On SWITCH, by Chip & Dan Heath, and Going Vegan
Over the last couple of years, I’ve been thinking a lot about why people go vegan and why they don’t. I stopped blogging largely because I couldn’t possibly make it a priority, but also because
Posts from the ‘Books’ Category
Dec 31
On SITUATIONS MATTER and Activism
SITUATIONS MATTER: Understanding How Context Transforms Your World (Riverhead 2011) by Sam Sommers, like the recent other nonfiction books I’ve read (and who am I kidding? The last novel I read was THE LIFE OF PI, and before that . . .
On THE POWER OF HABIT and Going Vegan
THE POWER OF HABIT: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business (Random House 2012) by Charles Duhigg is important for people transitioning away from the use of animals as well as people who study social movements.
On SUBLIMINAL and Advocacy
“Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior” (Pantheon 2012), by theoretical physicist and bestselling author Leonard Mlodinow, is the perfect read after Hal Herzog. Herzog explained that people say one thing and do another, particularly when it comes to animals . . .
Hal Herzog’s “Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat”
Hal Herzog’s “Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat” (Harper 2011), though fascinating, is ultimately depressing for vegans and animal rights activists. Over at Animal Rights and AntiOppression, we’ve been discussing tactics and sharing our thoughts and experiences…
On Jeff Corwin’s 100 HEARTBEATS
When I was asked if I wanted to read Jeff Corwin’s 100 HEARTBEATS (Rodale 2009) I was ambivalent. I know he’s a “conservationist,” therefore I know he will advocate for “managing” the “resources” that are sentient nonhumans. And managing means…
Nov 1
On THE DOG WHO COULDN’T STOP LOVING
When I agreed to read and review Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson’s THE DOG WHO COULDN’T STOP LOVING (Harper 2010), the regal Charles Hobson Booger, III was still with us. When it arrived, the day after Charles died, I’ll admit to wanting…
On HIGH IN THE CLOUDS
HIGH IN THE CLOUDS, by Paul McCartney, Geoff Dunbar and Philip Ardagh is supposed to be for Grades 2-4, but its themes, vocabulary and syntax are more advanced. From Barnes and Noble: “Wirral the Squirrel is homeless. The evil Gretsch…
Jun 16
“Creature Quotes” Is Here!
“Creature Quotes: Advancing Toward Freedom For All Species,” compiled and edited by SBH Clay, is now available. From the Introduction: “Humans are fascinated by animals. . . . For all our devotion, though, we sometimes seem not to recognize the…
Apr 26
On Children’s Books, Introverts & Films
First, Chris directed me to ePub Bud, which appears to be a timely and fantastic idea given my recent plea for more books for children about veganism. In addition, it looks like a great way to get your book into…
Apr 1
SPECIESISM, by Joan Dunayer, Part Deux
I realize that in writing about “old speciesism” I failed to define this term that Dunayer uses. I think of “old speciesism” as analogous to racism and sexism in that it is exploitation based on species. The advocacy component of…
On SPECIESISM, by Joan Dunayer
I finally read SPECIESISM, by Joan Dunayer, which was published a couple of years after ANIMAL EQUALITY, which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago. This book has so many great quotes that I’m going to have to write…
Mar 18
On “Pets” and “Its”
I went back to New York to the areas where I grew up and went to college and graduate school for a five-day weekend. I’d been longing for NYC and, as usual, thinking about moving back. The Nor’easter cured me…
Mar 9
On ANIMAL EQUALITY, by Joan Dunayer
A handful Animal Person readers since May of 2006, when I started this then-daily blog, have asked me if I’ve read Joan Dunayer. And now that I’ve read Animal Equality and begun Speciesism, I think I know why. My deconstructions…
Feb 14
On Why My Food Bill Just Got a Lot Cheaper
Deb wrote “Do Food Miles Matter?” after reading “Just Food: Where Locavores Get It Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly, by James E. McWilliams last month. Shortly thereafter she visited and brought me the book, and as a…
