For many people the watch-words of the holiday season are “eat,” “drink,” and “be merry.” This holiday season, I suggest replacing them with “love,” “hate,” and “eat,” specifically Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight About Animals by Hal Herzog (Harper-Collins, 2010). This book is a perfect gift for those who work with animals in any capacity as well as any animal-lovers on your list. And don’t forget to put it on your own wish-lift or purchase it as a gift for yourself if you enjoy learning about human-animal interactions as much as I do.
Why am I so enthusiastically recommending a book about our relationships with animals that contains what some might consider animal-unfriendly words such as “hate” and “eat”? Well, as Elizabeth Barrett Browning said in her Sonnets from the Portuguese, let me count the ways.
One: As readers of my past book reviews know, I’m somewhat prejudiced toward books (both nonfiction and fiction) written by those with first-hand knowledge of the subject about which they write. To put it mildly, Hal Herzog’s credentials in the field of animal behavior and anthrozoology (i.e., the study of human-animal relationships) are impeccable. As befitting someone with those credentials, his overview of the research related to his subject matter is extensive and balanced. While he sometimes readily admits what his own views on a subject are, he’s always respectful of views that run contrary to his. Given how much media exposure is often given to the passionate extremes when it comes to animal-related matters, this is both refreshing and serves as a reminder of how it ought to be done.
Two: That the author has worked in the field for decades confers another benefit on Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat. He knows from personal experience what it’s like to face the kinds of complex moral dilemmas he writes about in the book. Better yet, he shares that process with his readers. I find this much more helpful than reading descriptions written by an outside observer who can never truly understand how some of the animal-related concepts the author explores can mess with your mind and your heart when you’re actually involved with them on a day-to-day basis.
Three: In spite of the fact that, like me, most readers probably will encounter sections of the book that make them squirm—either because they find the subject matter distasteful or because it points out that some of our beliefs about human relationships with animals may be at least suspect if not flat-out wrong-headed—Herzog’s reader-friendly style makes such encounters do-able. His approach reminds me of discussions I’ve had with various mentors over the years who sometimes made me feel intellectually uncomfortable, but never threatened. And even though such discussions take me out of my comfort zone, they enable me to think critically about certain issues that I never would have considered otherwise.
Four: In previous commentaries and podcasts, I’ve explored the role of playfulness and humor as it relates to fitness. Give me a knowledgeable person with a sense of humor and an equally knowledgeable one lacking it, and I’ll opt for the former every time. The reason for this is simple: people who can see the humor in situations, including their own, provide a more relaxed and nonjudgmental environment than their more serious counterparts. And that relaxed, nonjudgmental environment makes it easier to critically ponder some sometimes troubling issues more objectively. In his book Herzog succeeds in striking the perfect balance between humor and seriousness.
Five: I love surprises and this book is full of them. For example, consider the following chapter sub-titles:
- Do Dolphins Make Good Therapists?
- Do Children Who Abuse Animals Become Violent Adults?
- Do Pets Really Provide Unconditional Love?
- Which Sex Loves Pets the Most?
- Do Mice Experience Empathy?
Even though the answers to these questions have become such an integral part of what passes for conventional animal-related wisdom in some quarters, Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat offers scientific evidence and some compelling observations that may surprise you regarding these and other topics. Some revelations may leave you scratching your head while others will elicit a surprised, “Well, duh! Why didn’t I see that connection before?!”
The book ends with a comprehensive recommended reading list and extensive end notes. My only disappointment was the lack of an index because the book contains information I know I’m going to want to refer to in the future. But aside from that and to use one of the author’s adjectives, this is a kick-butt book that will enable readers to consider a full range of animal-related views objectively, some of them perhaps for the first time.
Philosopher, educator, and author Mortimer J. Adler said that “In the case of good books, the point is not how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.” Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat is one of those books that surely will get through to anyone who has worked with animals and people, and to those who live with an animal and wondered about the source of their ideas about human-animal relationships. If there’s a better gift out there this holiday season, I haven’t seen it.
If you have any comments regarding subject matter, favorite links, or anything you’d like to see discussed on or added to this site, please let me know at mm@mmilani.com.
Why am I so enthusiastically recommending a book about our relationships with animals that contains what some might consider animal-unfriendly words such as “hate” and “eat”? Well, as Elizabeth Barrett Browning said in her Sonnets from the Portuguese, let me count the ways.
One: As readers of my past book reviews know, I’m somewhat prejudiced toward books (both nonfiction and fiction) written by those with first-hand knowledge of the subject about which they write. To put it mildly, Hal Herzog’s credentials in the field of animal behavior and anthrozoology (i.e., the study of human-animal relationships) are impeccable. As befitting someone with those credentials, his overview of the research related to his subject matter is extensive and balanced. While he sometimes readily admits what his own views on a subject are, he’s always respectful of views that run contrary to his. Given how much media exposure is often given to the passionate extremes when it comes to animal-related matters, this is both refreshing and serves as a reminder of how it ought to be done.
Two: That the author has worked in the field for decades confers another benefit on Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat. He knows from personal experience what it’s like to face the kinds of complex moral dilemmas he writes about in the book. Better yet, he shares that process with his readers. I find this much more helpful than reading descriptions written by an outside observer who can never truly understand how some of the animal-related concepts the author explores can mess with your mind and your heart when you’re actually involved with them on a day-to-day basis.
Three: In spite of the fact that, like me, most readers probably will encounter sections of the book that make them squirm—either because they find the subject matter distasteful or because it points out that some of our beliefs about human relationships with animals may be at least suspect if not flat-out wrong-headed—Herzog’s reader-friendly style makes such encounters do-able. His approach reminds me of discussions I’ve had with various mentors over the years who sometimes made me feel intellectually uncomfortable, but never threatened. And even though such discussions take me out of my comfort zone, they enable me to think critically about certain issues that I never would have considered otherwise.
Four: In previous commentaries and podcasts, I’ve explored the role of playfulness and humor as it relates to fitness. Give me a knowledgeable person with a sense of humor and an equally knowledgeable one lacking it, and I’ll opt for the former every time. The reason for this is simple: people who can see the humor in situations, including their own, provide a more relaxed and nonjudgmental environment than their more serious counterparts. And that relaxed, nonjudgmental environment makes it easier to critically ponder some sometimes troubling issues more objectively. In his book Herzog succeeds in striking the perfect balance between humor and seriousness.
Five: I love surprises and this book is full of them. For example, consider the following chapter sub-titles:
Even though the answers to these questions have become such an integral part of what passes for conventional animal-related wisdom in some quarters, Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat offers scientific evidence and some compelling observations that may surprise you regarding these and other topics. Some revelations may leave you scratching your head while others will elicit a surprised, “Well, duh! Why didn’t I see that connection before?!”
The book ends with a comprehensive recommended reading list and extensive end notes. My only disappointment was the lack of an index because the book contains information I know I’m going to want to refer to in the future. But aside from that and to use one of the author’s adjectives, this is a kick-butt book that will enable readers to consider a full range of animal-related views objectively, some of them perhaps for the first time.
Philosopher, educator, and author Mortimer J. Adler said that “In the case of good books, the point is not how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.” Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat is one of those books that surely will get through to anyone who has worked with animals and people, and to those who live with an animal and wondered about the source of their ideas about human-animal relationships. If there’s a better gift out there this holiday season, I haven’t seen it.
If you have any comments regarding subject matter, favorite links, or anything you’d like to see discussed on or added to this site, please let me know at mm@mmilani.com.