Service Animals Books

Book as I expected, although I remember the story being a little longer. But, new condition.

This is a very wonderful version of the classic story by Margery Williams. The illustrations by David Jorgensen make the book especially inviting and personal. It is the only version we would ever buy for gifts.
Thank you,
Nancy Martin

I read this book years ago at the home of a child for whom I was babysitting. Recently I remembered it and read it to my 9 year old granddaughter and my 7 year old grandson, and we all enjoyed it very much. Its message spans the generations.

This is my favorite childhood book EVER! I have it stashed in my bookcase and when ever I feel nastalgic or sentimental I open up its worn pages and let the happiness seep through me. The truth and pureness in this children's novel will bring tears to your eyes. Read this book to your children and you will get constant: "Oh, what happens next?" and/or "Don't stop reading NOW, I have to know the next part!" I love this book, it will warm your heart and the illustrations are sweet, too. Thank you mom for reading this book to me, it was a real experience. :)

"The Velveteen Rabbit" is a parable, a story about that refining fire: redemptive love. The Velveteen Rabbit gave himself in love to the little boy. In return, the little boy loved the rabbit completely. This love caused the rabbit to begin to look around and question what was real. In questioning what was real, the rabbit ultimately believes himself real and wishes himself real. Once real, he achieves a new life and he revisits the little boy in his new form. Despite this new form, a quiet act of recognition passes between the little boy and the rabbit. By the conclusion of the story, the reader is led to believe that the rabbit will continue to watch over the little boy protectively and love him as the little boy continues to grow.

First published in 1922, this was Margery Williams (Bianco)'s first children's book. Spanning a career of nearly 40 years, "The Velveteen Rabbit" was the most successful of her approximately 25 works. The dedication, "To Francesco Bianco from The Velveteen Rabbit" is addressed to Margery's husband. Margery collaborated with artist and illustrator, William Nicholson (Sir William Nicholson (1872-1949)), who was better known as a portrait painter in his later career, but was also known for the woodcuts and poster work he produced in partnership with his brother-in-law, James Pryde.

The illustrations were executed in pen and ink with watercolor wash and, for the most part, appear as full page illustrations, or in some cases, a two page spread. The illustrations of the rabbit, standing very tall and inert, with his paws stuck out straight in front of him, are very touching evoking feelings of sympathy for the rabbit just on sight. The use of strong light and contrasting shadow is also very convincing in conveying a feeling of melancholy and, in some spots, unreality. My favorite part of the book is when the rabbit sheds a real tear and at the instant the tear touches the ground, a mysterious flower begins to grow. That, too, is conveyed so well by way of illustration. This is a very lovely story well illustrated.

I learned so much from Animal Liberation. It was an eye opener in many aspects. I had read about animal farming, but didn't know much about lab testing. Peter Singer exposes humans using animals for our benefits. Animals are a convenience for our health - through animal testing - or for our food consumption. He says that animal experimentation will only be ended when a series of piecemeal reforms have reduced its importance, and that our immediate task is to work for these partial goals, which can be milestones to the elimination of all exploitation of animals. By this, Singer emphasizes that in order to reach those goals, we first need to eliminate speciesism. But he later also says that "cruelty is acknowledged only where profitability ceases". So what needs to be done is not only to shift people away from speciesism but also to educate them about other forms of profit absent of utilitarianism. Shifting animal farmers towards sustainable agriculture, moving lab testing towards a research without animals, etc...

Peter Singer believes that we are inconsistent to oppose sexism and racism, but not speciesism, and that we can't agree with the former, without opposing speciesism. But he also writes at the beginning of his book, that fifteen years after his first version came out, he hasn't really seen much improvement in animal liberation. It took longer than fifteen years to abolish slavery in parts of the world, and racism is still very much there in many places. Couldn't that be the proof that non-animal humans are not yet ready to accept animals as their equals? There is a lack of compassion and too much detachment with animals. Raising people's compassion and reconnecting with wildlife and nature would be one if the first steps towards the elimination of speciesism.


A must read for anyone who has no clue about what is happening to animals.

This is the only book I have ever rated five stars.

Animal Liberation sparked a worldwide movement since the first edition's publication in 1975. Had this book not been published, you probably would never have heard of animal rights.

