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The Inner World of Farm Animals: Their Amazing Intellectual, Emotional and Social Capacities
Chickens can count. Pigs are smarter than poodles. Cows form close friendships. Turkeys know one another by their voices, and sheep recognize faces—of other sheep, and of people. Far from lacking thoughts and feelings, barnyard creatures demonstrate sophisticated problem-solving abilities, possess rich social lives, and feel a wide range of emotions. In other words, they’re much like humans in countless ways. And, like us, they suffer physical pain and mental anguish.
In The Inner World of Farm Animals, Amy Hatkoff combines the latest research on the emotional and intellectual capacities of farm animals with touching—and often surprising—stories to bring their inner world to life. Soulful photographs of cows, goats, lambs, and other barnyard animals complement the text, and add to the belief that these creatures deserve our attention. In this heartfelt book, Hatkoff joins the growing call for treating these sentient, aware beings with compassion and respect. "THE INNER WORLD OF FARM ANIMALS will surely change your mind about the emotional lives of these wonderful beings. Moving stories of Alice, a doting and dancing turkey, Hope and Johnny, two loving pigs, and Olivia, a goat with a wonderful personality, woven in with the latest scientific research, make it clear that we must stop abusing them and other hapless animals for our own selfish needs. The easiest way for us to increase our compassion footprint is to appreciate animals for who they are -- amazing individuals who care deeply about what happens to them."
--Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals, Animals Matter, Animals at Play, and Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals (with Jessica Pierce)
"All animal lovers will love this book. Farm animals are sentient and they have true emotions. The photography in the book is gorgeous."
--Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation
"A beautiful, evocative, and pretty much perfect book--this book will leave you changed for the better."
--Rory Freedman, co-author of Skinny Bitch
"This beautiful, well-researched book should make every meat-eater think differently about the lives of the animals that turn up on his or her plate."
--Peter Singer
"Amy Hatkoff's insightful book addresses a question we've finally started asking: just how evolved is our place in the food chain, anyway? It's time we realized we are dealing with sentient beings rather than assembly-line widgets. Books like this one point to a more enlightened road: the future depends on us taking it."
--Dan Barber, Owner and Executive Chef, Blue Hill restaurants
"The Inner World of Farm Animals brings together a fascinating mix of science and story-telling about the intelligence and emotional lives of farm animals. A treasure-trove book, which will delight, amaze, cause laughter and, possibly, a tear or two."
--Joyce d’Silva, Compassion in World Farming.
In The Inner World of Farm Animals, Amy Hatkoff combines the latest research on the emotional and intellectual capacities of farm animals with touching—and often surprising—stories to bring their inner world to life. Soulful photographs of cows, goats, lambs, and other barnyard animals complement the text, and add to the belief that these creatures deserve our attention. In this heartfelt book, Hatkoff joins the growing call for treating these sentient, aware beings with compassion and respect. "THE INNER WORLD OF FARM ANIMALS will surely change your mind about the emotional lives of these wonderful beings. Moving stories of Alice, a doting and dancing turkey, Hope and Johnny, two loving pigs, and Olivia, a goat with a wonderful personality, woven in with the latest scientific research, make it clear that we must stop abusing them and other hapless animals for our own selfish needs. The easiest way for us to increase our compassion footprint is to appreciate animals for who they are -- amazing individuals who care deeply about what happens to them."
--Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals, Animals Matter, Animals at Play, and Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals (with Jessica Pierce)
"All animal lovers will love this book. Farm animals are sentient and they have true emotions. The photography in the book is gorgeous."
--Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation
"A beautiful, evocative, and pretty much perfect book--this book will leave you changed for the better."
--Rory Freedman, co-author of Skinny Bitch
"This beautiful, well-researched book should make every meat-eater think differently about the lives of the animals that turn up on his or her plate."
--Peter Singer
"Amy Hatkoff's insightful book addresses a question we've finally started asking: just how evolved is our place in the food chain, anyway? It's time we realized we are dealing with sentient beings rather than assembly-line widgets. Books like this one point to a more enlightened road: the future depends on us taking it."
--Dan Barber, Owner and Executive Chef, Blue Hill restaurants
"The Inner World of Farm Animals brings together a fascinating mix of science and story-telling about the intelligence and emotional lives of farm animals. A treasure-trove book, which will delight, amaze, cause laughter and, possibly, a tear or two."
