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How to Love Animals: In a Human-Shaped World
A personal journey into our evolving relationships with animals, and a thought-provoking look at how those bonds are being challenged and reformed across disciplines
We love animals, but does that make the animals' lives any happier? With factory farms, climate change and deforestation, this might be the worst time in history to be an animal. If we took animals' experiences seriously, how could we eat, think and live differently?
How to Love Animals is a lively and important portrait of our evolving relationship with animals, and how we can share our planet fairly. Mance works in a slaughterhouse and on a pig farm to explore the reality of eating meat and dairy. He explores our dilemmas over hunting wild animals, over-fishing the seas, visiting zoos and saving wild spaces. What might happen if we extended the love we show to our pets to other sentient beings? In an age of extinction and pandemics, our relationship with animals has become unsustainable. Mance argues that there has never been a better time to become vegetarian or vegan, and that the conservation movement can flourish, if people in wealthy countries shrink their footprint.
Mance seeks answers from chefs, farmers, activists, philosophers, politicians and tech visionaries who are redefining how we think about animals. Inspired by the author's young daughters, his book is a story of discovery and hope that outlines how we can find a balance with animals that fits with our basic love for them.
We love animals, but does that make the animals' lives any happier? With factory farms, climate change and deforestation, this might be the worst time in history to be an animal. If we took animals' experiences seriously, how could we eat, think and live differently?
How to Love Animals is a lively and important portrait of our evolving relationship with animals, and how we can share our planet fairly. Mance works in a slaughterhouse and on a pig farm to explore the reality of eating meat and dairy. He explores our dilemmas over hunting wild animals, over-fishing the seas, visiting zoos and saving wild spaces. What might happen if we extended the love we show to our pets to other sentient beings? In an age of extinction and pandemics, our relationship with animals has become unsustainable. Mance argues that there has never been a better time to become vegetarian or vegan, and that the conservation movement can flourish, if people in wealthy countries shrink their footprint.
Mance seeks answers from chefs, farmers, activists, philosophers, politicians and tech visionaries who are redefining how we think about animals. Inspired by the author's young daughters, his book is a story of discovery and hope that outlines how we can find a balance with animals that fits with our basic love for them.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published July 13, 2021
62 people are currently reading
1219 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
May 11, 2021
This is my book of the year.
I consider myself to be well-read when it comes to environmental writing, and the majority of what Mance writes about is not new to me. In some ways I found it strikingly similar to 'Eating Animals' by Jonathan Safran Foer (not least because both books were written by men who felt compelled after becoming fathers). But my goodness, does Mance package his messages and his research well. He cuts straight to every point, and moves on to the next without unnecessary belabouring (because, of course, there is an enormous amount to cover when it comes to human relationships with nonhumans). And the most satisfying thing about this book is that it hits every single note that I wanted it to hit. Like the perfect melody. Every time I thought to myself "I wonder if he'll cover this particular thing..." - BAM. This is absolutely a book that anyone who considers themself to be an animal lover needs to read - and everyone else too, although that'll sadly never happen.
The icing on the cake is how nuanced the book is. Mance argues mostly against seafood, but comes up with clear reasoning for why eating shellfish is pretty good in ethical and environmental terms. He agrees with hunting when done properly, and castigates those who abuse it and those who condemn it without also condemning the horrors of modern animal farming. He argues that people who consume the most need to also cut back the most, and acknowledges the difficulty of encouraging people to eat less meat in other parts of the world.
Ultimately, the book is preachy, but it needs to be. Anyone who can grasp the magnitude of the self-made suffering that humanity is facing this century will understand the passion behind Mance's writing. It helps that his writing is often dryly witty, and I adored the final vignette about Patilda, his rescue broiler hen.
Personally, I already only eat game meat (and once every two months or so at that), and my dairy consumption is lower these days. I do eat a fair few free-range eggs. I can't go fully vegan because of several health conditions, but I wish I could - and I will do my very best to do everything I possibly can to limit how much money I pay into animal product industries.
Thank you, Henry Mance, for writing this book.
(With thank to Jonathan Cape and NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review)
I consider myself to be well-read when it comes to environmental writing, and the majority of what Mance writes about is not new to me. In some ways I found it strikingly similar to 'Eating Animals' by Jonathan Safran Foer (not least because both books were written by men who felt compelled after becoming fathers). But my goodness, does Mance package his messages and his research well. He cuts straight to every point, and moves on to the next without unnecessary belabouring (because, of course, there is an enormous amount to cover when it comes to human relationships with nonhumans). And the most satisfying thing about this book is that it hits every single note that I wanted it to hit. Like the perfect melody. Every time I thought to myself "I wonder if he'll cover this particular thing..." - BAM. This is absolutely a book that anyone who considers themself to be an animal lover needs to read - and everyone else too, although that'll sadly never happen.
