Misplaced Compassion: The Animal Rights Movement Exposed

Rating:
Summary: Inane diatribe
Review: As a human being, animal rights advocate, and open-minded individual it seemed only right to review this so-called book. Needless to say, Ward's arguments hold no water--ethical or intellectual. Even my husband who is a hardcore meat-eater would never make the same, sad excuses that Ward makes in this book. I suggest serious intellectual debate be left to more apt-minded individuals.

Rating:
Summary: Clearly demonstrates the descent of man from higher animals.
Review: As many other reviewers pointed out previously (and I am so thankful to see a preponderance of intelligent people reviewing this bonfire-worthy book!), this book is mindless right-wing ranting about the "wackos" who seek to protect for other animals the rights they already have--but which are not observed very often by the oh-so-glorious species that is not all that far above them...humans. The only wackos I see are those who don't take animal rights issues seriously. This book is infuriating. Try reading something that will inspire you to make a positive difference in the world, like Ingrid Newkirk's "You Can Save the Animals." This book can only serve to poison minds. Honestly...what good was it intended to do? Glorify the hideous acts of cruelty performed by humans in a pathetic attempt to disguise them as necessary to peoples' survival? Defend anyone who wants to carelessly use and abuse their fellow creatures to their own terribly selfish ends? How can these authors actually feel more pity for the perpetuators of cruelty than for the innocent victims, ie the animals? In trying to convince themselves and others that other animals are nothing more than unthinking, unfeeling, non-reasoning and solely instinct-driven machines, they turn off their compassion and ability to extend it to species other than their own; an extremely important natural quality that should never be lost in humans. Someone who has elevated themselves to a state where they need not harm any animal except out of absolute necessity is a far better and more advanced person than one who believes he is the supreme being on earth and may trample all over the 'lower creatures' to stay there.

Compassion is only misplaced when it is taken away from beings that suffer, or removed from the realm of extension to ALL living souls, be they encased in the body of a human or a dog or a fish. This book is misplaced when it is placed anywhere but the garbage--excuse me, the recycling bin! We don't want to create more pollution than we already have, but these authors-considering their political viewpoint-don't much care about significant things like that, now do they?

Rating:
Summary: typical
Review: One could buy this book for help sleeping soundly on a stomach full of flesh, but there are dozens of anti-AR websites that work toward the same end. Before diving into opposing arguments, one should be versed in the philosophy of the movement (a good start is Singer's "Animal Liberation").