--Joyce d’Silva, Compassion in World Farming.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2009
7 people are currently reading
1894 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
September 27, 2009
I cannot sufficiently extol the contents of this book. I’ve read so many animal books over the years, but this one presents a truly unique perspective. The photos are exquisite. The information provided is important. The book is truly inspirational. It’s full of happy stories of animals living in sanctuaries and therefore living lives normal for them, and it was disturbing only when I considered (which I couldn’t help thinking about) how these animals are normally treated.
I received this book as a birthday gift by a long time friend of mine; she happens to be a friend of the author. I’d had this book on my to-read shelf, as it was recommended to me by a Goodreads friend, but had not realized that it was written by a woman I knew very slightly over three decades ago, having her in my acquaintance because of this mutual friend. I can say honestly that my rating and review are not influenced by my very brief acquaintance with the author. In fact, I know my review will not do justice to this amazing book.
Here’s the table of contents:
Forward (by Jane Goodall)
Introduction
Chapter One: Chickens
Chapter Two: Geese, Ducks, and Turkeys
Chapter Three: Cows
Chapter Four: Pigs
Chapter Five: Sheep and Goats
Afterword (by Wayne Pacelle, President of the Humane Society of the U.S.)
What You Can Do
Sanctuaries
Resources
(Organizations, Books, For Children and Educators (Classroom Materials, Videos for Children, Books for Children and Youth), Bibliography)
Acknowledgments
Photo Credits
I have to start out by saying that the photographs of all the animals are incredibly beautiful and particularly wonderful because the personality of each animal shines through. If there wasn’t such interesting information in the book, this could work as a coffee table book because of its beauty.
I cannot get enough of this type of information, especially when it’s given in a way that isn’t horrifying, and these animal’s stories are basically happy ones. The information about various species of farm animals is given simply and straightforwardly. These are very personal stories which touch the heart and that make one think, at least that’s the hope. The horrors of factory farming are only alluded to, barely mentioned, so I can recommend this book to everyone, not just vegans or those interested in animal rights.
I wasn’t necessarily expecting to learn anything new, although I knew I probably would, but I was just happy to read something that would validate my current feelings and beliefs. However, I learned quite a bit more than even I’d expected.
I was particularly intrigued with how sheep can recognize sheep from their own flock when viewing photographs and the effect that has on them, and there were so many more tidbits like this of information new to me.
This book is engaging, heartwarming, uplifting, and also devastating because the reader can’t help but be aware of the quality of life and ultimate fate of the vast majority of these animals. However the stories here are not at all depressing because they’re primarily about animals living in conditions that allow them to have their natural behaviors.
There are lots of vignettes of the lives of animals living in sanctuaries, quotes from many other books, quotes by and mini interviews from those in the animal welfare and animal rights movements, most from sanctuary workers who know the animals as individuals.
This book is suitable for vegans and vegetarians and omnivores. It doesn’t push a strong vegan message (although of course that’s how I saw it) but the What You Can Do section gives a variety of actions people can take to improve the lives of animals, and eating fewer or no animal products is not given a more prominent place than other options. Even if this book doesn’t change the way every single reader looks at what’s on their plate, it will hopefully make them more able to empathize with our fellow creatures.
Anyone who’s ever known and loved an animal of any non-human species (dogs, cats, etc.) will probably enjoy this book, and I’d love for the few people I know who have no affinity with animals to read it, because I think it would change the way that they think and feel.
This would make a great gift book for both adults and older children. It’s a gorgeous book.
Many of the books in the resources section and bibliography I’ve not yet read or put on my to-read shelf, so I’ve got to rectify that situation: onto my unwieldy and unrealisitc to-read shelf they’ll go.
I’m pleased to see that my city’s public library has this book; I was going to request that they buy it. However, a portion of the profits from this book goes to animal protection organizations, and it’s simply a lovely book to own, so I recommend buying a copy for yourself and copies to give as gifts also. I treasure my copy.
And Lydia, a marvelous turkey, my favorite sanctuary animal ever, makes an appearance in this book. She was very friendly and loving.
