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studiomikarts's reviews
55 reviews
Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment by George Leonard
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
The only reason I took a half star off my rating was the dated aspects of the book, it having been written in the early 90s. Otherwise, I found it extremely easy to read, understand, and to put into practice! I especially liked how it presented and explained two five-item lists, the first of "master keys" and the second of ways to prevent "homeostasis" from impeding your progress along the "goalless path" to mastery. Another thing I liked about the book was its emphasis on the importance of physical and mental health, including avoiding the trap of perfectionism! Definitely glad to have received this book from my sister for Christmas š„°
The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials Into Triumph by Ryan Holiday
Did not finish book. Stopped at 46%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 46%.
Since I DNF'd this book, I'm not going to waste any more time on it by writing a detailed review. Suffice it to say, the first third of the book I found to be motivating and instructive, but from that point on, it was steady downhill. Misogynistic viewpoints, the lauding of self-destructive work ethics, and extremely repetitive language are the main things that killed it for me. I'll copy-paste my DNF notes from my reading journal to finish this review.
"I feel this advice could be given with more room for maintaining one's mental and physical health along the way. Today's chapters basically said: work nonstop, try literally everything, fail repeatedly, and focus on the process rather than the outcome. Good advice when simplified like that, but the details are suggestive of a shortened, desperate, miserable fight of a life, an "I'll sleep when I'm dead" style life. At one point the book even questions why aggression is seen in such a negative light these days. Wow. No wonder the book has a misogynistic and overall unhealthy flavor.
"I'ma DNF this book. I see, like many other reviewers, it lost me precisely when the "Action" section began. The first section, "Persistence", was full of sticky notes, and they just stopped after that. That was when I went from inspired to frustrated, bored, and even confused. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like the actionable advice is all over the place, or simply unrealistic or even unhealthy. I'm also gonna give away this and the other book from this series that I have. There's too little time to waste reading subpar books."
"I feel this advice could be given with more room for maintaining one's mental and physical health along the way. Today's chapters basically said: work nonstop, try literally everything, fail repeatedly, and focus on the process rather than the outcome. Good advice when simplified like that, but the details are suggestive of a shortened, desperate, miserable fight of a life, an "I'll sleep when I'm dead" style life. At one point the book even questions why aggression is seen in such a negative light these days. Wow. No wonder the book has a misogynistic and overall unhealthy flavor.
"I'ma DNF this book. I see, like many other reviewers, it lost me precisely when the "Action" section began. The first section, "Persistence", was full of sticky notes, and they just stopped after that. That was when I went from inspired to frustrated, bored, and even confused. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like the actionable advice is all over the place, or simply unrealistic or even unhealthy. I'm also gonna give away this and the other book from this series that I have. There's too little time to waste reading subpar books."
Vystopia: the anguish of being vegan in a non-vegan world by Clare Mann
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
If you're a vegan--especially a new vegan just starting to realize what kind of world we live in--who is struggling with or even paralyzed by the soul-crushing magnitude of the cruel animal exploitation that humanity is currently engaged in, get yourself a copy of this book and read it. It will not only release you from the overwhelming weight of our sadistic reality, it will help you add your momentum to the waves of change that are already growing with each capable, compassionate person (that means you!) who takes action.
My first reaction to this book was a lot of crying. I went vegan and THEN began to learn about how bad things actually are for non-human animals on this planet. The more I learned, the more powerless I felt. I even lost my fear of death, because it felt like I'd be glad to leave this sick world behind. I cried almost continually while reading the first third of the book because I had never felt so understood. The author went through the same things and, as a psychologist, has seen others go through them as well. Just knowing I wasn't alone in these feelings of despair and rage helped me so much.
