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The Awareness
On a day like any other, all mammals suddenly gain human-level consciousness and begin a systematic attack on humankind. Among the ranks of these animals are a bear in the Canadian Rockies, an elephant in a circus traveling through Texas, a pig on a hog farm in North Carolina, and a dog living with his beloved owner in New York. As these four contend with the realities of who they were before the awareness, and who they must now become after it, they are each called to battle. The animals must then fight two wars: the one outside between mammals and humans, and the one inside each of their minds.
221 pages, Paperback
First published March 18, 2014
11 people are currently reading
565 people want to read
About the author
Gene Stone
63 books133 followersA graduate of Stanford and Harvard, Gene Stone is a former Peace Corps volunteer, journalist, and book, magazine, and newspaper editor. He has also written, co-written, or ghost-written forty-five non-fiction books, including a dozen New York Times bestsellers, as well as a novel, The Awareness. His website is www.genestone.com.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 3, 2014
The Awareness by Gene Stone and Jon Doyle is a little book, an important little book, self-published because mainstream publishers didn’t believe a book about animals would find a market.
Gene Stone had this to say about his book: “The Awareness is a bit of a double-entendre. Ostensibly it’s about the “awareness” that all mammals get one day that gives them the same kind of consciousness as humans. But it’s also a hope that humans get awareness too–awareness of the plight of animals and just how poorly we treat them in this country. The book doesn’t have to be read as an activist’s book–I think it’s an adventure book as well. But if in the course of reading it, just one person changes his or her mind about animals, then it was all worthwhile.”
The Awareness begins “on a day like any other, all mammals suddenly gain human-level consciousness—and begin a systematic attack on humankind. Among the ranks of these animals are a bear in the Canadian Rockies, an elephant in a circus traveling through Texas, a pig on a hog farm in North Carolina, and a dog living with his beloved owner in New York. As these four contend with the realities of who they were before the awareness, and who they must now become after it, they are each called to battle. The animals must then fight two wars: the one outside between mammals and humans, and the one inside each of their minds.”
There’s one line from Nancy, the elephant who watched her father killed for his ivory and was then kidnapped and made to perform in a circus, that I kept coming back to in the story: “I think they (humans) control us, and even hurt us, to make themselves feel better about themselves.”
The following are excerpts from an Interview with Gene Stone, The Discerning Brute, March 20, 2014. I hope reading more about this book and what the author says about it will stir a desire in others to want to prove the publishers wrong -- there is a market for people who care about animals! I enjoyed this book very much. It touched my heart and my soul and reminded me again why I am a vegan. And as Mr. Stone says in the interview, “… the point is that being a kind person means being kind not just to your own kind.”
Pieces from The Discerning Brute and co-author Gene Stone: "It’s vital that we all apply the Golden Rule not just to other people but to animals as well. Do onto every creature you come in contact with as you would do onto yourself. Humans have a way of thinking that somehow we need only be considerate to each other (not that everyone is, of course). Consideration to animals is, in my mind, the mark of a truly compassionate civilization. The hope is that readers of this book will come away with a greater sense of how animals might be feeling about the way we’ve been treating them–and how wonderful it would be if we changed the way we treat them.
"Jon and I spent some time researching the treatment of pigs at factory farms and we were horrified. We knew that they were treated abysmally, but actually watching videos and reading reports was sickening. Likewise, learning more about how elephants are treated at circuses was also repellant. It makes you admire organizations like Mercy for Animals that are willing to go undercover and expose the ongoing cruelty.
"Consciousness isn’t the only reason to be compassionate toward other living creatures. And although it’s probably true, as you say, that animals’ minds aren’t like ours, perhaps their hearts are. Perhaps their souls are. Perhaps they’re more like us in many ways we don’t or can’t recognize.
"Just this week The Los Angeles Times published a piece showing that African elephants who hear human voices can distinguish from them the human’s sex, age, and even their ethnicity. Think how incredible that is for an animal that up until recently people thought of as simply a circus animal or a source of ivory.