I received this book as a birthday gift by a long time friend of mine; she happens to be a friend of the author. I’d had this book on my to-read shelf, as it was recommended to me by a Goodreads friend, but had not realized that it was written by a woman I knew very slightly over three decades ago, having her in my acquaintance because of this mutual friend. I can say honestly that my rating and review are not influenced by my very brief acquaintance with the author. In fact, I know my review will not do justice to this amazing book.
Here’s the table of contents:
Forward (by Jane Goodall)
Introduction
Chapter One: Chickens
Chapter Two: Geese, Ducks, and Turkeys
Chapter Three: Cows
Chapter Four: Pigs
Chapter Five: Sheep and Goats
Afterword (by Wayne Pacelle, President of the Humane Society of the U.S.)
What You Can Do
Sanctuaries
Resources
(Organizations, Books, For Children and Educators (Classroom Materials, Videos for Children, Books for Children and Youth), Bibliography)
Acknowledgments
Photo Credits
I have to start out by saying that the photographs of all the animals are incredibly beautiful and particularly wonderful because the personality of each animal shines through. If there wasn’t such interesting information in the book, this could work as a coffee table book because of its beauty.
I cannot get enough of this type of information, especially when it’s given in a way that isn’t horrifying, and these animal’s stories are basically happy ones. The information about various species of farm animals is given simply and straightforwardly. These are very personal stories which touch the heart and that make one think, at least that’s the hope. The horrors of factory farming are only alluded to, barely mentioned, so I can recommend this book to everyone, not just vegans or those interested in animal rights.
I wasn’t necessarily expecting to learn anything new, although I knew I probably would, but I was just happy to read something that would validate my current feelings and beliefs. However, I learned quite a bit more than even I’d expected.
I was particularly intrigued with how sheep can recognize sheep from their own flock when viewing photographs and the effect that has on them, and there were so many more tidbits like this of information new to me.
This book is engaging, heartwarming, uplifting, and also devastating because the reader can’t help but be aware of the quality of life and ultimate fate of the vast majority of these animals. However the stories here are not at all depressing because they’re primarily about animals living in conditions that allow them to have their natural behaviors.
There are lots of vignettes of the lives of animals living in sanctuaries, quotes from many other books, quotes by and mini interviews from those in the animal welfare and animal rights movements, most from sanctuary workers who know the animals as individuals.
This book is suitable for vegans and vegetarians and omnivores. It doesn’t push a strong vegan message (although of course that’s how I saw it) but the What You Can Do section gives a variety of actions people can take to improve the lives of animals, and eating fewer or no animal products is not given a more prominent place than other options. Even if this book doesn’t change the way every single reader looks at what’s on their plate, it will hopefully make them more able to empathize with our fellow creatures.
Anyone who’s ever known and loved an animal of any non-human species (dogs, cats, etc.) will probably enjoy this book, and I’d love for the few people I know who have no affinity with animals to read it, because I think it would change the way that they think and feel.
This would make a great gift book for both adults and older children. It’s a gorgeous book.
Many of the books in the resources section and bibliography I’ve not yet read or put on my to-read shelf, so I’ve got to rectify that situation: onto my unwieldy and unrealisitc to-read shelf they’ll go.
I’m pleased to see that my city’s public library has this book; I was going to request that they buy it. However, a portion of the profits from this book goes to animal protection organizations, and it’s simply a lovely book to own, so I recommend buying a copy for yourself and copies to give as gifts also. I treasure my copy.
And Lydia, a marvelous turkey, my favorite sanctuary animal ever, makes an appearance in this book. She was very friendly and loving.
September 11, 2011
This was definitely not a book written for someone like me, and yet I loved parts of it. The book's premise is that farm animals are so much more complex and intelligent than we previously thought, so we should stop using cruel and inhumane methods to raise them for food. I know I can't speak for all farmers, but as the daughter of one, I can tell you that my dad has always said a happy healthy animal is ultimately a more profitable one when it comes time to sell. But I guess if you're a vegetarian because you feel that eating animals is cruel, then I can buy that confining them in pens in order to raise them for food would also bother you. I just don't happen to agree with that position.
Luckily most of the book focuses on the amazing mental, social and emotional abilities of farm animals. Growing up so close to animals, most of this information didn't surprise me, but it's still neat to see that there's growing recognition of animal intelligence, and there were a few details I learned, like the fact that they've trained pigs to play video games. If you're animal lover, this is breezy read full of intelligent reporting on animal studies research, as well as emotionally manipulative vignettes of farm animal life. I think I can recommend this one, but only with the caveat to not believe all the hype about animal-cruelty perpetuated by farmers.