It presents a well-argued, concise overview of each issue:

In chapter 1, Singer argues that the most basic principles of ethics that we apply to humans - against causing pain and suffering for trivial reasons - apply to members of other species precisely because they are capable of experiencing pain and suffering as intensely as members of our own species. He claims that our attitude of assuming that the suffering of other species cannot be taken seriously is therefore a form of prejudice, called "speciesism" by analogy with racism and sexism.

Chapters 2 and 3 expose the mind-boggling cruelty we carry out on other species for experimentation and food, and (convincingly, I think) compare these practices, and our attitudes towards them, with the similar treatment of, and attitudes towards, groups of humans in what we now consider the darkest periods of human history.

In chapter 4, Singer amasses evidence in support of adopting a vegetarian diet, which has, directly and indirectly, convinced millions.

Chapter 5 undermines the attitudes towards other animals that most of us grew up with by revealing their historical origins. Rather than viewing our conception of human superiority as a deep, inarticulable, but somehow respectable intuition, Singer points out that it is uniquely Western, and closely correlates historically with other prejudiced attitudes.

In chapter 6, Singer straightforwardly responds to all of the common objections to his positions, including those raised against the first edition, highlights the successes of the movement since the first edition, and inspires us all to join the animal rights movement.

Animal Liberation is a classic, a must-read for anyone who stands for or against animal rights, and even those interested in philosophy or politics more generally. I should point out, though, that it has not been updated since 1990, so the latest advances in animal rights aren't described. Also, if you don't like prefaces, skip the two more recent ones if you wish, but don't miss the original "Preface to the 1975 Edition." It's brilliant and historic.

If you are at all concerned with basic questions of justice, of how we ought to live, you cannot afford to pass up this book.

Enjoy!

This book, more than any other shook the foundation of my perspective on animal suffering and enlightened me to the suffering we all cause to non-human animals every day. Singer shows the reader what harm is being done and that doing no harm is not simply a matter of continuing the comfortable pattern of thoughts and behaviors that are the majority in human societies.

Singer's rational and utilitarian approach is the perfect antidote to both irrational and reactionary arguments against the validation of this suffering and also the stereotype of vegans and those in favor of animal rights as overly sentimental animal lovers. His writing is precise, his examples measured and his arguments never pedantic or repetitive.

Singer takes utilitarian ethical theory to its conclusions in thought and practice. He defines his premises well and then proceeds logically and unswervingly to all ramifications of these premises. While many have attacked the radical ethical ideas Singer puts forth far fewer have anything more substantial than intuitive resistance to his stance. Animal abolitionists also criticize this book saying that it and Singer do not go far enough. While there may be disagreements about the goals of working towards ending the suffering of animals there can be no doubt that "Animal Liberation" has been incredibly influential in raising the consciousness of the importance of these goals.

This book is like an enlightment.Peter singer managed to dissecate the speciesist assumption that animals dont count on the ethics equation.
The book ranges from the explanation of the argument for animal rigths in a remarkable way, it traces the philosophical background of speciesism in history and it also show us examples of the consequences of our speciesism, factory farming, animal experimentation etc...
Its a must have to everyone that wants a better society for all, animals included.

Singer would do well to read the Declaration of Independence, written by men far more ethical and wise than he:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

This simple yet profound statement cuts directly to the heart of the so-called animal "rights" debate and shines a glaring spotlight on the moral and ethical bankruptcy of those who equate animals with people.

Simply put, they do not believe in the Judeo-Christian God. Whether such a god exists is beside the point. The ethical nihilism that is the natural result of atheism leads irrevocably to acceptance of the position that animals and people are equally deserving of consideration and freedom. After all, they would say, all living things are the accidental by-product of a mindless system of natural law that did not have us in mind and cares nothing for us. If you accept that premise, it's obvious that animals and humans deserve the same rights, if they deserve any at all.

For those of us who believe in a God who created Man in His image, the animal rights argument rings hollow from the start. This stance must make the animal rightist howl with indignation as it appeals to an objective moral authority above and beyond that of any human mind, specifically Singer's.

