Amazon.com
Jacob Jankowski says: "I am ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other." At the beginning of Water for Elephants, he is living out his days in a nursing home, hating every second of it. His life wasn't always like this, however, because Jacob ran away and joined the circus when he was twenty-one. It wasn't a romantic, carefree decision, to be sure. His parents were killed in an auto accident one week before he was to sit for his veterinary medicine exams at Cornell. He buried his parents, learned that they left him nothing because they had mortgaged everything to pay his tuition, returned to school, went to the exams, and didn't write a single word. He walked out without completing the test and wound up on a circus train. The circus he joins, in Depression-era America, is second-rate at best. With Ringling Brothers as the standard, Benzini Brothers is far down the scale and pale by comparison.
Water for Elephants is the story of Jacob's life with this circus. Sara Gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself. The animals are mangy, underfed or fed rotten food, and abused. Jacob, once it becomes known that he has veterinary skills, is put in charge of the "menagerie" and all its ills. Uncle Al, the circus impresario, is a self-serving, venal creep who slaps people around because he can. August, the animal trainer, is a certified paranoid schizophrenic whose occasional flights into madness and brutality often have Jacob as their object. Jacob is the only person in the book who has a handle on a moral compass and as his reward he spends most of the novel beaten, broken, concussed, bleeding, swollen and hungover. He is the self-appointed Protector of the Downtrodden, and... he falls in love with Marlena, crazy August's wife. Not his best idea.
The most interesting aspect of the book is all the circus lore that Gruen has so carefully researched. She has all the right vocabulary: grifters, roustabouts, workers, cooch tent, rubes, First of May, what the band plays when there's trouble, Jamaican ginger paralysis, life on a circus train, set-up and take-down, being run out of town by the "revenooers" or the cops, and losing all your hooch. There is one glorious passage about Marlena and Rosie, the bull elephant, that truly evokes the magic a circus can create. It is easy to see Marlena's and Rosie's pink sequins under the Big Top and to imagine their perfect choreography as they perform unbelievable stunts. The crowd loves it--and so will the reader. The ending is absolutely ludicrous and really quite lovely. --Valerie Ryan
Book Description
As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.
Customer Reviews:
This Should Happen to Me.......2007-10-18
As a person in his 70s who deals with a mother-in-law in her 90s, I found much Jacob's trials in the nursing home close to home. That he could escape into the memory of his youthful connection with the circus was probably a life saver for him.
Ms Gruen did a masterful job of separating and at the same time blending Jacob's experiences in his youth with those in his present state of being 90 or 93.
It is worth reading this book all the way through to get to a surprising and wonderful end that I shall not reveal so as not to spoil it for others.
Ms Gruen obviously researched circuses. Her attention to detail, both when she wrote about the circus and also when she wrote about the nursing home helped make the story realistic.
All in all, it was well written and held my attention.
Good book, not a good ending..........2007-10-17
I liked the book although a bit depressing and if you are an animal lover some of the references to how the animals in the circus are treated can make you a bit uncomfortable. What I didn't like was the ending - it ended quickly and on this high note that seemed forced (don't want to spoil anything for anyone but I was expecting the end to be a bit more "realistic" not "feel good movie" ending...)
Htis the spot.......2007-10-17
Loved the book. Sara Gruen's writing is crisp. Hard to put down. It's a love story written amongst a historical depiction of circus life during the depression.
Fun story.......2007-10-17
This was a very fun story. The characters were well developed and the history of the circus was well researched (and educational to me). It was a little predictable, but it was still fun, and different. The writing style had me anxious to keep on reading, not to see what was going to happen, but to see how and when. I love how the author switched the main character point of view back and forth from "old guy falling apart in a nursing home" to "young, fresh guy just getting his start on life." Both POV's were believeable and drew me into feeling for the character at both points in his life! I would recommend this to anyone looking for a light, fun read
Melodramatic and formulaic.......2007-10-16
*****Spoilers Below*****
"Water For Elephants" tells the story of a poor orphan who joins the circus, becomes a hero, and wins the girl. The end. There. I've saved you 331 pages of familiar characters, melodrama, mediocre writing, and (if you're like me) 5 subways rides to and from work when you could be reading something else.
Everything about this book is familiar: The plucky naive hero whose courage glides him to be savvy, but never jaded, confident, but not cocky; the fainting heroine; the surly, misunderstood clown who's really a kind-hearted soul underneat the makeup; the evil husband; the homey black nurse; the evil ring master whose employees are worth only what they bring in; the wise elephant; the lusty wenches; the migrant worker with a troubled past who says things like "I don't rightly know" and "reckon" and whole lot.
All the characters were caricatures and I knew EVERYTHING that was going to happen about 100 pages into the book. From Marlena getting preggers (seriously: she's married to her husband for 4 years, sleeps with Jacob and his magic sperm ONCE and gets knocked up? How conveniant.), to the elephant speaking Polish (and killing August), to Walter coming around, etc. The good all end happily, the bad unhappily. The reader is even assured that the child is Jacob's and Marlena never gets fat: just in case you thought SOMETHING might go wrong! One thing I DIDN'T call 100 pages in was a 93 year old running off to join the circus. Know why? Because it's so ridiculous as to be impossible. I'm calling shenanigans.
If the point was to realistically show how brutal circuses were, carry it to it's final conclusion: kill someone we like, not just the people who deserve it or animals without names. There was obviously a lot of (what must have been fascinating) research that went into this book. But even that was thrown in my face. Every time there was something I didn't understand, a character blatantly explained it right away rather than allowing me to just figure it out based on context clues and subtle writing.
Overall, very soap-opera and melodramatic. If you read strictly for entertainment as a general rule, you'll probably like it. But popularity doesn't make it good.
Book Description
Curious about veganism? Want to be a vegan? Already a vegan? Just wondering how to be vegan without going insane? In this informative and practical guide on veganism, two seasoned vegans help you love your inner vegan freak. Loaded with tips, advice, stories, and comprehensive lists of resources that no vegan should live without, this book is key to helping you thrive as a happy, healthy, and sane vegan in a decidedly non-vegan world. In this sometimes funny, sometimes irreverent, and sometimes serious guide that's not afraid to tell it like it is, new, long-time, and potential vegans will find: -how to go vegan in 3 weeks or less using the "cold tofu" program; -the arguments for ethical veganism; -how to get along with friends, family, and others, including other vegetarians; -tons of useful and practical tips for surviving the grocery store, restaurants, and dinners with omnivores; -how to respond when people ask you if you "like live on apples and twigs;" -how capitalism is implicated in animal and human oppression Vegan Freak: Being Vegan in a Non-Vegan World is your guide to embracing vegan freakdom. Come on, get your freak on! About the authors: Tattooed leftist vegan freaks themselves, Bob and Jenna Torres both hold PhDs from Cornell University.