"The more we learn about the non-human world, the more intelligent and human-like it seems. Or perhaps, the more we understand how mammal-like we humans are. One of the best books on the subject, Jared Diamond’s The Third Chimpanzee, is already two decades old but even back in the early 1990s he was able to gather enough evidence to show how nearly all the traits we think of as just human are actually endemic to the rest of the living world. Compassion is one of those traits–but it seems to be in short supply in the human treatment of animals today.”
Gene Stone had this to say about his book: “The Awareness is a bit of a double-entendre. Ostensibly it’s about the “awareness” that all mammals get one day that gives them the same kind of consciousness as humans. But it’s also a hope that humans get awareness too–awareness of the plight of animals and just how poorly we treat them in this country. The book doesn’t have to be read as an activist’s book–I think it’s an adventure book as well. But if in the course of reading it, just one person changes his or her mind about animals, then it was all worthwhile.”
The Awareness begins “on a day like any other, all mammals suddenly gain human-level consciousness—and begin a systematic attack on humankind. Among the ranks of these animals are a bear in the Canadian Rockies, an elephant in a circus traveling through Texas, a pig on a hog farm in North Carolina, and a dog living with his beloved owner in New York. As these four contend with the realities of who they were before the awareness, and who they must now become after it, they are each called to battle. The animals must then fight two wars: the one outside between mammals and humans, and the one inside each of their minds.”
There’s one line from Nancy, the elephant who watched her father killed for his ivory and was then kidnapped and made to perform in a circus, that I kept coming back to in the story: “I think they (humans) control us, and even hurt us, to make themselves feel better about themselves.”
The following are excerpts from an Interview with Gene Stone, The Discerning Brute, March 20, 2014. I hope reading more about this book and what the author says about it will stir a desire in others to want to prove the publishers wrong -- there is a market for people who care about animals! I enjoyed this book very much. It touched my heart and my soul and reminded me again why I am a vegan. And as Mr. Stone says in the interview, “… the point is that being a kind person means being kind not just to your own kind.”
Pieces from The Discerning Brute and co-author Gene Stone: "It’s vital that we all apply the Golden Rule not just to other people but to animals as well. Do onto every creature you come in contact with as you would do onto yourself. Humans have a way of thinking that somehow we need only be considerate to each other (not that everyone is, of course). Consideration to animals is, in my mind, the mark of a truly compassionate civilization. The hope is that readers of this book will come away with a greater sense of how animals might be feeling about the way we’ve been treating them–and how wonderful it would be if we changed the way we treat them.
"Jon and I spent some time researching the treatment of pigs at factory farms and we were horrified. We knew that they were treated abysmally, but actually watching videos and reading reports was sickening. Likewise, learning more about how elephants are treated at circuses was also repellant. It makes you admire organizations like Mercy for Animals that are willing to go undercover and expose the ongoing cruelty.
"Consciousness isn’t the only reason to be compassionate toward other living creatures. And although it’s probably true, as you say, that animals’ minds aren’t like ours, perhaps their hearts are. Perhaps their souls are. Perhaps they’re more like us in many ways we don’t or can’t recognize.
"Just this week The Los Angeles Times published a piece showing that African elephants who hear human voices can distinguish from them the human’s sex, age, and even their ethnicity. Think how incredible that is for an animal that up until recently people thought of as simply a circus animal or a source of ivory.
"The more we learn about the non-human world, the more intelligent and human-like it seems. Or perhaps, the more we understand how mammal-like we humans are. One of the best books on the subject, Jared Diamond’s The Third Chimpanzee, is already two decades old but even back in the early 1990s he was able to gather enough evidence to show how nearly all the traits we think of as just human are actually endemic to the rest of the living world. Compassion is one of those traits–but it seems to be in short supply in the human treatment of animals today.”
March 14, 2019
I like the idea of the book... and it was good enough that I finished it... not a huge fan of the war aspect... Also, there was something about the writing style I wasn't a huge fan of. I am glad I read it though, and I just hope it helps others gain the awareness of how we are treating animals...
