Voices for Animal Liberation: Inspirational Accounts by Animal Rights Activists

by Brittany Michelson, Ingrid Newkirk (Foreword)

Immerse yourself in the world of animal rights protests, campaigns, demonstrations, outreach, rescue, and so much more.
 
In today’s world, voices of the marginalized are in the spotlight and people across the globe are recognizing animal rights as a social justice movement. During a time of historic actions and victorious campaigns, Voices for Animal Liberation depicts the full spectrum of animal rights activism that is currently at work to create change.
 
This book offers the words of both new and highly influential voices in the movement today, with the intention of inspiring and educating those who are sparked by the vision of a more ethical world. Including a foreword by Ingrid Newkirk, founder and president of PETA and arguably one of the most prolific figures in the animal rights movement, other contributors include:  
Jasmine Afshar, army veteran
Chase Avior, actor and filmmaker
Gene Baur, founder of Farm Sanctuary
Dotsie Bausch, Olympic medalist and founder of Switch4Good
Alex Bez, founder and director of Amazing Vegan Outreach
Matthew Braun, former investigator of farms and slaughterhouses
Saengduean Lek Chailert, founder of Save Elephant Foundation
Amy Jean Davis, founder of Los Angeles Animal Save
Karen Davis, founder of United Poultry Concerns
Sean Hill, award-winning multidisciplinary artist and humanitarian
Wayne Hsiung, cofounder of Direct Action Everywhere (DxE)
Gwenna Hunter, event coordinator for Vegan Outreach and founder of Vegans of LA
Anita Krajnc, founder of the Save Movement
Cory Mac a’Ghobhainn, organizer with Progress for Science
Jo-Anne McArthur, photographer and founder of We Animals Media
Zafir Molina, truth seeker and movement artist
Shaun Monson, documentary filmmaker
Alexandra Paul, actress and cohost of Switch4Good

Brittany Peet, Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement for PETA
Jill Robinson, founder and CEO of Animals Asia
Zoe Rosenberg, founder of Happy Hen Animal Sanctuary
Dani Rukin, citizen journalist for JaneUnchained News

Jasmin Singer, cofounder of Our Hen House and Senior Features Editor for VegNews

Kathy Stevens, founder of Catskill Animal Sanctuary
Natasha & Luca, “That Vegan Couple,” social media influencers
Will Tuttle, visionary author and speaker
Gillian Meghan Walters, creator of MummyMOO project 
Connect with activists from different backgrounds as they reveal their perspectives on animal rights, their experiences taking action for animals, the challenges they've faced, and the meaning of activism in their lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Vegan, Animals, Nature, Environment, Activism

288 pages, Paperback

Published March 3, 2020

Reviews

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very interested in anything to do with Animal Liberation. As a biology student I am "forced" to think about animal rights a lot. (I use forced here, but I don't mean it negatively. It's just a topic that keeps coming back, which makes sense.) Ofcourse I think animals have rights, but I am always drawn away from the extremes you can encounter while researching these topics.

This book has a lot of stories about people who have something to do with animal rights. Doctors, photographers, activists. They're interesting stories that focus on the people. I'd love to have read more about the animals.
I learned some new things too, about the harvesting of bear bile for traditional medicine for example. What the smuck?

So - a great book, with intense stories. I loved reading about the animal activists, but I still wouldn't call myself one. I eat 95% vegan, protect animals as a Sea Shepherd volunteer, but I still don't want the extreme animal activist sticker on me like some of the people in this book. But it's all good - to each their own. If you want to read stories about people who do a lot for animals, pick up this book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in trade for an honest review.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this book!! Such inspiring stories that are bound to motivate you to speak up for others & to show gratitude for those who are involved in social justice movements, especially the animal rights movement.

[Miya (severe pain struggles, slower at the moment) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and inspiring. Any animal lover would have all the feels in this one. Loved it!

[Ankur Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you often feel hopeless and completely dismayed about the wanton violence and destruction that humanity's actions and habits cause towards nonhuman beings, the personal accounts in this book might just be for you. Hearing from established, prominent voices in the movement, as well as those who may not be very well known outside of their respective communities, you may find yourself inspired and hopeful again thanks to the tremendous work and dedication being poured in to make this a more fair world for our fellow Earthlings.