After that, the book becomes more and more action-oriented, which I LOVED. I don't just want to be understood, I want to know what I can do to make things better! The book literally provides lists of things to do to resource yourself as a vegan fighting for a better world and to further the vegan cause, including taking good care of yourself (not only so you're able to speak up for the animals, but so that by simply existing as a happy, healthy vegan you are a living advertisement for veganism), learning to be an effective communicator (this suggestion led me to join the Vegan Toastmasters club, which is not only helping my communication skills, it's giving me emotional support simply by meeting regularly with nice people who are just as passionate about helping animals), and even accepting resistance to change as a positive, because resistance to new knowledge is still a step forward from complete ignorance.
I'll end my review with some of my favorite quotes from Vystopia:
My first reaction to this book was a lot of crying. I went vegan and THEN began to learn about how bad things actually are for non-human animals on this planet. The more I learned, the more powerless I felt. I even lost my fear of death, because it felt like I'd be glad to leave this sick world behind. I cried almost continually while reading the first third of the book because I had never felt so understood. The author went through the same things and, as a psychologist, has seen others go through them as well. Just knowing I wasn't alone in these feelings of despair and rage helped me so much.
After that, the book becomes more and more action-oriented, which I LOVED. I don't just want to be understood, I want to know what I can do to make things better! The book literally provides lists of things to do to resource yourself as a vegan fighting for a better world and to further the vegan cause, including taking good care of yourself (not only so you're able to speak up for the animals, but so that by simply existing as a happy, healthy vegan you are a living advertisement for veganism), learning to be an effective communicator (this suggestion led me to join the Vegan Toastmasters club, which is not only helping my communication skills, it's giving me emotional support simply by meeting regularly with nice people who are just as passionate about helping animals), and even accepting resistance to change as a positive, because resistance to new knowledge is still a step forward from complete ignorance.
I'll end my review with some of my favorite quotes from Vystopia:
- I am particularly sensitive to the emotional condition of a rapidly growing number people who become vegans based on their ethical beliefs about animal cruelty. These intrepid souls bear the brunt of abuse, criticism, ostracization, and in many cases, violence, from those who choose to ignore (for their own self-serving reasons) the screams coming from those well concealed, ghastly gulags of despair we call slaughterhouses, fur-farms, or vivisection laboratories. In my own journey through Joseph Conradās āHeart of Darknessā I have learned to see these vegans in a much more heroic light. I describe these vegans, who are in fact Animal Rights Activists, as brave, quintessential āFirst Respondersā. Like firefighters who run into burning, high rise buildings; citizens who swim out to rescue strangers caught in a rip; ordinary Germans who hid terrified Jews from the encroaching Nazis.
- I strongly encourage vegans to go beyond this and have ādown-time,ā because the animals need us to be well-resourced and strong to speak on their behalf. Also, the vegan lifestyle is exponentially healthier, and the healthy, abundant, fun, and interesting vegan is a powerful advert for veganism.
- There is little more painful to the vegan than being told they are selfish and only want others to be like them, when their value system is based on compassion, kindness, and lack of selfishness.
- The best thing a vegan can do is to be a great example of a happy, adjusted, open-minded, caring person who also happens to be vegan.
- Cowardice asks the question: Is it safe? Expediency asks the question: Is it politic? Vanity asks the question: Is it popular? But, conscience asks the question: Is it right? And there comes a time one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular -- but one must take it simply because it is right. ā Martin Luther King, Jr.
- The sheer number of animals whose lives stand to change for the better makes this the largest social justice movement on the planet.
- Most people are nearer to veganism than you think because they recognise the truth when they hear it.
The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
There's not much for me to say that I haven't said already in my reviews of the previous two entries in this series as narrated by Andy Serkis. It's excellent! Give it a listen!!
Here are a few of my reading notes from this time:
Here are a few of my reading notes from this time:
- Although many other characters were made out to be much more nasty or unpleasant or whatever in the movie adaptation, Denethor was not one. He's just as nasty in the book.
- The raising of the Shire is one of the most compelling parts of the entire series!
- The much longer book ending is so much better than the movie!
