Rating: 
Summary: Well written but not accurate
Review: The author (a former political speech writer) writes well, but without accuracy. The underlying thesis used by the author is a good one: "that dominion over animals implies a stewardship." But the application of this thesis to the subsequent hypothesis does not follow. The author attempts to leverage the Bible to his purpose, but we should remember that the Israelites were given QUAIL by God to eat in the desert. Therefore, the Bible does not take us where the author wants us to go, unless you pluck out one verse and forget about the rest. And that is the biggest problem with this book. It is a series of half-truths and half-facts used to make points that would not follow if the complete stories were told. It is very much like a book about women written by a teenage boy-the author has an interest in the subject, but little knowledge about it. The particular stories told by the author seem outrageous because they are incomplete and inaccurate.
The positive reviews this book has gotten assuredly come from urban dwellers who have little experience with wild animals and no inkling of wildlife biology. Therefore they do not recognize that the stories written in this book are presented with an agenda, not with the eye of a journalist or scientist seeking the truth. Surely, there are truthful books on the subjects presented here.
Rating: 
Summary: Eloquent Horror
Review: Matthew Scully's philosophical and ethical argument on the treatment of animals is a wonderful read. Beautifully written and candid on all fronts Scully tells it like it is, confronting whalers, big game hunters and most of all factory farms. His use of bible scripture further adds to the evidence of humans' gone horribly astray, torturing animals for profit and justifying it with self-centered, humanistic arguments. Scully sees those holes and exposes them with brilliance, humor and sincerity. Most of all, Scully writes from the heart. Dominion compels the reader to reflect upon ones own actions and choices in life and to take a serious look at the world around. Upon completion one cannot help but see the world in a different way, with both disdain and hope.
Rating:
Summary: Who hurts animals - on Peter Singer
Review: I don't care for politics, don't care for "left" or "right"
what matters to me is "wrong" or "right",
and my heart passes the judgment on that, just as every human heart should.
Some hearts, however, are never being consulted.
When urging people to read "Dominion" I hear
"please, don't tell me!, I don't want to know!" -
and that's from the more compassionate ones - cowards and conformists, nevertheless.
I won't comment on the particular passages or the details of "Dominion", but I will say this:
It will never be possible, I strongly feel, to surpass Matthew Scully on this subject.
My whole being, my heart and my soul identifies with every word of this book! I will however make one comment - on Peter Singer, who is so deservingly criticized by the author. It is not possible, my heart and my mind tells me, to be so horribly wrong on moral issues as Peter Singer is and not to hurt the movement of outcry for mercy to animals! Not possible!
A few bucks here or there does not negate this fact - it's, I'm afraid to say, just a cover up!
What he represents is morally wrong, it is pure evil - Nietzsche and Hitler's philosophy, that should be abhorrent to every human heart, and especially to a Jewish one.
People like Peter Singer are deeply hurting animals by turning people away from the the pro-animal movements that are so desperately needed! I gave my thanks to God for leading me to "Dominion" and asked for blessings for Mathew Scully, as well as for Louis Dorfman from whose website and recommendations that all begun... calltomercy@yahoo.com
Rating: 
Summary: And I should care for what reason?
Review: Animal rights? Yah sure. Somebody get me a burger!
Rating:
Summary: The most effective book on the subject
Review: Matthew Scully's book lays out the important stuff. He's not interested in taking an ideological stand or labeling himself a "rights" person or a "welfare" person. Instead, he goes right to the heart of the matter of human morality and character in our relations with other creatures. Whatever your vocation, whether you're a hunter or a farmer or a scientist or a student or just a consumer and nothing else, you'll get something out of this book. It'll give you something to think about. It's a special pleasure to read someone who writes so eloquently. Most of the time, you'll be carried along by his haunting and beautiful prose. I used this book as a teaching tool in my philosophy class, and it was far more effective to convey the important stuff about human morality towards animals than anything else I've used. My students lapped it up, found it immensely readable, and it made them think. Particularly effective, I think, is the way Scully speaks to the whole person--the spiritual, emotional as well as keenly rational--rather than just the latter. So, one responds with one's whole being. This book gets under your skin and stays there. Highly recommended for everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Starts with a Bang, Ends with a Whimper