The icing on the cake is how nuanced the book is. Mance argues mostly against seafood, but comes up with clear reasoning for why eating shellfish is pretty good in ethical and environmental terms. He agrees with hunting when done properly, and castigates those who abuse it and those who condemn it without also condemning the horrors of modern animal farming. He argues that people who consume the most need to also cut back the most, and acknowledges the difficulty of encouraging people to eat less meat in other parts of the world.
Ultimately, the book is preachy, but it needs to be. Anyone who can grasp the magnitude of the self-made suffering that humanity is facing this century will understand the passion behind Mance's writing. It helps that his writing is often dryly witty, and I adored the final vignette about Patilda, his rescue broiler hen.
Personally, I already only eat game meat (and once every two months or so at that), and my dairy consumption is lower these days. I do eat a fair few free-range eggs. I can't go fully vegan because of several health conditions, but I wish I could - and I will do my very best to do everything I possibly can to limit how much money I pay into animal product industries.
Thank you, Henry Mance, for writing this book.
(With thank to Jonathan Cape and NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review)
March 24, 2021
‘There are countless things that animals can do better than us: dogs can detect the presence of diseases, including coronavirus’.
Any dog owner can attest to the above quote, but this book is full of such fascinating facts about all species, not just pets. If reading these amazing gems of animal behaviour don’t convince you to stop eating meat,, then nothing will.
Any dog owner can attest to the above quote, but this book is full of such fascinating facts about all species, not just pets. If reading these amazing gems of animal behaviour don’t convince you to stop eating meat,, then nothing will.
April 22, 2021
Henry Mance sets out to see if there is a fairer way to live alongside other species. He goes to work in an abattoir and on a farm to investigate the reality of eating meat and dairy. He explores our dilemmas around hunting wild animals, over-fishing the seas, visiting the zoos, saving wild species and owning pets. He meets chefs, farmers, activists, philosophers, scientists and tech visionaries.
What an interesting eye opener this book is. With factory farms, climate change and deforestations making it probably the worst time to be an animal - i had not really thought much about it until i read this book. Some animals can be so clever. I've watched tv shows where a monkey beats a human and dogs sniffing out cancers. This book is also quite witty. I really enjoyed this thought provoking read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #RandomHouseUK #Vintage and the author #HenryMance for my ARC of #HowToLoveAnimals in exchange for an honest review.
What an interesting eye opener this book is. With factory farms, climate change and deforestations making it probably the worst time to be an animal - i had not really thought much about it until i read this book. Some animals can be so clever. I've watched tv shows where a monkey beats a human and dogs sniffing out cancers. This book is also quite witty. I really enjoyed this thought provoking read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #RandomHouseUK #Vintage and the author #HenryMance for my ARC of #HowToLoveAnimals in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2021
Go vegan, go hunting!
May 16, 2024
“How to love animals” is a very detailed book on the human’s relationship with animals. Henry Mance describes in great detail every impact we have on the animal realm (and the rest of the world in extension), ranging from hunting, farming and eating animals to keeping zoos and the effects of de-instinction projects.
Mance does this by a perfectly balanced way of describing personal experience mixed with interviews and (global) statistical research. It reads as a well-argumented yet personal story and life-view which he managed to put together seamlessly. He stresses the importance of the need to change our ways but also stays very realistic in the actual possibilities of doing so. Reading this book may inspire some feeling of guilt (even as a vegetarian) but will also leave you to form your own opinion on what to do.
Though he mentions (a couple of) his sources at the end of the book, I do miss the annotation of the used sources. There is no way of knowing where the statistical ‘evidence’ actually came from: which studies he used, what the numbers are based on, and so on. With a book that uses this much statistics to prove a point, I expect footnotes as actual proof.
Even without noted sources, the book gives compelling information and serves as a real eye-opener. In my opinion this book is a must read for people of all generations, if only to raise awareness about the human impact on the world
Mance does this by a perfectly balanced way of describing personal experience mixed with interviews and (global) statistical research. It reads as a well-argumented yet personal story and life-view which he managed to put together seamlessly. He stresses the importance of the need to change our ways but also stays very realistic in the actual possibilities of doing so. Reading this book may inspire some feeling of guilt (even as a vegetarian) but will also leave you to form your own opinion on what to do.
Though he mentions (a couple of) his sources at the end of the book, I do miss the annotation of the used sources. There is no way of knowing where the statistical ‘evidence’ actually came from: which studies he used, what the numbers are based on, and so on. With a book that uses this much statistics to prove a point, I expect footnotes as actual proof.