[kulisap · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5🌟

a good (harrowing, moving, inspiring, distressing) read for anyone interested in animal rights but couldn't yet get into critical animal studies... an absolute eye-opener.

it's a decent anthology compiling works from people of various backgrounds, working on different areas using different approaches, sharing a myriad of perspectives all under the same goal of seeing a world where we don't inflict pain on another living thing for trivial pleasures.

i have a lot of thoughts so better rtc!! for now, i just wanna mention how i didn't know activists held vigils outside slaughterhouses, waiting for the arrivals of would-be corpses that day, giving them water and a kind touch before they face their horrifying inevitable.

it's so mentally hard to read these accounts, but that makes it even more necessary. learning about the reality of animals in industrial farms and other oppresive environments helps us put context behind what we grew up thinking was normal and ~natural, and ultimately allows us to make a more informed decision.

highly recommended! the pieces are written in a very accessible way. please give this a try!

[Notael Elrein · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so wonderful that so many different vegans were able to gather, and to voice out their contributions for the movement. It is encouraging that this book was possible. There are a lot of people in here whom I already knew as I spent much of the last year following fellow animal rights activists on social media. There are a lot of ideas here on how to do activism as each of these activists have unique methods. It is a good book to check which parts of vegan activism resonate with you, and how you can contribute. There are some authors in the book which I will further check out.

Good job everyone for spreading compassion, joy, and love. I love how many solutions, and advancements there are.

[Lina Joana · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a lot of personal life stories, about hard life, childhood, personal strugles, etc. and how it all led to activism. I was expecting only stories about animals, liberation, protests, victories, but not to feel like a psichologist for some activists. In general it was interesting, but for me a bit too much of personal info.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF ESSAYS SUPPORTING NONHUMAN ANIMALS

PETA President Ingrid Newkirk wrote in the Foreword to this 2020 book, “If you are wondering whether to read this book, it must mean you are curious about animal liberation. You aren’t exactly sure what it means, perhaps, or you are moved by the plight of animals and wish to explore further. I’m certain you will find a lot in here… such as the reasons why those of us who advocate for animals’ rights see the link to other movements as absolute and undeniable. For anyone who is already an activist … you are sure to find inspiration, thoughts that might not have occurred to you before… Brittany Michelson has collected a splendid set of narratives from people who, for myriad reasons, found themselves, often unexpectedly embracing the idea of animal liberation. It dawned on each of them... that the concept of injustice couldn’t rightly, logically, or reasonably be limited to the human animal.” (Pg. xi)

Author/Editor Brittany Michelson wrote in the Introduction, “This collection spotlights diverse voices in the animal rights movement with the intention of inspiring those who are sparked by the vision of a more ethical world… In the following pages, activists from different backgrounds reveal their perspectives on animal rights, their experiences taking action for animals, the challenges they’ve faced, and the meaning of activism in their lives.”

Filmmaker Shaun Monson wrote, “We have to abandon this idea of separateness. By imagining ourselves as different and separate from other beings, we create a gap… we simply have to abandon the egocentric need for distinction. Equally true is how we see nature. Rapidly growing climate change reveals that we have somehow imagined ‘nature’ as a distinct and separate state, even though it’s all around us and all-encompassing… Nature is not an entity of separate selves---all of these are what we consider ‘nature.’” (Pg. 22)

Author Will Tuttle suggests, “at a certain point, most vegans yearn to discover the magic button that we can push that will light up the consciousness of our non-vegan friends, family members, and others, and transform them into vegans… We long to find the phrase, image, meme, gesture, or vocal intonation that is able to reliably pierce the armor of indoctrination and soften the hearts and open the eyes of the people with whom we share our world… [But] to transform the world we must transform ourselves.” (Pg. 32) Later, he adds, “What is this inner work? Essentially, it is the practice of cultivating mindfulness and inner listening… When we discover the deeper truth that we are all manifestations of eternal consciousness, the blinding spell of materialism and herderism begins to dissolve…. The roots of speciesism, racism… and other delusions are recognized as the programming of herderism’s materialist delusion. As vegans, these delusions may still inhabit our consciousness…” (Pg. 37)

