Defining Critical Animal Studies

«Defining Critical Animal Studies is the type of book that everyone should read – not just animal rights activists, but also the naysayers, fence-sitters, and uninformed. And why? Because this book is educational, enlightening, and transformative. It literally alters how we see and understand the issues of human and nonhuman relations, equality, democracy, food, consumption, activism, and social movements. And the book accomplishes this task by practicing what it preaches: bringing together a variety of scholars and activists, both old and new, that address the theoretical, practical, political, and personal intersections of animal liberation.» (Jason Del Gandio, Author of Rhetoric for Radicals: A Handbook for 21st Century Activists)
«Through their work in this excellent volume, the editors and contributors give me hope that perhaps all is not lost for our species. But then I think, what kind of society marginalizes, harasses, and surveils these kinds of people as terrorists, but valorizes and rewards the real radicals and the real terrorists whose blood-lust for profits has normalized the systematic torture, oppression, and genocide of creatures unfortunate enough not to have been born human? As long as the latter group retains the backing of state violence, they’ll continue super-sizing us toward extinction.» (David Gabbard, Professor of Education, Boise State University)
«Defining Critical Animal Studies comes at a moment when the devastating effects of climate change, the loss of species in the current sixth mass extinction, the overconsumption of the earth’s resources, endless toxic wars, and the exponential increase in human population are converging far more quickly than scientists predicted to create a multitude of crises – not in the distant future – but right here and now. This book reveals the necessity of reframing social justice and animal rights thought to forge new visions and creative movements to end human and corporate domination and exploitation of other humans, other forms of life, and the Earth.» (Julie Andrzejewski, Professor, St. Cloud State University)
«This is a must-read for anyone concerned with the interconnectedness of struggles for justice and liberation. It is against single-issue politics. It is for the rights of all animals, irrespective of species, age, sex, race, class, and ability. What an exciting book!» (Piers Beirne, Author of Confronting Animal Abuse: Law, Criminology, and Human-Animal Relationships)
«As radical means ‘root’, Defining Critical Animal Studies is a radical book that explores the social, historical, and political roots underlying the oppression and exploitation of human and nonhuman animals alike. The book is also radical in advocating for the connection between scholarship and activism, and in promoting interdisciplinary and intersectional approaches to ‘the question of the animal.’ Students, scholars, activists, and citizens interested in engaging social justice across the species boundary will find these essays confronting many of the key issues of the twenty-first century, where what is at stake is survival itself.» (Dan Featherston, Assistant Professor, Temple University; Editor, Lexington Critical Animal Studies Book Series)
«Critical Animal Studies is a spreading academic discipline that brings much-needed activist and radical perspectives to classrooms globally – just the kind of thing that breathes life and real substance into higher education.» (Leslie James Pickering, former Earth Liberation Front Press Officer)
«There is an urgent need for a broader analysis in the animal liberation movement. The contributors to Defining Critical Animal Studies grapple with questions our movement will have to engage in order to move forward.» (Erin
«Defining Critical Animal Studies is the type of book that everyone should read – not just animal rights activists, but also the naysayers, fence-sitters, and uninformed. And why? Because this book is educational, enlightening, and transformative. It literally alters how we see and understand the issues of human and nonhuman relations, equality, democracy, food, consumption, activism, and social movements. And the book accomplishes this task by practicing what it preaches: bringing together a variety of scholars and activists, both old and new, that address the theoretical, practical, political, and personal intersections of animal liberation.» (Jason Del Gandio, Author of Rhetoric for Radicals: A Handbook for 21st Century Activists)
«Through their work in this excellent volume, the editors and contributors give me hope that perhaps all is not lost for our species. But then I think, what kind of society marginalizes, harasses, and surveils these kinds of people as terrorists, but valorizes and rewards the real radicals and the real terrorists whose blood-lust for profits has normalized the systematic torture, oppression, and genocide of creatures unfortunate enough not to have been born human? As long as the latter group retains the backing of state violence, they’ll continue super-sizing us toward extinction.» (David Gabbard, Professor of Education, Boise State University)
«Defining Critical Animal Studies comes at a moment when the devastating effects of climate change, the loss of species in the current sixth mass extinction, the overconsumption of the earth’s resources, endless toxic wars, and the exponential increase in human population are converging far more quickly than scientists predicted to create a multitude of crises – not in the distant future – but right here and now. This book reveals the necessity of reframing social justice and animal rights thought to forge new visions and creative movements to end human and corporate domination and exploitation of other humans, other forms of life, and the Earth.» (Julie Andrzejewski, Professor, St. Cloud State University)
«This is a must-read for anyone concerned with the interconnectedness of struggles for justice and liberation. It is against single-issue politics. It is for the rights of all animals, irrespective of species, age, sex, race, class, and ability. What an exciting book!» (Piers Beirne, Author of Confronting Animal Abuse: Law, Criminology, and Human-Animal Relationships)
«As radical means ‘root,’ Defining Critical Animal Studies is a radical book that explores the social, historical, and political roots underlying the oppression and exploitation of human and nonhuman animals alike. The book is also radical in advocating for the connection between scholarship and activism, and in promoting interdisciplinary and intersectional approaches to ‘the question of the animal.’ Students, scholars, activists, and citizens interested in engaging social justice across the species boundary will find these essays confronting many of the key issues of the twenty-first century, where what is at stake is survival itself.» (Dan Featherston, Assistant Professor, Temple University; Editor, Lexington Critical Animal Studies Book Series)
«Critical Animal Studies is a spreading academic discipline that brings much-needed activist and radical perspectives to classrooms globally – just the kind of thing that breathes life and real substance into higher education.» (Leslie James Pickering, former Earth Liberation Front Press Officer)
«There is an urgent need for a broader analysis in the animal liberation movement. The contributors to Defining Critical Animal Studies grapple with questions our movement will have to engage in order to move forward.» (Erin