Customer Reviews:
I will soon be a Vegan Freak.......2007-09-27
I have been transitioning into veganism for a little while now (slowly removing dairy and eggs instead of doing it all at once). One of my biggest concerns with becoming a vegan is what my friends and family will say. Not that I care about their opinions, because it will not change my own, but I just didn't want to hear all of thier comments constantly. All of my friends have been supportive, but family members "who know it all" have been lecturing me on protein, vitamins, health, the "fact" that animals who are part of the egg and dairy industries "are not harmed" (which any vegan will tell you is not the case AT ALL), etc. This book gives you a lot of information about ways to deal with the comments of others and gives you a lot of knowledge about the different aspects of being a vegan (why vegans doing wear leather, wool, etc). I also like how they put in own personal experiences. This was a good book and I highly recommend it!!!
Excellent Vegan Intro.......2007-08-06
Being a newly minted Vegan, I was looking for a book that would give me a good introduction to the subject without burying me in propaganda. Vegan Freak is that and more. The authors are funny, intelligent, and well versed in the trials and tribulations of being a Vegan in modern consumer society. They give excellent tips, suggestions, and advice for dealing with family/friends/co-workers who may not understand your choice; all with a friendly and accessible narrative tone. Despite a somewhat brisk discussion of the moral basis for Veganism and the logical arguments that support it, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to adopt a Vegan lifestyle or who has questions on the subject.
not sure what about this one........2007-05-02
I read this book and liked it's style and the information was helpful but I feel like the authors need to revise this book and try a little harder to cut down on the opinions and repetitive info and instead pack in more of their valuable advise. I'm not sure how to better explain this but I will illustrate how I read this book. I Read the whole thing really fast first of all, and when i got to the end I was shocked it was over. So I thought maybe I missed a chapter or two. So I skimmed back through it searching for the lost chapters, but they were not there. I was so desperate for more that I read the appendix over and over searching for more info. I guess I fell that this book is incomplete
Being vegan doesn't mean you're a hippie and have to smell!.......2007-03-11
Being a vegan is a way of life and doesn't mean that you'll go around stinking, and that no one will like you. Being vegan is a life choice just like one that you make when you decide to get out of bed and/or brush your teeth. Going to college in a "hippie" town and running in to quite a few vegans this book made the life choice / life change easier for me when I was vegan. I still use this book for helpful insight and advice even though I am not vegan right now. Being vegan does not mean that you will go broke at the grocery store either. One of the first things out of people's mouths is - "I bet you spend a fortune on food!" It's not true. There are a lot of options out there for vegans to live on a budget and still be vegan, happy and healthy.
I support all outlooks on eating and I can say for myself that while I was totally vegan I was the most happy and most healthy that I've ever been. I hardly ever got sick, and could eat when I was hungry without worrying about carbs and calories all the time. I could munch on asparagus and make meals for potlucks that everyone was dying to know the recipe for.
Being Vegan is not easy - this book definitely points that out. Being something that is outside of the "norm" that we all see around us is definitely something that takes a while to get used to. By reading this book that "change" into being vegan is much easier. I've bought this book and shared it with people who were just interested on knowing exactly what being vegan meant.
I plan on going back to being "100% vegan" soon and I will use this book as one of my main sources of entertainment and pleasure reading.
I'm Glad I didn't Buy It........2007-02-25
I was really eager to read this. Sometimes I feel very alone in my veganism so I checked this book out. All I learned was don't make veganism sound difficult so non-vegans think they could never do it. (Like whining you miss cheese.) The book was repetitive and referenced a lot of other books during the reading. Now, that is appreciated when there is recommended further reading at the back of the book but not throughout the read. Also, plain English writing (how we speak aloud) is annoying in a book. I couldn't get past that.
Amazon.com
If you imagine most writer's bathrooms (and this is probably a mistake) you'd picture damp towels in a clump on the floor, hair in the soap, a few mildewed paperbacks stacked on the counter. But it's impossible to picture Chris Bohjalian's bathroom as anything but an Architectural Digest centerfold: polished counters, not a stray thread on the plush towels, the modulated colors sparked to life by fresh flowers from a neighbor's garden.
Bohjalian's eighth novel, Before You Know Kindness, is a beautifully observed, delicately balanced portrait of a family that could only come from the hands of a tireless craftsman who keeps reaching into his story to straighten the tulips or tuck in a shirttail. It begins with two EMTs leaning over animal rights' activist Spencer McCullough's gushing shotgun wound and winds back through the ordinary days leading up to the extraordinary accident, and then forward again as Spencer and his family come to terms with what has happened. As ambitious as other Bohjalian novels, Before You Know Kindness spirals out to encompass the larger issues of Spencer's political loyalties and the heartless, passionate world of political spin. Some readers may find Bohjalian's style too smooth. Others will relish the completeness of his vision and his obvious tenderness for even the most difficult of his characters. --Regina Marler
Book Description
Chris Bohjalian, bestselling author of
Midwives, presents his most ambitious and multi-layered novel to date--examining wildly divisive issues in today’s America with his trademark emotional heft and spellbinding storytelling skill.
On a balmy July night in New Hampshire a shot rings out in a garden, and a man falls to the ground, terribly wounded. The wounded man is Spencer McCullough, the shot that hit him was fired–accidentally?–by his adolescent daughter Charlotte. With this shattering moment of violence, Chris Bohjalian launches the best kind of literate page-turner: suspenseful, wryly funny, and humane.
Download Description
For ten summers, the Seton family—all three generations—met at their country home in New England to spend a week together playing tennis, badminton, and golf, and savoring gin and tonics on the wraparound porch to celebrate the end of the season. In the eleventh summer, everything changed. A hunting rifle with a single cartridge left in the chamber wound up in exactly the wrong hands at exactly the wrong time, and led to a nightmarish accident that put to the test the values that unite the family—and the convictions that just may pull it apart.
Before You Know Kindness is a family saga that is timely in its examination of some of the most important issues of our era, and timeless in its exploration of the strange and unexpected places where we find love.
As he did with his earlier masterpiece, Midwives, Chris Bohjalian has written a novel that is rich with unforgettable characters—and absolutely riveting in its page-turning intensity.