Luckily most of the book focuses on the amazing mental, social and emotional abilities of farm animals. Growing up so close to animals, most of this information didn't surprise me, but it's still neat to see that there's growing recognition of animal intelligence, and there were a few details I learned, like the fact that they've trained pigs to play video games. If you're animal lover, this is breezy read full of intelligent reporting on animal studies research, as well as emotionally manipulative vignettes of farm animal life. I think I can recommend this one, but only with the caveat to not believe all the hype about animal-cruelty perpetuated by farmers.
October 27, 2009
A beautiful book! The pictures of former farm animals now living in sanctuaries are just exquisite. The text shares their stories as well as research into the habits, emotions and intellects of different animals. (Who knew that ducks have regional accents?) It's a fast read--about an hour--except that every photo is such a delight that it's kind of hard to turn the page.
This is a perfect gift for anyone who loves animals and particularly for someone who needs a little nudge toward ethical eating. It's a happy book--no gruesome tales of factory farms--but I don't know how anyone could read it and continue to eat animals.
This is a perfect gift for anyone who loves animals and particularly for someone who needs a little nudge toward ethical eating. It's a happy book--no gruesome tales of factory farms--but I don't know how anyone could read it and continue to eat animals.
March 29, 2016
When animal advocates talk about farm animals, it is usually in the context of the suffering these animals endure. However, there's a flipside to all of this that deserves to be heard--who these animals are, and how they behave in situations where their personalities can shine through--such as at a farm sanctuary.
Packed with beautiful, color photos and stories that range from illuminating to adorable, this is the perfect book to share with "don't tell me that!" omnivores. Through a combination of personal stories and scientific studies, we learn that farmed animals share many of the same qualities we love about dogs and cats: affection, intelligence, beauty, and individuality. Readers are not told what to think, nor are they made to feel guilty or overwhelmed with ugly images and information. Instead, the positive side of farm animals is presented, and readers are left to draw their own conclusions and how they will apply this information to their own lives.
Packed with beautiful, color photos and stories that range from illuminating to adorable, this is the perfect book to share with "don't tell me that!" omnivores. Through a combination of personal stories and scientific studies, we learn that farmed animals share many of the same qualities we love about dogs and cats: affection, intelligence, beauty, and individuality. Readers are not told what to think, nor are they made to feel guilty or overwhelmed with ugly images and information. Instead, the positive side of farm animals is presented, and readers are left to draw their own conclusions and how they will apply this information to their own lives.
April 10, 2018
A beautiful picture book for adults that describes and extols the intellectual and emotional capacities of farm animals.
January 5, 2017
Exquisite visually. Each page is beautifully designed, with photographs that range from charming to adorable. Each chapter ends with a double spread photo. Quotations from researchers and philosophers are sprinkled throughout the book. The tiny icons next to the page numbers are silhouettes (cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens) that indicate graphically the content of the chapter. And the silhouettes are flipped so (for example) the cows on odd numbered pages gaze across the book at the cows on even numbered pages. Very well done.
The text is more problematic.
1
--
Overbrief descriptions. The author has summarized findings from many different researchers, most in the animal sciences. However, her summaries are so brief as to be almost meaningless. At times they raise so many questions about the details of the research that one is tempted to ignore the findings. For example, she describes a study conducted in London (no further details given) in which pigs were asked to "push one lever when they felt normal, another when they felt anxious." Umm. OK. Now how did the nameless researchers know when the pigs were pressing the correct lever?
2
--
No footnotes. Footnotes linking to the researchers' technical papers would have put the book on much firmer ground scientifically.
3
--
Clumsy writing. One example, pulled at random: "Pigs are extremely sensitive to what goes on around them as well as to their environment." Umm...did we need the words following "as"? Don't think so.
4
--
Editing errors. On page 82, for example, "...when spoken to or handled gently, cows produce significantly more milk than when treated gruffly." Gruffly? I think she meant roughly.
