Review by Kenneth Shapiro

Dominion and Scully have been widely exposed in book reviews and talk shows. The big news is that Scully is a conservative republican who was a speech writer for President G. W. Bush.

The book is a must buy, but not a must read – at least for those of you familiar with the debate over our treatment of nonhuman animals. So buy it, browse for an hour, particularly the last chapter, and then send it to a conservative. I guarantee it will have an animal-friendly impact. 

In addition to its political importance, in that it features an establishment player, Scully makes a significant contribution to arguments about the issues. He both presents a pro-animal position based on conservative ideology and critiques basic components of that ideology. His view of animals other than humans is that, although humans are superior, they are sentient beings that feel pain. Our proper role in regard to them derives from the Biblical and titular notion of dominion. Of the two traditional readings of dominion, power to exploit and stewardship, he emphasizes the latter with the metaphor of “good shepherd.” Arguably, it is naïve to suppose that power can be used so benevolently. Our system of government is built on mistrust of and safeguards against benevolent power-holders.

With this Judeo-Christian backdrop, he criticizes popular conservative commentators on the environment and animal issue for valorizing property rights, the free market, and individual (human) freedom – three shibboleths of conservatism -- over the suffering of other beings. His call for mercy, a basic value, is closer to the Christian wing of conservatism than the libertarian. His extension of compassionate conservatism to nonhuman animals is analogous to Regan’s and Singer’s move in that Regan extends rights and Singer equality of consideration of interests to them. In Scully’s view, Regan and Singer are offering formal (secular) ethical theory, when all that is needed is a return to “family values.” 

Although negative about Regan and, particularly, Singer (for his views on human infants) he is ambivalent about animal activists, critical of their tactics and rights philosophy but recognizing that they have the courage of their convictions and have brought to issue of animal suffering to public awareness. 

In terms of practical reform, he focuses on canned hunting, safari clubs, and other wildlife issues. However, with due recognition of the political risk involved, he does speak to the issue of factory farming. In the last chapter, he calls for a Humane Farm Act (p. 392) which would make family farming the model and be a hard blow to factory farming. 

We are indebted to Scully for his courage in taking on the animal issue and offering a conservative-based program that would significantly reduce animal exploitation and suffering. Whatever you might think of Bush’s speeches, Scully is an excellent writer.

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Review by Kathleen Gerbasi

Marc Bekoff, a Professor of Organismic Biology at the University of Colorado and expert on animal behavior, provides the novice animal rights reader with this informative little paperback. I am using it as an animal rights primer for the college course I am teaching on Human-Animal Relations. Bekoff explains basic animal rights concepts in a clear easy to follow manner. His discussion includes speciesism, anthropomorphism, animal rights versus animal welfare, animals and the law, animal intelligence, and animal consciousness. 

He then explores a variety of animal issues. While not talking down to the reader, Bekoff discusses vegetarianism, zoos, testing products on animals, dissection and vivisection. This is not a dictionary or middle of the road book. It explores and unequivocally endorses an animal rights position. This is a book which takes a solid animal rights position and advocates others taking a similar position on the side of animals. 

Clearly not everyone will appreciate this book. It is not meant for the reader who has been steeped in the animal rights movement. It is also not going to be a book that will be read by people who support only animal welfare. It is however an excellent choice for a high school student or novice who is interested in becoming acquainted with the major animal rights issues and concerns as presented by an esteemed natural scientist who is willing to call it as he sees it, mix science and ethics, and take a stand.

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Review by Kenneth Shapiro

Munro presents a comparative study of animal protectionists in Australia, the US and the UK. Through an examination of campaigns in the 3 countries, he argues that the US strategy favors advocacy over activism. By this he means that US animal organizations attempt to "codify public sentiment via the constitutional route of organizational advocacy." By contrast, grassroots mobilization of public opinion is preferred in the UK; while Australia employs a combination. The distinction is between action "in the suites" and "in the streets." In either case, he finds little evidence of violence in the contemporary movement - hence, animal protectionists are "compassionate beasts." Munro is a sociologist, but the book is  accessible to activists and provides a clear description and analysis of various strategies and tactics. 

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Review by Kathleen Gerbasi

Companion Animals & Us: Exploring Relationships Between People & Pets is the PSY ETA book for September. This is a compilation of peer reviewed essays which grew out of a 1996 conference held at Downing College, Cambridge. There are 16 chapters and an introduction by the editors Podberscek, Paul and Serpell. I will say right off the bat there is only one thing I don't like about this book, its price (it was about $80 when I bought it last summer.)

Price aside, anyone interested in a good introduction to the field of Anthrozoology (Human-Animal-Studies) should read  this book. The chapter authors are some of the leading researchers in the field and the diversity of disciplines represented is excellent, including: sociology, psychology, human health, veterinary medicine and criminology. The four unit topics into which the chapters are divided are: History and culture, Nature of the relationship; Pets, families and interactions; and Welfare and ethics. The book is readable by a lay person, but I think  it is really more directed toward the professional interested in Anthrozoology.

