Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy

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Summary: Infuriating
Review: In more ways than one this book makes me mad. Certainly, what Scully is saying should drive any sane, compassionate person wild with anger at the way these people, and countries, are acting.
I highly recommend this book for it's indepth chapters, especially on Safari Club and whaling.
What I don't like is Scully's repetitive nature, and his flowery speech. There were times I found the book difficult reading, and certainly this is a shame as it will limit the audience. If this book had been edited by Eric Schlosser then it would have been perfect!

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Summary: Topics for Discussion
Review: The argument Scully poses to his readers is one that could apply to many different details in our lives. If we are to be so cruel to our animals, than what is stopping us from being cruel to our fellow man? His topic throughout the book is relevant to us as both consumers and humans because it challenges our antiquated beliefs regarding animals. A person, who is doubting whether our treatment of animals is ethical, will be easily swayed by the graphic details Scully uses to strengthen his overall thesis. I would not recommend this novel to the faint of heart or easily nauseated due to the introductory chapter along with the in depth description of Scully's tour and feelings on factory farming. Perhaps you will change how you look at the meat on your plate after reading this novel. Maybe the next time you have the urge to go hunting or fishing, you'll think twice about the animals suffering. Overall, I believe that the novel shed light onto the aspects of animals lives that we, as people, do not really wish to acknowledge. There is an obvious need for more people to speak out on the animals behalf because too many people are ignoring the plights that we are putting them in. I feel that there is a substantial need for a change in our behavior, attitude, and mistreatment of our animals. This novel was brilliantly written to help even the most doubtful of people develop their own opinions on animal rights.

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Summary: Horrifying and Life Changing
Review: This is a very disturbing and difficult to read book, but ignorance of cruelty does not absolve consumers of their responsibility for it. I am still reading this, but the first chapter was enough to change my life. I am not vegan (or yet vegetarian, although that is my goal), but I am very careful about buying animal products, generally a more responsible consumer, and am more aware that man's inhumanity to fellow creatures is hardly the isolated and rare event I assumed that it was. It is also not usually the result of sick or cruel minded people as much as a result of ordinary people's separation from and ignorance of how and where animals are and are treated.

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Summary: A book that belongs in our school curriculum!!!
Review: As a lifelong animal lover and activist, this book was very difficult even for me to read and I'm all too familiar with man's inhumaneness to animals.

Through his superbly articulate writing, Scully has made our species aware of just how far many have strayed from the path of decency, compassion and respect for all life. The chapter on the Safari Club left me so angered I had to put the book down. I asked myself how a woman could love and embrace a man who would find it thrilling and enjoyable to kill magnificent animals for no other reason than status. I have long since given up eating meat and wearing clothes from which animals are cruelly "harvested". There are so many wonderful vegetarian dishes and delightfully stylish, functional clothes that make the use of animals specifically for these purposes unnecessary. I will not see it in my lifetime, sadly, but I know one day humanity will look back on the factory farms, the Safari Club, and all manner of exploitation and torture we heap upon the innocents, and will gasp in horror that we could have behaved with such indifference and depravity.

How powerful and life-affirming it would be if our young people could read this book in our schools. If we as a nation long for a world filled with kind, strong, compassionate people what better place to start than with our youth? How can anyone argue against mercy and compassion?

If Matthew Scully were to run for President of our great nation, I'd be clamoring to be part of his campaign. We need more influential, critical thinkers like Scully to speak out on behalf of animals. As several other reviewers stated, this book is one of the most powerful ever written on the subject of animals and how we view and treat them. My prayers are that people will be moved to act, even if it's only to give up eating meat for just one day a week. The most profound changes often occur with a small step.

I will read it again.

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Summary: OUTSTANDING BOOK, BUT TERRIBLE MYOPIC VIEWS EXPRESSED HERE
Review: My hat goes off to Matthew Scully for writing this courageous book in defense of animals, and for exposing, as many of us who have been involved in animal rights for years have, the callous, cruelty, and stupidity of those who hunt for fun (John Kerry, are you listening?), or are involved in these so-called "safari" clubs...the cowards who hunt for the thrill and kill.

Here's the kicker. Like Scully, I too am a Republican, and while I wouldn't pigeonhole my views into being "Conservative" I do feel amazed and sorry for some of the reviewers here who seem to think all Republicans are into hunting and abuse of animals. We're not - my mother saved old former race horses from the glue factory when she was a young girl, and I myself belong to at least several animal rights groups (no longer PETA though for comparing Palestinian terrorists to innocent animals)I know firsthand the comfort a pet can give, and the dreadful sorrow when one dies in your arms. So, Lefties, what does that make me???

I dare to call upon some of the birkenstock wearers here to show where they put themselves on the line rather than blithefully blast those of us, who unlike (the obvious) Mikey Moore, do care for our animal friends and neighbors on this planet.

Thank you, Matthew Scully. I have endorsed your book to many at my local library branch as a "must read" - and that it is.

Rating:
Summary: The problem is domination
Review: The sexist title of this book "The Power of Man..." should be reason alone to avoid this conservative book. Since Scully has labored as Bush's speech writer, he's far from an enlightened boat-rocker. The best advice is to stop eating animals, and to avoid wasting time bolstering Scully's view that animals are in need of management. Humans should manage their own numbers, for starters. -- Priscilla Feral, President, Friends of Animals, Inc.

Rating:
Summary: a good start on an important topic
Review: I can understand why the author is a "former" speechwriter for Bush because I bet he doesn't get invited to many right-wing cocktail parties after writing this. He spends much of the book critiquing fundamentalist religious positions, hunting clubs, factory farming, and intellectuals who are alarmingly callous in their views on the sanctity of life. This is a worthwhile book that is a useful addition to my growing collection on animal rights.