More of a horror than science fiction, THE ISLAND OF DR MOREAU is a disturbing and unforgettable book. Wells had a knack for making his stories come to life through the voice of the narrator, whom, as Pendrick in this book, seems like he's telling the story of something that really did happen. You can almost feel the emotion behind the words as Pendrick tells his tale. The almost-human creations of Moreau are nothing less than freaky. Both scarily mysterious and horribly familiar, these creatures evoke conflicting emotion in the reader. Should they just be put out of their misery? or encouraged to live? You can't help feeling both horror and pity for these very disturbing characters.

While it is a short book, it feels complete, without any unnecessary inclusions, while still telling the story in its entirety. Wells knew the lessons he wanted to teach and the buttons he wanted to press, and accomplished his goals. The implications of man playing God, the reason of our religion, and the definitions of humanity are powerful messages that you can't help but absorb when reading this book. One thing, I wouldn't call this book an argument against science, but against tearing down the boundaries around the definition of humanity.

Take a couple of days and read this one for fun. A great example of Wells' work and an enjoyable novel.

This book arrived well before the expected date and was a great buy. I will be buying from them again.

H.G. Wells' fantastic imagination is readily apparent within his visionary books such as The Time Machine and The Invisible Man, however I consider The Island of Dr. Moreau to be his greatest work in this regards. In less than 200 pages, Wells' manages to trap the reader within the mind of an uninvited "guest" on a remote island strewn with subhuman creatures, ghastly experiments, and a raving mad scientist.

This is simply an amazing story, made even more so given its 1896 publication date.

Considering this novel was first published in 1896, it is a testament to Wells' visionary imagination. His description of horrific vivisection experiments is a century ahead of its time. Dr. Moreau is portrayed as the ultimate villain, disregarding ethics for his own desire to play God in the name of scientific advancement. This is a great work of early science fiction that challenges the moral implications of science even today.

After reading The War of the Worlds a couple years back, I was very turned off to H.G. Wells. I mean, what an awful ending to that story. I remember feeling like all of the events and various moving parts in the story were building to a big, beautiful, explosive climax, and then the next minute it was over and I'm left standing there confused and angry.

Thankfully, Island of Dr. Moreau has restored my faith in Wells.

The novel hooked me right in with this structure of a story within a story, and the style of a true and scientific account kept me intrigued throughout. Plus, it was violent and animalistic. It did a lot of interesting exploring into the human psyche and condition, not just about our inner animal, but about our scientific curiosities, our behaviors in various situations, etc.

That's not even mentioning all of the fascinating topics Wells broached that are so timeless to have spawned many copycat stories. Sometimes in reading classics after having read and been exposed to so many stories that seem to descend directly from said classic, it can be difficult for the original story to really grab my attention. That was not at all the case here; Wells original seems to withstand the test of time and even survive a critique from myself of the ADD and video game generation.

Bravo, H.G.

This book is GREAT! There are a few parts that we werent crazy about, but I cannot let those things deter me from recommending this fabulous and extraordinary book!! My boys and I absolutely LOVED it!
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Something neat about the book is that it has a great map of the boy's travels printed at the very beginning of the book. We referred to this map constantly as we read through the book! It served as a great visual for us! Plus, my boys just LOVE maps anyway. They always have.
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We couldnt wait to start the second one in the series..."Elmer and the Dragon." The third book in the series is titled, "Dragon's of Blueland."
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My boys love this series so much that they have each asked to have their own set for their bedrooms. And my husband hears us talking about this story all the time, and he so badly wishes he were in on the fun! I told him that he can read the series with them after we are done reading it together during the day!
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Make sure you have some tangerines around the house to eat!!! Eatting tangerines while reading the story or even after a reading is a fun way to make the story come alive even more!!!
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Happy Reading!

This is an absolutely adorable book! I bought it for my son and he enjoyed it so much that I also bought one for my nephew too!

A short, classic, very funny story.... especially the last chapter! A young boy relates the story of how his father rescued a young dragon from a wild island where he was held captive by the animals there to fly them back and forth across the river. The wild boars are my favorite, but my son couldn't stop laughing at the little mouse who misprounces everthing.

These audio books help children that are having trouble with the written word. I also use them in the car, so each trip we hear more of the story. The kids love them and I think it makes them interested in reading.