August 22, 2020
I love this book. The main characters are a pig, a bear, an elephant and a dog. I have been lucky enough, because of working with Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), a sanctuary in San Andreas, California which cares for animals from circuses, zoos, roadside attractions and the entertainment industry, t0 have had close personal relationships with bears and elephants. I've also lived with several dogs whom I loved. I've not gotten close with a pig but I found out what wonderful animals they are from Sy Montgomery's book, The Good Good Pig. All of this is to explain why I adore this book. In it, animals all over the world wake up with consciousness about themselves, their world and each other. They can also talk with all other animals as well as with humans. As they begin to understand their lives, they realize how oppressed they have been and begin a revolution including killing many humans. But some of them question whether they want to emulate their oppressors and search for new ways of being in the world. This book is deeply philosophical and poses the questions of self awareness and relationships between all beings. I believe that all animals have awareness but we are simply too arrogant to realize it. We don't take the time to listen to them. I've spent my life learning to interact respectfully and conscientiously with other animals. In fact, many years ago I co-edited (with Stephanie Hoppe) a two-volume anthology of stories, poems and nonfiction pieces about women's relationships with other animals.
April 4, 2018
I was so ready to love this book; I’m a vegan and I love the idea of reading a story that explores how animals might treat humans were they they ones in control. However this book is poorly written and ill conceived. The plot doesn’t seem to be thought out, this “awareness” seems to work differently at different times, and the descriptions are so poorly written they are either confusing or laughable. It feels like a bad first draft in which the author hasn’t quite figured out the tone yet and is just toying with some ideas. No wonder it was self published.
January 29, 2024
One of the weirdest, disturbing books I have read. The writing style is very good. But there are lots of plot holes and the authors are continually asking you to suspend disbelief. As a lover of fantasy I'm fairly accustomed to the construct, but the storyline asks too much and it's inconsistent about what to suspend and when.
In my mind the worst error is that it is preaching to the choir. Only animal lovers are going to stick with the book past the first 30 pages. "Humans are horrible to animals, and every one of them should pay with their life. Only animals treat one another eith respect." It conveniently glosses over may aspects of animal behavior such as predators that eat other animals. It also suggests that animals can overcome their true nature and humans are despicable because they won't.
The final straw is that the ending is wholly predictable and idealistic. And preachy.
In my mind the worst error is that it is preaching to the choir. Only animal lovers are going to stick with the book past the first 30 pages. "Humans are horrible to animals, and every one of them should pay with their life. Only animals treat one another eith respect." It conveniently glosses over may aspects of animal behavior such as predators that eat other animals. It also suggests that animals can overcome their true nature and humans are despicable because they won't.
The final straw is that the ending is wholly predictable and idealistic. And preachy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2019
The concept of this book is interesting, but I think my disappointment largely stems from expecting something different.
We never really understand how the Awareness works - which is fine! - but all of the animals seem to use the same word to describe their newfound state of knowing that just seems...to happen. So we follow a dog and an elephant and other animals as they experience being aware and wondering things and there's so many places the book could have gone but it instead feels part philosophical, part Orwellian in following what each of these animals does. I thought the story was building but I didn't find the setup or ending particularly satisfying.
It's a relatively short and easy book to read.
We never really understand how the Awareness works - which is fine! - but all of the animals seem to use the same word to describe their newfound state of knowing that just seems...to happen. So we follow a dog and an elephant and other animals as they experience being aware and wondering things and there's so many places the book could have gone but it instead feels part philosophical, part Orwellian in following what each of these animals does. I thought the story was building but I didn't find the setup or ending particularly satisfying.
It's a relatively short and easy book to read.
February 15, 2015
A mix of thriller (a screenplay surely awaits; and the ending offers the potential of a sequel or two) and meditation on the burdens of consciousness, THE AWARENESS is ambitious, thought-provoking, and ultimately a failure—a book that would have benefitted either from unfurling the full implications of its premise or of reining them in within a tighter narrative structure. As it is, we have four species (dog, elephant, bear, and pig) representing respectively the domestic animal, the animal in entertainment, the wild animal, and the farmed animal—all of whom, once consciousness and language emerge within them, have to decide what to do with that awareness. THE AWARENESS, thankfully, doesn't sugarcoat the fury, violence, and menace that would be unleashed were animals to unite to wreak revenge on the species that has caused them such grief for millennia. It offers little comfort for human beings, or, for that matter, the animals who are now weighted with all of the doubts, wonder, and existential angst that accompany the awareness (whose provenance is, thankfully, never explained).
