Indefensible: Adventures of a Farm Animal Protection Lawyer

by Peter Brandt

"Peter Brandt, a litigator at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), has been at the forefront of some of the toughest cases of animal abuse in the last ten years—including supervising a team of lawyers working to protect the interests of farm animals. In this revelatory and often surprisingly funny memoir-cum-manifesto, Brandt describes his growing awareness of the extent of the cruelty of animals in Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (a.k.a. factory farms), and the manifold harms to human health, local communities, and the environment for those who live near them. He shows how it’s a world of enormous suffering, sustained by deliberate secrecy and misinformation, and reeking of corruption and lagoons full of ordure. Brandt details his realization of intensive animal farming’s further costs to wild creatures and their habitats, as well as clean water and clean air, and demonstrates how curbing animal agriculture is one of the few ways to make an immediate positive difference to climate change. "

Genres: Law, Vegan

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2020

Reviews

[Konnie Willett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Peter Brandt's writing style. It was humorous whilst still conveying the importance of the situation surrounding ditching animal agriculture on many levels including the environment, public health and animal suffering. He reinforced this message with anecdotes of his early life and career as an animal protection lawyer. In particular I really liked the ending and how he contrasted the lives of animal advocates and those who work in the 'meat' industry. He came to the conclusion that although he didn't want to end up as a crazy slightly dishevelled animal advocate, he would rather he lived a life of passion and meaning, at the expense of others judgement, rather than an ordinary and inconsequential existence, especially one that contributes to en masse suffering. A tip to bear in mind on one's life journey.

[Rebecca Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, entertaining, informative and moving. If you cared about our food system, suffering in this world, climate change and animals, it’s a must read.

[Martin Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm the publisher of this book and thought I'd say a few words about it. Peter's book was a thoroughly entertaining, and disarmingly humorous, survey of gruesome and flagrantly immoral (if not necessary illegal) behavior by animal agriculture—from the perspective of a lawyer working for the Humane Society of the United States. Each chapter focuses on a particular case and glances back to Peter's (misspent) youth growing up in the Pacific Northwest, highlighting his own unlikely path toward animal advocacy. The book is replete with useful data and fully referenced, so a serious book on a serious subject. But I was struck by the smoothness of the read and the amused, self-deprecating tone. Peter has said that he finds that when teaching these subjects, it's easier for his students not to tune out the exploitation of humans and nonhumans in animal agriculture when he employs humor, and that's the case here. That said, I've no doubt that everyone who reads this book will be as outraged by the behavior of the animal business as I was when I edited it.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author does an excellent job of detailing and documenting the harm done to people, animals, and the environment by factory farming. Brandt includes discussions of climate change, social injustice, government indifference and ignorance (plus lax enforcement), and the spread of disease among livestock and to humans. Brandt also points out that "there are strong parallels between the current systemic abuse of young farm animals and the historical exploitation of child workers in the U.S."

It was hard for me to read about so much cruelty and neglect -- I could only read a small amount at a time -- but like Brandt, I believe it's important to be educated about the meat and dairy products consumed by so many, and what happens to the animals they come from. This is a very worthwhile book, and I wish more people would give it a try.