Even without noted sources, the book gives compelling information and serves as a real eye-opener. In my opinion this book is a must read for people of all generations, if only to raise awareness about the human impact on the world
November 21, 2021
Equal parts entertaining and journalistic, I did enjoy Mance’s thoughtful exploration on how we treat our fellow creatures. Mance himself works on a pig farm and a slaughter house to better understand what he was already ethically against. He also pays to go on upper class hunting trips to get a feel for that as well. His takes were fairly nuanced. He argued fiercely against certain practices in paragraphs backed by research and later admitted to having different feelings (emotional numbness, ambiguity, camaraderie) in the field. Those feelings did not muddle his arguments. Instead, they brought up something very human - our overwhelming ability to compartmentalize the experiences that make us uncomfortable.
At times, I did feel like the in-person research went too far. Did he really need to spend time with an animal psychic? I smiled a lot when I read his depiction of CorgiCon, but it would have been easy to cut from the book.
Overall, I’d say it’s definitely worth the time of anyone who’s concerned with how we treat animals.
At times, I did feel like the in-person research went too far. Did he really need to spend time with an animal psychic? I smiled a lot when I read his depiction of CorgiCon, but it would have been easy to cut from the book.
Overall, I’d say it’s definitely worth the time of anyone who’s concerned with how we treat animals.
December 31, 2021
A really detailed book on what we, as humans, are doing wrong and not showing love for animals at all. As a long-time vegan, I was aware of many of the highlighted issues, but still learnt new things too. However, I just found the book quite depressing and the concluding chapter didn't give me anything new to try (although anyone new to vegetarianism/veganism would probably get something from it).
September 10, 2024
Dziwi mnie, że ta książka przeszła bez większego echa - jest stosunkowo nowa i porusza kwestie które chyba dość powszechnie uznaje się za konfliktogenne. Kilka razy musiałam się głębiej zastanowić nad moimi decyzjami, szczególnie jedzeniowymi. Kilka razy pozwoliłam sobie nie zgodzić się z panem Henrym, szczególnie w kwestiach związanych z myśliwymi - i wciąż wydaje mi się że jego rekomendacje związane ze zmianą sposobu patrzenia na łowiectwo są, co by się nie rozpisywać, niezbyt przemyślane. Tym bardziej dziwi bo - uwaga, spojler - w celach dziennikarskich, pan Henry pojechał na polowanie zorganizowane do Polski i wyciągnął z niego dość powierzchowne wnioski. Książka jako całość zdecydowanie do polecenia, bo nawet jeśli się nie zgadzam, to zawsze fajnie zrewidować swoje poglądy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2021
Sure, as a near-lifelong herbivore this book was preaching to the choir. But it was a fascinating read, eloquently exploring the absurd mental gymnastics required to be a population of pet-lovers who readily accept that our dogs and cats have emotions, personalities and sentience, but are equally happy to kill other animals for food and to exploit wild creatures at a whim. Mance has an engaging way with words as he recounts his own journey from bog-standard omnivore to vegan environmentalist and, biased though I am, it’s hard to see how anyone could fail to be persuaded by his simple but utterly compelling arguments.
March 6, 2022
Life changing, in either a “I’m going to lie on the floor and cry about fish” way or a “go out and buy a shopping cart’s load of impossible sausage” kinda way
January 30, 2023
Thought-provoking, eloquent, excellent book! It is extremely well written, so really easy to read, comprehend and absorb.
He seems to have thoroughly researched this topic from many angles. (Sources www.hmance.medium.com)
Much of this is based on first hand experience. He works in a slaughter house, he visits farms, tries out hunting, visits fisheries in order to see for himself what is going on. He concludes, among other things:-
* that vegetarianism is little better for the planet than being an omnivore.
* that we humans should respect wild animals over domesticated animals and should therefore rewild parts of our planet and allow more wild animals to thrive in the wild.
He echoes some of the suggestions by David Attenborough and has strengthened my previous belief that it is wrong of humans to displace the natural world.
It has strengthened my resolve to eat more vegan and live a more environmentally attuned life.
He seems to have thoroughly researched this topic from many angles. (Sources www.hmance.medium.com)
Much of this is based on first hand experience. He works in a slaughter house, he visits farms, tries out hunting, visits fisheries in order to see for himself what is going on. He concludes, among other things:-
* that vegetarianism is little better for the planet than being an omnivore.
* that we humans should respect wild animals over domesticated animals and should therefore rewild parts of our planet and allow more wild animals to thrive in the wild.
He echoes some of the suggestions by David Attenborough and has strengthened my previous belief that it is wrong of humans to displace the natural world.