- The end of the story is so sad!!! I'm grateful for the appendices because they give me some emotional cool-down time, instead of forcing me to leave Middle Earth in tears š„²
The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think by Jennifer Ackerman
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
This book was so epically awesome, I am having a hard time figuring out how to put my experience into words. I'm tempted to just copy-paste all my reading notes and let them do the talking! But that would make my review tiresomely long, so I'll just use the notes to guide me, per usual.
TL;DR: My first impression of the book was excellent, and it remained so throughout. If you want to learn awesome new scientific things about birds, read no further. Just get yourself a copy of the book! Or, for more details, read on...
A prevailing theme that I deeply appreciated was humanity's arrogance and narcissism, particularly when dealing with other species. Time and again, this book showed that we're simply not that special. Birds, we have finally realized, not only possess language, art, music, play, cunning, tool creation and use, problem solving skills, the ability to wield fire, the ability to recall the past and plan for the future, and more abilities that humanity has vainly attempted to claim as sole-owner, birds are often more skilled than we are in these things, and certainly possess other traits, such as a keen sense of smell or the ability to see colors literally beyond our imagination, that put we egotistical apes to shame.
In a similar vein, the book pointed out the sexism inherent in most science, which is only now beginning to be left behind, and the way it has not only prevented human females from participating fully in scientific inquiry, but has skewed scientific results for ages due to assumptions made about other female animals, as well. This book actually made me think more critically about science in general, thanks to multiple examples of animals dying often horrific deaths while trapped by researchers, and by pointing out that research on animals does not serve any practical purpose, we just do it because learning is fun. Which makes the heartless way we go about it even more disturbing.
While most people might not gain this particular benefit from the book, I also found it a valuable resource for my fantasy novel project. I'm writing about gryphons, so learning about so many interesting and wildly varied bird species--such as kea, Caledonian crows, ravens, bowerbirds, little hermit hummingbirds, lyrebirds, vultures, oilbirds (we need a new name not based on the reason we have killed so many of them), antbirds, fairy-wrens, and many, many more--has given me tons of inspiration for my characters and their world. The book even gave me a scientific placement for my fantasy world in time and space, how epic is that?!
There are plenty more details I could share from my reading notes, but I think this is enough to help anyone decide whether this book is worth their time. It was definitely worth mine, and it will be remaining on my shelf for reference and perhaps even a complete reread in the future!
TL;DR: My first impression of the book was excellent, and it remained so throughout. If you want to learn awesome new scientific things about birds, read no further. Just get yourself a copy of the book! Or, for more details, read on...
A prevailing theme that I deeply appreciated was humanity's arrogance and narcissism, particularly when dealing with other species. Time and again, this book showed that we're simply not that special. Birds, we have finally realized, not only possess language, art, music, play, cunning, tool creation and use, problem solving skills, the ability to wield fire, the ability to recall the past and plan for the future, and more abilities that humanity has vainly attempted to claim as sole-owner, birds are often more skilled than we are in these things, and certainly possess other traits, such as a keen sense of smell or the ability to see colors literally beyond our imagination, that put we egotistical apes to shame.
In a similar vein, the book pointed out the sexism inherent in most science, which is only now beginning to be left behind, and the way it has not only prevented human females from participating fully in scientific inquiry, but has skewed scientific results for ages due to assumptions made about other female animals, as well. This book actually made me think more critically about science in general, thanks to multiple examples of animals dying often horrific deaths while trapped by researchers, and by pointing out that research on animals does not serve any practical purpose, we just do it because learning is fun. Which makes the heartless way we go about it even more disturbing.
While most people might not gain this particular benefit from the book, I also found it a valuable resource for my fantasy novel project. I'm writing about gryphons, so learning about so many interesting and wildly varied bird species--such as kea, Caledonian crows, ravens, bowerbirds, little hermit hummingbirds, lyrebirds, vultures, oilbirds (we need a new name not based on the reason we have killed so many of them), antbirds, fairy-wrens, and many, many more--has given me tons of inspiration for my characters and their world. The book even gave me a scientific placement for my fantasy world in time and space, how epic is that?!