“Few writers can manipulate a plot with Bohjalian's grace and power.”—The New York Times Book Review
“Chris Bohjalian's many fans will be glad to know he's back on the high wire, expertly balancing topical issues with the more timeless concerns of the human heart. His well-drawn, sympathetic characters deepen and intensify the novel's gripping plot rather than simply serving it. Before You Know Kindness is smart, first-rate storytelling.”—Richard Russo, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Empire Falls
“Once again, Chris Bohjalian dares to tackle the complexities—and complacencies—of modern society at its most vulnerable spot, where the personal clashes with the political, where the private is forced to go public. And once again, he forges a drama that will keep his readers on the edge of their seats…perhaps their conscience as well.”—Julia Glass, winner of the National Book Award for Three Junes
“Chris Bohjalian's magnificent new novel, Before You Know Kindness, is the best work of fiction I've read about an American family since Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club. It is one of the funniest, best-written, most compassionate, most engaging, and flat-out most enjoyable novels I've ever read.”—Howard Frank Mosher, winner of the New England Book Award for A Stranger in the Kingdom
“Elegant, refined…a triumph.”—Booklist (starred review)
Customer Reviews:
a great book club choice.......2007-10-06
A great book club choice! This book sparked a terrific discussion for our group. From the first pages you are grabbed and pulled into the story.
Brilliant.......2007-09-16
I truly can't say enough about this finely crafted brilliant novel, and I will explain in a minute why I gave it four instead of five stars; really it should be 4.5 stars.
The beginning certaiinly gets the reader's attention: It's a nauseatingly graphic description of a near-fatal gunshot wound to Spencer McCullough's shoulder; complete with gushing blood, pulverized muscle, and so forth. So we know right away that something catasrophic has happened to this man, and I, at least, was not quite sure he lived.
Then we get into the story. Here we have a quite unusual upper-class extended family. The mother, a seventy-something sports fanatic (and I mean PLAYING, not watching!) divides her time between Manhattan and her summer house in New Hampshire. Her two grown children, spouses and families live in Vermont and Manhattan, respectively. The son John, a lawyer, and his wife, a therapist, have two children: 10-year-old Willow and infant Patrick. Daughter Katherine teaches at an exclusive private school that her daughter attends. Her husband Spencer, the wounde-ee, if you will, is a fanatic animal-rights activist in the upper echelons of FERAL, a group so rigid and righteous that it puts PETA to shame. And don't get me wrong; I am passionate about animal rights, but the descriptions of FERAL often had me laughing.
The accident, horrific in its pain and terror, happens about a third into the book. Let's just say it involves a HUNTING RIFLE, of all things ironic, and that Spencer's own cocky pre-teen daughter Charlotte, high from forbidden marijuana and beer stolen at a country club party, pulls the trigger. The rest of the book is the finely drawn description of the changes, marital and otherwise, that affect each member of the extended family, from the very patrician grandmother down to 10-year-old Willow, un unwitting accomplice and a child far beyond her years in wisdom.
And that fact, and one other, are the only two things that prevented me from giving five stars. The first is that, as endearing as she is, I found Willow to be beyond anything I know a 10-year-old girl to be, and I have been a mother, an aunt, and a friend to many a precocious child. My second involved confusion as the author switched from scathing satire about FERAL to his own version of animal activism, describing in horrible detail the way live lobsters are killed (I don't think I can eat another one) and how deer suffer in the hunt, and on and on. It was disconcerting to go from laughing at FERAL to crying over the animals, and it didn't really make sense to me in the larger arena of the novel.
However, I truly found this a brillint book, and recommend it highly.
Disappointing!.......2007-07-18
I am a fan of Chris Bohjalian, having read several of his previous books. I have especially always liked the thoughtful treatment he gives complex and delicate issues. This book, unfortunately, was a big disappointment. It's over 400 pages long, and easily could have been half this if it was pared down to the essential issues. For some reason, he found it necessary to examine even the smallest details from each character's point of view, which got very tedious, particularly when each person had a similar take on the situation. Additionally, he found it important to go over and over and over the same issues - there is a big secret that the girl who shot her father is hiding and she and her cousin discuss it ad nauseum. Again, I found this very tedious. I ended up skimming the last 100 pages and still feel like I didn't miss anything. My final criticism is that he didn't follow that writer's axiom - write what you know. He clearly knows very little about adolescent girls - other than that they are *boy crazy*!!! - and it showed.
A good read.......2007-06-06
I won't go into great detail, as other reviewers have already provided thorough summations. I found this to be a well-crafted novel with excellently portrayed characters that develop and transform as the events unfold. I was pleasantly surprised at the crow's involvement near the end as I anticipated the evidence was just lost, never to be recovered by the police (as it often is in real life.) It was a lovely way to weave in the grandmother's earlier attempt to have the girls do the experiment with the crow and the dime - I love subtle foreshadowing. I will definitely have to check out other books by Mr. Bohjalian.
Boring.......2007-05-20
I found this book to be very boring...not like Midwives at all!! Good auther, just got off on this book; described things in way too much detail, sentances ran FOREVER!! Reading Buffalo Soldier right now....hopefully it will prove to be more like Midwives.
Book Description
Illustrating Nature ~ Right-brain Art in a Left-brain World is the secret doorway to realistic drawing - open this book and find the kind of instruction that you've always wanted.
Even if nature isn't your all-time hot interest, the bountiful illustrations, generous tips, and step-by-step tutorials focusing on natural objects you can find anywhere, anytime, will give you a jump-start on any other type of subject you choose, from still-life compositions to action figures to landscapes. This book sets you off on a trail of adventure ~ and who knows where it will lead! Dive into this book to discover how you can make your pencil do what you tell it to do. Use your new-found skills to improve your paintings, sketch in your field journal, design and illustrate your own business or greeting cards, or create a home school curriculum for your kids - whatever you desire.
This book is for all ages - from college students, teens, and art-loving younger kids, to adults looking for a new career or simply wanting to develop their creative skills.
Written by an award-winning children's nature book author and college-level instructor in scientific illustration, the text is superbly crafted to make sense to the creative person of any age.
Here are some of the amazing things you can do with this book:
Improve the connections between your creative right brain and your organized left brain to create a stunning working partnership. You'll be astonished at the things you can do.
Discover techniques of observing a subject, so that you can transmit instructions through your hand and pencil to the paper with accuracy, speed and style.
Learn how to sketch living, moving animals using multiple working sketches and additive techniques to achieve vibrant finished drawings.
Explore tricks that will enable you to draw fur, scales, wood, feathers, wrinkles, hair fuzz, and other textures found in nature and elsewhere.
See shadows and shading the way the professional artist does, and learn how to give your drawings three-dimensional depth with shadows and highlights. Even children can learn how to do this.
Master the mysteries of design to create handsome and interesting drawings, displays, and posters ~ anything you want.
