of them and goes into great detail on some. The author brings up some very interesting perspectives for all of us, animal rights activists included, to reflect upon. Far from a judgmental, condescending, militant book, this one actually invites people to simply learn about the issues and make whatever choices they can to improve the treatment of animals. To refute what an earlier reviewer (who admittedly only skimmed the book) claimed (that this is a PETA aligned book), in actuality, Dawn pulls from a multitude of varied sources to inform her book. Almost all statements seem to be meticulously cited with a resource list at the back - for you skeptics who want to challenge any statements or for the rest of you who may want to delve deeper into the issues. I consider myself to be particularly well informed on animal welfare concerns and still got a lot from this book.

[Alden Mackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. This was a "you bought x, here's what other people who bought x bought" recommendation on half.com. When I first opened it up I was a bit thrown off by the format, fearing I had picked up a book written in the same format as those obscure pages in the middle of highschool yearbooks put in by the companies to cover the pop-culture of the year. It just looked a bit juvenile. However, after reading just the first few pages I knew I was getting into a serious, educated discussion about animals, the animal rights movement, and humanity in general. Karen Dawn treads where other authors I've read before do not, she covers all forms of animal use and also presents ways to improve the situation.

I don't know if I would recommend this book to someone vehemently opposed to animal rights as there are other books that are setup in a more receptive fashion like Farm Sanctuary, but for anyone that is already open minded and wants to improve the world in their own little way this is an excellent resource.

[Cherisa B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. A thoughtful, comprehensive and brutal tour of the ways humans mistreat, torment, torture, dominate, and kill animals. A real eye opener everyone should read. Small changes and choices each of us makes everyday can make a big difference in our moral turpitude and guilt in animal mistreatment. The author isn’t propagandizing but her story and rhetoric will sway you into believing what we are doing should be better. I know I’ll be making changes.

Dawn intersperses the text with with sidebars of quotes and clips, artwork and cartoons that add humor and interest and show how mainstream the topic can be. It helps being able to shift your eyes from some of the brutality. She does a really good job at presentation, giving suggestions on how to proceed and look into the topic further. Very well done.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good primer on humane issues that keeps the reader engaged with humorous asides, in contrast to the detached and gloomy writing that often characterizes these sorts of books.

It's a good book to recommend to omnivores and those uninformed about humane issues as well, because Dawn is willing to meet readers "halfway there" if they still haven't made up their minds about the tougher animal issue controversies. One concern I had was with the double-entendre title, which might make it a turn-off for older or more conservative readers.

If you're a seasoned animal advocate, there's not a ton of new information here. Better instead to look to a book on how best to hone your activism.

[dianne b. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well done. Karen Dawn takes a potentially divisive topic and presents it in a way that can speak to everyone. Of course there are parts, as we learn about how animals are treated in the USA, that should cause nausea in any loving being - but there is also humor and grace. Much to learn for anyone passionate about anything - towards the end she suggests how to accomplish change. Among the ideas:

“...we must be willing to to take a stand and speak it in a way that others will hear. The problem is not that we don’t have enough love; the problem is that we are whispering our love. Or we are yelling it in such a tone that it does not sound like love at all.”

She definitely hit that mark.

[Maria McMahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thought provoking book - well titled, once you get into it and realise the terrible things that humans do to our fellow creatures. It is at times heartbreaking but the author doesn't try to guilt trip you into her way of thinking - she just lays out facts (look at the bibliography to see where she gets her facts from!) and as commited vegetarian (and now vegan!) of 18 years, I know that what she is saying is the sad and horrible truth. This book should be compulsory reading for everyone, so that decisions on what we can and can't do to animals are made by people who are informed and NOT driven by greed & money. Highly recommend this book, it's an eye opener for anyone who has never really given the role of animals in our world any real thought.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the comics and light-hearted tone she uses. I already was familiar with most of these issues but I like that she encourages involvement and really getting your voice out there, especially through the media, and telling people that THIS is how things will eventually change. I don't agree with her standpoints on everything though, namely the way she somewhat skews wildlife conservation and the way that we must deal with wildlife while still maintaining animal welfare goals. She somewhat simplifies things, and it is very obvious she doesn't know much about modern wildlife biology. But I like the book overall.

[Kitty Galore]

If I weren't already a vegetarian who knows all too well the cruelty and abuse permeating the factory farm culture, it would have been a real eye-opener. This is not to say I didn't learn a few things, but several sections I needed to skip over because it is all so very mentally painful for me. I suppose what the book did provide was a greater determination to stay the course. Whenever I see meat on someone else's plate, all I can think about is the pain and suffering that animal needlessly and horrifically endured for the person eating it.

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of detailed information for anyone open to actually learning about all different kinds of issues and industries affecting animal welfare. I didn't give it 5 stars because I have different views and opinions about the sheltering and care of companion animals than the author does. If you agree with PETA on their views, then you would agree with the author. I am vegan but I don't agree on everything with them.