There are plenty more details I could share from my reading notes, but I think this is enough to help anyone decide whether this book is worth their time. It was definitely worth mine, and it will be remaining on my shelf for reference and perhaps even a complete reread in the future!
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I picked up this book after seeing it on a list of fiction for vegans and noting its good reviews. It ended up being exactly the kind of book I wanted, full of compassion for animals, but not blatantly catering to only a vegan readership. This book is for ANYONE who likes good writing, compelling mystery, and bittersweet endings. It's hard to say more, because it's such a well-written book, I don't want to give anything away. Let it suffice to say I absolutely devoured this story and I think you will, too!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Confinement, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Death of parent, Death, Mental illness, Torture, Abandonment, Drug use, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Bullying, Sexual content, Violence, and Pregnancy
Grand Canyon by Jason Chin
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
This picturebook is so awesome I am always tempted to say it has everything you'd ever want, but then I remember there are no pop-ups or scratch 'n' sniff and I have to rein myself in š
It is seriously so well designed though, you will not go wrong picking it up. To start, the art and graphic design is so beautiful, it's a treat to look at before you even open it. After that comes the interesting Grand Canyon science, including geology, biology, and paleontology. The biggest surprise to me were the cutouts, which often bring the reader from present day to millions, even billions of years ago, like tiny organically-shaped windows into the past. The way the art seamlessly transitions through these windows is genius. It was a delight for me as an adult reader, so I'm sure kids will love it! The sections at the end, that go into more detail about the science, the illustration and storytelling, and recommendations for other books where one can learn more about the Grand Canyon are also excellent inclusions that make this picturebook more than a good story, it's a good resource!
I originally bought this picturebook at a gift shop while visiting the Grand Canyon's North Rim. It took me a while to finally read it but I'm so glad that I snagged such a brilliant book in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. If you're going to be visiting the Grand Canyon, I recommend looking for this book as a souvenir! And if traveling there in person isn't happening anytime soon, why not get this book and experience the grandeur of this amazing place in the palm of your hands?
I originally bought this picturebook at a gift shop while visiting the Grand Canyon's North Rim. It took me a while to finally read it but I'm so glad that I snagged such a brilliant book in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. If you're going to be visiting the Grand Canyon, I recommend looking for this book as a souvenir! And if traveling there in person isn't happening anytime soon, why not get this book and experience the grandeur of this amazing place in the palm of your hands?
ImagineFX: Manga: The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Digital Painting Techniques by Claire Howlett
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
This book is presented like an all-encompassing, everything-you-need-to-know compendium of digitally-created manga art. The problem is, it's not. It features almost nothing but art that is popular not because it's technically impressive or because it tells an incredible story, but because it prominently features scantily or tightly clad women, often posed awkwardly and vulnerably. It's so heavy on the male gaze it practically drips. It would be one thing if the book presented itself that way in the first place, as a sexy manga art exposition. But it talks about itself as if sexy manga girls ARE manga art. It doesn't allow for anything not aimed at teen and adult straight male audiences. It definitely doesn't feature any of the manga art that inspires me. There's a whole WORLD of manga out there, and this book does most of it a disservice by perpetuating the harmful stereotype that people who read manga are just perverted, sex-crazed men.
