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sarahanne8382's review against another edition
4.0
This was definitely not a book written for someone like me, and yet I loved parts of it. The book's premise is that farm animals are so much more complex and intelligent than we previously thought, so we should stop using cruel and inhumane methods to raise them for food. I know I can't speak for all farmers, but as the daughter of one, I can tell you that my dad has always said a happy healthy animal is ultimately a more profitable one when it comes time to sell. But I guess if you're a vegetarian because you feel that eating animals is cruel, then I can buy that confining them in pens in order to raise them for food would also bother you. I just don't happen to agree with that position.
Luckily most of the book focuses on the amazing mental, social and emotional abilities of farm animals. Growing up so close to animals, most of this information didn't surprise me, but it's still neat to see that there's growing recognition of animal intelligence, and there were a few details I learned, like the fact that they've trained pigs to play video games. If you're animal lover, this is breezy read full of intelligent reporting on animal studies research, as well as emotionally manipulative vignettes of farm animal life. I think I can recommend this one, but only with the caveat to not believe all the hype about animal-cruelty perpetuated by farmers.
Luckily most of the book focuses on the amazing mental, social and emotional abilities of farm animals. Growing up so close to animals, most of this information didn't surprise me, but it's still neat to see that there's growing recognition of animal intelligence, and there were a few details I learned, like the fact that they've trained pigs to play video games. If you're animal lover, this is breezy read full of intelligent reporting on animal studies research, as well as emotionally manipulative vignettes of farm animal life. I think I can recommend this one, but only with the caveat to not believe all the hype about animal-cruelty perpetuated by farmers.
sjgrodsky's review against another edition
4.0
Exquisite visually. Each page is beautifully designed, with photographs that range from charming to adorable. Each chapter ends with a double spread photo. Quotations from researchers and philosophers are sprinkled throughout the book. The tiny icons next to the page numbers are silhouettes (cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens) that indicate graphically the content of the chapter. And the silhouettes are flipped so (for example) the cows on odd numbered pages gaze across the book at the cows on even numbered pages. Very well done.
The text is more problematic.
1
--
Overbrief descriptions. The author has summarized findings from many different researchers, most in the animal sciences. However, her summaries are so brief as to be almost meaningless. At times they raise so many questions about the details of the research that one is tempted to ignore the findings. For example, she describes a study conducted in London (no further details given) in which pigs were asked to "push one lever when they felt normal, another when they felt anxious." Umm. OK. Now how did the nameless researchers know when the pigs were pressing the correct lever?
2
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No footnotes. Footnotes linking to the researchers' technical papers would have put the book on much firmer ground scientifically.
3
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Clumsy writing. One example, pulled at random: "Pigs are extremely sensitive to what goes on around them as well as to their environment." Umm...did we need the words following "as"? Don't think so.
4
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Editing errors. On page 82, for example, "...when spoken to or handled gently, cows produce significantly more milk than when treated gruffly." Gruffly? I think she meant roughly.
These are the sorts of things a professional copy editor is going to notice and complain about. But my carping should not detract from the more important point: This book shows the intelligence and emotional depth of the animals who live short and brutal lives on the horrific factory farms that are most of agriculture today. If the book makes just one person rethink a meat-heavy diet, it has done its job.
The text is more problematic.
1
--
Overbrief descriptions. The author has summarized findings from many different researchers, most in the animal sciences. However, her summaries are so brief as to be almost meaningless. At times they raise so many questions about the details of the research that one is tempted to ignore the findings. For example, she describes a study conducted in London (no further details given) in which pigs were asked to "push one lever when they felt normal, another when they felt anxious." Umm. OK. Now how did the nameless researchers know when the pigs were pressing the correct lever?
2
--
No footnotes. Footnotes linking to the researchers' technical papers would have put the book on much firmer ground scientifically.
3
--
Clumsy writing. One example, pulled at random: "Pigs are extremely sensitive to what goes on around them as well as to their environment." Umm...did we need the words following "as"? Don't think so.
4
--
Editing errors. On page 82, for example, "...when spoken to or handled gently, cows produce significantly more milk than when treated gruffly." Gruffly? I think she meant roughly.
These are the sorts of things a professional copy editor is going to notice and complain about. But my carping should not detract from the more important point: This book shows the intelligence and emotional depth of the animals who live short and brutal lives on the horrific factory farms that are most of agriculture today. If the book makes just one person rethink a meat-heavy diet, it has done its job.