Learn how to use a computer graphics program to improve your artwork in ways that would be difficult or impossible by hand.
Work your way through a hands-on, step-by-step computer scan of your artwork, including guidelines for combining graphic files with text to produce publishable artwork.
Understand techniques and ways to critique, fine-tune and improve your own art when you don't have an unbiased expert or teacher to help you out.
Find a whole new artistic consciousness within yourself ~and a great deal more ~ in this sturdy book with a stay-open binding, designed for easy use.
Customer Reviews:
A book that delivers.......2005-07-29
I've looked at a lot of art instruction books, wondering if they'd perform
as promised. This profusely illustrated book is the best I've seen!
The first thing you notice when you leaf through Illustrating Nature ~
Right-brain Art in a Left-brain World is that Irene Brady has skillfully
constructed exercises to lead you by the hand at your own pace down her
well-marked trail to professional illustration. For instance, the book begins by
explaining that artistic skills are natural to most of us and that to open
the door all you need is the key - then she hands you the key.
Starting with right-brain exercises to help you access your creative
skills, she then shows you how to really look at things, noticing and
comparing shapes and angles. The next step is to convey that information to
your hand and the paper - and amazingly, out comes a picture you'll be
amazed you could create. While beginners can get started with this book,
all artists can jump in at their own skill level and proceed from there to
a stage of excellence they've only dreamed of. There are exercises to
advance the artist's skill in such different areas as shading; use of
pencil, pen, and computer; organizing and designing an illustration; field
sketching (and taking notes about the subject); and a multitude of procedures and tips, both large and small, that go into creating beautiful, professional
results. The heavily illustrated instructions for each exercise are clear,
concise, and lead the artist from elemental to complex in easy increments.
The appendix outlines steps to guide your art into a career in a wide array
of professional fields.
If you've ever thought you might like to jumpstart, improve, or hone your
artistic skills to a fine point, this book is an excellent choice.
Illustrating Nature: Right-Brain Art in a Left-Brain World.......2005-07-28
Irene Brady is an expert, biologically accurate nature artist, but that doesn't stop her from creating (and teaching others to create) lively, interesting nature art. I am very impressed by her book, Illustrating Nature, Right-brain Art in a Left-brain World. From the construction of a leaf or a wing to the hairs in an ear and the fur on the body, Brady leads you to analyze the structure of plant or animal parts. Then she skillfully helps you understand techniques to illustrate these features. You learn how to pay attention to the details and illustrate the entire organism in a realistic and delightful manner. Brady wisely encourages the developing artist to use computer graphics as part of their toolkit. She also provides an appendix with many design ideas for book and magazine layout and design and promotional graphics, brochures and the like for museums and nature centers. This is a superb book for classroom use and the individual learner. I would have given my eyeteeth for this book as a child. Maybe there is hope for me yet!
Nancy Field
Nature Publisher, Author and Wildlife Biologist
Dog-Eared Publications
Author of several titles, including Discovering Sharks and Rays, the winner of a 2004 Ben Franklin Award for Best Juvenile-Young Adult Nonfiction
Right Brain rediscovered.......2005-02-15
Rebeccasreads highly recommends ILLUSTRATING NATURE as an important tool for every budding artist (no matter their age) with an eye for a career in illustration, scientific or otherwise, as well as an extraordinary assistance for elders wanting to keep their brains in tip-top shape!
If you're a bit confused by all this Left Brain/Right Brain stuff, then Irene Brady ably guides you in discovering just what your Left Brain does, & what your magical Right Brain can do. Amazing stuff, folks!
ILLUSTRATING NATURE is a superbly inter-active book -- you are in for an adventure in creating fascinating, realistic images.
ILLUSTRATING NATURE is a textbook you will keep coming back to, as your skill progresses - highly recommended for home schooling, elder art classes & anyone of any age who loves to draw.
Excellent choice for learning to draw nature.......2004-12-28
A great deal of this art instructional book deals with trying to see things and draw using the artistic side of the brain instead of the analytical left side. Subjects covered include sketching, texture, tone, line art, drawing techniques, design and layout, drawing fur, eyes, and other parts of animals, and botanical drawing. The appendixes include multiple projects, field sketchbook and portfolio creation, and career tips if you want to pursue illustration as a career. In addition to the common techniques you typically find in an art instructional book there are dozens and dozens of field notes specific to nature illustration work in the field. These make the book a best choice for anyone who wants to engage in nature illustration. Illustrating Nature is recommended for drawing in general and highly recommended for nature drawing techniques.
Amazon.com
In Good Natured Frans de Waal, ethologist and primatologist, asks us to reconsider human morality in light of moral aspects that can be identified in animals. Within the complex negotiations of human society, a moral action may involve thoughts and feelings of guilt, reciprocity, obligation, expectations, rules, or community concern. De Waal finds these aspects of morality prevalent in other animal societies, mostly primate, and suggests that the two philosophical camps supporting nature and nurture may have to be disbanded in order to adequately understand human morality. A theoretician, de Waal is meticulous in his research, cautious not to extrapolate too much from his findings, and logically sound in his arguments. He also writes with precision and a flair for the dramatic, carrying readers along with graceful ease and vivid examples.
Book Description
To observe a dog's guilty look.
to witness a gorilla's self-sacrifice for a wounded mate, to watch an elephant herd's communal effort on behalf of a stranded calf--to catch animals in certain acts is to wonder what moves them. Might there he a code of ethics in the animal kingdom? Must an animal be human to he humane? In this provocative book, a renowned scientist takes on those who have declared ethics uniquely human Making a compelling case for a morality grounded in biology, he shows how ethical behavior is as much a matter of evolution as any other trait, in humans and animals alike.
World famous for his brilliant descriptions of Machiavellian power plays among chimpanzees-the nastier side of animal life--Frans de Waal here contends that animals have a nice side as well. Making his case through vivid anecdotes drawn from his work with apes and monkeys and holstered by the intriguing, voluminous data from his and others' ongoing research, de Waal shows us that many of the building blocks of morality are natural: they can he observed in other animals. Through his eyes, we see how not just primates but all kinds of animals, from marine mammals to dogs, respond to social rules, help each other, share food, resolve conflict to mutual satisfaction, even develop a crude sense of justice and fairness.
Natural selection may be harsh, but it has produced highly successful species that survive through cooperation and mutual assistance. De Waal identifies this paradox as the key to an evolutionary account of morality, and demonstrates that human morality could never have developed without the foundation of fellow feeling our species shares with other animals. As his work makes clear, a morality grounded in biology leads to an entirely different conception of what it means to he human--and humane.