These are the sorts of things a professional copy editor is going to notice and complain about. But my carping should not detract from the more important point: This book shows the intelligence and emotional depth of the animals who live short and brutal lives on the horrific factory farms that are most of agriculture today. If the book makes just one person rethink a meat-heavy diet, it has done its job.
The text is more problematic.
1
--
Overbrief descriptions. The author has summarized findings from many different researchers, most in the animal sciences. However, her summaries are so brief as to be almost meaningless. At times they raise so many questions about the details of the research that one is tempted to ignore the findings. For example, she describes a study conducted in London (no further details given) in which pigs were asked to "push one lever when they felt normal, another when they felt anxious." Umm. OK. Now how did the nameless researchers know when the pigs were pressing the correct lever?
2
--
No footnotes. Footnotes linking to the researchers' technical papers would have put the book on much firmer ground scientifically.
3
--
Clumsy writing. One example, pulled at random: "Pigs are extremely sensitive to what goes on around them as well as to their environment." Umm...did we need the words following "as"? Don't think so.
4
--
Editing errors. On page 82, for example, "...when spoken to or handled gently, cows produce significantly more milk than when treated gruffly." Gruffly? I think she meant roughly.
These are the sorts of things a professional copy editor is going to notice and complain about. But my carping should not detract from the more important point: This book shows the intelligence and emotional depth of the animals who live short and brutal lives on the horrific factory farms that are most of agriculture today. If the book makes just one person rethink a meat-heavy diet, it has done its job.
August 13, 2009
Absolutely phenomenal photographs abound. Intensely cute stories about adorable animals are scattered among the photographs. Among those are short narrative blurbs describing the results of various studies showing that these animals are smart, sociable, have feelings, learn, and are generally all around awesome. It's a powerful arguement for veganism, or at the very least "humanely raised" farm animals. I found myself wishing for more substance but I did enjoy this.
May 29, 2015
A charming work that explores advances in animal intelligence and communication. It also includes ADORABLE photos and lots of cute anecdotes. Every page tugs the heart strings, and the prose is accessible and engaging. A great entry into animal minds.
August 3, 2016
Beautiful photos and copious quotes accompany the basic text of this book which skims the surface of animal emotions and responses. A good primer, and appropriate for any age, research progress and scientific studies are peppered with anecdotal stories of rescued sanctuary animals.
Sections include: Chickens; Geese, Ducks, and Turkeys; Cows; Pigs; Sheep and Goats.
There is a very good reference section in the back including farm sanctuaries, recommend readings/viewings, and animal rights organizations.
While it is not the intention of the text, I had a difficult time reconciling the idea of farm sanctuaries with the amount of animals we eat every day. In particular, the story of a fundraiser for one goat needing surgery netted $11,000 which seems like a decent sum to put towards rectifying the neglectful and abusive farm system we currently support instead of providing a goat prosthetic. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for rescuing animals - I've got 8-year-old non-laying chickens in my yard and I've done some crazy things for them - but if we are going to raise money on the kind of scale mentioned here, let's put it towards the thousands of animals that require justice, not just one. I don't mean to editorialize - this is simply an observation I've had that this book really forced to the front for me.
Sections include: Chickens; Geese, Ducks, and Turkeys; Cows; Pigs; Sheep and Goats.
There is a very good reference section in the back including farm sanctuaries, recommend readings/viewings, and animal rights organizations.
While it is not the intention of the text, I had a difficult time reconciling the idea of farm sanctuaries with the amount of animals we eat every day. In particular, the story of a fundraiser for one goat needing surgery netted $11,000 which seems like a decent sum to put towards rectifying the neglectful and abusive farm system we currently support instead of providing a goat prosthetic. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for rescuing animals - I've got 8-year-old non-laying chickens in my yard and I've done some crazy things for them - but if we are going to raise money on the kind of scale mentioned here, let's put it towards the thousands of animals that require justice, not just one. I don't mean to editorialize - this is simply an observation I've had that this book really forced to the front for me.
April 20, 2011
This article was published on the website for Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots.
Roots & Shoots Book Club: The Inner World of Farm Animals
Can a sheep tell you apart from your friends? Can chickens help with your math homework?
Amy Hatkoff¿s The Inner World of Farm Animals uses the latest research to answer these and other questions about our barnyard friends.