The novel also, artfully and even humorously, shows some animals adopting a different path: a cynical ferret becomes a drunk; a tiger cannot bear the thought of his own predatory nature; the bear rejects violence in favor of communal living; the dog is torn between hatred of humans and his love of Jessie, the woman who rescued him; and the elephant moves beyond killing and humiliating humans to seeking a better world. THE AWARENESS is full of grace notes and wit in thinking about how animal consciousness might differ from (and be similar to) human consciousness, but too much action happens off-stage (an awful lot of fighting is taking place as beings are talking) and too many questions are begged (what about animal-animal predation? What about food supplies? etc.) for the thriller to handle. THE AWARENESS works on a fabular level and as a handy think-piece, but would have benefited, in my opinion, from either a more intimate, modest scope or (paradoxically) a full-on exposition.
The novel also, artfully and even humorously, shows some animals adopting a different path: a cynical ferret becomes a drunk; a tiger cannot bear the thought of his own predatory nature; the bear rejects violence in favor of communal living; the dog is torn between hatred of humans and his love of Jessie, the woman who rescued him; and the elephant moves beyond killing and humiliating humans to seeking a better world. THE AWARENESS is full of grace notes and wit in thinking about how animal consciousness might differ from (and be similar to) human consciousness, but too much action happens off-stage (an awful lot of fighting is taking place as beings are talking) and too many questions are begged (what about animal-animal predation? What about food supplies? etc.) for the thriller to handle. THE AWARENESS works on a fabular level and as a handy think-piece, but would have benefited, in my opinion, from either a more intimate, modest scope or (paradoxically) a full-on exposition.
April 28, 2014
This book will make you look back on your life and examine how you've treated animals in the past. It follows the lives of a companion animal (Cooper, the dog), a circus animal (Nancy, the elephant), a farm animal (323, the pig), and a wild animal (the bear) as they are suddenly granted an awareness of their self-worth, the relationship between humans and animals, and their own power.
There were some parts of the book that were kitschy and predictable, but for the most part, it was well-written and drew me into it. I do feel like the end leaves something left to be desired; there is a philosophical undertone to the book that just becomes blatantly obvious in the ending. I think the idea behind the plot of the book was interesting - there have been books "written" from an animal's point of view, but they are always based on the premise that the animal has always had some level of awareness that they could comprehend. The best way to relate the experience would be a blind person gaining sight, a deaf person gaining the capacity to hear, etc.
There were some parts of the book that were kitschy and predictable, but for the most part, it was well-written and drew me into it. I do feel like the end leaves something left to be desired; there is a philosophical undertone to the book that just becomes blatantly obvious in the ending. I think the idea behind the plot of the book was interesting - there have been books "written" from an animal's point of view, but they are always based on the premise that the animal has always had some level of awareness that they could comprehend. The best way to relate the experience would be a blind person gaining sight, a deaf person gaining the capacity to hear, etc.
June 21, 2014
This tale is told in the shifting point of view of a wild bear, a circus elephant, a factory farmed pig and a rescued pet dog — all of whom have gained a human awareness of the world. As a consequence of their awakened awareness, the animals realize they are at war with the humans who hunt them, use them for entertainment, eat them and imprison them.
Pointedly, although the animals retain some of their instincts, their intelligence distinctly puts them on the same playing field as humans able to talk and reason and communicate with each other as a social group.
On gaining awareness, the animals see that they have been at the mercy of, and subservient to, human desires. It’s terrifying and tragic to realize that The Awareness logically puts us at war.
The Awareness is a powerful book and a quick read.
Writers, read this for: Structure. It’s told in four parts. One chapter in each section contains the point of view of each of the four animals as the calamity unfolds.
Pointedly, although the animals retain some of their instincts, their intelligence distinctly puts them on the same playing field as humans able to talk and reason and communicate with each other as a social group.
