IN-DEPTH BOOK REVIEW
Book reviewed by Guest Teen Writer - Jennifer Zilly

Thanking the Monkey – Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals
By Karen Dawn

Recently I was flipping through the Best Friends magazine (March/April 2008) and I stumbled on an article about an animal activist named Karen Dawn. There was a lengthy interview with the Australian-raised animal advocate. She has made appearances on MTV and hosted various talk shows on major radio stations. The Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post have also chosen to publish her opinion pieces. Her first book, Thanking the Monkey – Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals was published in April 2008. After reading her compelling book, I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in expanding their horizons. It is by far the most comprehensive and complete animal rights (and human rights for that matter) book I have read.

In her gripping book, Dawn addresses everything from the truth about the fate of chimps in entertainment to Flipper’s shocking suicide. Her book has opened my eyes to the dangers of eating meat and the reality of where fur (even if labeled “faux fur”) comes from. She also explains the surprising intelligence of fish and the cruelty of their death.

Many of us know the basics about animal rights – that cute puppy in the window came from a mass-producing puppy mill; circus elephants are brutally mistreated; the current practices at slaughterhouses and factory farms are disgustingly inhumane; and everyone should spay/neuter their pets to prevent pet overpopulation.

After reading the undeniable truths Karen Dawn presents in her first book, we dig deeper to learn about the lesser-known issues: the behind-the-scenes trading and dumping of animals in zoos; the murder of an orca’s mother to capture the first “Shamu”; the hidden meaning behind food labels; the difference between an animal rights activist and an environmentalist; the destruction of the rain forest to make room for the cattle business; and appalling secrets about the fishing industry.

I strongly encourage everyone to read this book to gain a deeper understanding of the world around them. Your life will not be the same after you have this newfound knowledge. To learn more about the book or buy your own copy, visit www.thankingthemonkey.com