My interests are in the psychological domain of human-animal relationships and I found those chapters to be very interesting and insightful, but I must confess that the most captivating chapter for me was by Norine Dresser entitled The horse bar mitzvah: a celebratory exploration of the human-animal bond. (Maybe I was just relieved to find I was not alone in celebrating pets birthdays and such.) This chapter details not only a horse bar mitzvah, but also a cat mitzvah, dog wedding, blessing of the animals, death rituals for pets, and some speculation about why these celebrations are popular. This chapter provides a unique qualitative window into just how important pets are to many people.

The editors indicate in the introduction that their goal was to acquaint the reader with the broad theme of human-pet interactions and relationships. In my opinion they certainly achieved their goal. Anyone who aspires to be familiar with the emerging and interdisciplinary field of Anthrozoology should certainly read this book.

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Review by Eric Hauser 

This month, for the dog days of summer, we thought we'd review a book on the lighter side of animal issues. How it all Vegan is a vegan cookbook that even the most inept of cooks will find easy. It includes recipes for beverages, breakfasts, soups, salads, sauces, side-dishes, entrees, breads, desserts, and even personal care and cleaning products - all vegan of course. Most of the recipes can be prepared in under 45 minutes with fairly common ingredients that can be found in most mainstream supermarkets. Stand-out recipes include the artichoke rotini pasta, classic spinach lasagna, classic chocolate chip cookies, and my personal favorite, Jen's chocolate cake.

New vegans will find How it all Vegan useful in easing the transition to a vegan diet. Since many of the recipes are for traditionally non-vegan foods, new vegans won't feel like they are missing out on great, tasty food. 

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Review by Kathleen Gerbasi

Drawing the Line: Science and the Case for Animal Rights is the latest book from Steven M. Wise, animal protection attorney and  author of Rattling the Cage: Toward Legal Rights for Animals . Drawing the Line briefly reviews issues surrounding the legal status of non-human animals and then suggests that for animals to be granted rights they must be shown to have "practical autonomy". "Practical autonomy" is defined as the ability to desire, the ability to intentionally try to fulfill those desires, and the awareness of a sense of self that permits the individual to understand that it is the self who has the desires. 

He explores, with the help of many noted cognitive ethologists and a variety of other experts, the extent to which we can know whether or not various species possess practical autonomy.  He reviews the cognitive functioning of a human child, his son Christopher; Marbury, his family dog; honeybees; Alex, the talking African Grey parrot; two dolphins, Phoenix and Ake; Echo, an elephant; Chantek, an orangutan, and finally Koko, a gorilla.  It is noteworthy that all of the animals considered with the exception of the honeybees have names. Any human animal interested in a scientific understanding of the cognitive abilities of these other species of animals will find this book absolutely fascinating. 

Wise writes from his vantage point of a lay person working his way through the complexities of cognitive sciences for the purpose of establishing where on a continuum of practical autonomy all of the animals under consideration fall. He reviews these animals' abilities in many spheres including language, communication, mirror self-recognition, and Piagetian object permanence. The experts with whom Wise consulted are a Who's Who of cognitive ethologists, psychologists, biologists, and other scientists. The book  presents  a unique combination of details of Wise's actual meetings with many of the animals, explanations by the experts of what each animal's capabilities are, and Wise's assessment of where the animal falls on the practical autonomy continuum. 

For me the book has several levels. First, as a psychologist intrigued by cognitive ethology, I was envious of Wise's opportunity to meet and interact with many of these world renown animals. I found his reports of  these meetings most interesting. On the scientific level, I  would have liked more detail about a number of studies alluded to in passing, but I realize that this was not meant to be a textbook on cognitive ethology, but rather a presentation enabling the non-scientist to become acquainted with major topics in the field. To that end the book clearly achieves its goal. Finally and most importantly, Wise applies the findings from all of these animals to the concept of practical autonomy and evaluates their implications for the establishment of rights for animals. 

I think Drawing the Line is a very important book. Anyone who reads this book with an open mind will have to give Wise's claims for animal rights serious consideration. 

Perseus Publishing provided this reviewer with a copy of Drawing the Line .