Along with all the other favorable things that have been said about the entertainment value of "My Father's Dragon," its vocubulary, and Elmer's inventive problem-solving, teachers and parents should not overlook the opportunity to discuss how each animal that Elmer encounters can be related to students' and children's peer behavior. Every chapter has a gentle message about dealing with bullying, selfishness, pride, gossip, etc. That said, the often comic presence of the disagreeable animals is also tempered by Gannett's insertion of sympathetic aspects; for example, the rhinoceros. Elmer's inquiry about why the rhinoceros is in such a temperamental frame of mind is a real lesson in kindness and seeking to understand someone on a deeper level. Elmer's cleverness, bravery and faithfulness to his word are admirable traits but if parents and instructors are looking for really rich discussion, the personalities and behavior of the animals of Wild Island yield some really rich conversation and opportunities to teach.

They don't seem to require reading classic literature in the schools any more, so I decided to build a library for my 12-year old granddaughter. She has read them all, including this one, so it wasn't a bad idea. Now, if I could just get her to call her old grandfather more often....

I wasn't really sure what to expect when I purchased The Jungle Books. I am familiar with Disney's story of Mowgli, but was very unfamiliar to all the volumes and the other stories. These stories were very interesting and moving -- the stories of Mowgli were exciting, and I loved The White Seal, Rikki-Tikki, and all of the others as well. What a great collection.

Since it appears that Amazon is combining the reviews for several versions of this book under one, I want to stipulate that I've read the Barnes & Nobel Classic version.

Actually comprised of 2 books, The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book, this is a collection of stories surrounding the jungles of India. A central character is Mowgli - a boy left in the jungle when his parents are frightened away and who is raised by wolves. His adventures as he grows up in the jungle are intriguing, frightening, enchanting, and certainly adventurous! This is NOT Disney! The way Kipling presents this material, it is easy to suspend belief and one could believe a boy was raised amongst the animals.

There are a host of other stories in each books that have nothing whatsoever to do with Mowgli, and that is fine. A couple even take the reader out of the jungle and into the frozen north - talk about a change of scenery! Still, Kipling keeps the reader fully engaged with the lives of animals and the effects of their environment.

A book of true escapism, but certainly not "just" for adults or children. Though the language might be a little more difficult to follow for younger children, older children should be able to stretch their imagination. And adults can fully appreciate the language of Kipling, which is rich and descriptive.

A thoroughly enjoyable read!

The Jungle Book (1894) and The Second Jungle Book (1895) are collections of children's stories and related poems by Rudyard Kipling, the Briton who was born in and loved India, and who wrote these stories while living in Vermont. The stories are written as fables, and teach some moral lessons. They are probably Kipling's best-known works.

Many of the stories in both volumes feature Mowgli, the child raised by wolves who becomes master of the jungle (the first three stories in The Jungle Book are very obviously the inspiration for the 1967 animated Disney film). Most of the other stories are also set in India, although "The White Seal" in The Jungle Book and "Quiquern" (which is about Inuits) in The Second Jungle Book are exceptions. In nearly all instances, Kipling anthropomorphizes the animals; they speak, and are always prominent characters.

Kipling does a good job of writing in the fable style, although he doesn't always keep things moving at a good pace, and so some stories are more engaging than others.

There is a subtle racism throughout both volumes. Kipling was a staunch imperialist (he wrote the poem "The White Man's Burden" - this phrase has been used by imperialists since to justify imperialism as noble), and when humans feature in these stories, English whites are often presented as culturally and intellectually superior to the native Indians. This racism is still relevant, as it indicates a popular attitude of the day.

Ultimately, the Jungle Books are well worth reading. They have, perhaps deservedly so, achieved a prominent place in the pantheon of children's literature.

Rather than being raised by apes, it is wolves that fulfill for the family role for the young boy Mowgli after he escapes being tiger snacks.

Shere Khan will continue to be his antagonist, and he will gain advice and assistance from other jungle denizens as he grows to manhood.

This also has the pretty cool heroic mongoose tale Rikki-Tikki-Tavi.

I had to order something for $2 or so in order to get free shipping and this is what I chose. It is soooo cute and my kids love it. Obviously worth the price. :)

This book is so cute. It is in his original size, and have aditional images that the author coldn't use in the ocasion.
Really good for kids and children books lovers like me.

This is probably one of the best children's books ever written! It's a charming story full of plenty of peril and surprising personality for a rabbit and the artwork is stunning. Instead of being truly innocent and plottless, Miss Potter plays on the fears and actuality of being a child--children get into trouble. Beautiful edition.

