Customer Reviews

Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food

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This beautifully written, engaging, and compelling book tells the story of Gene Baur -- a modern-day hero and trailblazer -- and his remarkable journey of bringing light, peace, health, hope, and sanctuary to thousands of rescued farmed "animal ambassadors," the few who have been incredibly fortunate to call Farm Sanctuary home. In the telling of the founding and mission of Farm Sanctuary, Baur exposes the heart-wrenching truth about the disappearance of the American family farm and its replacement with the horrific evolution of mechanized, factory-style, farmed animal production, which has taken a devastating toll on American farmers, our land, our environment, our health, and the individual animals who suffer disgusting, unspeakable abuses at the hands of humans in the process of becoming "food."

It is also a story of courage, compassion, and hope. Through his revelations, Baur reveals the unique personalities of these animals, whom we come to see as the individuals they are, and in the process, compels us to explore our own hearts of compassion and seek practical ways to create and support positive social change.

Baur is a gifted writer who sheds a bright light on a dark, demonic segment of our culture. His bold accomplishments will astound, unsettle, startle, provoke, and move you to action. Farm Sanctuary is both a fascinating and disturbing page-turner and a testament to how one man's fortitude can ignite the mercy within us all. It is a powerful, important, and unforgettable book.

If any book can change hearts and minds, it's this one. It comes out just as tens of millions of Americans are first learning what a "downed animal" is, and the scandal surrounding cruelty to animals in a slaughtering facility sends our federal food safety bureacracy into panic. That's somehow appropriate, for there are few individuals who have labored as long, as hard, and with as much patience as Gene Baur to bring the abuse of farm animals to public attention. Baur's principled compassion and quiet sense of mission lead from modest beginnings selling soy hot dogs from a VW van in the caravan trailing the Grateful Dead to the leadership of what is arguably the most effective farm animal advocacy group in the world. In Baur's telling, it is the animals that his organization saves who change hearts and minds. But his constancy, gentle style, and desire to engage with both people and animals come through in this wonderful account of nearly a quarter century of activism, and he emerges as a hero, deeply rooted in the finest traditions of American social reform. Whether he's writing about agricultural economics, relating his exchange with a neighboring farmer, explaining the strategy behind a campaign, or reflecting on the life of an animal rescued from the dead pile, his work moves, calls, and persuades the reader to the rightness of his thought.

Gene Baur's primary concern is the humane treatment of farmed animals. He connects the abusive cruelties resulting from factory farming, to environmental depredation and health risks to both human and farm animal populations. This book is a passionate and reasoned look at a topic that deserves the attention and understanding of anyone who eats to stay alive.

Farm Sanctuary chronicles Baur's personal development as an activist on behalf of factory farmed animals. The organization he founded is as the subtitle states, 'changing hearts and minds about animals and food.' (And changing laws to better protect farmed animals as well). For anyone unfamiliar with the accelerated assembly line that now treats animals like machines in order to glut the market with cheap meat, milk and eggs, this book will be an excellent introduction to that history and a survey of present conditions. For those already familiar with the cruelties, false economies and environmental dangers euphemistically known as 'concentrated or confined animal feeding operations' Baur has readably chronicled, widely and deeply, the realities for the animals and those who tend the animals-as-machines, as well as the consumer.

Background stories on the rescued non-human residents of Farm Sanctuary provide living examples of the manipulation and abuse that farm animals suffer. Downed animals are a case in point. Baur and his organization have worked for the humane treatment of 'downers' -- animals too weak, sick or injured and unable to walk into the slaughterhouse. Such animals are not legally supposed to enter the food supply, but there is every economic incentive to prod, drag or otherwise coerce a weak animal to walk, because a downed animal makes no money for anyone. One case in particular (p. 31), illustrates "another absurd feature of the economics of farming. Clearly the humane thing to do was to euthanize the cow. If she'd died without the vet's intervention, insurance probably would have covered her market price; if she'd survived, a local slaughterhouse might have paid something for her meat. Euthanizing her meant a financial loss -- it was cheaper to leave the cow alive and suffering. Economic interests were in direct conflict with humane concerns."

In addition to the book's comprehensive coverage of the conditions under which farmed animals are raised and slaughtered, an appendix of associated resources is also included, as well as a bibliography for related reading.