Gwenna Hunter (founder of Vegans of LA) observes, “In the black vegan community, rarely was there conversation about animals’ ability to love, communicate, and feel. The commentary I heard was mostly along the lines of ‘Don’t eat animals because of what they are fed’ and ‘Don’t eat animals because it’s not good for us.’ Conversations centered on taking better care of ourselves, breaking family cycles, creating new eating habits, encouraging exercising and being active, eating raw foods, and loving yourself. I didn’t hear this kind of discussion as much in the white vegan community. I am fortunate to gain value from both sides. What is unfortunate is that the white vegan and black vegan communities are often separated. Imagine if we came together to make change’ it would be a day of reckoning for the meat and dairy industries.” (Pg. 47)

Brittany Michelson acknowledges, “During my years of vegetarianism, there were periods where I was pescatarian, as I thought I needed the protein… Also, I didn’t think eating fish was the same as eating animals like cows and pigs. It seemed like they didn’t have as much capacity for pain and emotion as mammals do. My assumption was rooted in speciesism, and I had no idea. Speciesism involves the lack of consideration to certain animals based on species classification. Its premise underlies the notion that fish don’t suffer as much as cows, or that animals classified as ‘pets’ are worthy of love and protection while animals who are designated ‘food’ are for human consumption.” (Pg. 53)

Jasmine Afshar states that “I’m tired of it all… Tired of gory slaughterhouse footage that exists because we don’t have the will to stop the unnecessary violence when it is within our ability… I’m tired of human privilege, privilege that is causing an irreversible mass extinction… I’m tired of seeing fear-stricken faces, exhaustion, and mutilations scarring the bodies of the most innocent of those who grace this planet… I’m tired of the notion that it is only those who are evil who are culpable for our horrifying history of destruction. No longer do we have the option to point the finger anywhere else but at our own mirrors.” (Pg. 98-99)

Zafir Molina says, “Contrary to what some might think, becoming an animal rights activist deepened my empathy toward humans. I realized that we have all been misled and that some of us don’t even have the basic necessities for survival. I also realized the importance of fixing all injustices from the core… All forms of discrimination that lead to injustice have been learned. If people don’t know there’s another way, how can they do better?... I felt empowered when I learned … that everything we need to be happy and healthy is provided by Mother Earth and if we unite, we can inspire the understanding that all beings have the right to safety and health. That Earth is home to all of us, human and nonhuman animals… I have no other option than to take action, as everywhere I look I see violence, injustice, and an absence of humanity.” (Pg. 117-118)

Cory Mac a’Ghobhainn points out, “It is worth considering that animal abuse---despite laws we put in place banning animals in circuses, animal-based cosmetics testing, and selling from puppy mills---will always find a way to read its ugly head as long as it is profitable. Not only are the animals suffering, but the elevation of profit is causing our planet’s ecosystem to buckle under the abuse we throw at it, and human populations---starting with the poorest and most vulnerable---are increasingly under threat. Big money is a powerful all-encompassing overlord.” (Pg. 145)

Brittany Peet of PETA argues, “‘caretakers’ of abused and neglected animals… insist that the animals can’t be introduced to others, claiming that previous attempts have failed. In my experience, such claims have been wrong 100 percent of the time… reputable sanctuaries take great care in easing traumatized animals into their new situations. Animals aren’t just placed into a new environment with high hopes and fingers crossed---introductions are done with tremendous planning, patience, and expertise.” (Pg. 160)

Gene Baur, founder of Farm Sanctuary, notes, “While sanctuaries transform the lives of individual animals and influence how people view so-called food animals, ultimately, we need to transform our entire food system. Sanctuaries provide tangible relief for a small number of survivors, yet also struggle with the ongoing ethical impossibility of only being able to help a tiny fraction of those who deserve protection. The only feasible long-term solution is to replace animal agriculture with plant-based agriculture.” (Pg. 212)

Brittany Michelson concludes, “This collection encompasses many experiences and perspectives, yet it only scratches the surface of the spectrum of stories within the animal rights movement… My hope is that the words within these pages will open hearts and minds toward a world that does not view animals as products or commodities, but a world that views them as individuals who are worthy of respect and justice.” (Pg. 236)

This diverse collection goes far beyond the usual rhetoric of animal advocates, and touches upon a variety of perspectives. It will be of keen interest to vegetarians, vegans, and animal advocates and activists.