This is the original Potter story. I prefer this illustrator to all that I have seen try to update the classic. I used this with Kindergartens to teach story grammar. It is still a winner with little kids to this day.

THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT, by Beatrix Potter, has enchanted both children and adults for generations. An exciting adventure book for the wee ones, THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT is the story of Peter, who is very naughty. Peter disobeys his mother, and goes to Mr. McGregor's garden, where he gets into all manner of trouble. While Peter does eventually make it home, he is wet, sick, and has lost his clothes (his second set of clothes in a fortnight!), and his mother gives him chamomile tea for supper. His sisters, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, who are good little bunnies, get bread and milk and blackberries for supper.

THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT gently teaches children to mind their mothers - good little children are given rewards, naughty children get into trouble. This simple tale engages and captivates youngsters who can easily relate to Peter's mischievousness. And while that lesson and Ms. Potter's story are both timeless, it is Ms. Potter's charming illustrations that are the true star of this book. Peter is drawn to look like a real rabbit; a rabbit that wears a very dapper jacket and a little pair of shoes. The soft colors and rich detail of the original drawings continue to delight children throughout the ages.

My three year old adores hearing this story. Whenever we read it together, she loves to shout "Stop thief!" with Mr. McGregor and to sneeze "Kertyschoo!" with Peter. She clearly gets great fun and joy out of this classic tale, as do I. All of Beatrix Potter's tales are delightful to share; however, THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT holds a special place in our hearts.

I've always been curious about the animal liberation front and whether you agree or disagree with their tactics, it's still an interesting read.
It's a very unlikely story. A cop "turning to the other side" for the good of animals.
I highly recommend that you check this book out for yourself.

True story of the begining of the ALF in North America. Ordinary people combining skills to pull of amazing day time and night time raids to free the animals. From the former head of PETA.

Ingrid Newkirk is a hero, a genious, and a revolutionary. God bless her in every way for everything she has done for animals.
The book is absolutely wonderful...I finished it in 3 days!!! The only reason I put it down is because my eyes started to hurt after reading for 2 hours. This book stole my heart and encouraged me to do what I have been doing to protect animals (im a vegan and an animal advocate).
This book is full of action, emotion, relates to real life, and it will make you cry as well as sigh of relief every time you read about ALF's success at the end of each chapter.
It is a masterpiece that has painted beauty of our fellow non-humans and ugliness our own species who have inflicted such cruelties upon innocent animals. It is a masterpeice that paints courage and strength, conviction and determination of those who have put their own lives in danger to selflessly help those who need our help the most.
ITS A MUST READ!!! IT IS WORTH EVERY SINGLE PENNY SPENT!!! YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!!! Please be kind to animals and protect them by any means necessary. God Bless You All!!!

I came to this book not knowing whether or not I supported the actions of the ALF. I'm an animal activist, but I wasn't sure if I would go so far as to support property destruction in name of a political cause. So I read it.

Besides entertaining (the stories of animal rescue are very suspenseful), this book really shined a light on the ALF for me. I've heard of the philosophy and so on, but this provided an actual account, though perhaps second-hand (necessarily), of how and why the ALF in the US was started.

By the end, liking the book for me wasn't a matter of whether I agreed or not with taking beagles out of labs. It's a great book, it has great stories and very interesting and compelling philosophy. No matter what side you sit on, at some point you'll be rooting for the "underdog" while reading this book. And for all you know, you may wind up supporting every action described.

This book is a good book for getting people educated about animal rights and the abuses that are out there. Well written and to the point. As far as the review that gave this 1 star and said it created a "third use" - ( that being sarcastically using people in experiments instead of animals ) I agree - and he should be first to go. It's about the only way he could achieve empathy of any sort.

ABGs(arterial blood gases) and how electrolytes affect diffusion/osmosis and overall homeostasis are topics that need indepth consideration. We often don't get enough time/opportunity to consider in standard classes. This book really promotes a thorough knowledge base because it explores small bytes in simple ways. Just slowly working through the book's content little by little when I have time has given me a much more confident understanding and affects my grasp of so many other necessary topics as well -- drug physiology and signs and symptoms, physical assessment analysis, corresponding pathophysiology and stage in disease or recovery. This book has helped me become established in one of the more important bases of clincial understanding and care.

