Books to Inspire Compassion

Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs and Wear Cows by Melanie Joy

In Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows, Melanie explores the disconnect people have for farmed animals. It questions how we love certain animals, whilst allowing others to suffer needlessly for consumption. This book not only investigates how animals are treated, but also the hazards slaughterhouse workers face, and the environmental impacts of raising animals for food.

This is a controversial book makes us question our behaviours. Find it here.

Animal Equality by Joan Dunayer

Animal Equality focuses on the power of language, focusing on how it has helped conceal cruelty, and aid nonhuman oppression and injustice. Joan also explores nonhuman thoughts and emotions. You can find it here.

The Sexual Politics of Meat by Carol Adams 

In the Sexual Politics of Meat, Carol explores the controversial interplay between society’s ingrained cultural misogyny and its obsession with meat and masculinity. The links are much more common than you may think. Find it here.

When Elephants Weep by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson & Susan McCarthy

Jeffrey and Susan bring forth fascinating insights into the animal world, highlighting the existence of animal emotion. They explore how various animals exhibit love, anger, joy, fear, shame, compassion, and loneliness, making one re-evaluate how humans treat animals. Find it here, and here.

The Pig who sang to the Moon by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson

Jeffrey has given the most exploited animals on earth a human voice, meaning, and dignity. In the Pig Who Sang to the Moon, Jeffrey focuses on farmed animals emotions, feelings, and consciousness. This book teaches us about the intelligence and individual personalities of the animals who are reduced to body parts. He uses a combination of personal experiences observing animals, history, literature, and scientific studies, forcing us to really question is what we are doing right? You can find this book here.

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

As a young adult, Jonathan regularly switched between being an enthusiastic carnivore to an occasional vegetarian. It was when he became a father, that he really questioned the moral implications of eating animals, and wanted to explore the question of “why do we eat some animals and not others”?

We suggest everyone should read Eating Animals to decide if these industries are something they really want to support. You can find it here.

Vegan Freak: Being Vegan in a non-vegan world by Bob Torres and Jenna Torres

Bob and Jenna have put together a practical and informative guide for people who are wanting to become vegan. Vegan Freak, provide tips and advice on how to thrive on a plant-based diet; how to live in a non-vegan world (think restaurants, dinner with omnivores, and parents); dispelling popular myths; and arguments for why you should become an ethical, abolitionist vegan. Find it here

But You Kill Ants by John Waddell

John gives concise and simple answers to 100 common questions (and objections) vegetarians and vegans encounter. From nutrition, religion, making a difference, the economy, to the environment, this book has the answers.

Whether you are already vegan and want help answering these questions or are genuinely curious about the answers, But You Kill Ants is a highly recommended read. You can find the book here.

Staying Positive In A F*cked Up World by Ash Nayate

Neuropsychologist, Dr Ash Nayate, provides activists with ways to stay positive whilst living in a non-vegan world. She explores why others don’t seem to care, how to cope with stress and burnout, how to transform our sadness and guilt, and how to become an effective change agent. Buy it online here.