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those of us that are life long animal advocates and raise our voice for change this is a wonderful guidebook I can recommend for all. The author has examples of different ways to advocate and protest. All aspects of saving animals and changing the world with advocacy for animals is here. The key parties in advocacy are included here with their successful advocacy. You will find a anthology from 27 activists who give their own front line real life stories . I recommend everyone read this amazing and insightful book. Very well done to the author. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. I highly recommend this book for all interested in animal welfare and taking their advocacy to the next level. Very inspiring ~

[MeadeReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book. Then maybe they’d go vegan and get active so we can end animal abuse.

[Nicolas Name · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compilation of about 20 different animal rights activists personal stories of how they got involved, their particular form of activism, and their thoughts on animal rights in general. About 1/2 to 3/4’s of the activist in this book have founded an animal rights organization themselves that they’re the head of.

I am curious about attending a Save event, following reading this book, as well as attending an animal sanctuary. I haven’t attended either in the past.

There were interesting stories in the book that were pretty powerful. The bear bile farm was especially cruel and harrowing experience, and I personally found Catskill sanctuaries method of introducing people on tours of the sanctuary to the individuality of the pigs, and following that, showing a slightly larger pig gestation crate, and then getting inside it, which pigs have to be inside for many months where they can’t move. It’s incredibly, incredibly cruel, but it’s a form of cruelty that most people can’t imagine, because they don’t place themselves in the place of animals to see how they would feel. I thought that was a great example to have, and a powerful one.

The book also brought up the case with regards of open rescue of sick and injured animals inside farms, where animal rights activists break in and save them. I have many conflicting thoughts on that form of activism, personally. It’s a tricky subject for sure, but the one thing I’m not torn on is how big of a heart many of the activists who engage in that have. It’s willing to get felonies in order to save the lives of sick animals. But it’s a tricky subject, which I’m sure many animal rights activists agree with as well.

I’m proud of all the animal rights activists in the book, and I’m grateful for their contributions to animal protection and for taking the time to write the essay they wrote for the book.

[Nexus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a vegan, vegetarian or activist. I am not required to be any of these in order to be riveted to this page-turning epic rife with facts, philosophies, and tangible stories that challenge your conscience and ebb at your perceptions. Spolier Alert - not for the faint-hearted! Prepare to be challenged and engrossed!

Each account is eloquently written, analogous to some facet of your own life and experiences that enable you to feel the passion and importance of salvation.

For every reader, every demographic, there is an author in this anthology to help you relate your life and its obstacles to the lives and injustices of non-human beings. Especially captivating are the several accounts, through the eyes of the author, from varying persecuted human collectives in our modern American narrative. Thought-provoking and contemptuous, unconsidered thoughts arise for even seasoned activists. How do you address specific audiences with prejudices to instigate awareness and elicit change?

Had it not been for the contrivance of Brittany Michelson, I would never have heard the voices of these contributors. All of these participants have other works and alternate specialty interests that I have been seduced to research. 'Voices For Animal Liberation' serves a multitude of purposes. Find one for yourself within these pages.

I devoured this book for 3 days instead of animal products, purely out of a respectful alignment with its contents. I hope that you will do the same!

[Natalie Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brittany Michelson's brilliant compilation of incredible voices inspired and educated me. Each voice was so unique and yet they all spoke for up for animals in intimate, touching and important ways.

Each author has faced their own personal story and individual journey to the truth: that animals are not ours to eat, wear or otherwise use for our personal pleasure or monetary gain. Animals have lives, thoughts, emotions and rights that deserve to be recognized and fought for.

The voices in this book are sometimes assertive, sometimes gentle, but always heartbreakingly honest. Each time I picked this book up I could skip to a different chapter, a different voice, and received a completely different, important, and motivational experience.

This book made me laugh, cry, feel the suffering, and yet celebrate with these incredible and inspiring Activists as they each so beautifully shared their vision and participation in fighting for Animal Liberation.

Brittany gathered a remarkable group of diverse Activists and sensitive beings to illustrate and communicate this important message from all different viewpoints. Her dedication to the Animals, and to her fellow Activists, is obvious and should be loudly applauded and recognized.

This book should be on everyone's "must-read" list. Well done!