I am currently in my first semester of Nursing School and found the book extremely helpful. Seeing that I had an upcoming test that was focused on electrolytes and acid base balances, I, along with the rest of the class, freaked. We all ran to the book stores and purchased books. This was the only book I purchased and, along with Saunders NClex Review Book, I scored a 96 on the exam- the highest in the class and the highest grade for me ever while in Nursing School. I didn't read the whole thing, maybe to page 190 or so. It sounds like alot, but there are many charts and graphs and helpful tips (with big print) to help you along the way. Plus, I have a feeling this won't be the last time reading it. I highly recommend this book as it tells you exactly what to look for (abnormal assessments) of patients with hypokalcemia, etc. I plan to get the other "...Made Easy" books as I need them. Thumbs up!!

This book saved me and helped me to understand fluid and electrolytes could not have passed my class without it.

I'm a first semester RN student, and I wanted this book to use along with my required text, as I've heard that this topic can be exceptionally hard. I believe that it paid off, my score was a 92% when it came down to taking the test. I was hoping for more illustrations and perhaps more learning aids, such as pneumonic devices, but overall not a bad book!

This book is really helping me understand what should have been learned in basic nursing classes. It is easy to read and comprehend, and it's not too wordy like some textbooks. I've just graduated, and I felt like I didn't really understand fluids and electrolytes. I want to be an outstanding nurse, and I also want to pass the NCLEX on the first time around. This book has already helped me with both!

Any body who has read more than two or three books on veganism and vegetarianism runs across references to Pythagoras, Henry Salt, Francis Moore Lappe, Leo Tolstoy, etc. etc. as people who wrote important works on vegetarianism. But their books are hard to find. This book steps in and presents the central writings of these and many other people who have defended the notion that diet is a moral moatter. Very helpful, very well organized.

--on the road to vegetarianism. This book supplies centuries of moral wisdom by persons who refused to kill animals to satisfy their palates. I've given copies to several of my relatives. I'm not sure why the authors included their nonvegetarian appendix at the back of the book. Maybe in the interest of fairness; but the pro-vegetarian choices are top notch, especially the ones from the ancient world.

If you're curious about why vegetarianism is the right way to go, get this book. Vegetarians throughout the centureis have made rational and compelling arguments for their diet choices. This book collects the most important of them, and the editors provide informative and helpful introductory essays. A great investment.

As the title implies, various philosophers through the ages have come to the conclusion that meat eating is neither necessary nor ethical. Here, in Ethical Vegetarianism, their most articulate arguments are organized sequentially for the common reader. A great book and a bargain nonetheless.

I'm not a vegetarian and I doubt I'll become one. But I found this collection interesting because I've always thought of vegetarians as nice but sorta flakey tree huggers. The essays here are written by people who offer strong arguments for their beliefs. (Usually, that is. The one by Harriet Schlieffer is over the top). But sorry folks. My appetite over-rules my head in this case.

I got this book about a year ago and I wish I had done a review sooner. This book is a masterpiece of work on behalf of the rights of non humans. This author is exceptionally intelligent and compassionate. He is a Law Professor--a Super Lawyer, and thanks to his training in Law, he REALLY drives his argument very very deep and straight into the heart of the matter leaving little forgotten. This book seems small, but it has more depth and coverage inside than you think. It is for those newly interested in the subject, it is for old pros and it is for anyone or everyone to read regardless of your animal-rights evolution. This author has written other books (I would like to suggest "Rain Without Thunder") in which he analyzes the animal rights movement even more deeply. He is absolutely phenomenal!!!

This book is very very deep, very very probing and the author does a FANTASTIC JOB in his arguments.

This book ranks at least 7 from a choice of 5 stars for me. I had to give it a five star rating because that was the limit.

I don't think you will find a better book than this one that drives the argument straight home. May I suggest Animal Gospel as an equally good book from the viewpoint of Christianity.

I take this subject matter to be my PRIORITY in life. So please trust me on my opinion as this being a SUPERB BOOK!! NE PLUS ULTRA!!!!--meaning nothing better than this--it is top of the line!!