The Courage to Be Disliked: The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness by Fumitake Koga, Ichiro Kishimi
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
First off, I can't help but be amused at the way so many other reviews condemn this book for denying the existence of trauma (specifically, it states that trauma doesn't exist in the same way the past doesn't exist) because they're basically proving the book's point. Trauma is a delicious buzzword these days and no one wants to be told that they can (have to) let it go in order to move forward! I suffered severe abuse as a child and I always thought of it as trauma, as an invisible scar that I can never be rid of. After reading this book, I realize my memories of that abuse are not scars, but baggage I've been lugging around all my life, making everything else I want to do way more difficult than it needs to be. No more. I don't have trauma. I have memories of abuse, the same as I have memories of birthday parties and family road trips. Some memories are pleasant, some are unpleasant, but none will ever again convince me to behave in a way contrary to who I want to be NOW. I dropped the baggage, thanks to this book. If your mind is open, it could help you do the same ā¤ļø
Now, onto my main review! I loved this book! I will recommend it to anyone who seems like it would help. It was super easy to read and understand. The philosophy-style dialogue made it easy to follow the ideas; whenever I started to feel lost (or contrary) it was nice to have the Youth there to raise my objections for me, which the Philosopher always quickly and gently laid to rest. The book introduces new psychology concepts and terms, but also explains them simply, so that I never had to jump onto Wikipedia or Google for help. The only weakness is the awkwardness of the English translation. It's grammatically correct without any typos, etc. but, as an intermediate student of Japanese, I have a strong feeling it was translated too literally from the original. But even with that shortcoming, the book stands strong and I'll be turning back to it (and the multitudes of notes I took from it) whenever I need reminders to strengthen me. I picked it up in the first place because its title resonated fiercely with me. I'm pleased to report that I not only learned how to find the courage to be disliked, but how to find the courage to be happy and to be normal, to be deeply satisfied with the present moment, because that's all we ever really have.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
Now, onto my main review! I loved this book! I will recommend it to anyone who seems like it would help. It was super easy to read and understand. The philosophy-style dialogue made it easy to follow the ideas; whenever I started to feel lost (or contrary) it was nice to have the Youth there to raise my objections for me, which the Philosopher always quickly and gently laid to rest. The book introduces new psychology concepts and terms, but also explains them simply, so that I never had to jump onto Wikipedia or Google for help. The only weakness is the awkwardness of the English translation. It's grammatically correct without any typos, etc. but, as an intermediate student of Japanese, I have a strong feeling it was translated too literally from the original. But even with that shortcoming, the book stands strong and I'll be turning back to it (and the multitudes of notes I took from it) whenever I need reminders to strengthen me. I picked it up in the first place because its title resonated fiercely with me. I'm pleased to report that I not only learned how to find the courage to be disliked, but how to find the courage to be happy and to be normal, to be deeply satisfied with the present moment, because that's all we ever really have.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
It's as if you see the world through dark glasses, so naturally everything seems dark. But if that is the case, instead of lamenting about the world's darkness, you could just remove the glasses.
Adlerian psychology is a psychology of courage. Your unhappiness cannot be blamed on your past or your environment. And it isn't that you lack competence. You just lack courage.
If your life, or mine, for that matter, were to come to an end here and now, it would not do to refer to either of them as unhappy. The life that ends at the age of twenty and the life that ends at ninety are both complete lives, and lives of happiness.
No matter what moments you are living, or if there are people who dislike you, as long as you do not lose sight of the guiding star of "I contribute to others," you will not lose your way, and you can do whatever you like. Whether you're disliked or not, you pay it no mind and live free.
Introduction to Animal Rights: Your Child or the Dog? by Gary Francione
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
I've been putting off reviewing this book for months, not because I didn't want to review it nor because I didn't like it, but because it had such a huge (and ongoing) impact on me that I didn't know where to start. But I think humanity would become more aware, compassionate, and truly protective of animals if more people read this book, so here is my attempt to give a fair and heartfelt review!
First, TL;DR: This book is difficult--academically, conceptually, and emotionally--but it's worth your time if you care about improving conditions for the trillions of animals (annually) whose lives are affected and controlled by humanity.
I'd like to start by talking about the main argument this book makes, but it is so well set up and followed through that it almost feels spoilery to do so. Still, the book's inflammatory title might deter some readers who would otherwise agree with the conclusions it makes, so I think it's worthwhile to explain it.
