Write a Book–Together
In “Is This the Future of the Digital Book?” in yesterday’s New York Times, Brad Stone reported on a couple of new developments in the publishing world. The one that caught my eye as useful for vegans and the animal…
Posts from the ‘Books’ Category
Apr 6
3 Comments
Mar 30
Publish Your Own AR Book or Magazine
As you may know, I’m a writer/ghostwriter/editor. That’s how I’ve made my living for over 20 years. My clients have always been a combination of experts who already have book deals with large publishers, and entrepreneurs who say Why on…
Mar 12
Two New Peter Singer Interviews
First I have to again say that Peter Singer was influential in the veganization of Mary Martin: in my evolution from cat person to animal person during my college years. For me and my delicate, cat-person sensibilities, college was a…
Mar 6
On the OED
I want to clarify the use of the OED, and I’ll simply tell you what they say: The Oxford English Dictionary is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium. It is an unsurpassed…
Mar 5
On “Vegetarian” and “Vegan,” OED-Style
Just when you thought I was going to stop talking about vegetarianism and veganism . . . You might want to sit down for this one. Vegetarian, the noun. 1. a. One who lives wholly or principally upon vegetable foods;…
Mar 4
On “Compassion,” OED-Style
The irony in this one is rich. The original definition of compassion, which arrived on the scene in 1340, was: “Suffering together with another, participation in suffering; fellow-feeling, sympathy.” And the secondary definition doesn’t get much better: “The feeling or…
Mar 2
On “Humane,” OED-Style
This one’s for Justin, who was curious about the history of “humane” via the Oxford English Dictionary. The page isn’t long so I can paste the entire thing, references and all. If you just read the references chronologically, without the…
Feb 25
“Violence” OED-Style
By popular request, here are some highlights of what the OED says about violence as a noun: 1. a. The exercise of physical force so as to inflict injury on, or cause damage to, persons or property; action or conduct…
Feb 19
OED Thursday: “Dog”
I believe it was kelly g who wanted to know about “dog” according to the OED. The tertiary definition is: “Applied to a person; a. in reproach, abuse, or contempt: A worthless, despicable, surly, or cowardly fellow.” The first instance…
Jan 7
On Sentient Nonhumans and Language
It doesn’t happen as often as it used to, but I still do get people who claim that we humans are exceptional because we have language. What they really mean is that we are entitled to do what we wish…
Jan 5
On Sentience
A new person e-mailed me (new to e-mailing me, not to reading Animal Person) and said he finds himself eating very little “meat” since reading! Congratulations, New Person! He doesn’t know if he will ever become a vegan but he…
Jan 3
On Steve Best and Norm Phelps
Steve Best reviewed Norm Phelps in the Journal for Critical Animal Studies (check it out here, and also check out the article on humane education). Shortly thereafter, Phelps e-mailed Best regarding that review, and so began months of e-mail exchanges…
Dec 29
On the Seemingly Silly Questions I Ask
I’ve asked what you read (/if you read) as a child, if your parents or any other grown-ups were vegan, whether you had an affinity for animals, and what I’m looking for in probably the most inefficient, ineffective way possible,…
On Vegan Filmmakers and John Perkins
What do vegan filmmakers have to do with John Perkins, of Confessions of an Economic Hitman-fame? Nothing, other than I received messages from both yesterday (and you may have, as well). On Monday . . . . the first fan-managed,…
On Civil Disobedience, Direct Action and AK Press
There’s a lot of chat, here and elsewhere about direct action and what it is and whether it includes violence (and if so, what’s the definition of violence, anyway?). Enter the latest AK Press catalog that was in many of…
