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172 reviews for:
Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It's So Hard to Think Straight About Animals
Hal Herzog
3.78 AVERAGE
172 reviews for:
Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It's So Hard to Think Straight About Animals
Hal Herzog
3.78 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Some people seem to take issue with the fact that the author refrains from making any sweeping conclusions or takes any side in this book. But that is what is the best thing about this book - unlike trying to play a preacher like Jonathan Safran Foer in Eating Animals - Hal Herzog focuses on providing his readers with an unbiased (as much as humanely possible) account of the paradoxical relationship that exists between man and animal.
The book hinges on a very simple point - that it is not possible to have a consistent notion of the role (and place) animals hold in our modern society. Do you support killing a million lab rats to test cosmetics products? How about killing a million lab rats to find a cure for dengue? How about a million dogs instead?
Granted, we have come a long way since the days of Descartes, who claimed animals are natural robots, and their actions are all mechanized - they feel nothing. But perhaps, in that case, with our increased knowledge, how we treat animals in modern society is far worse. Hal Herzog lifts the curtains and reveals the cruelty on animals that goes on all around us - in medical labs, in animal farms, and households and street corners - and he shows how we are all unwitting participants.
This is not a call-to-action like most books in this genre is, which is consistent with Herzog's message. As an anthrozoologist, his area of expertise is studying the relationship between humans and animals and presenting the findings. He does not feel the need to spoon-fed the readers about how to feel about these issues. Whatever lessons you derive from this book will be spontaneous and personal, shaped by your own past experiences.
You are free to come to your own conclusion after reading the book, and for that alone, this book stands head-and-shoulders above all other book in the category.
The book hinges on a very simple point - that it is not possible to have a consistent notion of the role (and place) animals hold in our modern society. Do you support killing a million lab rats to test cosmetics products? How about killing a million lab rats to find a cure for dengue? How about a million dogs instead?
Granted, we have come a long way since the days of Descartes, who claimed animals are natural robots, and their actions are all mechanized - they feel nothing. But perhaps, in that case, with our increased knowledge, how we treat animals in modern society is far worse. Hal Herzog lifts the curtains and reveals the cruelty on animals that goes on all around us - in medical labs, in animal farms, and households and street corners - and he shows how we are all unwitting participants.
This is not a call-to-action like most books in this genre is, which is consistent with Herzog's message. As an anthrozoologist, his area of expertise is studying the relationship between humans and animals and presenting the findings. He does not feel the need to spoon-fed the readers about how to feel about these issues. Whatever lessons you derive from this book will be spontaneous and personal, shaped by your own past experiences.
You are free to come to your own conclusion after reading the book, and for that alone, this book stands head-and-shoulders above all other book in the category.
A good look at the psychology of human-animal relations. I think this book would be best for someone who is just starting to think about these issues - it can be simplistic at times for anyone with a background in philosophy or animal welfare etc.
Lots to think about in this book.
As a vet tech, it has always struck me as ludicrous that we have the ability to end the lives of animals that are suffering, but are also expected to euthanize perfectly wonderful animals just because there is no place for them to go. Even the act of euthanizing a sick animal leaves me sad, because it's the loss of a life. I have nothing but contempt for puppy mill breeders. And I remain conflicted about purebred dogs. So many of them have genetic diseases, from chronic colitis to itchy skin to debilitating hip dysplasia. Give me a mutt any day. I've also seen rescue people spend incredible amounts of money to prolong the life of a dying animal, despite the fact that the money could pay to spay or neuter and vaccinate and feed more than one healthy animal, because to them nothing is worse than death. I can't look at a cat that has lost 70% of its body weight and is sloughing its gut and agree that death is worse than the suffering.
Now, I also spent time working at a service lab at NIH. While I did not personally sacrifice mice, post docs came into our lab to make RNA from various mouse tissues. And I was in charge of the -80 freezers, where my boss had a nasty habbit of stashing poorly wrapped samples of brain. I had to try very hard to not think about where those samples came from.
I'm not sure where I am going with this, but I enjoyed Herzog's exploration of the difficult ethical issues we face in our interactions with animals.
As a vet tech, it has always struck me as ludicrous that we have the ability to end the lives of animals that are suffering, but are also expected to euthanize perfectly wonderful animals just because there is no place for them to go. Even the act of euthanizing a sick animal leaves me sad, because it's the loss of a life. I have nothing but contempt for puppy mill breeders. And I remain conflicted about purebred dogs. So many of them have genetic diseases, from chronic colitis to itchy skin to debilitating hip dysplasia. Give me a mutt any day. I've also seen rescue people spend incredible amounts of money to prolong the life of a dying animal, despite the fact that the money could pay to spay or neuter and vaccinate and feed more than one healthy animal, because to them nothing is worse than death. I can't look at a cat that has lost 70% of its body weight and is sloughing its gut and agree that death is worse than the suffering.
Now, I also spent time working at a service lab at NIH. While I did not personally sacrifice mice, post docs came into our lab to make RNA from various mouse tissues. And I was in charge of the -80 freezers, where my boss had a nasty habbit of stashing poorly wrapped samples of brain. I had to try very hard to not think about where those samples came from.
I'm not sure where I am going with this, but I enjoyed Herzog's exploration of the difficult ethical issues we face in our interactions with animals.
This is my 'Traffic' of this year - the book I will walk around quoting endlessly and telling people to read...or ELSE! Herzog thoughtfully and hilariously parses out the complexities of our relationships with animals - mostly how our behavior (specifically in our society) is totally inconsistent, but without presenting any sort of judgement or resolution for it. Also, he managed to make fun of Crocs and quote Homer Simpson's classic "You don't win friends with salad," all while being super smart.
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I would actually give this 3.5 stars but will round it up. Although this book didn't really answer any questions but I don't think it could have. Thoughts about animals are so personal and full of conflict between others and self. However, it did give you a lot to think about. This book has the potential for lots of discussion. I also think it gave a good representation of both sides of most questions. I'm still not sure how I would handle some of the questions posed.
If you're looking for any sort conclusion or thesis, which the title of the book promises, don't bother. This is just a bunch of anecdotes about a bunch of ways a bunch of people view a bunch of animals.