Customer Reviews:
Just a good book.......2007-06-10
I found the book to be highly readable and subject matter to be fascinating. This subject is no where near my field (which is history) but found that De Waal presents the material in way that is very accessible to anyone. De Waal has an entertaining writing style that keeps you absorbed in the reading without the effort I have found in other books on the subject.
It's very important for us to really look at where we come from and why we are what we are, and taking a look at our closest relatives is a good window into our minds. I found the analysis and the conclusions to be well formed and fairly presented. The evidence he gives for his conclusions is well documented and explained.
While I did have a few problems here and there, these did not detract from the overall readability and the pure enjoyment of the book. This was just a very enjoyable book that I would recommend to anyone, whether you have a deep interest in the topic or you're just looking for an interesting book to use up a few hours in the day.
Very important book, gives the good news about Darwinism.......2007-05-12
For some time now, we have been pounded with the bad news about Darwin. Life was shaped by a war of all against all. Evolution is survival of the fittest. People are incurably violent "killer apes" because Darwin made us killing machines.
This is all alot of nonsense, and always has been. It is important for a number of reasons, however. Among other things, many of the opponents of Darwin in the academic world are motivated by an understandable distaste for the "killer ape" school of thought. If Darwin says that people are no damm good, and that is built into our genes, then we reject Darwin.
But Darwin never said any of that stuff. Evolution by natural selection favors whatever promotes survival, under the conditions a species finds itself. It promotes being big and heavy, for whales in the ocean; it promotes being light and thin, for hummingbirds. It does not promote any one thing, in all circumstances.
It particularly does not promote unlimited aggressiveness, particularly among social animals. A very more useful strategy for survival is cooperation. De Waal makes the case that cooperation is built into us, by natural selection. He uses eminently Darwinian logic, and he knows the science.
Brilliant.......2006-12-07
De Waal is brilliant, objective, careful in reaching conclusions, ethical, a good writer, and has a lot to say. He is very much aware of research in related fields, such as developmental psychology. He and others place great store on observation of animals in natural settings, but also use controlled experimentation, analogous to the type of studies psychologists are always performing on college students. While I think this was an outstanding book, I would acknowledge that the beginning is slower reading than the end: more focused on the necessary vocabulary, some of the controversies, more argumentative, a little redundant.
De Waal contrasts "lower" primates and chimpanzees so that we can better understand the evolution of morality, and such distinctions as that between learned adjustment and true empathy. Chimps will mourn, console, deceive; the alpha male will intervene in disputes where the only objective can be restoration of harmony. As all animals, their adaptive potential exceeds the range of behavior observed in natural settings. For example, in the wild, females do not usually spend much time with other adult females, whereas in captivity they do. In captivity, they may use their friendships/alliances to control overly aggressive males, and even influence who becomes the alpha male. While morality has a genetic basis, even in monkeys there is a cultural component. In one experiment, aggressive rhesus adolescents learned to be more tolerant after living with more peaceful stump tailed macaques for 6 months.
The adaptive potential of morality is that it fosters group cohesion, which for many species is essential for defense against predators, or to find or protect resources. This is not to deny that one basis of morality is the selfish gene: by helping kin, you are helping some of your own genes to survive, so "altruistic genes" tend to perpetuate themselves.
Morality among Primates.......2006-09-25
Good Natured is a book focusing on morality in the animal kingdom, specifically primates. Overall, I thought this was definitely a fairy easy and engrossing read. The book deals with the structure of primate societies and how they enforce morality, how deeply it extends through the primate family (de Waal primarily researches chimpanzees), and instances of love, guilt, aggression, deception from his own research and those of other primatologists. He also describes other philosophies and research into moral systems.
I like de Waals style: the studies he talked about were fascinating and he really keeps your interest. I guess the only negative is that the book is a little disjointed in places. For example, in the chapter on sympathy there is a section on deception. In the end he makes his own speculation on morality stretching across human boundaries and what he makes of the implications for treatment of primates and other animals. It's definitely a great read for anyone interested in the evolution of morality and primatology.
Clearly outstanding.......2005-10-22
I must say that this book has really helped me understand how monkeys, bonobos, and chimps live in both captivity and in the wild. In the same token it has also help understand how they all interact with each other, and sometimes I must admit that they seem to treat each other like humans treat one another.
Chapter Two in the book to me seemed to be the most interesting. De Waal with great detail writes about relationships within the species. How they accept handicap within the species and how they deal with an offspring's death.
Overall this book is outstanding and clearly understood. All chapters of this book even though this book is about primates, monkeys, etc., have a tie to human beings. I recommend this book to those individuals interested in learning the behavior and the nature of primates, monkeys, etc., but most of all those interested in learning the behavior and nature of humans, after all we did evolve from old world primates.
Average customer rating:
- Interesting, but ...
- Very good book for beginners
- Excellent
- Inspiring, detailed, practical
- Think out of the box
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Reef Secrets: Starting Right, Selecting Fishes & Invertebrates, Advanced Biotope Techniques
Alf Jacob Nilsen , and
Svein A. Fossa
Manufacturer: TFH Publications
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Similar Items:
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Ultimate Marine Aquariums: Saltwater Dream Systems and How They Are Created
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The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide
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Aquarium Corals : Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History
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Reef Invertebrates: An Essential Guide to Selection, Care and Compatibility
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The Reef Aquarium: Science, Art, and Technology, Vol. 3
ASIN: 189008767X |
Customer Reviews:
Interesting, but ..........2007-10-17
As a beginning reef aquarist, I enjoyed reading this book, but I am not sure it is a practical book for the novice.
Some of the advice it gives seems designed for the advanced hobbiest who has little need for the book. For example, it advises no more than about a 10% water change each year. That is probably enough for an established, well-maintained aquarium in service for a couple of years already, but I doubt it is a regime suitable for someone just starting.
The authors' advise seems to defy conventional wisdom in other areas. The suggested Ph paramaters, for example, vary from anything I have seen elsewhere. Perhaps that's why they are called reef "secrets". Or perhaps they are just "typos"
Interestingly, the book presents a photo of what it bills as one of the finest amateur marine aquariums anywhere. I went on-line to learn more about that system and learned that the owner has a maintenance regime and water paramaters at odds with the recommendations in this book!
Still, all in all, an enjoyable and well-informed read. It's just not a suitable "how to" book for most of us. On the other hand, the section at the end on species selection was very useful.
Very good book for beginners.......2007-08-19
Very good for beginners. Covers all important topics. Very simple language, without technical jargon which is often overwhelming people who just starting with hobby. Very nice stocking guide and chapter about biotops which is not found often in similar position.
I recommend it to anyone who thinks to start with reefkeeping hobby.