It has strengthened my resolve to eat more vegan and live a more environmentally attuned life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2021
Welp, I'm vegan now... mostly.
I think there's plenty of information out there about animal cruelty, environmental effects, the destruction of the ocean, hunting, zoos, meat alternatives, yadda yadda yadda. I mean, I guess? I know I don't actively seek it out. So why is this book any different?
The premise is in the title. If you really love animals, how do you walk the walk? Just don't kill them is not always the best answer. Some answers sure seem simple enough to me, but in many cases the issues can be quite complex. Anyway, I think the premise is what this book different. Henry Mance approaches all the issues and inspects them through the lens of his "animal test":
And I think the premise of the animal test is so powerful because it allows Mance to approach all of these issues with a certain open, unassuming demeanor. There doesn't feel to be an underlying sentiment of "oh this is bad, and you should feel bad, and don't do it". It is, "Hm, well that seems pretty bad for the animals. Is there any good reason we can't do it differently?" And I've got to hand it to Mance, that is pretty impressive for a subject that is so implicitly emotional. What's more, he actually gets his hands dirty and does things like work at an abattoir and goes hunting. 👏I know I could not do that.
I'm going to abstain from outlining all the topic covered, because believe me this book is chock-full of information. I feel it is super dense, and yet I'd recommend it for someone like me that only has a cursory awareness of these issues as well as seasoned animal or environmental rights activists. There is something for everyone. But at the same time, this is why I didn't give it 5 stars I suppose. It's just a lot to take in and at various points it felt pretty arduous. I was relieved to finally reach the end.
Also, I think the last chapter Playing God was soooo weird. And yet, really thought provoking? Lots of sci-fi vibes. Check it out!
I think there's plenty of information out there about animal cruelty, environmental effects, the destruction of the ocean, hunting, zoos, meat alternatives, yadda yadda yadda. I mean, I guess? I know I don't actively seek it out. So why is this book any different?
The premise is in the title. If you really love animals, how do you walk the walk? Just don't kill them is not always the best answer. Some answers sure seem simple enough to me, but in many cases the issues can be quite complex. Anyway, I think the premise is what this book different. Henry Mance approaches all the issues and inspects them through the lens of his "animal test":
"Was I treating animals fairly? If not, could I find a better way?"
And I think the premise of the animal test is so powerful because it allows Mance to approach all of these issues with a certain open, unassuming demeanor. There doesn't feel to be an underlying sentiment of "oh this is bad, and you should feel bad, and don't do it". It is, "Hm, well that seems pretty bad for the animals. Is there any good reason we can't do it differently?" And I've got to hand it to Mance, that is pretty impressive for a subject that is so implicitly emotional. What's more, he actually gets his hands dirty and does things like work at an abattoir and goes hunting. 👏I know I could not do that.
I'm going to abstain from outlining all the topic covered, because believe me this book is chock-full of information. I feel it is super dense, and yet I'd recommend it for someone like me that only has a cursory awareness of these issues as well as seasoned animal or environmental rights activists. There is something for everyone. But at the same time, this is why I didn't give it 5 stars I suppose. It's just a lot to take in and at various points it felt pretty arduous. I was relieved to finally reach the end.
Also, I think the last chapter Playing God was soooo weird. And yet, really thought provoking? Lots of sci-fi vibes. Check it out!
August 30, 2024
Premetto che sono già vegetariana da tre anni, quindi è lapalissiano dire che mi trovo d’accordo con la tesi di fondo dell’autore, che si chiede in che modo possiamo amare realmente gli animali abbracciando un’ottica antispecista.
Purtroppo il libro serve solo a farti sentire in colpa per ogni singola cosa che fai, dal mangiare un uovo all’avere un cane come animale domestico. Non è un approccio utile per avvicinare la gente alla causa vegetariana e vegana, soprattutto quando il libro è pieno zeppo di battute umoristiche buttate lì quando non c'era bisogno (also, men can't be funny, stop trying!!).
Odiosa anche l’aspirazione dell’autore a giocare a Boss in incognito, letteralmente andando a caccia o lavorando per un mese in un mattatoio. Buone le intenzioni, immagino, ma penosa l'esecuzione.
Purtroppo il libro serve solo a farti sentire in colpa per ogni singola cosa che fai, dal mangiare un uovo all’avere un cane come animale domestico. Non è un approccio utile per avvicinare la gente alla causa vegetariana e vegana, soprattutto quando il libro è pieno zeppo di battute umoristiche buttate lì quando non c'era bisogno (also, men can't be funny, stop trying!!).
Odiosa anche l’aspirazione dell’autore a giocare a Boss in incognito, letteralmente andando a caccia o lavorando per un mese in un mattatoio. Buone le intenzioni, immagino, ma penosa l'esecuzione.