Just like Dr. Jane's research at Gombe Stream National Park taught us that chimpanzees are smart, curious and have their own personalities, this book shows us that many animals are capable of solving complicated problems and forming strong relationships with each other and humans. With touching photos, extraordinary examples and frank discussions, Amy gives us a glimpse inside the brains of the most common farm creatures. We finish the book with a greater understanding of their emotional and intellectual lives and compassion for their physical and mental pain.
In a great section titled, "What You Can Do," Amy gives us suggestions for how we can help these amazing animals live happy and healthy lives. Here are a few ideas from the book with examples from real Roots & Shoots groups:
Read the full article here: http://tinyurl.com/3nvx3mx
Roots & Shoots Book Club: The Inner World of Farm Animals
Can a sheep tell you apart from your friends? Can chickens help with your math homework?
Amy Hatkoff¿s The Inner World of Farm Animals uses the latest research to answer these and other questions about our barnyard friends.
Just like Dr. Jane's research at Gombe Stream National Park taught us that chimpanzees are smart, curious and have their own personalities, this book shows us that many animals are capable of solving complicated problems and forming strong relationships with each other and humans. With touching photos, extraordinary examples and frank discussions, Amy gives us a glimpse inside the brains of the most common farm creatures. We finish the book with a greater understanding of their emotional and intellectual lives and compassion for their physical and mental pain.
In a great section titled, "What You Can Do," Amy gives us suggestions for how we can help these amazing animals live happy and healthy lives. Here are a few ideas from the book with examples from real Roots & Shoots groups:
Read the full article here: http://tinyurl.com/3nvx3mx
May 8, 2011
I found this book used at Ravenna Third Place Books
and knew that I would give in to my book addiction & buy it
when I read this sentence:
"Research shows that cows enjoy solving problems."
It goes on to say that some young cows had accelerated heart rates and some of them even jumped when they successfully learned to unlatch a gate to get food. Other cows in a test group that could just get to the food without unlatching the gate, did not show a change in their behavior or heart rate.
This book is not really a cover to cover reading book, more like something you pick up between the frantic moments of your too busy life to remember why you enjoy living and how you should allow yourself to go outside and do it more often.
and knew that I would give in to my book addiction & buy it
when I read this sentence:
"Research shows that cows enjoy solving problems."
It goes on to say that some young cows had accelerated heart rates and some of them even jumped when they successfully learned to unlatch a gate to get food. Other cows in a test group that could just get to the food without unlatching the gate, did not show a change in their behavior or heart rate.
This book is not really a cover to cover reading book, more like something you pick up between the frantic moments of your too busy life to remember why you enjoy living and how you should allow yourself to go outside and do it more often.
June 10, 2016
I gave this book 5 stars! It was beautiful. I loved this book so much! Everyone needs to read this book. I'm a big animal rights advocate and I'm also a vegetarian, so I know a lot about the farm animal rights movement, however this book gave me a look into the actual animals that I'm trying to fight for. This book taught me so much about their personalities and intelligence. I had no idea how smart animals are and how much emotion they have.
Everyone needs to read this book, I recommend it to everyone.
Everyone needs to read this book, I recommend it to everyone.
November 21, 2009
Goats are the animals that act most like dogs.
Sheep can read and respond to emotional cues from both human and sheep faces.
Cows have excellent memories.
Pigs are smarter than dogs.
Turkeys are affectionate with humans.
The avian brain is similar to the human brain and processes information in much the same way.
The photos in this book are some of the best I have ever seen.
lighthousefarmsanctuary.org
Sheep can read and respond to emotional cues from both human and sheep faces.
Cows have excellent memories.
Pigs are smarter than dogs.
Turkeys are affectionate with humans.
The avian brain is similar to the human brain and processes information in much the same way.
The photos in this book are some of the best I have ever seen.
lighthousefarmsanctuary.org
January 7, 2010
There's not a lot of text in this book, but that's okay. There are plenty of books and other sources that can give you miles and miles of information. It does have beautiful, true life stories of the interactions between some farm animals. Short, simple stories that speak volumes. And without lecturing. The touching and exquisite photographs perfectly capture each creature's reverence for life.
December 18, 2010
This book is full of amazing examples of how animals are individuals with emotions, personalities, complex social structures and intellect. I adored it. Since I've read a lot on animal behaviour, none of the research findings cited in this book surprised me but I had my firm beliefs about animals reconfirmed. This would be a good book for someone new to animals rights and/or vegetarianism...but I also gained somethings from the stories along the way. A good read...prepare to cry!