Excellent.......2007-01-10
Loved it! Has some of the best reefing information available, without the over-technical mumbo jumbo! The stocking guide is excellent; just lacking on a few species.
Inspiring, detailed, practical.......2006-01-09
One can appreciated the authors' long experience with marine aquaria who elegantly and with simple language explained larger biological concepts yet provide detailed instructions on how do to what and why. Very inspiring are the suggested biotopes that include among others "seagrass aquarium", "reef gorge aquarium", "pizza anemone aquarium", "rubble zone aquarium" as well as the standard reef tank. These are refreshing ideas that are needed with the current predominance of grocery store shelf-like stocked, overcrowded best-of-the-month SPS tanks. Also contains a comprehensive guide about most creatures possible in a reef tank and essentially makes e.g. Sprung's "Quick" guides unnecessary in one's library.
Think out of the box.......2005-05-07
You won't have to go over the ammonia cycle again here, though there is enough info to get you started. The title is a great indication of what to expect. This book is about thinking out of the box in aquarium keeping and planning them correctly.
My favorite section talks about ideas for aquariums and how when we start, we usually try to replicate a hodgepodge thrown together because we want a little of everything instead of a real underwater scene which could be much more interesting. This book has opened my eyes to new planning possibilities, I wouldn't have thought of otherwise.
It has a great section on all types of fishes, invertebrates, cnidaria, etc... of options for choices with clear and concise care guide and potential pitfalls.
There is one or two things that might surprise if you have aquariums in the Americas, such as stating that 10% of water changed per year is reasonable. Maybe very large aquarium, but I change that per week. Then again, only because I have read elsewhere and heard advice to do so even though it does seem to make sense to me.
I wish I had found this book before planning my current aquarium, but it has certainly gotten me thinking about the next one. I recommend this as an additional starter book (perhaps to accompany Paletta's New Marine Aquarium) or for anyone who knows the simple basics and wants interesting new ideas to rehash the passion. Without question, worth it.
Product Description
What is the role of the veterinarian in a prosecution for cruelty to animals? This comprehensive introduction to the field is required reading for animal shelter, veterinary, investigative, and law enforcement professionals. In February 2007 Forensic Investigation of Animal Cruelty won the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) Best General Reference Book: 2006 category and was named Dogwise Best Book of 2006! In March 2007, coauthor Melinda Merck, D.V.M., was profiled in People magazine's "Animal CSI."
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Book!.......2007-06-19
This book is straightforward and helpful. It covers many topics, including those easily overlooked such as the importance of good record keeping when performing investigations. All of the information is presented in a clear, concise format that is easy to read and understand. Dr. Leslie Sinclair is an excellent writer with years of experience in the field. The knowledge she shares in this book is invaluable! Definitely a must read for veterinarians and veterinary staff! Every clinic and shelter should have a copy on hand for reference.
A must have book for every veterinarian and veterinary technician.......2007-01-25
This book is long overdue for Veterinarians to take true to their oath and go beyond the call of duty in diagnosing, collecting and reporting evidence of abused and tortured animals they see in their hospitals.
Author Dr. Randall Lockwood has spent many years investigating the connection between animal cruelty and violence against human beings. I have read his books and heard him speak on these issues which has opened my eyes to a reality that is so deeply shocking. Even I, a certified veterinary technician, was so unaware how much my profession could contribute to the conviction and prosecution of these perpetrators, not just for the revolting behavior in harming defensless animals, but for statistically proven odds that the same perpetrators will go on to, or continue to harm human beings also. Every Veterinary clinic or hospital should have a copy of this book in their practice and not be afraid to use it as a bible to get involved in helping to make society a better place. You could not find better advice handed to you on a silver platter than the tools provided in this extremely well written CSI format of animal forensics!
Book Description
Having trained 30,000 dogs for more than 40 years combined, Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson know a thing or two about North Americas favourite pet. They share their wisdom and experience in this easy-to-understand, user-friendly, and comprehensive guide to selecting a breed, including: which breeds are good for small children, the elderly, the allergic, and the city-dweller; the characteristics of each breed; and which dogs are most compatible with different lifestyles. In addition, unlike most breed books, Paws to Consider discusses medical and behavioral problems typical to particular breeds, and offers fascinating information about canines and their potential owners. Kilcommons and Wilsons Good Owners, Great Dogs (Warner, 1992) netted more than 130,000 hardcover copies.
Customer Reviews:
Great book!.......2006-07-01
I loved this book! I had absolutely no idea what kind of dog I wanted to get before reading this book. This book separates the breeds into very logical chapters and also cross-references other chapters that the dogs would fit in. I love dogs so much that I was only able to reduce the number that I'd love to 19, but it made me consider breeds that I never would have before. Once I reviewed my 19 with my family, we were able to bring it down to 6 and I'm now doing research on those 6 in order to determine which one we'll buy. This is a great read if you're toggling between a few breeds and want to make sure you consider the good and the bad in the breeds.
SAVE YOURSELF & YOUR DOG FROM HEARTACHE.......2006-01-23
I wish I could afford to give a copy of this book to every library in the country. I have been a volunteer for different animal shelters and rescue groups for many years. Most animals are turned in to shelters because of a mismatch between the owner and their dog, or because people are unaware of what's involved in pet ownership. The authors give a very realistic appraisal of different breeds. I love "Dog Fancy" magazine, but so many times when they profile a breed they will describe "good with children if they are raised with them." "Paws to Consider" will be straightforward in telling you that a particular breed is not good with children. This book also helps you decide when is the right time to add a dog to your household. Too many dogs are given up because the owners have decided to have a baby and don't want to have a dog around the baby. Or an owner makes an impulsive holiday purchase and comes to regret the decision. It is frequently devastating for a family, especially the children, to give up a dog. It is also traumatic for the dog to lose its home and most of these dogs will be euthanized. "Paws to Consider" goes a long way to promoting happy endings for people and the dogs who join their families.
Absolutely Great.......2005-09-02
This book should be mandatory for anyone even thinking of getting a dog. Even if that dog is ten years off. Since I became interested in dogs and dog welfare, I have heard and seen too many times the unhappy scenario of dogs being dumped because their owners just did not bother to do ANY reasearch. Families duped by Beethoven, Lassie, and 101 Dalmations decide tv never lies and buy one for their young children. People who want a guard dog buy a Rottweiler for "protection" and dump it out in the yard. A calm couple wants a "small, quiet, easy-going dog", so they judge on size and get a terrier. A jogger wants a partner and thinks a great dane will keep up.