The very first time I visited Farm Sanctuary, I knew I had found my haven. Two years later, after interning at the New York shelter, followed by 1 1/2 years of employment there working with the animals that have a safe place thanks to Gene, I have just finished reconnecting with my initial bliss and thrill by reading this book.

Being in the world of Farm Sanctuary working hands-on with those animals, who, like Gene states, are each individuals, is a positively unique experience. Though I may seem a bit biased by writing this review, I must say that I have truly experienced the Farm, Gene's story, and the animals in a refreshing, new and beautiful way.

If you are new to the animal protection movement, and do not know yet the facts about industrialized farming, and the terrible falls our society has made toward abuse and neglect (by way of animals as well as consumers, farmers, employees and your every day family trying to eat a decent meal), then I STRONGLY recommend this being the first book to introduce you to these issues.

Written with a sense of passion, but without the sometimes harsh political jargon of AR activists that may appear to the average person as slanted, Gene weaves the roots of his activism and beliefs, factual information, touching stories about real animals, and the history of (in my opinion) the most bold, successful and important animal sanctuary in existence into an captivating read.

I believe that in years to come, once this incredible book has circled the hands of people over and over, that we shall see even more of a spread of compassion around and back again. Farm Sanctuary's story is an important one to tell, and god bless Gene, his work ethic and drive to have completed it and put it forth for the world to hear. For those of you out there, pass this on to everyone you love-- it just might change their minds, hearts and lives.. as well as the lives of animals depending on us to help.

If you have ever wondered where meat actually comes from...

If you loved Wilbur in Charlotte's Web, and hope that all farmed animals are treated humanely...

If you care about things like climate change, water pollution, avian flu, and health...

If any of these "if"s strike you, read the book. What you will find is a story of a man who cared enough to rescue a sheep left for dead, and from there, became one of the front runners of a movement. No extreme, shock-oriented schemes here. This is a genuine account of a one who has seen the inside of the meat, dairy, and egg industries. As one of the chapters in the book says, it's not Wilbur's farm anymore.

What you will also find is the story of what happens when you build a place where a tiny fraction of these animals can go to fulfill their inherent desire to live. It is nothing short of inspiring.

Farm Santuary lifts the dark veil covering our animal food industry. It is time to stop pretending that food comes in plastic and paper containers from the grocery store. Animal abuse and pain are an unacceptable link in our food chain. This book offers reality and good storytelling to bring awareness that our animal farming practices are not acceptable to Americans.

This book was brilliantly written considering all that it includes -- and that is a full look at how Farm Sanctuary I & II came to be, why, an in depth look at the factory farm industry, Farm Sanctuary's past and on-going efforts to create and change laws to protect animals, interlaced with personal stories about individual animals that are awe-inspiring and emotionally touching. You finish this book with a broad awareness of the realities, problems, and solutions to factory farming, well enough informed and directed to know exactly how best to help, stepwise -- as much or as little as you want. There is a gentle call to activism and vegetarianism veganism. Though, I recommend this book heartily to those who do consume meat and dairy products -- Gary, very smartly, does not discriminate. If we're going to use animals for food, we have to do so responsibly. This book shows us how. Gary did not leave one aspect or important fact unaddressed.

Gene Baur's book is both heartwarming and heartbreaking as he leads you through the lives of the animals he saves and the animals love that sometimes save him. His stories are honest and factual; compelling and thought provoking. Gene shows us a world that most people do not know exist or choose not to. He asks that we take a good look, see the compassion in these precious animals and open your heart to them. Once you do you will truly never be the same. Let the compassion begin.

Truly inspiring book! Gene Baur is full of so much insight, experience, and positivity. It has become one of my favorite books. I think all individuals should check out this book. I learned much more than I was expecting, just when I thought I knew everything about agribusiness. I learned more about animals, just when I thought my connection with animals was at its peak. I thank Gene for writing this, for all of his and his fellow workers efforts in this amazing cause. I will support Farm Sanctuary until the day I die. It is Farm Sanctuary that has inspired me to want to start a sanctuary of my own!

Gene Bauer's book, Farm Sanctuary, is a powerful indictment of factory farming and opened my eyes to the depth of the problem. He's an excellent writer and a true humanitarian who has fought long and hard for his beliefs. The book took me out of denial. I couldn't put it down once I started and recommend the book to everyone.