[Peter Lecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very interesting collection from a wide range of authors. It shows that animal rights activists come from all walks of life and that there is so many different activism styles. From foodies, to running sanctuaries (making animals happy), to doing front line disruptions, to social outreach (talking to people). I also learned two concepts that I never considered before. Speciesism - an oppression based on species. Just like we used to treat people of color as "lesser than" or women being less than men. We continue to hold our own species (plus some randomly chosen ones) above all others. Cognitive dissonance - not aligning my actions with my beliefs. I love my mom but I never call her. I respect children but want my t-shirts to cost $1 which is only possible if children make it in overseas sweat shops. It becomes quickly apparent that I can't "love" animals and pay someone to kill them for my dinner. If I truly respect children, not only can I not buy products they are forced to make, but I must speak up against this practice, no? All of a sudden, this "activism" thing is not something extreme.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

AVID READER

I just completed a two week foray into Voices for Animal Liberation by Brittany Michelson and 27 contributors whose voices ring loud and clear, deep and resonant, through my heart and mind. I wanted to savor each “voice” What I discovered is a treasure trove of brilliant, ethically passionate writings, based on established core values and goals, yet extraordinarily unique in the ways they came to participate and live the life of animal activists while coming from very diverse backgrounds and experiences. And, ultimately, meeting at the core call of Justice for All (Beings). I will be forever changed by reading these informative and eerie personal writings from the heart. I am a dedicated reader of all genres, and this anthology of activists voices becomes the single most important book I have read to date. Congratulations to Brittany and her fellow activists for bringing this compassionate awareness to a large audience. May we readers bring these writings to our hearts, our friends and our dinner tables, as we voyeur into a world of empathy , compassion and action, through non-violent yet powerful communication.

[Connie Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt, animal liberation is the wave of the present and of the future. For those interested in animal liberation, this book will inspire people that have never taken action to take action. Current activists will be inspired to up their game. The contributors of this book are not superheroes; they are every day people that saw injustice and decided to do something about it.
More to the point, though, this book is crucial reading for folks unfamiliar with animal rights. Because more and more, justice for animals is seeping into the mainstream, and reading this book is a great opportunity to get familiar now with a movement that is about to explode. Allow yourself to be a step ahead and learn what is coming. The great thing about having so many voices represented in this book is that there are contributors from many perspectives, many walks of life. No matter where a reader is in terms of their understanding or interest in liberation-for-all, they will find someone's story that they will connect with, and this can be a good way in to gaining a meaningful understanding of the importance of this movement, and a sample of the individuals behind it.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly encourage anyone and everyone to read these essays! For vegans/people already active in the animal rights space, the essays are valuable perspectives on more fully embracing animal activism and incorporating love and understanding towards those who are not yet on board. For those who are not as familiar animal rights issues, this book is a great primer on the myriad problems with our current food system and the treatment of nonhuman animals more broadly.

I saw another review that criticizes this anthology based on the first two essays alone, which I think is a mistake. Yes, some of the essays come off as a bit self-congratulatory, but 1) there is value in successful activists outlining how they got to where they are and what their accomplishments have been and 2) there are A LOT of essays and perspectives in this book, many of which do not adopt that tone and focus less on their own journey. If one essay doesn't resonate with you, I suggest simply setting the book down for a day and then coming back with an open mind for the next piece of writing. There is too much good information in this book to put the whole thing down based on one essay you didn't like!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very well done!
A lot of people hold a stigma about animal rights activists. Many people stereotype AR activists as "extreme" but I love how this book allows them to be shown as they really are - as just normal people, like anyone else, whose eyes have been opened by personal experiences. People whose experiences have filled them with the great need to fight terrible injustice.
It tells the true, behind the scene stories- the things that society tends to hide!
I'm grateful that these people are able to share their experiences with the world & shed new light to both the incredible plight of these exploited animals and the struggles that activists face to help them. This book is informative and insightful; so inspiring & moving! I highly recommend it!

[Michael Fujimori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and thought provoking ! Inspiring tales of ordinary people doing extraordinary things for animals. And the many ways that these people have made a difference in the lives of individuals that happen to have been born non human. You will go through an emotional roller coaster as you read how each of the many contributors to this remarkable anthology came to realize that animals are just like humans. And you will be moved to tears at times. Author Brittany Michelson does a great job of bringing together many diverse voices who all have their own unique story to tell. 5/5 ! Absolutely recommend !