September 18, 2021
This book gets 4 stars (or perhaps should have even got 5 stars) for the content and the context. It is a book that all of us need to read to understand to our impact on the ecology or even open our eyes to the myths behind many of our actions based on misbeliefs.
But it is not an easy book to read, at least, not without feeling remorse about how humans have and still treat the natural world. With every chapter, one's heart would sink with disappointment. And for that reason - how bad it made me feel, I did not like it as much, or rather I did not like myself (and my species) as much, I felt like giving it "2 stars (it was okay)", but that wouldn't have been fair to the author or the book that, as I mentioned earlier, is a must read for everyone.
But it is not an easy book to read, at least, not without feeling remorse about how humans have and still treat the natural world. With every chapter, one's heart would sink with disappointment. And for that reason - how bad it made me feel, I did not like it as much, or rather I did not like myself (and my species) as much, I felt like giving it "2 stars (it was okay)", but that wouldn't have been fair to the author or the book that, as I mentioned earlier, is a must read for everyone.
September 29, 2021
Wow, this book was an eye opener to me. Yes, I eat less meat than I used to and am aware of the human threat to the living natural world, but this book gives specific examples that and more. I really need to purchase this for my nonfiction library and add to my "Animals Are Better Than People" collection.
So glad my library had this and recommended to people who are interested in nature, animals and climate change and things you can do to help.
So glad my library had this and recommended to people who are interested in nature, animals and climate change and things you can do to help.
April 7, 2021
An excellent combination of first-hand experiences and comprehensive global statistics. I found the chapter on the oceans very eye-opening, as it went far beyond the usual salmon fish farms.
The Publisher gave me a free sample of this book and this review is my honest feedback. The book truly makes you think............. give it a go.
The Publisher gave me a free sample of this book and this review is my honest feedback. The book truly makes you think............. give it a go.
November 2, 2021
The book made me vegetarian (but I was almost there anyway) Its an interesting read for anyone that wants to peak behind the curtains for an informed look at how we treat animals in our society. The author goes undercover and works in Abattoirs, medical labs and even joins in on hunts to build up a full picture.
October 8, 2023
You don’t need to agree with everything that this book says, but it will challenge your thinking.
August 1, 2022
Wydawnictwo Rebis bardzo często wydaje cudeńka o zwierzakach, więc jestem ich stałą czytelniczką i sprawdzam często zapowiedzi książkowe aby być na bieżąco. Jakiś czas temu opowiadałam Wam o książce z psami w roli głównej, ale nie takimi zwykłymi, tylko takimi na służbie, a dzisiaj mam nieco cięższą lekturę, bo jednak nie tylko o tej pozytywnej stronie życia zwierząt.
Jak kochać zwierzęta? No właśnie... co to właściwie znaczy i czy to nam poprawia samopoczucie czy im? W końcu wiele razy mówimy o tym, że są naszymi antydepresantami, że wyczuwają nasze emocje i przychodzą gdy płaczemy by nas przytulić. Czują także strach, nerwy, agresję, a miłość? I druga strona medalu, czynimy im ogromne zło. Wycinka lasów, wypalanie traw, testy na zwierzętach i jedzenie mięsa. Czy mogłoby być gorzej? Powiecie, że taki łańcuch pokarmowy, ale szczerze mówiąc warto się zastanowić nad tym i w tej książce Henry Mance prowadzi swojego rodzaju śledztwo w tym temacie. Próbuje sprawdzić czy moglibyśmy żyć sprawiedliwie, ale kto by decydował o tym, co jest sprawiedliwe?
Autor wszedł głębiej i nie omówił tematu wyłącznie teoretycznie ale zatrudnił się w ubojni, wszedł w tematy polowań czy hodowli zwierząt. Wiemy doskonale z czym to się wiąże, prawda? I muszę przyznać, że w tej książce opisane to jest dość brutalnie, sprowadzi na ziemię wiele osób i uświadomi, że zło, którego sprawcami jesteśmy my, ludzie, to nie tylko łańcuch pokarmowy i taka kolej rzeczy.
Uważam, że to dość ciężka lektura. Porusza smutne i niestety, bardzo realistyczne tematy. Dla miłośnika zwierząt, takiego jak ja, to wręcz zmuszenie do tego, aby spojrzeć, nie odwracać wzroku i zadać sobie pytanie: kto jest największym drapieżcą? Bo przecież człowiek potrafi zabijać dla przyjemności, a nie by przetrwać...
Polecam serdecznie tę książkę każdemu, kto w tej chwili zerka w kierunku swojego kota, psa, królika, chomika czy papużki. Mance daje do myślenia!
