Fear of the Animal Planet: The Hidden History of Animal Resistance

by Jason Hribal

I picked this book up from a local bookstore because it was under the section of “Employees Recommendations”. Due to its controversial animal topics I decided on a whim to take it home and read it. This book had the interesting premise of looking at animal liberation and the mistreatment of animal in circuses, zoos, animal theme parks, etc. 

The introduction, written by Jeffrey St. Clair, is a fascinating look at the way animals were treated after attacking humans (starting in the mid 1400s). He discusses that back then, animals were even placed on trial and hung due to their crimes and that these trials were taken seriously by courts and the people. He goes on to describe some of these trial specifics and stories in history for majority of the introduction. This section is captivating and very well written. 

As far as Hribal's book, some of the stories were fascinating and believable. Most of the stories, however, are troublesome and brutal which make it hard for anyone who loves and adores animals to read. The main point that the author is trying to get across is that animals are as emotionally and intellectually as capable to feel neglect, mistreatment, abuse, and as vengeful as any human. A premise that most, I believe, would find compelling.

While this book did have many interesting stories, there were many things that made it become discredited and "unreadable" in my eyes. The grammar and spelling were atrocious. Errors were made consistently, which in some chapters, made his points on the edge of being unintelligible. I thought this book would pick a few main stories and dive deep into reliable sources surrounding the cases, produce both sides of thinking, and come up with the conclusion supporting the main plot point. Instead this book was a list of one story after another of animal mistreatment/abuse. The author would begin a chapter with a main story about a particular animal, type a bit about it, switch to multiple smaller stories, then come back to the main story at the end of the chapter. It was the same organization in every chapter. Meanwhile, the only thing the reader has to remember the animal he was talking about originally, is it's name. This book is full of different animals and their names, did he honestly expect us to remember them ALL? 

I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a quick and selective read: meaning you are willing to select certain portions of the book and disregard the rest of it (grammatical and spelling errors too!). The subject matter is thought-provoking and enthralling, but Hribal just does not deliver. I thought most of the stories were gripping and heartbreaking, but that with such a large controversial subject, there should have been much more substance and factual arguments to aid in his writing. 

Rating:  3     (out of 5)

STAY TUNED!!  

I am currently reading Stephen King's Hearts in Atlantis   Review will be up soon!