On gaining awareness, the animals see that they have been at the mercy of, and subservient to, human desires. It’s terrifying and tragic to realize that The Awareness logically puts us at war.
The Awareness is a powerful book and a quick read.
Writers, read this for: Structure. It’s told in four parts. One chapter in each section contains the point of view of each of the four animals as the calamity unfolds.
May 17, 2014
I got this book from Goodreads Firstreads.
This was a really well written book, and one with a lot of brilliant perspectives that were enjoyable to read and consider. So, well done Gene Stone! I was quite impressed.
I took away 1 star for two reasons: the first is that there were several typos. I would suggest having an editor run through this, but this is really a minor reason for taking away a star. My second reason is a bit of a spoiler so it's posted below.
Sort of Spoilers below
After the awareness, every single one of the animals had a desire to kill, and eventually they all participated in killing. I would have liked to see some animals that didn't have this desire to kill at all; I feel that this desire made them less than human. I understand their anger, but I would like to see a perspective of an animal who wasn't getting revenge, but was instead finding other ways to deal with their abuse and anger rather than just through death.
This was a really well written book, and one with a lot of brilliant perspectives that were enjoyable to read and consider. So, well done Gene Stone! I was quite impressed.
I took away 1 star for two reasons: the first is that there were several typos. I would suggest having an editor run through this, but this is really a minor reason for taking away a star. My second reason is a bit of a spoiler so it's posted below.
Sort of Spoilers below
After the awareness, every single one of the animals had a desire to kill, and eventually they all participated in killing. I would have liked to see some animals that didn't have this desire to kill at all; I feel that this desire made them less than human. I understand their anger, but I would like to see a perspective of an animal who wasn't getting revenge, but was instead finding other ways to deal with their abuse and anger rather than just through death.
September 21, 2014
What if animals suddenly acquired the capacity for political consciousness and human language?
It would not be a good day for humans, the authors suggest. This book envisions a bloodbath, with mammals waging war against their human oppressors.
On one level, “The Awareness” is a suspenseful, violent thriller, with pigs struggling to escape from a spreading inferno and a bear exacting revenge on a hunting party.
On a deeper level, though, the authors are trying to help readers understand their own complicity in the exploitation and oppression of innocent animals.
The outrage of the mammals in the book is really the outrage of lead author Gene Stone, who is himself conscious of the distressing reality that humans regularly cage, mutilate, and kill animals without any ethical justification.
It’s a mind-stretching and thought-provoking book, and a lively read to boot.
The only thing missing is the solution. I’ll provide part of it for you: Go vegan. Please.
It would not be a good day for humans, the authors suggest. This book envisions a bloodbath, with mammals waging war against their human oppressors.
On one level, “The Awareness” is a suspenseful, violent thriller, with pigs struggling to escape from a spreading inferno and a bear exacting revenge on a hunting party.
On a deeper level, though, the authors are trying to help readers understand their own complicity in the exploitation and oppression of innocent animals.
The outrage of the mammals in the book is really the outrage of lead author Gene Stone, who is himself conscious of the distressing reality that humans regularly cage, mutilate, and kill animals without any ethical justification.
It’s a mind-stretching and thought-provoking book, and a lively read to boot.
The only thing missing is the solution. I’ll provide part of it for you: Go vegan. Please.
January 7, 2016
The Awareness is a novel set at a time when human type consciousness comes over all the animals. The result of this awareness is that they come to realize, consciously, that human kind has not, by and large, been kind to them for the most part. Therefore the animals revolt against the humans and a bloody war results. Not all the animals, however, are equally inclined to revolt and to kill. The animals are not all alike and we see this through the journeys of a particular bear, pig, dog, and elephant.
At first I was a little put off of the portrayal of all the animals as blood thirsty beasts who wanted nothing but to kill humans. But then it became clear that they weren't all reacting that way just as it could be said that not all humans just wanted to kill - even if the peaceful humans seemed to be a smaller percentage than the peace loving animals. In the end, The Awakening was a fun read despite some dark undertones in the early going. And lessons were learned by many.