[Brittany Wilkerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been interested and intrigued by the vegan lifestyle for years. My mother became a vegan seven years ago and I have watched her health transform in a positive direction. This collection of essays from 27 different animal rights activists is inspiring, impactful, and educational. It gave me a deeper understanding of how our world turns a blind eye to the abuse of animals, but most of all, it helped me get to know the people behind the movement. Reading their personal stories helped this issue feel closer to home for me. It's truly inspiring to see people from many different walks of life fighting for a more ethical world.

[Gilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique life journeys all arriving at the same intersection:
I loved reading about all of the different journeys these humans have been on and how they all at some point in their lives found themselves at a crossroads; a profound awareness about the sentience of other species and a deep understanding of how they are treated. Each author decides at some point that they must take action, each action as unique as their personal journeys. It proves that activism is not a one size fits all, but a unique passionate act as personal as their stories. Gratitude for the author and contributors, this is a must-have book!

[Brendan Keyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

...And Justice For All

I was honored to be one of the first to obtain a hard copy of Voices For Animal Liberation. Brittany and her fellow contributors deliver a compassionate and compelling way with words. Each contributor's spotlight allows the reader for an introspective reflection of one's natural sense of justice and emotional connection we have with one another and the other beings we share this world with. I highly recommend this book for both non-vegans and vegans alike. Be prepared that your beliefs will be challenged!

[September Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Voices for Animal Liberation is a beautifully written anthology on animal rights. I honestly couldn’t put the book down. I wanted to know more. The way we treat animals is horrendous. There is so much we just don’t know that goes on behind the doors of these so called farms and factories. I’m appalled and in such gratitude that so many activists have become freedom fighters for these sentient non human animals and give us a real picture as to what is happening. Looking forward to sharing this book with my friends and family. It’s a must read!

[David Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informative read. An anthology from 27 activists who thru their experiences bring you real life stories of the plight of animals from around the world. I recommend everyone read this amazing and insightful book.
One reviewer mentioned the book was more focused on the activist than the animals. But how could they write about their experiences advocating against animal exploitation without writing about their experiences and background in the animal rights movement? That’s why the subtitle is “Inspirational accounts by animal rights activists.”

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing take on accounts, personal histories, and experiences from the frontlines of the fight for animal rights and animal liberation. I love the fact that this book offers such a wide variety of views. The accounts are organized well by topic or area of activism. The photographs (by JoAnne MacArthur) are great, and the commentary is extremely interesting. Overall, a comprehensive examination of the individuals within the animal rights movement in the present day. A must read for anyone interested in the movement!

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing anthology! I think my favorite aspect is the diversity of backgrounds and experiences the contributors brought to this collection. As a long time vegan, there was plenty of food for thought and ideas and aspects of animal rights I had not previously considered. Brittany Michelson has done a fantastic job of putting together an important and meaningful addition to the world of animal rights literature. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in veganism, ethics, activism, and organizing.

[Lauren Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology puts forth a perfect balance of rationality and emotion -- that is, compelling essays from people with great compassion and fine strategies to match. I found it useful for discussing activism in a group meet and for inspiring, refreshing, and vindicating my work, as if it is a portable little workshop ... and letters of support from friends. That I have met many of the writers involved is icing on the cake, and I look forward to continuing to work using input from both the global and local communities.

[Christine Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a beautiful, moving and inspiring compilation that is as compelling to read as it is important. It is essential for activists or those interested in participating in activism, and for vegans, vegetarians and those who may be considering a plant based lifestyle. The writing is engaging, personal and powerful and the contributors are diverse, inspired and eloquent. Brittany Michelson has given us a book to cherish and pay attention to as we look toward a better kinder world.

[Jackie Brannon]

I'm reading this book for the second time thanks to Brittany Michelson. It has especially helped me be uplifted by so many beautiful people to have hope & to be more kind when you feel it can be an upward battle. The key to all of their journeys is to love more, to educate & to speak up for humans & non-humans who can't. I encourage all to buy this book. I love it so much.❤

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried. I had my hand over my chest in pain reading some parts. I have more education and more access through resources I didn't know existed. This book is worth the read if you have even a slight passion for what's happening to helpless animals who deserve better.