I love that the book lays it out flat that almost half the breeds listed require more exercize than the average Joe is willing to give them. Sure, we're all charmed by those Weimaraner costume photos... but will you spend at least an hour every day playing with it? Do you even have space for it to do so? Lack of exercize spawns so many behavioral problems that it cannot be emphasized enough. I know another reviewer complained that "too many negatives" were listed for each dog; I prefer it that way. Better that someone realize that the dog they want is too loud, too big, too headstrong, too energetic, too needy, too expensive, or even too gassy, than to get one and then dump it somewhere because they did not realize the mismatch. Or, even better, it may give someone new ideas as far as what is a good match. (Everytime I mention I would love a sighthound, especially an ex-racing greyhound, the immediate reaction is that I shouldn't take something so hyperactive. I say, uh-uh, if I wanted hyperactive, I'd get a lab!)
The book's organization is excellent. It starts off asking why you want a dog and what you want in one. It gives you a starting point as far as where to look for one, and I was ecstatic to see rescue groups mentioned, although I do not think the book went into them enough (it would have been great to say that you can easily find one by googling "[x breed] rescue [your state/area]", or, nowadays, on [...]). I understand that the authors assume the reader wants to buy from a breeder, because I think those people are the ones who will be perusing breeds, and the ones who really need the most assistance. (It's not mean, it's true.) Then the book does something essential - it goes over groups of dog breeds and what jobs they were INTENDED to do, and explains how it affects their behavior and temperament. I recently heard of a man lamenting that he bought a mini schnauzer who was obsessed with his rat cage and would not leave the rats alone. He had not read up that these dogs were originally bred for ratting!
There is a lengthy section going into individual breeds. There are always both pros and cons. Looking into my dog experience and research, I have to say these people know what they are talking about, even without looking at their credentials. The only drawback is that they do not touch on every breed, but then again there are so many it could make this book three times its size. I also think the "not for everyone" section is great, but could use more info. The more people are discouraged from getting Rotts and Pits on a whim, the better.
I personally think there is enough info here to find that dog you want, but it is always recommended that you look to other sources; the book itself says so. Spend time with members of your chosen breed, search the web, read other books. Then buy Kilcommon's/Wilson's Good Dogs, Great Owners, and you're on your way!
Informative and concise.......2005-08-06
The best thing about this book is the common sense advice the authors give--("If you live in an all-white house, don't get a Bouvier des Flandres"). The realistic expectations, both good and bad, outlined for each breed are infinitely more helpful than, say, the breed standards promulgated by the AKC. Most of us want a pet, not a show-dog. While the information on each breed is very specific, there is helpful information in the beginning for any dog owner or potential owner. I also bought "Good Owners, Great Dogs" by the same authors. Great book as well.
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY.......2005-03-31
DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK, BRIAN KILCOMMONS AND SARAH WILSON ARE BOTH COMPLETE IDIOTS. WE USED THIS BOOK AS A REFERENCE WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR BICHON FRISE, WHAT A MISTAKE. IN THE BOOK IT STATES A BICHON CAN BE A 9-5 DOG SO WE BOUGHT ONE. BICHONS ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO HOUSEBREAK,ALL THE BOOK SAYS IS THEY 'CAN' BE HARD TO HOUSEBREAK. THIS BOOK HAS COST US HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. WE ENDED UP GIVING OUR DOG AWAY TONIGHT BECAUSE WE COULD NOT GET IT POTTY TRAINED AND AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH FOUND OUT THAT BICHONS DO NOT LIKE TO BE LEFT HOME ALONE. THE BOOK ALSO SAYS THAT A SHIH TZU IS A NINE TO FIVE DOG BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THAT BREED THEY ALSO DO NOT LIKE TO BE HOME ALONE ALL DAY. THESE TWO AUTHORS NEED TO FIND A DIFFERENT LINE OF WORK BECAUSE THEY ARE COMPLETE IDIOTS WHEN IT COMES TO DOGS. THANKS BRIAN AND SARAH FOR WRITING SUCH A CRAPPY BOOK!!
Book Description
A brilliantly researched, widely praised investigation into our society's treatment of animals, Dominion is perhaps the most influ-ential book on the issue since Peter Singer's Animal Liberation- pinpointing scientific and religious practices that endorse unnecessary cruelty toward animals. His explorations include: -A hellish industrial farm where animals with open sores and broken limbs live their entire lives in darkness -The annual convention of Safari Club International, where the world's wealthy spend millions to hunt exotic game - including 'retired' zoo animals -Laboratories where tens of thousands of animals are afflicted with tumors, disease, and lesions in order to test nonessential consumer products. Dominion is a groundbreaking work-timely, emotionally catalyzing, fortified with intelligence and passion.
Customer Reviews:
All Politicians, Religious Leaders and Teachers Should Read Dominion!.......2007-09-30
I am a yoga teacher, author, advocate for the humane treatment of animals and former elected official. The great philosophers and teachers through the ages have urged us to consider all aspects of our lives, including how we treat animals. "Dominion" is one of the most powerful, reasonable, scientifically sound books I have read on the subject of animal welfare, a subject that is even closer to my heart than yoga. I have read dozens of books on animal rights, interviewed Gail Eisnitz, author of "Slaughterhouse," (also highly recommended) and researched many aspects of animal welfare. "Dominion" is so well-written and researched that it is a book you can confidently give your local and national elected officials, your minister or other religious leader, your friends,your family, your chef --- anyone who needs to wake up to the moral obligation we owe the animals over which we have dominion.
Suza Francina, vegan yoga teacher, author, "The New Yoga for Healthy Aging," and other books, former mayor, Ojai, California.
Rambling and meandering - - but interesting and compelling.......2007-09-07
This book forcefully stakes out a compromise position, which is a difficult trick. Though a conservative Republican, Scully rejects his side's dominionist views on nature. Man may have been given dominion over the earth and its creatures, but Scully does not believe that this gives us the right to harm and exploit other beings. Yet he also rejects the pure animal rights position, and believes that man can use animals for our own good. In short, dominion may given humans some rights, but it also comes with responsibilities: we must treat animals humanely, and with dignity.
Unfortunately, the book often rambles. Scully doesn't write a tight argument but throws out ideas and then plays with them for a while. Many of the chapters include some journalistic fieldwork, such as a visit to a pig farm or the Safari Club. In such cases, Scully sometimes substitutes outrage over bad behavior for actual argument.
The book is also too long - - some arguments are spread over several chapters, and some ideas recur in multiple places. A strong editor could have forced him to tighten up both the prose and the argument. Still, the book reads well and Scully finds it easy to carry the reader along.