19paws's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful book! The pictures of former farm animals now living in sanctuaries are just exquisite. The text shares their stories as well as research into the habits, emotions and intellects of different animals. (Who knew that ducks have regional accents?) It's a fast read--about an hour--except that every photo is such a delight that it's kind of hard to turn the page.
This is a perfect gift for anyone who loves animals and particularly for someone who needs a little nudge toward ethical eating. It's a happy book--no gruesome tales of factory farms--but I don't know how anyone could read it and continue to eat animals.
This is a perfect gift for anyone who loves animals and particularly for someone who needs a little nudge toward ethical eating. It's a happy book--no gruesome tales of factory farms--but I don't know how anyone could read it and continue to eat animals.
johnnymoonlight's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed it. Lots of cute pictures and information I didn't know. Great book for a young reader curious about hidden research on the oft-forgotten farm animals.
blackberryandleaf's review against another edition
4.0
This book presented how farm animals respond emotionally and intellectually with the world around them. It is very easy to read with the text interspersed with beautiful photography. After reading the text, the reader is left with little doubt as to how similar animals and humans are in their desire to form relationships and to be treated with kindness and respect. There are many delightful examples of animals' personalities shining through with my favourite stories being those of inter-species friendships.
I was heading towards giving this book 5 stars until I read the "What You Can Do" section. I believe the first step anyone should take to help animals is to become vegan. Sadly, the author has only given a cursory mention to veganism in a section that mainly deals with food choices. In fact veganism is mentioned in the same sentence as vegetarianism which includes dairy and egg use. I found this odd as some pages back had been devoted to the horrible anxiety cows go through when separated from their calves.
Overall a very well researched and collated book, but fell short when it could have delivered a powerful message for change at the end.
I was heading towards giving this book 5 stars until I read the "What You Can Do" section. I believe the first step anyone should take to help animals is to become vegan. Sadly, the author has only given a cursory mention to veganism in a section that mainly deals with food choices. In fact veganism is mentioned in the same sentence as vegetarianism which includes dairy and egg use. I found this odd as some pages back had been devoted to the horrible anxiety cows go through when separated from their calves.
Overall a very well researched and collated book, but fell short when it could have delivered a powerful message for change at the end.
mariafri's review against another edition
3.0
I’d definitely recommend this book to any child or adult – it’s full of good-quality pictures and cute anecdotes about farm animals; it’s also very easy to read as it doesn’t give us any scientific insight such as how the brain of a cow works or what makes a chicken take care of its chicks. Basically, it doesn’t explain anything – it just tells you sweet and touching stories, so if you’re already familiar with the topic you won’t find out anything new. Other than that it’s a great read and a wonderful idea of a present (I would have loved to get it as a child!).
jessferg's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful photos and copious quotes accompany the basic text of this book which skims the surface of animal emotions and responses. A good primer, and appropriate for any age, research progress and scientific studies are peppered with anecdotal stories of rescued sanctuary animals.
Sections include: Chickens; Geese, Ducks, and Turkeys; Cows; Pigs; Sheep and Goats.
There is a very good reference section in the back including farm sanctuaries, recommend readings/viewings, and animal rights organizations.
While it is not the intention of the text, I had a difficult time reconciling the idea of farm sanctuaries with the amount of animals we eat every day. In particular, the story of a fundraiser for one goat needing surgery netted $11,000 which seems like a decent sum to put towards rectifying the neglectful and abusive farm system we currently support instead of providing a goat prosthetic. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for rescuing animals - I've got 8-year-old non-laying chickens in my yard and I've done some crazy things for them - but if we are going to raise money on the kind of scale mentioned here, let's put it towards the thousands of animals that require justice, not just one. I don't mean to editorialize - this is simply an observation I've had that this book really forced to the front for me.
Sections include: Chickens; Geese, Ducks, and Turkeys; Cows; Pigs; Sheep and Goats.
There is a very good reference section in the back including farm sanctuaries, recommend readings/viewings, and animal rights organizations.
While it is not the intention of the text, I had a difficult time reconciling the idea of farm sanctuaries with the amount of animals we eat every day. In particular, the story of a fundraiser for one goat needing surgery netted $11,000 which seems like a decent sum to put towards rectifying the neglectful and abusive farm system we currently support instead of providing a goat prosthetic. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for rescuing animals - I've got 8-year-old non-laying chickens in my yard and I've done some crazy things for them - but if we are going to raise money on the kind of scale mentioned here, let's put it towards the thousands of animals that require justice, not just one. I don't mean to editorialize - this is simply an observation I've had that this book really forced to the front for me.
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