At first I was a little put off of the portrayal of all the animals as blood thirsty beasts who wanted nothing but to kill humans. But then it became clear that they weren't all reacting that way just as it could be said that not all humans just wanted to kill - even if the peaceful humans seemed to be a smaller percentage than the peace loving animals. In the end, The Awakening was a fun read despite some dark undertones in the early going. And lessons were learned by many.
January 31, 2016
I really debated about what to do about the star rating. Is this a book worth reading? Yes. Did I like it? No. Would I recommend someone else read it? Depends on what you are looking for, and what kind of literature you like to read.
Animals becoming aware of the world being able to speak? Oh, how cute. This will be a fun book!
NOT. This is not a cute book, the animals are angry at the way humans have treated them. It is an uncomfortable read. It makes you think about the nature of war, about what makes an enemy, and "strange bedfellows." It makes you think about how you could create peace, and who you would invite in.
This book would provoke a lot of discussion. It is dystopian. In some ways it is like Animal Farm, but in many ways it is much more disturbing.
Animals becoming aware of the world being able to speak? Oh, how cute. This will be a fun book!
NOT. This is not a cute book, the animals are angry at the way humans have treated them. It is an uncomfortable read. It makes you think about the nature of war, about what makes an enemy, and "strange bedfellows." It makes you think about how you could create peace, and who you would invite in.
This book would provoke a lot of discussion. It is dystopian. In some ways it is like Animal Farm, but in many ways it is much more disturbing.
May 10, 2014
I won this ARC giveaway in exchange for an honest review from Goodreads.com
Wow! This book was amazing. I've always wondered just what goes through an animals mind and how aware they are of their world around them. I've also wondered what it would be like if animals were as aware as we humans are. This story could be one of many reactions animals could have if they ever became aware. I loved this book so much, I'm an animal lover, so to read about these 4 animals' journeys through their newfound awareness was so fun and a great read. The Awareness was like a combination of The Planet of the Apes and Animal Farm.
Wow! This book was amazing. I've always wondered just what goes through an animals mind and how aware they are of their world around them. I've also wondered what it would be like if animals were as aware as we humans are. This story could be one of many reactions animals could have if they ever became aware. I loved this book so much, I'm an animal lover, so to read about these 4 animals' journeys through their newfound awareness was so fun and a great read. The Awareness was like a combination of The Planet of the Apes and Animal Farm.
June 10, 2014
When every mammal on earth suddenly obtains human-level comprehension, we have a lot of 'splainin' to do. This book follows three animals in particular--a bear in the wild, a pig on a factory farm, and a dog in a comfortable suburban home--as they deal with their inner conflicts and must decide whether to wage war on the humans, as so many other creatures have done.
THE AWARENESS is a simply amazing novel--well-written, fast-paced, and a true page-turner.
THE AWARENESS is a simply amazing novel--well-written, fast-paced, and a true page-turner.
January 12, 2015
Animal Farm meets Island of Dr. Moreau is what I continually thought about as I read The Awareness. Stone writes of animals gaining human awareness of their surroundings and feelings, each having their own reactions. This novel will make you look at the way animals are treated and how they (or you) would feel/react if they could talk.
Want to read
July 2, 2014Just heard a review on "Our Hen House." Just as "Watership Down" will always be etched in my soul, this book sounds like it takes a similar concept a step farther. Could prove to be a provocative and soul-searching read.
August 7, 2016
One day, animals (wild, farmed, and domestic alike) awake with "an awareness" of themselves and their surroundings - some perplexed and others angered by their relationship with humans. This book gives a voice to these animals - very thought-provoking.
Read
September 25, 2014Great message. A must read.
March 8, 2015
Amazing! Dystopian future - but for animal lovers. Impeccably written - I loved the interesting and unique topic.
December 15, 2016
Read this
Drop what you've doing and read this book. Well thought out and we'll written. Maybe you'll find a new awareness yourself.
Drop what you've doing and read this book. Well thought out and we'll written. Maybe you'll find a new awareness yourself.
February 4, 2025
Secret heater, fantastic read and deep thoughts
August 30, 2016
Loved this book. Sad. But a great voice for animals.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews