Synopsis
Henry Spira's extraordinary life as an activist shows that an individual can make a difference. Inspired by the thinking of Peter Singer in the early 1970's, Henry turned Singer's ethical lessons into action, launching campaigns against organizations whose practices caused unnecessary suffering to animals. By thinking about how giant corporations, including Revlon, Avon, Perdue, and McDonald's, might be vulnerable, he found ways to change their practices and save the lives and health of animals all over the United States. This book tells the inspiring story of a lifelong activist whose creativity and careful thought set the standard for the animal rights movement in the twentieth century.

From the Author
This is not just a biography, but a handbook for activists
How can one person make the world a better place? I have written this book so that Henry Spira's extraordinary life as an activist can serve as a model and an inspiration to others. By thinking about how giant corporations might be vulnerable, he found ways to change their practices and stop totally unnecessary suffering. Spira has led Revlon, Avon and other cosmetics companies to change their testing practices so that the words "not tested on animals" now appear on most cosmetics products - and are (usually) true. He stopped bizarre sex experiments on cats at the American Museum of Natural History, and has led the American animal movement in campaigns against the way animals are reared in intensive confinement "farms". How did Spira do this? His methods came from his long background as a campaigner on other issues - trade union reform, civil rights in the South, against American intervention in Cuba, and so on. Spira has shown that it doesn't take huge amounts of money, or a big organisation, to change the world. An individual still can make a difference. This book will serve its purpose if it helps to dispel the myth that we are all powerless in the face of the big guns that normally determine the direction of our society - and if it gives people who want to take on those big guns, some ideas that help them to do so.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews   0 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Thank You, 31 Aug 1999 By A Customer Another wonderful book! You changed our thinking and our lives 18 years ago with 'Animal Liberation.' We owe our health and happy lives to you. If the animals could talk, they would say, 'Thank you, Peter.' We hope everyone will take what you have written in this book and put it to good use.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)