March 7, 2010
I loved this book. I think it's important for people to think about where their food comes from, and how the animals are treated before they hit your dinner plate. I'm not a vegetarian, but I don't eat a lot of meat, and when I do, I buy local, organic meat from humanely-raised animals.
The photos are lovely too.
The photos are lovely too.
April 20, 2011
A beautiful book -- well written, informative, lovely photos, good layout -- and interesting! Farm animals are sentient beings and why some scientists do not want to believe this fact is beyond me. Amy has both anecdotal and scientific information to demonstrate that farm animals are just as aware as our household pets. I recommend this book to everyone!
September 28, 2011
An easy read with lots of beautiful photos, quotes, and true stories! The book is about how researchers have found out that other living creatures have cognitive abilities. I actually found the little snippets of true stories to have affected me more than the research. This book is good but I believe there are better books out there.
August 10, 2012
Not quite as in-depth as other titles I've read. The books of Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson go much further. Still, I appreciate that the author was trying to make a difficult subject (difficult in that many people still don't think animals have intelligence or emotions, or they don't want to think so because of the implications) more approachable. The photographs are beautiful and engaging.
January 6, 2011
Who knew that chickens were capable of affection or that turkeys could dance and entertain folks? This tell all book about the lives of farm animals was a quick and fascinating read. I enjoyed the lay-out of the book as well.
January 9, 2011
i liked the little personal stories about the emotional and sweet connections between animals, but the rest was eh. Felt like they were telling me these big facts about the inner complicated minds of animals without really giving me any facts.. cute photos though!
July 22, 2012
I liked this, even though I am not a vegan. It made me re-think eating meat, and was a fascinating perspektive about how sentient the animals around us really are, how can we kill and eat them without beeing evil?....we cant...and that is worth pondering over.
July 31, 2009
Everyone should read this book! It will make you a better person.
February 18, 2013
Amazing how we underestimate all creatures excpet for ourselves for their capacity to think, feel and form relationships. Take a bite out of that burger why don't you.
November 2, 2009
This is a beautiful book full of surprising facts about the cognitive abilities and emotional lives of farm animals. I was very moved by many of the heartwarming stories.
October 12, 2010
Mostly pictures and very little writing. I did enjoy what I did read.
November 25, 2014
I expected more of this book. It's mainly anecdotal and only scratches the surface, but the pictures are amazing and it's quite amusing overall.
February 13, 2017
Such a good book! And some amazing pictures.
This book does not preach a vegan lifestyle or offer only anecdotal evidence. It offers many examples of researched evidence from around the world.
This book does not preach a vegan lifestyle or offer only anecdotal evidence. It offers many examples of researched evidence from around the world.
April 7, 2018
This is a book that gives you warm fuzzies as you look at the adorable photographs of baby cows and fuzzy sheep. And then it makes you go “Hmm...” when you start reading about the emotions and intelligence of a wide range of farm animals. Chickens can count! Baby chicks can grasp concepts earlier in their development than baby humans! Chicks start vocalizing when they are still inside their eggs. One anecdote told of a turkey on a sanctuary who “hugs” visitors by leaning her body and neck against visitors. Cows get excited when they solve a puzzle! All pet owners can see the distinct personalities of their animal companions, but how much thought have we put into the personalities of those we eat? This book states that a wider range of animals than most people would consider exhibit personalities, including lizards and squids! Cows who are treated kindly produce more milk. And animals who are with companions produce less stress hormones. These are just a handful of the interesting facts in this book. This book is perfect for those who want to learn interesting and heartwarming facts about farm animals and cannot stomach information on the cruel practices used to raise and process these animals.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2017
Love the story of the duck who grabbed a cop's pant leg to get his attention and rally his help in rescuing her babies who fell down a sew grate. "At first the officer brushed the duck off and went his way. The duck, however, was persistent. She approached him again, tugging and quacking.Once she had his attention she ran over to a sewer grate and lay down on top of it. The officer followed her, and in the water below discovered eight ducklings who had aparently fallen through the grates." The ducklings were rescued and waddled off with their mother to saver waters. Stories like this make this book a quick, enjoyable read.
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