Animals and society Books

Book SynopsisChristine M. Korsgaard presents a compelling new view of our moral relationships to the other animals. She offers challenging answers to such questions as: Are people superior to animals, and does it matter morally if we are? Is it all right for us to eat animals, experiment on them, make them work for us, and keep them as pets?Trade Review...this book contributes to a new era for animals, based on yet another firm moral foundation. * Nathan Nobis, society & animals *a clear statement by someone who has spent much of her life working on these themes, continually trying to strip away inessential details that might prevent us getting to the heart of the matter * Peter Godfrey-Smith, Aeon *an interesting, well-argued book. It should be read by any philosopher who works on animal ethics. * Toby Svoboda, Environmental Values *"Christine Korsgaard has written an admirable book, accessible, cogently-argued, and thoughtful. She writes with bravery and humility, and perhaps most notably, with passion. It is evident that Korsgaard cares about the plight of animals, and yet the work is void of mawkish sentimentalism. All philosophers would benefit from a close reading; for any who are even remotely interested in animal ethics, reading Fellow Creatures is obligatory. . . . she is swimming against the tide. She is an outstanding swimmer, one of the most worthy animal advocates in the last half-century. . . . I strongly recommend reading this book. You and, I hope, your fellow creatures, will be better off for it." * Mark H. Bernstein, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *"[Korsgaard] is one of the preeminent contemporary scholars of Kantian moral theory, so this is a significant book that will need to be referenced by anyone working on these issues. It is a must have for any college or university library." * CHOICE *"To be sure, nature itself is hardly a Valhalla of peace and harmony. Animals kill other animals regularly, often in ways that we (although not they) would consider cruel. But there is no other creature in nature whose predatory behavior is remotely as deep or as widespread as the behavior we display toward what the philosopher Christine Korsgaard aptly calls "our fellow creatures" in a sensitive book of the same name." * Todd May, New York Times *Table of ContentsPart One: Human Beings and the Other Animals 1: Are People More Important than the Other Animals? 2: Animal Selves and the Good 3: What's Different about Being Human? 4: The Case Against Human Superiority Part Two: Immanuel Kant and the Animals 5: Kant, Marginal Cases, and Moral Standing 6: Kant Against the Animals, Part 1: The Indirect Duty View 7: Kant Against the Animals, Part 2: Reciprocity and the Grounds of Obligation 8: A Kantian Case for Our Obligations to the Other Animals 9: The Role of Pleasure and Pain Part Three: Consequences 10: The Animal Antinomy, Part 1: Creation Ethics 11: Species, Communities, and Habitat Loss 12: The Animal Antinomy, Part 2: Abolition and Apartheid

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Book SynopsisA life shared with pets brings many emotions. We feel love for our companions, certainly, and happiness at the thought that we re providing them with a safe, healthy life. But there s another emotion, less often acknowledged, that can be nearly as powerful: guilt. When we see our cats gazing wistfully out the window, or watch a goldfish swim lazy circles in a bowl, we can t help but wonder: are we doing the right thing, keeping these independent beings locked up, subject to our control? Is keeping pets actually good for the pets themselves? That s the question that animates Jessica Pierce s powerful Run, Spot, Run. A lover of pets herself (including, over the years, dogs, cats, fish, rats, hermit crabs, and more), Pierce understands the joys that pets bring us. But she also refuses to deny the ambiguous ethics at the heart of the relationship, and through a mix of personal stories, philosophical reflections, and scientifically informed analyses of animal behavior and natural history, she puts pet-keeping to the test. Is it ethical to keep pets at all? Are some species more suited to the relationship than others? Are there species one should never attempt to own?And are there ways that we can improve our pets lives, so that we can be confident that we are giving them as much as they give us? Deeply empathetic, yet rigorous and unflinching in her thinking, Pierce has written a book that is sure to help any pet owner, unsettling assumptions but also giving them the knowledge to build deeper, better relationships with the animals with whom they ve chosen to share their lives.

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Book SynopsisElla Law is a prolific children's author who is happiest writing stories for a pre-school audience. She loves creating a world of irresistible characters with lots of opportunities for adventure... just like Rainbow Island where the Kindness Club can be found. Ella has created award-winning children's animation and brings a visual approach to all her writing.Laura Vitória Jäger is an illustrator from Brazil, with a degree in Visual Arts from the Federal University of Uberlândia (Brazil). She is inspired by the power of a child's imagination and she enjoys creating her colourful artwork with watercolour, coloured pencils, or using digital media.

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Book SynopsisElla Law is a prolific children's author with a strong international presence. She is happiest writing stories for a pre-school audience and loves the challenge of creating a world of irresistible characters with lots of opportunities for adventure... a world just like Rainbow Island where the Kindness Club can be found.Ella has created award-winning children's animation and brings a very visual approach to all her writing. The hallmark of her work is her child-centred focus and she always knows just how to engage with her audience. Ella gets most of her ideas on her daily walks in the countryside.

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Book SynopsisElla Law is a prolific children's author who is happiest writing stories for a pre-school audience. She loves creating a world of irresistible characters with lots of opportunities for adventure... just like Rainbow Island where the Kindness Club can be found. Ella has created award-winning children's animation and brings a visual approach to all her writing.Laura Vitória Jäger is an illustrator from Brazil who loves working on children's books. She is inspired by the power of a child's imagination, which can make everything magical. She enjoys creating her colourful artwork with watercolour, coloured pencils, or using digital media. She has a degree in Visual Arts from the Federal University of Uberlândia (Brazil).

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Book SynopsisElla Law is a prolific children's author with a strong international presence. She is happiest writing stories for a pre-school audience and loves the challenge of creating a world of irresistible characters with lots of opportunities for adventure... a world just like Rainbow Island where the Kindness Club can be found.Ella has created award-winning children's animation and brings a very visual approach to all her writing. The hallmark of her work is her child-centred focus and she always knows just how to engage with her audience. Ella gets most of her ideas on her daily walks in the countryside.

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Book SynopsisIn a masterful combination of historical sleuthing and journalistic exploration on four continents, Lawler reframes the way we feel and think about all domesticated animals and even nature itself.Trade Review'Setting the record straight, Lawler's latest tome recasts the chicken as a "feathered Swiss Army knife" - a bird that has fuelled cultural, economic and scientific growth for several thousand years' Guardian'Lawler's book goes a long way toward restoring chickens to their respected position within human history and our modern world. Both chickens and people will benefit as a result' Science'Science journalist Adrian Lawler explores the chicken's multipronged place in human civilization in his rip-roaring, erudite How the Chicken Crossed the World' Nature

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Book SynopsisAS SEEN ON ITV''S NEW WEEKEND FLAGSHIP SHOW ''JIMMY AND SHIVI''S FARMHOUSE BREAKFAST''.''Jimmy''s love of nature is second to none - what a beautiful read'' Jamie Oliver''Running a wildlife park is a complex job. To do it you need knowledge that varies from animal biology to how to get an ancient tractor running after a harsh frost. If there''s a more diverse job, I''d like to hear about it. But the massive upside of all that hard work is simple. At all times you''re embedded in the landscape and the lives of those incredible animals which depend on it - a beautiful natural gift which you are forever unwrapping.''Twenty years ago, Jimmy Doherty started a farm for rare breed pigs on some derelict land in Suffolk. Now a thriving wildlife park, which is home to many different species of animal, this book chronicles the journey that Jimmy and his family have found themselves on over the years.In Tales From Jimmy''s Trade ReviewJimmy's love of nature is second to none - what a beautiful read -- Jamie OliverIn this entertaining book, Jimmy reveals how he achieved his childhood dream. * Country Living *TV farmer Jimmy Doherty is on a mission to persuade the UK to embrace its green heritage and give wildlife a fighting chance. * Daily Express *Tales from Jimmy's Farm celebrates the journey that Jimmy and his family have found themselves on over the years, and the many animals that now call the farm home. * The Good Life Magazine *

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Book Synopsis‘An unbelievably inspiring book’ Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of TreesDid you know that pigs frequently throw tantrums? That chickens are capable of complex communication? That sheep know their own names? That cows grieve when their calves are taken away from them?Jeffrey Masson delves deep into the mysterious world of farm animals and reveals just how sophisticated these creatures truly are - capable of joy, sadness, love and friendship - just like us.Trade ReviewAn unbelievably inspiring book * Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees *Compassionate, compelling and often tear-jerking... Anyone who has a heart will be reduced to tears, if not to vegetarianism, by Masson's argument * Daily Mail *An entertaining survey of the main characteristics of farmed animals and a sobering account of how these have been ignored * Guardian *Presents information and anecdotes without ever preaching * Independent on Sunday *In this latest leg of Jeffrey Moussaieff's journey through the animal kingdoms, this perceptive writer peels back our prejudices to reveal the depth of feeling and thought in animals' minds and the leap we must make to be worthy of understanding them. Eye-opening, warm, thoroughly engaging -- Ingrid Newkirk, President of PETA

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Book SynopsisA far-reaching, urgent, and thoroughly engaging exploration of our relationship with animals - from the acclaimed Financial Times journalist.This might be the worst time in history to be an animal. But is there a happier way?Factory farms, climate change, deforestation and pandemics have made our relationship with the other species unsustainable. In response, Henry Mance sets out on a personal quest to see if there is a fairer way to live alongside the animals we love. He goes to work in an abattoir and on a farm to investigate the reality of eating meat and dairy. He explores our dilemmas around over-fishing the seas, visiting zoos and owning pets, and he meets the chefs, activists, scientists and tech visionaries who are redefining how we think about animals.A Times Book of the YearTrade ReviewConvincing and urgent * Guardian *This fascinating book makes a persuasive, sanctimony-free case for treating animals more humanely * The Times *A thoughtful and galvanising book * New Statesman *Wise, funny, moving and incisive. I loved it * Tim Harford, author of The Undercover Economist *Compassionate. funny and utterly readable * i Newspaper *

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Book SynopsisCatherine Oliver shows why the veganism movement has become a powerful social, political and environmental force. She discusses the health and environmental benefits of veganism, explores the practical and social impacts of the shift to eating plants, and explains why veganism is not just a diet, but a way of life.

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Book SynopsisAs human beings, what is our true relation to the animals on earth? What is our responsibility to our fellow creatures? Douglas Sloan explores these and other questions in this important book on the human–animal connection. His explorations are based on personal experience and wide-ranging research into the work of Rudolf Steiner and others, including scientist students of the inner life of animals and committed defenders of animal wellbeing.Rudolf Steiner describes how from the beginning of creation humans and animals have been united in deep kinship. A loss of the sense of this human–animal connection has resulted in an immense animal suffering the world over. Many questions arise: are animals conscious? Do they have a spiritual reality, souls and selves? Do they have emotional empathy, language and memory? Are we justified in eating them, hunting them, experimenting on them?This book argues that we must start to relate to animals in a completely new way -- a relationship that understands and respects animals’ inner spiritual being, and one that requires a deep grasp of our own spiritual being in relation to theirs – and offers help to do so, both in concept and in everyday action.Trade Review'With Redemption of the Animals Douglas Sloan has written an excellent book. His subject is well researched, lucidly written and deals with one of the most important issues of our time. It deserves to be widely read...'-- Rosemary Usselman, New View

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Book SynopsisWith a foreword by Kathy FrestonVegans, vegetarians, and meat eaters can feel like they''re living in different worlds. Many vegans and vegetarians struggle to feel understood and respected in a meat-eating culture, where some of their most pressing concerns and cherished beliefs are invisible, and where they are often met with defensiveness when they try to talk about the issue. They can become frustrated and struggle to feel connected with meat eaters. And meat eaters can feel disconnected from vegans and vegetarians whose beliefs they don''t fully understand and whose frustration may spill over into their interactions. The good news is that relationship and communication breakdown among vegans, vegetarians, and meat eaters is not inevitable, and it is reversible. With the right tools, healthy connections can be cultivated, repaired, and even strengthened.In BEYOND BELIEFS, internationally recognized food psychology expert and long-time relationship coach Dr. Melanie Joy provides easy-to-understand, actionable advice so you can:Learn the principles and tools for creating healthy relationshipsUnderstand how to communicate about even the most challenging topics effectivelyRecognize how the psychology of being vegan/vegetarian or of being a meat eater affects your relationships with others, and with yourself

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Book SynopsisCelebrating ten years since its publication, We Animals illustrates and investigates animals in the human environment: whether they''re being used for food, fashion, and entertainment, or research, or are being rescued to spend their remaining years in sanctuaries. Drawn from thousands of photos taken over fifteen years, award-winning animal photojournalist Jo-Anne McArthur offers insight about our treatment of animals, makes animal industries visible and accountable, and widens our circle of compassion to include all sentient beings. This new edition includes a foreword by Jo-Anne McArthur, new photos, and new written content. The gold standard guidebook for all that wish to understand, examine, and learn about animal photojournalismCompelling new photos, detailed colour grading, and an illuminating foreword by Jo-Anne McArthur discussing animal photojournalismMust have book by the preeminent award-winning animal photojournalist that includes over two-hundred compelling and moving photos

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Book SynopsisIn her newest book, HOW TO END INJUSTICE EVERYWHERE, psychologist Melanie Joy reveals the common denominator driving all forms of injustice, from sexism to speciesism to abusive interpersonal relationships and group dynamics.Joy explains that all injustices-such as racism, patriarchy, animal exploitation, environmental degradation, and domestic abuse-share a common denominator, which is relational dysfunction, or dysfunctional ways of relating: to other individuals, between social groups, and to nonhuman animals and the environment.Relational dysfunction stems from a particular psychology, a "nonrelational mentality." This mentality causes us to think, feel, and act in ways that violate integrity, harm dignity and lead to unjust power imbalances. Joy sheds light on the nonrelational mentality and explains how it shapes and is shaped by the various oppressive, or "nonrelational" systems in our world that cause widespread injustice.Until those of us who are helping to bring about justice understand relational dysfunction and know how to change it, we risk recreating injustice even as we work to end it, and our movements are at risk of cannibalizing themselves.HOW TO END INJUSTICE EVERYWHERE is a call for anyone working toward justice for humans, animals, or the environment to unify behind a shared "metamission" of creating a more relational world. The book provides an empowering and unique approach to ending injustice, and it offers not only an examination of nonrelational systems and behaviours, but also practical tools to help raise awareness, reduce infighting, and build more resilient and impactful justice movements.

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Book SynopsisTotal Ethics Fashion: People, our fellow animals and the planet before profit is a deep dive into supply chain issues associated with fashion around the globe. 'Sustainable' and 'ethical' fashion have a problem: they've become marketing buzzwords rather than meaningful commitments for a better fashion industry. In the midst of a global environmental crisis interwoven with serious ethical conundrums, it's time for fashion to look more holistically at both its problems and its solutions. Exploring how the fashion industry is set up today, Collective Fashion Justice's founding director Emma Hakansson offers a path forward. Looking back at what we've lost from fashion – as the industry's race to the bottom consumes the creativity and culture of clothing – and forward to the future of it, this book is all at once hard hitting, contemplative and hopeful. A manifesto for a total ethics fashion system, this book is for those who work in fashion, who love fashion, who love the planet, or who simply get dressed each day.

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Book SynopsisWhere there are pigeons, there is resistance. Forget everything you think you know about nature. Fahim Amir’s award-winning book takes pure delight in posing unexpected questions: Are animals victims of human domination, or heroes of resistance? Is nature pristine and defenceless, or sentient and devious? Is being human really a prerequisite for being political? In a world where birds on Viagra punch above their weight and termites hijack the heating systems of major cities, animals can be recast as vigilantes, agitators, and public enemies in their own right. Under Amir’s magic spell, pigs transform from slaughterhouse innocents into rioting revolutionaries, pigeons from urban pests into unruly militants, honeybees from virtuous fuzzballs into shameless centrefold models for eco-capitalism. As paws, claws, talons, and hooves seize the means of production, Being and Swine spirals higher and higher into a heady thesis that becomes more convincing by the minute. At the heart of Amir’s writing is a deep optimism and bracingly fresh reading of Marxist, post-colonial, and feminist theory, building upon the radical scholarship of Donna J. Haraway and others. Contrarian, whip-smart, and wildly innovative, no other book will laugh at your convictions quite like this one.

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Book SynopsisThe hedgehog has long had a close connection with people. It has been an animal of fascination, endearment and cultural significance since the ancient Egyptians. The Romans regarded it as a weather prophet, and modern gardeners depend on the creature to keep their gardens free of pests. This book explores how this and other characteristics of the small creature have propelled it to the top of a number of polls of people's favorite animals. People react with passion and enthusiasm for the hedgehog, as it is, quite unusually, a wild animal that one can connect with. When scared the hedgehog stays still, allowing a closer look. It remains one of the few creatures that people can get close to without the fear of an attack, or it running away at the slightest movement. The hedgehog has spread through Europe and Asia to the foot of Africa, and is a prickly pet in the USA. The hedgehog's appeal and public accessibility has lead to it to be found on numerous products, from advertising to films and children's books. Instantly recognizable, benign in reputation, Hedgehog demonstrates that there is much to admire about this beautiful, and now threatened, icon of wildlife.

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Book SynopsisHippos are well-loved, cumbersome, rotund mammals famous for lounging around semi-submerged in muddy pools. Gregarious herbivores, they emerge after dusk from the water into the cool night air to graze on grass and plants before returning to the water at sunrise. They have huge mouths adapted for grazing as well as large, sharp tusks and jaws powerful enough to bite through crocodiles, small boats and even humans. The common hippo, once found all over Africa, is now largely confined to South and East Africa, while its close relative, the mysterious pygmy hippo, is only found in the forests of Sierra Leone, West Africa. Hippos originated in Asia and share a common ancestry with whales. Until the last Ice Age, they were found across Europe, including Britain. The ancient civilizations of North Africa and the Middle East were familiar with the common hippo, as it was still plentiful along the Nile. To the Egyptians it was a revered deity while at the same time it was hunted for sport. While the Romans imported them into their circus spectacles in Rome, today the best place to see the common hippo is in its natural African environment.

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Book SynopsisLizards stimulate the human imagination, despite generally being small, soundless and hidden from sight in burrows, treetops or crevices. They can blend into a vast range of environments, from rocky coasts to deserts and rainforests. Their fluid motion can make us think of water, while their curvilinear forms suggest vegetation. Their stillness appears deathlike, while their sudden arousal is like resurrection. Lizards are at once overhyped and underappreciated. Our storybooks are full of lizards, but we usually call them something else - dragons, serpents or monsters. Our tales vastly increase their size, bestow wings upon them, make them exhale flame and endow them with magical powers. This illuminating book demonstrates how the story of lizards is interwoven with the history of the human imagination. Boria Sax describes the diversity of lizards and traces their representation in many cultures, including those of pre-conquest Australia, the Quiche Maya, Mughal India, China, Central Africa, Europe and America. Filled with beguiling images, Lizard is essential reading for natural history enthusiasts, students of animal studies and the many thousands of people who keep lizards as pets.

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Book SynopsisWoodpeckers are among the most remarkable birds in the avian world, having evolved a unique anatomy that enables them to peck and bore into solid timber both to find food and to create nesting cavities. They have been considered symbols of fertility, security, strength, power, prophecy, magic, rhythm, medicine and carpentry, and have been esteemed as the guardians of woodlands, tree surgeons, fire-bringers, weather forecasters and boat-builders. Highly regarded woodpecker expert Gerard Gorman delves into the natural and cultural history of woodpeckers, presenting their natural, social and cultural history. He explores their origins and where they are found, and how they have fascinated humankind throughout history, from ancient Babylon, Greece and Rome, via the tribes of North America and the jungles of Amazonia and Borneo, to the modern cartoon rascal Woody Woodpecker. He describes how they feature in folk tales, myths and legends wherever they occur, and how their fluctuating relationship with humans has developed. Featuring many stunning photographs and illustrations from both nature and culture, Woodpecker will appeal to anyone who is interested in these extraordinary birds.

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Book SynopsisCommon and exotic, glamorous and ferocious, sociable and sullen: zebras mean many things to many people. The extraordinary beauty of their striped coats makes them one of the world's most recognizable animals. They have been immortalized in paint by artists including George Stubbs and Lucian Freud, and zebra-print designs permeate contemporary society - on beanbags and bikinis, car seats and pencil cases. Zebras even have a road crossing named after them. But the natural and cultural history of the zebra remains a mystery to most. Few know that there are three species of zebra, or that one of these is currently endangered, or that the quagga, an animal that once roamed southern Africa in large numbers before dying out in the 1880s, is among the zebra's many subspecies. Zebra is a comprehensive and wide-ranging study of the natural and cultural history of this popular animal. Using a wide range of sources and stories, it shows how the zebra's history engages and intersects with diverse topics, including eighteenth-century humour, imperialism and camouflage technologies. Including more than a hundred illustrations, many previously unpublished, it offers a new way of thinking about this much-loved but frequently misunderstood animal.

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Saltire Society First Book of the Year AwardRed kites were once Britain's most common bird of prey. By the early 1900s they''d been wiped out in Scotland and England following centuries of ruthless persecution. When some reintroduced kites began roosting on their 1,400-acre farm at Argaty in Perthshire, Tom Bowser's parents, Lynn and Niall, decided to turn their estate into a safe haven. They began feeding the birds and invited the world to come and see them, learn about them and fall in love with them.A Sky Full of Kites is the story of the Argaty Red Kite project, and the re-establishing of these magnificent raptors to Scotland, but it is also much more than that. Ill at ease with the traditional rural values of livestock farming, Lynn and Niall's son Tom, who returned to work on the farm after a career in journalism, reveals his passion for nature and his desire to dedicate his family's land to conservation.

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Book SynopsisHumans have long believed themselves to be the superior species: we consume other animals for food, experiment on them and slaughter them for sport. But as well as the ethical issues surrounding our treatment of other animals, our attitudes are responsible for massive species loss and extinctions, the extensive destruction of habitats and a growing threat of zoonotic pandemics. Drawing on philosophy and theology, art and history, Between Light and Storm is a penetrating account of our fraught relationship with animals. It is also a timely and necessary plea for a more humane approach to those with whom we share a planet.Trade Review'Elegiac, haunting and piercingly intelligent, Esther Woolfson's exploration ofour relationship with other species is sometimes painful to read but her articulacyand lightness of touch, and her own beautifully observed experiences, are a joy. Aprofoundly moving and important book' - Isabella Tree'A powerful, poignant, and urgently important reflection on our relations withthe non-human world. Immaculately researched and compulsively readable' -Charles Foster, author of Being a Beast'We live in a time in which our disrespect for nature is coming back to bite us.Timely and wide-ranging, Esther Woolfson's book offers sensitive reflections onhow we relate to the animals around us as well as the animal within' - Frans deWaal

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Book SynopsisA major revision of animal rights bible Striking at the Roots, referencing changes from the last 10 years including the rise of social media, which is now a key part of any campaign. The book brings together the most effective tactics for speaking out for animal rights. Activists from around the globe explain why their models of activism have been successful - and how you can become involved. Concise and full of practical examples and resources, this manual for success demonstrates how many of the world's most engaged activists effectively speak to the public, lobby policymakers, and deal with law enforcement - all while keeping their eyes on the prize of achieving victories for animals. This book will empower you to make the most of your skills. From simple leafleting to taking direct action, each chapter clearly explains where to begin, what to expect, and how to ensure your message is heard.

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Book SynopsisDid you know that mosquitoes' mouthparts are helping to develop pain-free surgical needles? Who'd have thought that the humble mussel could inspire so many useful things, from plywood production to a 'glue' that cements the crowns on teeth and saves unborn babies in the womb? How about the fact that studying the tiny kingfisher solved engineering problems with Japan's ultra-high-speed bullet train, or that the humpback whale's flipper helped design the most efficient blades for wind power turbines? For many years, humans have been using the natural world as inspiration for everything from fashion to architecture, and medicine to transport, and it may come as a surprise to learn how many inventions have been motivated by animal design and behaviour. Dive into the depths with us as author Patrick Aryee reveals even more astonishing stories about animals' exceptional powers and the unique contributions they've made to the quality of our everyday lives. Beautiful hand-drawn illustrations accompany his revelations and bring the natural world to life.

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Book SynopsisIn What Do Animals Think and Feel?, the biologist Karsten Brensing has something astonishing to tell us about the animal kingdom: namely that animals, by any reasonable assessment, have developed the sophisticated systems of social organization and behaviour that human beings call 'culture'. Dolphins call one another by name and orcas inhabit a culture that is over 700,000 years old. Chimpanzees wage strategic warfare, while bonobos delight in dirty talk. Ravens enjoy snowboarding on snow-covered roofs, and snails like to spin on hamster exercise wheels. Humped-back whales follow the dictates of fashion and rats are dedicated party animals. Ants recognize themselves in mirrors and spruce themselves up before they return home. Ducklings can pass complicated tests in abstract thinking. Dogs punish disloyalty, though they are also capable of forgiveness if you apologize to them. Brensing draws on the latest scientific findings as well as his own experience working with animals, to reveal a world of behavioural and cognitive sophistication that is remarkably similar to our own.Trade ReviewA very exciting read * General-Anzeiger, Bonn *Brensing is [...] an idealist, committed to the coexistence of humans and animals * Mitteldeutsche Zeitung *Brensing shows impressively that there is no reason to deny animals an inner life of pain, fear, grief and joy * Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung *

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Book SynopsisLiving work of art, consumer commodity, scientific hero and environmental menace: the humble goldfish is the ultimate human cultural artefact. A creature of supposedly little memory and short lifespan, it has universal appeal. In ancient China, goldfish were saved from predators in acts of religious reverence and selectively bred for their glittering grace. In the East, they became the subject of exquisite art, regarded as living flowers that moved, while in the West, they became ubiquitous residents of the Victorian parlour. Cheap and eminently available, today they are bred by the millions for the growing domestic pet market, while also proving to be important to laboratory studies of perception, vision and intelligence. In this illuminating homage to the goldfish, Anna Marie Roos challenges the cultural preconceptions of a creature often thought to be common and disposable, as she blends art and science to trace the surprising and intriguing history of this much-loved animal.

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Book SynopsisKingfishers are a sight to behold. The dash and verve of this cosmopolitan bird has been admired for millennia, appearing in creation myths, imperial regalia and cultural iconography, and they were once valued as highly as gold. Artists used their iridescent feathers in Tian-tsui, an iconic style of Chinese fine art, for more than 2,400 years. The magnificent temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia owe their existence in part to the great wealth generated by the live kingfisher trade from the Indochina Peninsula. As a muse, kingfishers have influenced philosophers, playwrights and artists, from the Roman poet Ovid to Carl Jung, Charles Darwin and others, while more recently bio-mimicry engineers have turned to kingfishers for inspiration. This beautifully illustrated book delves into the origins and diversity of the more than 120 species of kingfishers, from the burly kookaburras to the diminutive birds that daringly pluck spiders off webs, defining their characteristics, their differences, their lifestyles and their cultural significance around the world.

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Book SynopsisPolar bears are truly majestic animals: the largest land-dwelling carnivore on earth, they can measure up to 3 metres in length, and weigh up to 700 kilograms. They are also iconic in other ways – a symbol of the climate change debate, with their survival now threatened by the loss of Arctic ice. Their images decorate fountains and the cornices of buildings across Europe. They sell cold drinks. They feature in children’s books, on merry-go-rounds, and under the arms of weary toddlers heading for bed. Their pelts were once highly prized by hunters and live captures became attractions in zoos and circuses. Stuffed bears still haunt museums and stately homes. This is a natural and cultural history of the polar bear, describing the evolution, species, habitat and behaviour of the animal, as well as its portrayal in art, literature, film and advertising. With many fine images throughout, this will appeal to the wide audience who love these outsize, beautiful, seemingly cuddly yet deadly carnivores.

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Book SynopsisSex with animals is one of the last taboos but, for a practice that is generally regarded as abhorrent, it is remarkable how many books, films, plays, paintings, and photographs depict the subject. So, what does loving animals mean? In this book the renowned historian Joanna Bourke explores the modern history of sex between humans and animals. Bourke looks at the changing meanings of “bestiality” and “zoophilia,” assesses the psychiatric and sexual aspects, and she concludes by delineating an ethics of animal loving.Trade Review"Bourke believes society should take a more nuanced approach to the matter. In her new book, Loving Animals, she points out that studies suggesting a link between bestiality and psychosis should be treated with caution due to sampling bias, because they were conducted on people already within the penal system, rather than a cross-section of the population. The sexually frustrated young farm-hand who interferes with one of his mares shouldn’t necessarily occupy the same taxonomic box as the bona fide sex pest; his indiscretion is, in the words of the psychiatrist Philip Q. Roche, an 'adaptive expedient of bucolic loneliness'—a matter of circumstance rather than proclivity; contingent rather than pathological." -- Houman Barekat * Times Literary Supplement *"In this courageous book, Bourke combines scholarship and clear prose to tackle head-on one of our most stigmatized taboos—sexual relations between humans and nonhumans. In doing so, she provides an illuminating perspective on a subject too often swept under the rug. Even if so-called zoophilia were a rare aberration, it ought to be addressed. That it is far more widespread than commonly believed justifies the need for thorough, contemporary examination." -- Jonathan Balcombe, author of "What a Fish Knows" and "Super Fly"“This bold and imaginative book is thoughtful and—inevitably—provocative. With characteristic compassion and insight, Bourke undertakes a tour de force of historical and cultural attitudes towards human-animal relations to guide us through serious ethical and political questions concerning sexuality, power, and consent.” -- Julie-Marie Strange, Durham University"Bourke’s post-anthropocentric approach to human–animal love and lust is a remarkable and much-needed contribution to both queer studies and animal studies. She offers a critical and thorough analysis of the joys, hopes, and dangers of intimacy with the most vulnerable of all lovers—animals." -- Monika Bakke, Philosophy Department, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan (Poland)

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Book SynopsisIn myths and legends, squids are portrayed as fearsome sea-monsters, lurking in the watery deeps waiting to devour humans. Even as modern science has tried to turn those monsters of the deep into unremarkable calamari, squids continue to dominate the nightmares of the Western imagination. Taking inspiration from early weird fiction writer H. P. Lovecraft, modern writers such as Jeff VanderMeer depict squids as the absolute Other of human civilization, while non-Western poets such as Daren Kamali depict squids as anything but threats. In Squid, Martin Wallen traces the many different ways humans have thought about and pictured this predatory mollusk: as guardians, harbingers of environmental collapse, or an untapped resource to be exploited. No matter how we have perceived them, squids have always gazed back at us, unblinking, from the dark.Trade Review"John Steinbeck points out in The Log from the Sea of Cortez that 'Men really need sea-monsters in their personal oceans.' Squid explores this idea by taking the reader on a recurring migration between the mesopelagic darkness of kraken mythology and the epipelagic zone of contemporary squid biology through a fascinating history of literary attempts to entwine these worlds. At first glance this book may seem like a charming Victorian cabinet of cephalopod curiosities, but it is more like a well used tackle box full of intriguing lures, hooks, and strange squid jigs--some beautiful, some ominous, and each with its own story that makes it part of an emergent whole. For anyone interested in squid and the cross-over between natural sciences and the humanities, this book will be a gem."--William Gilly, professor of biology, Stanford University

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Book SynopsisWhat is a crab? What significance do crabs play in the world? In Crab, Cynthia Chris discovers that these charming creatures are social by nature, creative problem-solvers, and invaluable members of the environments in which they live. Their formidable physical forms, their hard-to-harvest and quick-to-spoil flesh, and their sassy demeanour have inspired artists and writers from Vincent van Gogh to Jean-Paul Sartre. Cynthia Chris sketches vivid portraits of these animals, tracing the history of the crab through its ancient fossil record to its essential role in protecting its own habitats from the threat of climate change.Trade Review'This book explores everything that is interesting about crabs; from their weird and wonderful behaviours, their evolution, whether they experience pain, how they are depicted in literature, and even how fights have broken out over the last crab legs at the buffet. This is no dry scientific text. It is the ‘story’ of crabs; gripping, fascinating, beautiful. Cynthia Chris is part detective, part scientist and always an exceptionally good writer. She has dug through the literature, spoken to the scientists and watched crabs in action. Her magnificent book will enthrall scientists and beginners alike. I cannot recommend this superb book too highly.'-Patricia Backwell, Professor of Biology, Australian National University

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Book SynopsisMasked bandits of the night, raiders of farm crops and rubbish bins, raccoons are notorious for their indifference to human property and propriety, yet they are also admired for their intelligence, dexterity and determination. Raccoons have also thoroughly adapted to human-dominated environments; they are thriving in numbers greater than at any point of their evolutionary history... including in new habitats. Raccoon surveys the natural and cultural history of this opportunistic omnivore, tracing its biological evolution, social significance, and image in a range of media and political contexts. From intergalactic misanthropes and despoilers of ancient temples to coveted hunting quarry, unpredictable pet, and symbols of wilderness and racial stereotype alike, Raccoon offers a lively consideration of this misunderstood outlaw species.Trade Review"Justice’s Raccoon is a fascinating and thoughtfully written exploration of its subject in science and culture—and a must-read for anyone like me who is curious about what, for example, Raccoon Mother (our best yard raccoon) is thinking on any given day." -- Jeff VanderMeer * New York Times Book Review, "By the Book" *"[A] deep dive into the biological, taxonomical, historical, and cultural significance of Procyon lotor. . . . This is more than just a thorough primer on the nocturnal mammal whose roots can be traced back in the fossil record some thirty million years; it is a nuanced interrogation of the many behaviours, habitats, and characteristics the little guy shares with us." -- Michael Strizic * Literary Review of Canada *"A wonderful, brilliantly written book about one of my favorite animals. Just such a joy to read—and I learned so much. You’ll never see raccoons the same again. A book I’ll cherish in years to come." -- Jeff VanderMeer, author of the New York Times–bestselling Southern Reach Trilogy"Beautifully written and superbly illustrated, this engaging book traces the history of the ubiquitous masked bandits as a species, as a symbol, and as a reflection of our society." -- Suzanne MacDonald, Professor of Psychology, York University, Toronto

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Book SynopsisEveryone has a view about animal ethics. Each of us, for example, has an opinion about whether we should eat meat; whether animals should be used for scientific research, or whether the use of animals in sport is acceptable. But very few of us stop to wonder about the basis of our views, or to rationalise them. In this book, Madeleine Campbell aims to enable us to do so, by addressing a series of questions such as: When does animal use become abuse? Why do we treat some animals differently from others? Are there some things which we should never do to animals? And, just because we can, should we? Drawing on her experience as a Veterinarian; a European Diplomate in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law; a researcher and teacher, and a member of various industry ethical review bodies and of welfare and ethics committees for membership organisations and government, the author takes ethical argument beyond academia and applies it to the question which currently dominates societal debate about human-animal interactions: what (if anything) is a reasonable use of an animal? Animals, Ethics, and Us offers a stripped back, balanced and moderate perspective, based on logical argument, philosophical principles and sound science. It is a thought-provoking read aimed at a broad readership including informed owners and animal enthusiasts, as well as useful a primer for students of animal ethics, welfare and veterinary medicine.Table of ContentsHow we think about animals Should different animals be treated differently? When does use become abuse? Are there some things we should never do to animals? Just because we can, should we? Human:animal interactions - exploitative or mutually beneficial? The mechanisms of animal ethics or how do we make a difference?

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Book SynopsisNew Approaches to the Archaeology of Beekeeping aims to take a holistic view of beekeeping archaeology (including honey, wax, and associated products, hive construction, and participants in this trade) in one large interconnected geographic region, the Mediterranean, central Europe, and the Atlantic Façade. Current interest in beekeeping is growing because of the precipitous decline of bees worldwide and the disastrous effect it portends for global agriculture. As a result, all aspects of beekeeping in all historical periods are coming under closer scrutiny. The volume focuses on novel approaches to historical beekeeping but also offers new applications of more established ways of treating apicultural material from the past. It is also keenly interested in helping readers navigate the challenges inherent in studying beekeeping historically. The volume brings together scholars working on ancient, medieval, early modern, and ethnographic evidence of beekeeping from a variety of perspectives. In this sense it will serve as a handbook for current researchers in this field and for those who wish to undertake research into the archaeology of beekeeping.Table of ContentsPreface – David Wallace-Hare (San Diego State University) ; Acknowledgements ; 1. A New Approach to the Study of Ancient Greek Beekeeping – Georgios Mavrofridis (University of the Aegean) ; 2. Smoke and Bees: From Prehistoric to Traditional Smokers in Greece – Sophia Germanidou (University of Newcastle) ; 3. Potters and Beekeepers: Industrial Collaboration in Ancient Greece – Jane Francis—Concordia University (jane.francis@concordia.ca) ; 4. Etruscan 'Honey Pots': Some Observations on a Specialised Vase Shape – Paolo Persano (Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa) ; 5. Palynological Insights into the Ecology and Economy of Ancient Bee-Products – Lorenzo Castellano (Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York University); Cesare Ravazzi, Roberta Pini, Giulia Furlanetto, Franco Valoti (Research Group Vegetation, Climate and Human Stratigraphy, Laboratory of Palynology and Paleoecology, Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, National Research Council, Italy) ; 6. La apicultura en el ager de Segóbriga-Cuenca, España – Jorge Morín (Departamento de Arqueología, Paleontología y Recursos Culturales de AUDEMA); Rui Roberto de Almeida (Investigador da UNIARQ-Universidade de Lisboa / Câmara Municipal de Loulé); and Isabel Sánchez Ramos (Universidad Pablo de Olavide de Sevilla) ; 7. Beekeeping and Problematic Landscapes: Beekeeping and Mining in Roman Spain and North Africa – David Wallace-Hare (San Diego State University) ; 8. Evidence of Dalmatian Beekeeping in Roman Antiquity – Kristina Jelincic Vučković, Ivana Ožanić Roguljić (Institute of Archaeology, Zagreb, Croatia); and Emmanuel Botte (MMSH, Centre Camille Jullian Aix-en-Provence Cedex) ; 9. Ancient Rock-cut Apiaries in the Mediterranean Area: Some Case Studies – Roberto Bixio (Hon. Inspector for Archaeology, sector Artificial Cavities, Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage); Andrea Bixio (Centro Studi Sotterranei, Genoa); Andrea De Pascale (Museo Archeologico del Finale /Istituto Internazionale di Studi Liguri, sezione Finalese Finale Ligure/Savona) ; 10. Appiaria vel in civitate vel in villa: Bees and Cities in the Early Medieval West – Javier Martínez Jiménez (Faculty of Classics/Churchill College, University of Cambridge) ; 11. The Production and Trade of Wax in North-Eastern Iberia, XIV-XVI C: The Case of Catalonia – Lluís Sales i Favà (King’s College London) and Alexandra Sapoznik (King’s College London) ; 12. Del panal a la mesa: La miel en la Corona de Aragón (siglos XIV-XV) – Pablo José Alcover Cateura (Food Observatory, ODELA, Universitat de Barcelona) ; 13. Honey and Wax in Medieval Tyrol on the Basis of Tyrolean Land Registers (Urbaria) and Books of Accounts – Barbara Denicolò (University of Salzburg) ; 14. Early Irish Law on Beekeeping, with Particular Reference to Bechbretha ‘Bee-Judgements’ – Fergus Kelly (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies) ; 15. Arqueología de la apicultura en la Asturias preindustrial – Joaquín López Álvarez (Muséu del Pueblu d’Asturies) ; 16. Approches de l’Archéologie: L’apiculture insolite du nord de l’Espagne – Robert Chevet (Apistoria) ; 17. Historical Beekeeping in Northern Portugal: Between Traditional Practices and Innovation in Movable Frame Hives – Teresa Soeiro (CITCEM)

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Book SynopsisWhile the study of animal-human interactions within the context of tourism has been explored in a greater number and diversity of ways within the last decade, the discourse remains divided between traditional tourism academia and outside disciplines 'looking in'. Tourism academia has borrowed philosophical, ethical, gender studies, sociological, ecological conservation, and economic lenses to explore animals in tourism, however collaboration with authors external to tourism studies remains few.This edited volume strengthens the bridge between tourism academia and other disciplines by highlighting the fresh perspectives, emerging methodologies and innovative interdisciplinary conventions at the forefront of animals in tourism research, whilst critically working towards more ethical human-animal interactions within the tourism and leisure space. Split into four parts 'emerging motivations', 'emerging cultures', 'emerging narratives', and 'emerging reflections', this book offer

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Book SynopsisPartners celebrates the diversity of the canine contribution to our species, providing the reader with heart-warming stories of loyalty, perseverance and courage. Written by people who learned to trust their lives to the senses of a dog, and highlighting true examples of working dog behaviour, it enables all dog lovers to understand the inborn senses and instincts of their dog, which man can shape to his benefit. Instincts tie these stories together: Bart finding a child lost on a mountain, Traveler pulling his blind partner from the path of a moving car, and Truman soothing the souls of abused children. With specific explanations of physiological attributes and innate characteristics – such as olfactory prowess, survival instincts, and intelligent disobedience – plus quotes from fifty canine professionals chronicling working dog behaviors, Partners demonstrates the similarities between the behaviour of a tender Cocker Spaniel who brought an abused child back to reality, and a tough law enforcement K9 who assured his handlers safety. This is the story Partners delivers – unity.Trade Review'[Partners] highlights examples of working dog behaviour written by people that have trusted their lives to the senses of a dog. It enables dog lovers to understand the instincts of their pet which can be used to their benefit.' Lost & Fond 'Man's best friend is more than just a companion, it's a coworker. "Partners: Everyday Working Dogs Being Heroes Every Day" is a collection of text and full color photography describing the many tasks dogs go down to and serve mankind, through police work, being guide dogs, or simply helpful in therapy and being the companions that they are. "Partners" is a must for dog lovers everywhere, highly recommended.' Midwest Book Review A heart-warming collection of true stories ... It is impossible to imagine life without dogs. An amazing read! Dogs Today We like Partners ... [it] illustrate[s] the positive effects therapy animals can have on people in need of comfort ...Nan has a unique perspective on the experiences of a handler. Pet Partners Interactions Magazine I would recommend this book to readers who want to know more about the use of dogs ... The color photos really enhance the book, particularly the ones of dogs in action. SARstories News Partners is a comprehensive study of working dogs. It is unique in the annals of dog literature because it is also a study of loss. It explores the many ways that one can lose a beloved companion who has also been part of the fabric of one's working life. Partners is about how dogs enrich our lives, how we grieve their departure, how a sense of closure leaves us with the profound gratitude that we had this wonderful partner to enrich us for part of life's journey ... highly recommended Geelong Obedience Dog Club

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Book SynopsisA humorous and informative book, debunking a range of commonly held myths about animals. Camels store water in their humps and magpies love to steal shiny objects. Or do they? A must-read in the Everything you Know series, this book debunks a range of old-cod stories about animals in author Matt Brown's inimitable humorous and fascinating style. Covering everything from the myth that lemmings throw themselves off cliffs in suicide (they don't, but on occasion some just fall off) to the one about bats being blind (they're not, and they can see but use the more sophisticated echolocation for certain hunting). From head in the sand ostriches to cats landing on their feet, a wealth of information on our beloved pets to creepy crawlies and wild giants, this book will set the marvel of the animal word straight. Plus, there are special features on the odd diets of animals and how wrongly they are portrayed in the movies. All the old stories and myths about animals we've had since childhood are gleefully debunked in a hugely entertaining book.Trade Review'A book bound to start conversations' * The Field *'While lighthearted in tone, a lot of knowledge is nonetheless imparted, and Brown’s natural wit and obviously in-depth levels of research shine through' * How it Works *

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Book SynopsisNo creature has been subject to such extremes of reverence and exploitation as the chicken. Hens have been venerated as cosmic creators and roosters as solar divinities. Many cultures have found the mysteries of birth, healing, death and resurrection encapsulated in the hen's egg. Yet today, most of us have nothing to do with chickens as living beings, although billions are consumed around the world every year. In Chicken Annie Potts introduces us to the vivid and astonishing world of Gallus gallus. The book traces the evolution of jungle fowl and the domestication of chickens by humans. It describes the ways in which chickens experience the world, form families and friendships, communicate with each other, play, bond and grieve. Chicken explores cultural practices like egg-rolling, the cockfight, alectromancy, wishbone-pulling and the chicken-swinging ritual of Kapparot; discovers depictions of chickenhood in ancient and modern art, literature and film; and also showcases bizarre supernatural chickens from around the world including the Basilisk, Kikimora and Pollio Maligno. Chicken concludes with a detailed analysis of the place of chickens in the world today, and a tribute to those who educate and advocate on behalf of these birds. Numerous beautiful illustrations show the many faces (and feathers and combs and tails) of Gallus, from wild roosters in the jungles of Southeast Asia to quirky Naked-Necks and majestic Malays. There are chickens painted by Chagall and Magritte, chickens made of hair-rollers, and chickens shaped like mountains. The reader of Chicken will encounter a multitude of intriguing facts and ideas, including why the largest predator ever to walk the earth is considered the ancestor of the modern chicken, how mother hens communicate with their chicks while they're still in the egg, why Charlie Chaplin's masterpiece required him to play a chicken, whether it's safe to take eggs on a sea-voyage, and how 'chicken therapy' can rejuvenate us all. This book will fascinate those already familiar with and devoted to the Gallus species, and it will open up a whole new gallinaceous world for admirers of the intelligent and passionate chicken.Trade Review'In this brilliant book, Potts challenges us to see chickens as creatures who think and feel in complex ways all of their own ... This series notably mixes historical and cross-cultural research with gorgeous illustrations; Chicken is no exception.' - TLS 'This tasty book also chases the chicken through literature, film, painting (Magritte's hilariously sad chicken staring at an egg in an eggcup) and national symbolism (especially French). Potts notices, too, the emerging trend of "heroic chickens" and even "the avenging chicken", probably a reaction to increasing popular intolerance of battery farming.' - The Guardian

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Book SynopsisTommy Kane brings together, for the first time, a collection of contemporary vegan artists whose works grapple with one of the biggest issues of our century and confront our conflicted relationship with animals. With diverse contributions, Vegan Art combines a passion for art as a language with the rebellion against animal abuse and exploitation, with the belief that art should be a mechanism for social change. The complex visual language of the book is purposefully graphic and controversial. From utopian depictions of a world that vegans are fighting for, to dark dystopian impressions and brutal, bloody mutilations of non-human animals in industrial agriculture, the project tests the potential of our humanity and asks for equality for all species. With violent imagery and references to major food corporations – such as McDonalds – the project is unflinching in its advocation of veganism and animal rights. Vegan Art engenders a sense of humility with a shared view that art has the power to move people to be informed consumers. Featuring artworks by Tommy Kane, Andrew Tilsley, Milk DoNg Comics, Dan Piraro, Melinda Hegedus, Tommy Flynn and Cynical Coyote.

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Book SynopsisIWM holds approximately 11 million photographs in its archives, covering the causes, course and consequences of modern conflict from the First World War to the present day. Animals in Wartime highlights 50 images from this vast collection and illustrates the many and varied ways that animals have played their part in wartime over the past century. Vital in moving supplies, sending messages and in many cases for the morale boost they gave, animals have often been subject to the same dangers faced by their owners during conflict. This unique selection of images depicts incredible animal bravery and features some of the most heart-warming stories found within IWM’s photograph archive.

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Book Synopsis An eye-opening volume of research and photographs exploring one of North America’s most persistent—and misunderstood—predators.  The coyote. Even its image conjures up more myth than fact. From its depictions as the “trickster” in ancient fables to its portrayal as a threat to humans and their pets in modern news sources, coyotes are rarely shown in a favorable light. Now, the Urban Coyote Research Project pulls back the curtain on the defamed coyote, revealing the surp

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Book SynopsisThe heart-warming true story of the dog who played Fang in Harry PotterMonkey is a young Neapolitan Mastiff; larger than life, full of energy and eager to please. But his human doesn''t like him. He shouts at him all the time - Monkey doesn''t know why - and he won''t feed him. Monkey''s so hungry his ribs are showing. Eventually his owner gives him away, saying Monkey is too aggressive, and Monkey finds himself in a rescue centre where he''s cared for - but by people who are scared of him.Meanwhile, up and coming animal trainer for the movies Julie Tottman is about to start filming Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth in the Harry Potter series, when crisis strikes: the dog playing Fang has dropped out. Julie needs to find a blue Neapolitan Mastiff to fill the part and fast. A big believer in rescuing dogs, she starts calling centres. As chance would have it, one in Northampton has a dog who might fit the bill - b

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