Animals Matter: A Biologist Explains Why We Should Treat Animals with Compassion and Respect (Paperback)

~ (Author), Jane Goodall (Foreword)
Key Phrases: animal sentience, moral patients, reintroduction programs, Animals Matter, United States, Eye Shadow (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Animal behaviorist and biologist Bekoff follows his most recent in-depth work, The Emotional Life of Animals, with another well-written, more generalist argument for responsible behavior toward animals of all kinds. A revised and updated edition of his 2000 Strolling with Our Kin, an introduction for young readers to ethical issues relating to the use of animals, the writing still feels aimed at younger readers, but the new elements include an excellent review of current debates regarding animal sentience, animal relocation efforts and medical school dissection and vivisection. He also offers the evidence that "zoos actually do little to increase biodiversity," failing both to advocate for conservation and in their attempts to reintroduce captive animals into the wild. This levelheaded brief for animal rights deserves to be read by people of all ages, from teens and 20-somethings turned on to animal activism by vegetarian pop stars like Moby, to parents, teachers and other adults with the hope that they will "make more responsible decisions after reading this book and discussing the issues with family and friends."
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Review

"People who want to end animal exploitation sometimes are accused of being unscientific and uninformed. Marc Bekoff's Animals Matter is (and for a long time will remain) the gold standard when it comes to offering a scientific, informed response to these reckless charges. As Bekoff demonstrates, a scientifically informed understanding of who animals are supports their liberation from the hands of human tyranny."—Tom Regan, author of The Case for Animal Rights and Empty Cages

"Marc Bekoff is the wisest scientist I know, for he is the only expert who truly loves animals in the way that children are able to love animals, with all his heart. Listen to him. Read this book, give it to friends, celebrate this wonderful event."—Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, author of Altruistic Armadillos, Zenlike Zebras

"It's not every day that a world-class scientist tries to explain his ideas to a general audience. Marc Bekoff not only helps us to understand nature and animals, but also shows us how to love them."—Dale Jamieson, author of Ethics and the Environment

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Product Details

• Paperback: 202 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (November 13, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590305221
• ISBN-13: 978-1590305225
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #53,963 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #13 in	Books > Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Animal Psychology
  #19 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Ecology > Animal Rights
  #22 in	Books > Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Animal Behavior & Communication

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars what we share with other creatures, January 20, 2008

By	Brad4d "bb" (United States) - See all my reviews

What makes us similar to animals? What makes us different from animals? What makes us different from each other, especially those who do not share our emotions or thought patterns?
The author indicates that emotions are especially significant in sharing experience, and in deciding with whom we share that experience. Almost no one would choose to abuse a human being of low intellectual capacity who looks at us with a trusting smile, and almost no one would sympathize with an intellectual equal who treats such a person with cold cruelty. When we categorize other creatures who share something significant into neatly stereotyped compartments, we often find we are amazingly wrong. The author suggests that when we expand our awareness, we are often positively rewarded beyond our expectations. We can never treat animals as equals, but we can never degrade them without degrading ourselves. If we should discover creatures who are our technological and intellectual superiors, we should hope they will treat us better than we have treated other conscious creatures.
It's an interesting thesis,and it's interesting to think of the alternatives.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for the lay reader, but not for scientific background, September 17, 2008

By	T. Baker "Empress TJ - http://bothbrainsandbe... (Superior, CO) - See all my reviews

I purchased and read this book because I enjoyed _The Emotional Lives of Animals_. I found this book to be more geared toward personal conduct and ethics. This book is not a biologist explaining animal rights from the point of view of a biologist. This book is giving the personal opinion of the biologist without using scientific support.

For someone who is looking for a book outlining animal rights and ethical dilemmas, it is a good read, though it was not what I was looking for in particular. There are heavy themes surrounding vegetarianism and related lifestyles- to give an idea of the theme of the book.

For someone who is looking for the studies that support the author's conclusions, I suggest reading _Emotional Lives of Animals_ instead. He outlines more clearly his behavioral observations in his other book rather than this one (_Animals Matter_.)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars absolutely wonderful book, August 1, 2008

By	possum queen (East TN) - See all my reviews

I wish everyone could read this book - I honestly believe it would change the world.