The book starts by introducing examples of how things stand for animals today (while the book was first published 20+ years ago, things have unfortunately not improved much overall) including a heavy focus on animal rights philosophers and existing legal "protections". Much of the material is infuriating and heartbreaking, not because of the book, but because much of it is conveniently kept out of the public eye by the perpetrators. Before this book, I was just like most people, thinking things like, "Well, at least the animals live a nice life being taken care of, without a worry in the world, before they're killed," or "Well, at least animals in the zoo are safe from wild dangers like predators, illness, injury, etc." I bought into the propaganda of animal exploitation institutions. Since this book has a firm grounding in academia and comes from a professor of law, it's easy to verify the information it presents (there is a huge notes section at the end, including all the sources used, which you can then check for yourself). Knowing the information is solid makes it easy to agree with the arguments it makes in favor of true animal rights (i.e. the right to not be treated as property).
So what's the main argument? The book's subtitle and cover set it up. The scene is a house, burning ferociously, and you're watching from the outside. It's impossible to save more than one being, and you know your child and a dog are inside. Who do you save? The assumption may be, this is a vegan book, so it's going to tell me to save the dog, or that I should save whomever I find first, because animals should be treated like humans. I admit I had a similar expectation, and I was wrong! The book actually suggests that saving your child is not only the natural thing to do, but perhaps the morally correct decision. It completely allows for choosing a human over an animal. I was truly surprised by this and I couldn't help but agree. The argument here is just as fair and sound as throughout the rest of the book.
And by the end it gets REALLY interesting.
That burning house, with human and dog inside? That's the story animal exploiters feed us every day. It makes it very easy to say, Yeah, it sucks that we have to do things this way, but it's only natural and correct to take care of our own first.
What the animal exploiters don't tell you is that they're the ones who dragged your child and the dog inside the house before setting it ablaze.
And until now, I never even thought to ask, metaphorically of course, Wait, why is my child and that dog in that house? Why is the house on fire?
That's the core argument of this book. That individuals are being duped by those who exploit animals. That (even if we're not suffering as extremely) humans like you and I are just as much victims of animal exploitation. It's a mindblowing revelation that changed my life forever. The book makes other arguments as well, all of which are well reasoned and frankly unassailable. I recommend it to anyone who cares about animals!
That said, it is a book that requires fortitude from its reader. For one, there are graphic descriptions and harrowing photos included. One photo of a cow screaming for help on its way to slaughter haunts me every day. I think about how that cow never got help, and is long dead, and how millions like it face the same grim fate every year, thousands every day. But it also reminds me why I do what I do. Why I choose a vegan lifestyle, why I donate to reputable animal charities, why I focus my career on furthering animal welfare. I am extremely sensitive to graphic material, so this may be a difficult hurdle for some readers. I recommend the book anyway. Don't let yourself continue to be hoodwinked. You deserve to know the truth. The animals deserve to have their situation known.
Another difficult point in this book is its academic nature. This is not armchair nonfiction. It requires attention and deep thought and maybe even research to properly understand. Anyone with a college-level understanding of English should be able to follow it, but be prepared to invest time in reading and digesting what it has to say. Please don't let the time commitment deter you. Again, if you care about helping animals, it will be worth your while!
If you're able to overcome these hurdles, not only will you see the infallible validity of the book's abolitionist standpoint, you will be given guidance on how to move the world in the right direction. It's not just a book about law or philosophy, it's a map toward a truly compassionate future. The main points I took from it include:
First, TL;DR: This book is difficult--academically, conceptually, and emotionally--but it's worth your time if you care about improving conditions for the trillions of animals (annually) whose lives are affected and controlled by humanity.
I'd like to start by talking about the main argument this book makes, but it is so well set up and followed through that it almost feels spoilery to do so. Still, the book's inflammatory title might deter some readers who would otherwise agree with the conclusions it makes, so I think it's worthwhile to explain it.