Recenzja powstała we współpracy z Wydawnictwem Rebis.
Jak kochać zwierzęta? No właśnie... co to właściwie znaczy i czy to nam poprawia samopoczucie czy im? W końcu wiele razy mówimy o tym, że są naszymi antydepresantami, że wyczuwają nasze emocje i przychodzą gdy płaczemy by nas przytulić. Czują także strach, nerwy, agresję, a miłość? I druga strona medalu, czynimy im ogromne zło. Wycinka lasów, wypalanie traw, testy na zwierzętach i jedzenie mięsa. Czy mogłoby być gorzej? Powiecie, że taki łańcuch pokarmowy, ale szczerze mówiąc warto się zastanowić nad tym i w tej książce Henry Mance prowadzi swojego rodzaju śledztwo w tym temacie. Próbuje sprawdzić czy moglibyśmy żyć sprawiedliwie, ale kto by decydował o tym, co jest sprawiedliwe?
Autor wszedł głębiej i nie omówił tematu wyłącznie teoretycznie ale zatrudnił się w ubojni, wszedł w tematy polowań czy hodowli zwierząt. Wiemy doskonale z czym to się wiąże, prawda? I muszę przyznać, że w tej książce opisane to jest dość brutalnie, sprowadzi na ziemię wiele osób i uświadomi, że zło, którego sprawcami jesteśmy my, ludzie, to nie tylko łańcuch pokarmowy i taka kolej rzeczy.
Uważam, że to dość ciężka lektura. Porusza smutne i niestety, bardzo realistyczne tematy. Dla miłośnika zwierząt, takiego jak ja, to wręcz zmuszenie do tego, aby spojrzeć, nie odwracać wzroku i zadać sobie pytanie: kto jest największym drapieżcą? Bo przecież człowiek potrafi zabijać dla przyjemności, a nie by przetrwać...
Polecam serdecznie tę książkę każdemu, kto w tej chwili zerka w kierunku swojego kota, psa, królika, chomika czy papużki. Mance daje do myślenia!
Recenzja powstała we współpracy z Wydawnictwem Rebis.
December 8, 2021
This is a strange book and definitely not a polemic. The author looks at all aspects of animals and their place in the world and how and why we interact with them and how we can improve or alter that relationship. Mr Mance looks at life and death and everything in between. I found lots of interest and lots to think about. I particularly resonated with the part about zoos. The life span of an African elephant in the wild could be 56 years but in a zoo, it is 16.9 years. Where Asian elephants are used in the Burmese logging industry they live to an average of 42 years but in a zoo, the average is 18.9 years. Zoos aren’t doing these animals any favours. Damian Aspinall inherited two zoos and is slowly trying to close them. Given the life span of some of the animals and the fact they are ill suited to life in the world, it could take him over 30 years.
Animals also learn. On a Scottish estate the red deer come for food from late October because they know the hunting season is over. In Canada, there is a ban on shooting bears with cubs. As a result, mother bears have been found to stay with their cubs an extra year to protect themselves.
The author also says "Loving animals cannot mean imagining a fantasy land - without death, without suffering. It is about balancing our needs, with the welfare and abundance of animals." He says hunting is acceptable within certain parameters to ensure the wellbeing of a herd.
There is a lot here to challenge you and get you thinking and I would recommend this book if you feel you need to do more but you’re not sure what.
I was given a copy of the book by Netgalley
Animals also learn. On a Scottish estate the red deer come for food from late October because they know the hunting season is over. In Canada, there is a ban on shooting bears with cubs. As a result, mother bears have been found to stay with their cubs an extra year to protect themselves.
The author also says "Loving animals cannot mean imagining a fantasy land - without death, without suffering. It is about balancing our needs, with the welfare and abundance of animals." He says hunting is acceptable within certain parameters to ensure the wellbeing of a herd.
There is a lot here to challenge you and get you thinking and I would recommend this book if you feel you need to do more but you’re not sure what.
I was given a copy of the book by Netgalley
July 30, 2021
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
To be fair I have no idea why I requested this book as someone who really is not a big animal fan at all. I am trying to round out my reading genres and to include more non=fiction and that may have been my reasoning here.
As non-fiction it is very readable, it does not tie the reader in knots trying to unravel meaning and is blessedly free of foot notes. I don't agree with everything the author says and I do feel there are some sweeping generalisations in there and some things that are very demeaning to humans "A dog becomes another way to show who you are to people, and unlike with children you can choose" this is in my view a dreadful comparison.
It has not changed my mindset which is anyone can choose to love animals BUT when you start to put animal needs above human needs there is something wrong. It is all about the balance.