By the end of the book it struck me as particularly bizarre that this guy is a Republican speechwriter who has worked for G. W. Bush in both Texas and Washington. He distrusts the market because it assigns utilitarian values to things instead of relying on moral values. He dislikes the National Rifle Association and has pro-wildlife and other environmental sensibilities. He's a vegetarian. His only Republican issue is abortion, and he rightly sees the connections between the rights of fetuses, animals, and indeed all life. Perhaps that's enough, but did he know that there are pro-life Catholic Democrats?
Oddities aside, the book is consistently interesting, and will challenge people on all sides of these debates. Well worth reading.
Good stewards of animals.......2007-07-16
This book changed my life. What does "dominion" of animals really mean in the book of Genesis? This author proposes that we are to be good stewards of animals. Although the book obviously touches on religion, it also gets into many other viewpoints. It is well rounded.
Animal rights for conservatives.......2007-05-13
It's nice to hear a conservative voice for speak up for animal rights. Vegetarianism is usually associated with political and religious liberals. I am both, but it was refreshing to hear arguments from a new point of view. As for his conservative cred, he was a speech writer for Bush. I think this will help conservatives understand that this issue isn't just a liberal thing.
Dominion: A Comprehensive Discussion of Our Treatment of Animals.......2007-03-02
"Why," asks Matthew Scully in the opening chapter of his book _Dominion_, "when it comes to dominion, are we always stern literalists in the subduing parts and scornful skeptics in the peace-bringing parts?" Referring to a Biblical passage which gives humans dominion over the animals, in this book Scully explores contemporary ethics and practices regarding our treatment and use of animals.
At the time he wrote Dominion, Matthew Scully worked as an assistant and speechwriter for George W. Bush, and in his acknowledgements has kind words to say about our president. The topic of animal rights is one too often sidestepped by conservative writers like Mr. Scully, and it is good to see it treated here judiciously and with such good taste.
Unlike the arguments of those who would deny animals even the most basic kindnesses, Dominion is coherent, precise, broad, and deep. It is both unsettling and inspiring, and probably the best book on animal ethics it has been my pleasure to read.
Book Description
The Book That Started A Revolution
Since its original publication in 1975, this groundbreaking work has awakened millions of concerned men and women to the shocking abuse of animals everywhere -- inspiring a worldwide movement to eliminate much of the cruel and unnecessary laboratory animal experimentation of years past.
In this newly revised and expanded edition, author Peter Singer exposes the chilling realities of today's "factory forms" and product-testing procedures -- offering sound, humane solutions to what has become a profound environmental and social as well as moral issue. An important and persuasive appeal to conscience, fairness, decency and justice, Animal Liberation is essential reading for the supporter and the skeptic alike.
Customer Reviews:
A great argument.......2007-03-30
I read this book about five years ago, and around then I was toying with the idea of being a vegetarian. This is the book that convinced me to stay the course. Although this book doesn't say everything, it doesn't need to. I certainly wouldn't call it the bible of vegetarianism either. Basically, this book, from my memories 5 years ago, was in 2 sections. First, there was a short section on animal testing and animal use in labratory science. Some of the things he details are absurd, such as an experiment that puts chimpanzees in dark isolation in inverted cones and see if they suffer depression (hmm, can anyone guess the results?), and one wonders if these were mostly ill-concieved experiments and not representative of the norm of science. Actually, I'll tell you. It's not. Most lab animals are treated fairly in science, although the same cannot be said for product testing. I know this because I've taken biologial classes and studied. Scientists need healthy specemins to experiment on. However, the fact does remain that scientists are far too cavalier with the well-being of sentient creatures. THe second section is an argument against our meat industry. The atrocities at these factory farms is well documented, and this book isn't inaccurate. He also presents a fairly convincing argument that animals do indeed have feelings. There is one argument that I remember really well. If we are justifying our treatment of animals by claiming that we are intellegent, then how do we justify inhumanely testing on a chimpanzee while actually assisting mentally retarded people who are less intellegent then smart chimpanzees? Shouldn't we be testing on them or eating them for food? Basically, he presents lots of arguments like the above, tackling it from a philosophical perspective. In the end, he builds a very solid case for vegetarianism, and it made an impression on my young mind that turned me to a clean and moral lifestyle. This review refers to the old version.
A shot across the bows.......2007-01-11
This is one of the first accounts of what was to become one of the most contoversial movements in the world. Peter Singer, a moral philosopher, argues about the ethics of eating meat, biomedical experiments on animals, cattle farming, the meat industry, and other related topics. Written with his characteristic lucidity and clarity, this is no jittery, woolly, 'fascist animal rights lobby' book, but an intellectually rigorous, philosophically grounded tract on what it means to be human and what duties we owe other species who share the world with us. Clear-eyed, substantiated with impeccably-researched data and facts, and radiant with a moral energy that has all but left academic philosophical writing, it gives much-needed credibility to a burning, and often much abused and misrepresented, issue. Read him.
Future, Environment, Planet, Children, Health.......2007-01-10
If you care about the future of our planet, our health or about anything at all, read this eye opening book. You will see that real environmentalists do not eat meat. Where do we draw the line between what is a pet and what is a meal? This book may enlarge your circle of compassion to include animals that currently have no laws to protect them, farm animals, research animals, rodeo and circus animals. Please read Singer and others like him. Our world will be a more peaceful and cleaner place. There would be no starvation if we all were vegan.
the animal rights bible.......2006-12-13
The title tells it all, this book truly is the bible for animal rights. Singer covers everything in the book and he gets deep with it. I really enjoyed this book. I also quoted Singer in a term paper i wrote about animal testing my freshman year in college. It just full of all the knowledge you should and need to know.
Singer Exposes the (Hidden) Truth.......2006-12-10
Singer examines cruelty to nonhuman animals in the United States and Britain mostly (but also in a few other countries in Europe). This is a must read for anyone supporting practices that harm animals (the meat industry and also animal experimentation). Written in the 1970s, it is still relevant today. His argument is extremely thorough, and he goes further to explain that a vegetarian diet will help humans and the environment as well as nonhuman animals, although his focus is on stopping the suffering. I promise you will not be disappointed!
Books:
- What is a California Sea Otter?
- Wild About the Lowveld (Duncan Burchart's Wild About Series)
- Wildlife Warrior: Steve Irwin: 1962 - 2006, a Man Who Changed the World
- Wolf's Blood (Wolf)
- A Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians of Eastern & Central North America (Peterson Field Guide Series)
- African Safari Photography
- All About Animals Early Skills Library
- Animal Migration, Orientation and Navigation (Physiological Ecology)
- Animal Tracks of the Great Lakes States: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin (Animal Tracks)
- Animal Tracks of the Pacific Northwest
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