The book starts by introducing examples of how things stand for animals today (while the book was first published 20+ years ago, things have unfortunately not improved much overall) including a heavy focus on animal rights philosophers and existing legal "protections". Much of the material is infuriating and heartbreaking, not because of the book, but because much of it is conveniently kept out of the public eye by the perpetrators. Before this book, I was just like most people, thinking things like, "Well, at least the animals live a nice life being taken care of, without a worry in the world, before they're killed," or "Well, at least animals in the zoo are safe from wild dangers like predators, illness, injury, etc." I bought into the propaganda of animal exploitation institutions. Since this book has a firm grounding in academia and comes from a professor of law, it's easy to verify the information it presents (there is a huge notes section at the end, including all the sources used, which you can then check for yourself). Knowing the information is solid makes it easy to agree with the arguments it makes in favor of true animal rights (i.e. the right to not be treated as property).
So what's the main argument? The book's subtitle and cover set it up. The scene is a house, burning ferociously, and you're watching from the outside. It's impossible to save more than one being, and you know your child and a dog are inside. Who do you save? The assumption may be, this is a vegan book, so it's going to tell me to save the dog, or that I should save whomever I find first, because animals should be treated like humans. I admit I had a similar expectation, and I was wrong! The book actually suggests that saving your child is not only the natural thing to do, but perhaps the morally correct decision. It completely allows for choosing a human over an animal. I was truly surprised by this and I couldn't help but agree. The argument here is just as fair and sound as throughout the rest of the book.
And by the end it gets REALLY interesting.
That burning house, with human and dog inside? That's the story animal exploiters feed us every day. It makes it very easy to say, Yeah, it sucks that we have to do things this way, but it's only natural and correct to take care of our own first.
What the animal exploiters don't tell you is that they're the ones who dragged your child and the dog inside the house before setting it ablaze.
And until now, I never even thought to ask, metaphorically of course, Wait, why is my child and that dog in that house? Why is the house on fire?
That's the core argument of this book. That individuals are being duped by those who exploit animals. That (even if we're not suffering as extremely) humans like you and I are just as much victims of animal exploitation. It's a mindblowing revelation that changed my life forever. The book makes other arguments as well, all of which are well reasoned and frankly unassailable. I recommend it to anyone who cares about animals!
That said, it is a book that requires fortitude from its reader. For one, there are graphic descriptions and harrowing photos included. One photo of a cow screaming for help on its way to slaughter haunts me every day. I think about how that cow never got help, and is long dead, and how millions like it face the same grim fate every year, thousands every day. But it also reminds me why I do what I do. Why I choose a vegan lifestyle, why I donate to reputable animal charities, why I focus my career on furthering animal welfare. I am extremely sensitive to graphic material, so this may be a difficult hurdle for some readers. I recommend the book anyway. Don't let yourself continue to be hoodwinked. You deserve to know the truth. The animals deserve to have their situation known.
Another difficult point in this book is its academic nature. This is not armchair nonfiction. It requires attention and deep thought and maybe even research to properly understand. Anyone with a college-level understanding of English should be able to follow it, but be prepared to invest time in reading and digesting what it has to say. Please don't let the time commitment deter you. Again, if you care about helping animals, it will be worth your while!
If you're able to overcome these hurdles, not only will you see the infallible validity of the book's abolitionist standpoint, you will be given guidance on how to move the world in the right direction. It's not just a book about law or philosophy, it's a map toward a truly compassionate future. The main points I took from it include:
- Laws do not effectively protect animals. Culture has to change first.
- Person = personality = animals are people.
- It doesn't matter how kindly you treat animals if they're still nothing more than property.
And, to wrap up, some powerful quotes:
In many ways, our prevailing ways of thinking about animals should make us skeptical of our claim that it is our rationality that distinguishes us from them.
Labels such as "natural" and "traditional" are just that: labels. They are not reasons. If people defend the imposition of pain and suffering on an animal based on what is natural or traditional, it usually means they cannot otherwise justify their conduct.
The argument for animal rights does not decrease respect for human life; it increases respect for all life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Death, Murder, Slavery, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Medical content, Confinement, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic