Elizabeth Costello's emphatic critique on the treatment of animals in the west delves deeply into questions of western reason, academia, the holocaust, and literature. Coetzee's choice to speak through her raisers even more questions on authorship, identity, and Coetzee's actual beliefs. This short book is well worth the read to anyone interested in being a good person (I use that word purposefully!). Be sure to read the reflections, especially Barbara Smuts reflections on human-animal friendship.