by Diana Waldhuber
Hal Herzog, anthrozoologist, has written a smart, insightful and thought-provoking read in Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat – Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight About Animals.
Herzog explores the way humans think about animals, and our (often strange and conflicting) relationship with them. Anthrozoology is a relatively new discipline and one that seeks to understand the human-animal relationship – and the paradoxes that come with it.
Some of the questions raised in the book are ones we ourselves often think about, such as do children who abuse animals become violent adults – along with the ones we blithely, some could say intentionally, ignore, such as the fact we’re more likely to like and want to save an animal because it’s cute.
Apparently we are all a mass of contradictions when it comes to animals. The intriguing subjects he touches on are concise and well-written. It’s a book that lay people and students of psychology will equally enjoy.
Along the way we learn about how lab mice are thought of and treated, the inside world of cockfighters, how dogs are thought of in Korea, and why some people will devote their time and money to saving a particular species of animal.
This was a book I thoroughly enjoyed and it was an eye-opener on many different levels. The book will stay with you long after you put it down. I recommend it to anyone who has an interest in animals and an interest in why humans do the things we do.
The one thing you’ll definitely learn is “The only consistency in the way humans think about animals is inconsistency”.
To learn more about Hal or Some We Love… visitwww.harpercollinscom.
RRP $25.99
We think this book would make an excellent holiday gift!