Review: As "Dominion" is the first animal welfare/animal rights book written by a Republican, I was driven to read it out of curiosity. In it, Scully lays out a compelling argument against animal exploitation; yet, he seems to backtrack in his final chapters, diluting his thesis and offering excuses for those who would rather make superficial changes. Rather than just hurling statistics at the reader (as some animal rights books seem to do), Scully attempts to illustrate several instances of animal exploitation with personal narratives. In order to explain the absurdity of hunting - particularly big game hunting - Scully attends the 1999 convention of the Safari Club International; he details the folly of the world's wildlife management philosophy from his seat at the 2000 meeting of the International Whaling Commission; and he offers a firsthand look at the horrors of modern factory farms, along with the callousness and disregard of those who are responsible. While Scully does manage to interweave his accounts with facts, figures, and philosophy, the book is far from dry. Instead, "Dominion" reads more like a novel, and a terrifying one at that: much of what Scully asserts will sicken you. Throughout the first 350 pages of "Dominion", Scully lays out a cogent argument for animal rights, without ever using the term "animal rights". Thus, the reader is left wondering whether Scully is an animal rights advocate or an animal welfarist (and yes, there's a world of difference between the two!). In this manner, he never fully articulates his beliefs. He also dismisses philosophical arguments for animal rights/welfare in favor of religion - at best, a silly idea. While I understand that the book is aimed largely at Christians, it's still pure folly to cast off all semblance of logic in the name of religion. The animal rights movement is incredibly diverse, and the different types arguments reflect this. Appealing to one's sense of mercy (hence the book's subtitle, "The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy") may convince certain segments of society to repent their animal-exploiting ways, but other people may require different routes of persuasion, logic included. Not to mention, the animal rights (and even welfare, to a lesser extent) movement is commonly accused of being devoid of logic and riddled with sentimentality - Scully's advice certainly wouldn't help correct this stereotype. Despite these flaws, I was still impressed with "Dominion" - until I got to the final chapter. Though Scully seems unequivocal in his condemnation of meat-eating (as it's cruel, unnecessary, and harmful to the environment), in the end he merely calls for more humane standards. I'm sorry, but killing is in and of itself inhumane - when it comes to killing for food or fun, there's no such thing as a humane death. For humans, meat's pure lack of necessity negates humaneness. Though I am myself a vegan, I'm not even quibbling over the merits of vegetarianism vs. veganism here - Scully makes a great case for going veg, and then offers a "get out of jail free" card for those who would rather keep on eating meat - never mind the dairy. There's no such thing as "human decency" when needlessly killing (not to mention torturing) billions of animals a year because of preferences, convenience or tradition. Some reviewers have expressed their satisfaction that "Dominion" isn't just another radical, zealous, foaming-at-the-mouth animal rights book. Well, it isn't - but that's because it isn't an animal rights book at all. For whatever reason, Scully chose the easy way out after setting forth an impassioned argument in favor of animal rights. He set the stage for a call to end all forms of animal exploitation - but in the end, he merely called for greater regulation. It was quite disappointing, since I was at first under the impression that we finally had an ally on the right. Despite Scully's moral schizophrenia, I still enjoyed the bulk of the book, which is why I gave it more than the 1 star I would have otherwise. Nonetheless, "Dominion" started with an impressive bang, and ended with a self-serving, compliant little whimper.
Rating:
Summary: Best Book Available on Animal Stewardship
Review: What can I say? I have read several books on this subject and this is the best out there. One of the very many things I like about this book is the lack of fanaticism regarding consumption of dairy products. Most other books of this ilk give an either all or nothing approach. Scully, with his common sense reasoning assures us that hey, we can have compassion toward fellow creatures, be good stewards, and not feel guilty over drinking a glass of milk. Very refreshing (no pun intented). For those out there not brainwashed by the vegan community, I also highly recommend the cookbook "Vegetarian Cookbook for Cheese lovers " by Tanya Buell. Eat well, treat our fellow creatures with compassion and respect, and don't feel guilty over that dish of icecream. Sorry PETA. I'm a Lacto-Ovo vegetarian, and just doing fine thank you.
Rating:
Summary: Profound
Review: An articulate, FACT BASED, irrefutable look at the unpaid debt we owe to the animals we share this planet with. Scully allows no "wiggle room" to those who seek to justify cruelty and callousness for their own ends.
Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal
Review: The best book I've ever read - heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. A MUST read for any animal lover or anyone who considers themselves a compassionate person. An even better read for anyone who isn't/doesn't.
Rating:
Summary: A must-read, but ...
Review: I had been anticipating this book for awhile and it didn't disappoint me. It is interesting that Scully throws many of the arguments of hunters, whalers, factory farmers, etc., back in their faces in an articulate and delightful way, but I can't help but wonder how he reconciles his passionate argument for animals with a great admiration for our current president. Anyone who has followed Bush II through the first 2 1/2 years of his presidency knows the guy has wreaked havoc on the environment, including many forms of wildlife. I would be interested in how Scully defends the actions of Bush's EPA, Army Corps of Engineers, BLM and Forest Service in their inexplicable actions to weaken protections for wildlife and wildlife habitat. Offering wolves, grizzlies, bison, salmon, prairie dogs, etc., etc., their rights to adequate habitat and the freedom from being shot or harassed is somewhat equivalent to the arguments Scully made for whales and big game in Africa. Nevertheless, the book is a must-read and recommended highly. I've never liked pork all that much -- I think this book seals the deal on never eating it again.
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