I find the book difficult to rate but have chosen 2 stars. There will be many people out there who find this book to have parallels with their own thinking and rate it much higher
To be fair I have no idea why I requested this book as someone who really is not a big animal fan at all. I am trying to round out my reading genres and to include more non=fiction and that may have been my reasoning here.
As non-fiction it is very readable, it does not tie the reader in knots trying to unravel meaning and is blessedly free of foot notes. I don't agree with everything the author says and I do feel there are some sweeping generalisations in there and some things that are very demeaning to humans "A dog becomes another way to show who you are to people, and unlike with children you can choose" this is in my view a dreadful comparison.
It has not changed my mindset which is anyone can choose to love animals BUT when you start to put animal needs above human needs there is something wrong. It is all about the balance.
I find the book difficult to rate but have chosen 2 stars. There will be many people out there who find this book to have parallels with their own thinking and rate it much higher
January 7, 2023
A must-read book for anyone who thinks about the climate change, considers themselves animal lovers, or simply wants to be aware of the impact humans are having on this planet and its inhabitants. The author has categorized the book intolerance a few key, crucial sections. The book seems to ask how could any of us claim to love animals while turning a blind eye to the conditions of farm animals, zoo animals, research animals etc. A lot of kind hearted humans, don't pause to think and/or subconsciously avoid asking questions about animals used as food, as entertainment, for medicine, for various other purposes because deep down we might know that the answers won't leave us in peace. The chapter on pet (dog) ownership is especially enlightening, anyone who ever wants to have a pet, should read it. Ignorance is bliss, yes. However, this book while providing us with some hard hitting information, also provides us with things we can do to improve animal welfare and the state of the planet. This is the need of the hour. (A lot of) Humans love animals - the question is what are we doing about it? Definitely recommend adding this book to your reading list.
April 17, 2025
This book is not easy to read. Unless you are somehow the perfect vegan and animal rights activist (which doesn't exist - and I am positive Mance himself doesn't consider himself this), then it's going to make you uncomfortable. By picking up this book one can presume that you care about your individual piece in the large puzzle that is human-to-other animal relationships, no matter how deep or shallow that caring may be. If that's the case, it's bound to make you feel some kind of cognitive dissonance. Once you push through that though, this is very informative. It took me quite a while to read since it challenged me to sit in my discomfort, but I feel better having read it and feel that it did make an impact.
On a technical note, I could have done with more division in the way the information is formatted. I find long chapters hard to swallow in any case (and these chapters are definitely long). Especially since the information isn't always the easiest to ruminate with, I think it's one that's best to take your time with and the long chapters don't make it convenient to put the book down and pick back up.
On a technical note, I could have done with more division in the way the information is formatted. I find long chapters hard to swallow in any case (and these chapters are definitely long). Especially since the information isn't always the easiest to ruminate with, I think it's one that's best to take your time with and the long chapters don't make it convenient to put the book down and pick back up.
May 29, 2021
I’m probably someone who this book is targeted at: a self-defined animal lover (who loves zoos and wildlife parks), someone who cares about climate change and tries for at least some consistency across my worldview (so I eat less meat then I used to), and who feels uneasy about all the compromises we have to make between our love of animals and how they’re treated.
The book is better than I expected in that it really challenges you in some unexpected areas - for example on the impacts of dairy farming, what the theoretical justification for zoos actually is, and the staple issue of why we just don’t care about our treatment of fish relative to animals that we eat as meat. It’s a challenging (but not lecturing) read that that manages to knit together a genuine love of animals with what the policy implications of that should be. It tails off a bit near the end (getting into the treatment of pets) but is a really good read.
The book is better than I expected in that it really challenges you in some unexpected areas - for example on the impacts of dairy farming, what the theoretical justification for zoos actually is, and the staple issue of why we just don’t care about our treatment of fish relative to animals that we eat as meat. It’s a challenging (but not lecturing) read that that manages to knit together a genuine love of animals with what the policy implications of that should be. It tails off a bit near the end (getting into the treatment of pets) but is a really good read.
September 17, 2025
I mean, I’m already vegan, but every once in a while I read a tough book to remember why. The author put himself in different situations (working in a slaughterhouse, etc) to learn and speak to why we treat animals the way we do.
I found the chapter on fishing the most compelling, because the concerning ourselves with the humane treatment of fish often isn’t as compelling as cows or pigs: “Imagine if we killed pigs slowly and didn’t stun them first. Imagine if, when we did this, we unavoidably swept up squirrels, rabbits and wolves into the abattoir, and killed them too. Imagine if we didn’t count the number of pigs that we killed, and instead we just weighed them, as if they were crops…. Imagine if, when we ordered chicken in a restaurant, the waiter served us a carcass with a head attached. Imagine if we kept pigs as pets but hardly ever took them to the vets, because we couldn’t tell when they were sick.”
