A Vegan Ethic: Embracing a Life of Compassion Toward All

Only when we know better, can we do better. The greatest frustration within any social justice movement, including the animal rights movement, is not that humans are inherently cruel, but rather perpetually and incredibly apathetic. The majority of people refuse to educate themselves as it's easier to preserve and defend old familiar habits than it is to actively seek truth and live accordingly. If people chose to learn the facts related to animal agriculture, instead of hiding behind customs and excuses, they would-most certainly-change their beliefs and behaviors and never again contribute to the gross atrocities that are simultaneously poisoning the soul of humanity and destroying the body of Earth. Muster up enough curiosity to care...Read a book; watch a documentary. Learn something new. Mark Hawthorne's book is a fabulous and insightful resource. Let's all know better so we can all do better.

Here’s the bottom line: if you’re a vegan, share some vegan viewpoints, are curious about veganism, want to understand veganism better for any reason, or are looking for a game of dare to prove you could never be sold, I think you should read this book. It covers a diverse range of complex topics in a stunningly concise form, seamlessly flipping from one to the next, really by the page.I found that the media for this book called it a must-read, but I was still a little unsure on the intended audience. Vegans? Non-vegans? Students? So we’ll start at the core and move outward.If you are a centered vegan with a good acceptance of cultural differences, a recognition that issues are complex and not always perfectly solvable, and an understanding of intersectionalism, you will already be familiar with much of the book’s content. However, I am certain there are at least a few points raised that will present a new take or provoke additional thought, so it’s well worth a read just to find those moments.If you are a vegan still trying to discover what that fully means to you, a newer vegan, someone trying to live with more of a vegan mentality, or someone who still isn’t sure that they want to do or it even can, you will enjoy this book most of all. It will provide you a wealth of viewpoints, facts, and advice that will have your mind spinning for days if not months.If you’re interested in learning about veganism or are certain you could never be convinced but are willing to take the challenge, I certainly recommend this book to you. As I said up front, the breadth of topics covered is impressive and it moves quickly enough you won’t be bored. You’ll be presented with arguments as well as facts, and you’ll either be able to reconsider your perspectives or at least understand why others have.I liked that Hawthorne covers basic topics in a mature way, avoiding the clichés and talking-down of a lot of the current vegan guides and how-tos, and balancing the content with reality and tolerance. And instead of glossing over how easy it is (not really the case) instead he focuses on why and how - a more realistic and lasting approach.I might quarrel with a few of the points raised, but hey, that’s healthy. A couple of tiny details may be dated, but the movement is changing so quickly it’s impossible to fully keep up anyway. And though I was pleased that every section is anchored by referenced fact, I found a couple of moments where the statement of opinion and fact blurred a touch in presentation.Hawthorne’s thought-provoking content is comprehensive, well-informed, and thoughtfully stated. Very well done and certainly worth your time.

In "A Vegan Ethic: Embracing a Life of Compassion", Mark Hawthorne makes crystal clear the interconnections between speciesism, racism, sexism, social justice, labor rights, human trafficking, and environmental degradation, all in just 184 pages. His message is crucial to the mission of every animal activist, guiding us on how to transform moral outrage into effective compassion. He rejects the notion that ’vegan’ means "cruelty-free", laying out how the "unity of suffering connects species, races, genders, classes, and religions in a very tangible way." Beautifully written, powerful, and accessible, this book is required reading for every animal activist.

I have an amazing amount of respect and reverence for Mark Hawthorne. After reading https://www.amazon.com/Bleating-Hearts-Hidden-Animal-Suffering/dp/1780998511 I knew that I was being exposed to a different kind of person -- someone who lives compassionately, does his research, and isn't afraid to give us the hard-hitting facts about how we engage with sentient creatures, both non-human, and human.In the first few chapters, I was exposed to some similar information from Bleating Hearts, but then Mark goes into something I knew in my heart that needed to be addressed -- we can't really heal the world without showing compassion for humans as well. Especially those who are doing our dirty work -- farm and slaughterhouse workers who are the whipping "boys" -- our easy way out for the injustice and pain corporations inflict on animals and people, by proxy. I was reminded a long time ago of an acquaintance I thought to be a misogynist and a sexist, during a heated argument about animal rights. He said to me "you need to start with humans first in the fight for animal rights" and I think there is some truth to that. Thank you, Mark, for bringing that truth to light.

A must read book for anyone who believes in compassion towards all.

I read this hot on the heels of Mark Hawthorne's other great books 'Striking at the Roots' and 'Bleating Hearts'. It's an insightful and deeply necessary guide to how we can all extend our circles of compassion to embrace all human and non-human animals and the environment we depend on. If someone asked me to recommend an accessible guide to multilayered vegan ethics, this would be it. Thank you Mark for all you do to change the world for animals.

Amazing book , enjoyed this so much. Has helped me understand a lot about becoming a vegan. Now I can embrace this new life choice .

Goof

Good book for new vegans or for vegan curious. Loved the intersectional approach.

Just what I expected. A Christmas gift for a vegan.