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Review by Kenneth J. Shapiro

Now available in paperback, Randours book is about spirituality and animals. It is directed to those who (1) have a spiritual life but have not become aware of animals other than humans, (2) are working to better the lives of these animals and have not recognized the spiritual strength inherent in that work, or (3) have no spiritual life but might discover one through a connection to all living beings. Animal Grace is a personal journey as the author shares her discovery of spirituality through recognition of the plight of other animals. It is also an explication of the primary concepts in traditional religions that permit a spiritual relationship with other animals. Finally, it is a how-to book that concretely describes how we can live more spiritually in our daily lives by sharing our awareness of the plight of other animals with other people and acting to reduce their exploitation. Paperback, 2002. New World Library. * note: PSY ETA sells this title directly

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Review by Eric Hauser

Carol J. Adams' most recent book, Living Among Meat Eaters: The Vegetarian's Survival Handbook serves as a guide for every vegetarian and vegan out there who has ever felt that their meatless diet has caused anger, defensiveness, or awkward situations when vegetarianism has come up with friends, family, or co-workers. Drawing on the experiences of vegetarians she received letters from and interviewed, Adams seeks to help vegetarians defend themselves with grace when their diet is questioned or attacked. She theorizes that most meat eaters are in fact blocked vegetarians on one level or another. Adams describes how their blocked-ness can lead to their various reactions when the topic of eating meat arises. These defensive reactions, she notes, can range from people claiming animals are put on earth to be grown for food and feel no pain, to family members actually sabotaging the vegetarians' meal by hiding meat in it. Throughout the book, Adams suggests ways for vegetarians to politely counter attacks and defensiveness encountered from meat eaters in different settings  Thanksgiving with Grandma, a company barbecue, or a dinner out with friends. She also offers coping tips for vegetarians who live with meat eating spouses, children or roommates.

Living Among Meat Eaters is meant to be more accessible to a wider audience than some of her previous more scholarly work, such as The Sexual Politics of Meat, and indeed I did find it quite readable. However, it can seem repetitive at times, and as much as we all may want to believe it, I had a hard time with her all meat eaters are blocked vegetarians theory. Adams recommends inviting non-vegetarians over for a home cooked vegetarian meal to show (and not to tell) them how easy being vegetarian is and how the meat will not be missed if done right. At the end of the book, Adams provides over 50 vegan recipes to help you help your friends and family see that there is more to good food than meat. 

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Review by Kathleen Gerbasi
 

Bring Me the Ocean: Nature as Teacher, Messenger and Intermediary by Rebecca A. Reynolds is a beautiful book which describes in text and wonderful photographs a comprehensive program of nature therapy. What is unique about this "Animals as Intermediaries - AAI"  program is that it travels to a variety of facilities such as nursing and psychiatric settings, hospices, prisons, and shelters for  battered women and their children, in which the residents have been shut off from nature and it takes nature and animals to the facilities. The emphasis of AAI is animals: companion animals, farm animals and permanently injured wild life that cannot be returned to their natural habitat. In addition to animals, the AAI program incorporates many aspects of nature, hence the book's title - when one client asked for and received the ocean (in buckets) delivered to his facility. The book describes in detail many AAI visits, the benefits to the clients, the animal participants, and the preparation and planning that go into the visits. This is a moving and inspirational book which will be enjoyed by anyone who would like to learn more about Animal Assisted Therapy or a practitioner who would like to read about a remarkable program. 

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Review by Kenneth J. Shapiro

If you are non-philosopher looking for a relatively painless way (assuming you are a sentient being) to understand the main concepts of the moral philosophy underlying the contemporary animal rights movement, try this brief, clearly written, and accessible volume. Through a slim volume (143 pages of text), Cavalieri introduces the reader to the arguments involving important concepts such as the speciesism, rights, moral patience, the marginal case, inherent value, indirect duties, lifeboat situations. At the same time, she presents a cohesive argument for including many animals other than humans in the moral community. She argues that the critical attribute for moral consideration is consciousness, which she distinguishes from self-consciousness and defines as a state in which an individual intentionally seeks to achieve desired goals. Midway between Regans subjects of a life, and higher than Singers sentience, this criterion sets the bar at a height that includes most vertebrates. 
 

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Review by Kathleen Gerbasi

Why the Wild Things Are is a long needed, wonderful, thoughtful and comprehensive review of child animal relations. Author, Gail Melson has reviewed and integrated research from a variety of disciplines including history, social work, psychology and literature. She has effectively walked a tightrope between producing a scholarly work and writing a book that is readable to a lay person who is not a professional psychologist. In addition to documenting the field of child animal relations she has also provided the reader with an insightful and critical review of the works that she covers. She does this in a way that makes her conclusions and findings comprehensible to the lay reader while acknowledging the academic concerns of the professional. 

She suggests areas for future research, introduces the reader to programs of animal assisted therapy, animals in the classroom and covers the emerging area of the relationship between animal abuse and violence toward humans. She not only discusses academic research but gives plenty of real life, compelling examples. In addition her references are arranged on a chapter by chapter basis at the end of the book. They are very easy to either follow if you are looking for more information or easy to ignore if you don't want to be bothered by details. Anyone who has children, works with children or animals in any capacity or teaches child development should consider this most worthy book required reading. 

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