I found the chapter on fishing the most compelling, because the concerning ourselves with the humane treatment of fish often isn’t as compelling as cows or pigs: “Imagine if we killed pigs slowly and didn’t stun them first. Imagine if, when we did this, we unavoidably swept up squirrels, rabbits and wolves into the abattoir, and killed them too. Imagine if we didn’t count the number of pigs that we killed, and instead we just weighed them, as if they were crops…. Imagine if, when we ordered chicken in a restaurant, the waiter served us a carcass with a head attached. Imagine if we kept pigs as pets but hardly ever took them to the vets, because we couldn’t tell when they were sick.”
August 29, 2021
Wow! This book did me in. It's really worth reading, as it covers everything from farming to zoos to development affecting natural habitats -- and if we are going to affect the world so much, we should at least understand the magnitude of our impacts if not try to reduce them.
Personally, I've already been struggling with the fact I still eat meat, but man, I didn't expect to be convinced eating eggs and dairy is actually just as bad and probably worse.
I also came away realizing zoos can be terrible for animals, and hunting can be far better than I realized, even the rich paying millions to hunt elephants (which, believe it or not, has led to regions in Africa being able to dedicate land to wilderness and restoring habitats with the funds, otherwise it would have been destroyed to make way for farming).
Personally, I've already been struggling with the fact I still eat meat, but man, I didn't expect to be convinced eating eggs and dairy is actually just as bad and probably worse.
I also came away realizing zoos can be terrible for animals, and hunting can be far better than I realized, even the rich paying millions to hunt elephants (which, believe it or not, has led to regions in Africa being able to dedicate land to wilderness and restoring habitats with the funds, otherwise it would have been destroyed to make way for farming).
November 21, 2021
This book actually disappointed me in a few ways:
- THE LACK OF CITATIONS. I get it, Henry; you’re a journalist. But when you throw facts around, it would be nice to cite where you got them. Throwing references in the back barely counts.
- The chapter “It’s Not About the Dog” did not explore the capitalist implications of pet ownership nearly enough.
- The author interjects several times that human life has more worth than animal life as though this is everyone’s opinion; it’s definitely not mine.
- The author’s opinions in general get a bit preachy.
But the topic is important and the book is a thorough exploration of human impact on our fellow creatures. I definitely learned a thing or two!!
Recommend.
- THE LACK OF CITATIONS. I get it, Henry; you’re a journalist. But when you throw facts around, it would be nice to cite where you got them. Throwing references in the back barely counts.
- The chapter “It’s Not About the Dog” did not explore the capitalist implications of pet ownership nearly enough.
- The author interjects several times that human life has more worth than animal life as though this is everyone’s opinion; it’s definitely not mine.
- The author’s opinions in general get a bit preachy.
But the topic is important and the book is a thorough exploration of human impact on our fellow creatures. I definitely learned a thing or two!!
Recommend.
December 13, 2022
This is an uncomfortable book but don’t turn away. I have been a pescatarian for a few years and a bad vegetarian for a bit less. I know that killing animals for a few mouthfuls is wrong, I tend not to eat them. I know dairy farming is reportedly worse, I tend to choose to turn away and carry on.
I can justify this behaviour with the ideology of being just one person and therefore impossible to turn the tide but I could be one of millions of people who just need some encouragement. The encouragement is this book.
I don’t love all animals, in fact they scare me, but I do hate suffering so on that basis I can do better. This book certainly helped to show me how.
I can justify this behaviour with the ideology of being just one person and therefore impossible to turn the tide but I could be one of millions of people who just need some encouragement. The encouragement is this book.
I don’t love all animals, in fact they scare me, but I do hate suffering so on that basis I can do better. This book certainly helped to show me how.
March 6, 2023
I thought this book had too broad a scope. It's well written, but it jumps from idea to idea trying to cover too much. But the biggest flaw is that it oversimplifies switching to veganism. I think acknowledging the difficulty of following a completely vegan lifestyle would win over more people contemplating it. Although this isn't a how-to book or cookbook, pointing people who are interested in pursuing veganism to resources, or even just acknowledging that it's hard rather than shaming people who eat meat because it tastes good would make it more accessible. It's not as easy as just not eating meat.
May 10, 2023
This was a solid book that covered a wide range of topics surrounding animal-welfare. Having read a few books like this in the past, I felt like it had an equal amount of content that was new to me versus facts I've read a few times now. The writing style was very approachable and the author did an excellent job of interlacing personal anecdotes with modern research. I loved how he tackled interesting philosophical questions without being pushy about his perspectives. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves animals and wants to learn more about how they're integrated into our very human society.
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