Gene Baur

Gene Baur is a saint for having started Farm Sanctuary in 1986, and this book is a celebration of its principles - the compassionate treatment of animals, living thoughtfully in the world, and being healthier as a result. The photos are endearing, and some of the personal stories, such as ‘The Panoply of Beings is Infinite’, by Bob Comis, a former pig farmer, are honest and poignant. The recipes are a little on the gourmet side (I think to prove a point, that vegan food need not be boring or tasteless), and some of the advice on adopting a vegan lifestyle is a little basic, but on the other hand, it does raise awareness, and the heart is definitely in the right place here.… (mer)

In this well written and engaging book, Gene Baur informs readers about the factory farm complex’s inhumane treatment of animals and his organization’s – as well as others' - efforts to rescue and advocate for them. Baur calls for consumers, whether or not they decide to become vegans, to be more conscientious in their eating and purchasing habits. Commercial farming is not only cruel. It also poses health risks to those who handle farm animals and to consumers, not to mention animals. Although Baur would no doubt prefer that those who read this book eventually become vegans, his approach is fair and inclusive. In this book, you'll learn unfortunate terms like rapist roosters and flip-over syndrome. You'll read about the collusion between agribusiness, government and other unlikely suspects and how commercial packaging and even an animal science studies program can help to obscure and/or anaesthetise us to the harsh reality of factory farming. You will also read about positive initiatives like about CSAs (community supported agriculture). And you will read anecdotes about the many individual animals whom Farm Sanctuary has saved and who, Baur reminds us, are sentient beings. Highly recommended. Includes annotated bibliography and list of web resources.… (mer)