The Animal Activist's Handbook: Maximizing Our Positive Impact in Today's World (Flashpoint (Lantern)) [Paperback]

Matt Ball (Author), Bruce Friedrich (Author)

Book Description

Series: Flashpoint (Lantern) | Publication Date: April 6, 2009

Matt Ball and Bruce Friedrich take the plight of the world's animals seriously and have dedicated their lives to ending their suffering. The Animal Activist's Handbook argues that meaning in life is to be found, quite simply, in turning away from the futile pursuit of 'more' and focusing instead on leaving the planet a better place than you found it. The critical component of creating a better world for all is thoughtful, deliberate, and dedicated activism that takes suffering seriously. The authors build a ground-up case for reasoned, impassioned, and joyous activism that makes the most difference possible, and suggest a variety of ways to live a meaningful life through effective and efficient advocacy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book is so much more than a 'how-to' guide for activists. It is an inspirational and motivational opus from the two gentlest yet most effective giants in the movement. The Animal Activist's Handbook will elevate your activism and forever alter who you are and who you want to be. --Rory Freedman, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Skinny Bitch

The Animal Activist's Handbook is full of good sense, thoughtful advice, and practical action on helping all of us to reduce the needless suffering of our fellow creatures. I recommend it. --Matthew Scully, author of Dominion

The Animal Activist's Handbook punches way above its weight. Rarely have so few pages contained so much intelligence and good advice. Get it, read it, and act on it. Now. --Peter Singer, author of Animal Liberation and Ethics into Action

About the Author

Matt Ball, along with Jack Norris, co-founded Vegan Outreach in 1993. Before working full-time as the Executive Director of Vegan Outreach, he was a Department of Energy Global Change Fellow, and earned degrees in the Department of Forest Ecology at the University of Illinois, and the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. Vegan Outreach activists have distributed millions of detailed animal advocacy booklets around the world, with distribution growing every year. Along with Mr. Norris, Matt was elected into the Animal Rights Hall of Fame in 2005. Bruce Friedrich is vice president of policy and government affairs for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world s largest animal rights organization, with more than 2 million members and supporters. Before joining PETA more than 12 years ago, Bruce spent six years working with the poor of Washington, D.C. in a Catholic Worker hospitality house there, as well as leading demonstrations against globalization, imperialism, violence, and war. He has been a progressive activist for more than 20 years.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Lantern Books (April 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590561201
• ISBN-13: 978-1590561201
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #390,372 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Matt Ball, along with Jack Norris, co-founded Vegan Outreach in 1993. Before working full-time as the Executive Director of Vegan Outreach, he was a Department of Energy Global Change Fellow, and earned degrees in the Department of Forest Ecology at the University of Illinois, and the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. Vegan Outreach activists have distributed millions of detailed animal advocacy booklets around the world, with distribution growing every year. Along with Mr. Norris, Matt was elected into the Animal Rights Hall of Fame in 2005.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, April 14, 2009

By 

P. Shapiro - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Animal Activist's Handbook: Maximizing Our Positive Impact in Today's World (Flashpoint (Lantern)) (Paperback)

The Animal Activist's Handbook offers invaluable suggestions for how to be as effective as possible in giving a voice to the voiceless. The plight of animals is so dire that we can't afford to engage in advocacy that isn't optimally useful in changing people attitudes about, and actions, toward them. I wish this book had been written when I first got involved in the animal protection movement--it would have made my early years as an animal advocate a lot more effective!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than a handbook, April 27, 2009

By 

Charles Talbert - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Animal Activist's Handbook: Maximizing Our Positive Impact in Today's World (Flashpoint (Lantern)) (Paperback)

Ball and Friedrich's contribution is aptly named a "handbook", though it's more than that. There is a great amount of useful information in one slim reference source, and a thoughtful distillation of so much that activists need to know. But it's not only for those who advocate. Others just wanting to know the ethical and practical case for compassion for all beings will find this a thorough resource that can be read quickly and grasped easily.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Book, April 27, 2009

By 

PSVeggirl (Palm Desert, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Animal Activist's Handbook: Maximizing Our Positive Impact in Today's World (Flashpoint (Lantern)) (Paperback)

I found this book helpful and instructive in both giving some historical perspective as well as giving usefl ideas on how to be a better advocate for animals. Recommended reading for all who want to live their lives constructively in the pursuit of animal rights.