Tip from someone who has learned from life: No one is free until all are free. We suffer knowing our fellow beings are in deep hell. It affects everyone in one way or another. Therefore, the fight for animal freedom is a fight for our own freedom. Don't let superficial needs take priority over the need of our fellow beings to be free and free from pain. Keep romantic love in perspective. It's not the real deal. Compassion is the real deal and that is what needs priority.

Gary Francione is an important thinker in the animal rights debate. His abolitionist views have proved influential in certain sectors of the movement, and for that reason alone it is important to read his work.

The problem with Gary is that I get the impression he thinks his views are obviously watertight and thoroughly convincing and seems surprised anyone would disagree with them. His arguments are presented in a simple (almost syllogistic) format that circumvents the complexity of the issues. Writers like Robert Garner have drawn attention to the problem with thinking that the property status of animals is the ultimate, foundational issue that should be the heart of the movement's concerns. But as I said, Gary's arguments are important to consider and he makes some genuinely insightful remarks.

el libro me parecio fascinante, desde un principio, pero en un par de capitulos daba muchos ejemplos que ya sabia, pero para quien lee sobre derechos animales por primera vez muy utiles, y lo mejor es el capitulo 6, donde hace refutaciones al utilitarismo.

The three most well known authors of 'animal rights' books are Tom Regan, Peter Singer and Gary Francione.
Tom Regan's writing is good but I find it has inconsistencies, for example, he attributes non-human animals with inherent value, yet he asserts without justification that killing a human causes more harm to a human than killing a dog causes harm to a dog. Also, he draws the moral line between mammals and the rest of sentient life. Surely sentience, the ability to be the subject of experiences (both painful and pleasurable experiences), is the only factor that has an impact on the moral matter of our treatment of animals. A non-human animal may never experience the pleasure of playing a musical instrument or writing a piece of music, the satisfaction of completing a challenging essay or the stimulation of a game of chess - but neither will most humans. Whatsmore, I will never be able to experience the euphoria of smelling a multitude of scents at the park, the amazing anticipation of going for a run that my dog experiences and the joy of fetching a ball. These experiences are all subjective - to a dog (as an example of a non-human animal) going for a walk is as exciting as composing a piece of music and playing tug of war over a rubber toy is as fun as human competitive sport. We can't say that because the things animals derive pleasure from are not typically what we derive pleasure from that their experiences don't matter as much as ours. Going for an explore in the park amongst the myriad of sights, sounds and smells is to a dog what life is all about.
Of Peter Singer I say this, his writing is commonly confused as animal rights writing - he does talk about AR, but in no way does he support it. Peter Singer does not think using an animal for human ends (e.g., killing an animal to eat it, use in experiments or otherwise utilize) is wrong. He believes non-human animals (perhaps with the exclusion of the great apes - his reasoning: they are too alike to normal humans) are property for 'normal' humans to utilize as long as 'suffering' is minimalised. Singer draws an arbitrary line to protect 'normal' humans like himself from exploitation whilst justifying the exploitation of those who fall below the arbitrary line.
Francione on the other hand, argues that sentience is the only thing that matters in the determination of whether a being has the basic right to freedom from expoitation. He argues his case for animal rights clearly, thoroughly and succinctly without the major inconsistencies that appear in Singers and Regans work. At the end of the book he has provided commonly occuring questions and his respective answers. I found his answers intelligent, original and highly persuasive.
Francione's book is the bible (without the Judeo-Christian dogma) of the true Animal Rights movement. It is a must buy. Regan's work is still important and worth looking at because we must still recognise the importance of his pioneering efforts in animal ethics. Singers work should only be borrowed from the library - to be able to effectively deal with utilitarian arguments when they are presented.
Note: I have a sneaking suspicion that Singer or one of his clones (PETA??) was responsible for the reviews: "Francione not realistic and nor constructive" and "Going down a well travelled path". Singer must be very defensive now that his 'ivory'(the death of the elephants was relatively painless he assures you) tower that he built from sales of 'Animal Liberation' is starting to crumble. The big Animal Welfare organisations also have a lot to lose from Francione's criticism - they get a lot of revenue... from people who think their money is going to be put to good use.

Buy this book, a coherent, refined and logical approach to animal rights that gets to the root of modern society's animal problem without going out on a limb. Finally, understand animal rights without wading through philosophy or complicated arguments. And it might just change your life.