On the bookshelf

08augustus2013
Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2011
Some We Love, Some We Eat, Some We Hate

The subtitle says it all: 'Why It's So Hard to Think Straight About Animals'. A puppy can be a beloved pet in Kansas, an unwanted pest in Kenya, and a tasty bite in South Korea. This book discusses our very disparate standpoints regarding animals.
The author does not shy away from controversy. For example, he interviewed people who keep roosters for cock fighting. They spoil the animals, and care for them extremely well. The loser disappears into the carcass barrel. Which animal had a better life: the rooster being prepared for a cock fight, or the spring chicken being fattened for a Sunday roast? Herzog talks to animal rights activists and to scientists working with lab animals. He interviews vegetarians and vegans, and also hunting enthusiasts.

Our view of animals also changes over time. Long ago, it was perfectly normal that the (watch)dog lived outside and wasn’t allowed to set one paw over the threshold. Now we have wellness centres for dogs, and shops with designer outfits with matching collars and booties for Fifi and Spot. The special food given to pets in the West is of the highest quality, even more healthy and nutritious than what many humans eat. At the same time, there are people who torture and abuse animals. Why do they do this?

This book is food for thought, giving readers reasons for grimacing, disbelief, and gales of laughter—especially when Herzog brings his cat Tilly into the story.


Title: Some We Love, Some We Eat, Some We Hate
Author: Hal Herzog
Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2011
ISBN-10: 0061730858
ISBN-13: 978-0061730856