This was a great discussion on what we, as a society, are doing wrong and what we an do to change it. King doesn't make every issue black and white however so this is good food for thought on changes we can make and what changes should be made.

Thanks to University of Chicago Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Animals' Best Friends is a book that on a surface level may seem quite familiar to the general reader. As of late, there has been a large proliferation of literature regarding animal rights (for good reason) which often takes a hard line stance that to some on the fence may seem too preachy. Barbara J. King takes a different approach here, striking up a more conversational and informational tone regarding animals in zoos, at home, in food, and in labs. King avoids drawing a line in the sand for her readers, instead laying out the facts as they are and offering ideas for the reader to do their own little part in improving the lives of the animals around them. Perhaps the most refreshing aspect of King's writing is her relentless optimism. Sure, the subject matter can be grim at times (especially when delving into factory farming or lab testing) but King truly believes in our ability to make tiny, gradual changes and it makes for an inspiring read.

**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to University of Chicago Press.**

Even as someone with a strong interest in animals and the subject of relationships between humans and other species, it has seemed to me that a lot of books which are very much alike have been published over the years.

What makes this book different is that it explores the grey areas between opposing views rather than staking out a position at one extreme. As such, it might be best suited for those who are willing to think about the subjects rather than those only seeking reinforcement of their views. Which isn’t to say that the author is not a strong advocate for animals in every case—the goal of the book is to encourage people to act to help animals through compassionate action.

The book is divided into five areas in which animal lives are affected by people—in human homes, in nature, in zoos, as food, and in research labs. Those might seem like standard categories for a book like this, but would you expect the homes chapter to begin with spiders, or that rabbits would be the first topic in the food chapter rather than in the testing chapter? Those are examples of how wide-ranging the book is, with a mix of personal anecdotes, news stories, and scientific studies.

One subject is that people sometimes turn away from information in self-defense, and I admit to finding the chapters on food and testing much more difficult to read than the other chapters. These two chapters are nuanced by the facts that the author is not a vegan, and is a cancer survivor.

No easy answers, no pressure to be perfect, only encouragement and reasons to help animals.

Thanks to The University of Chicago Press and NetGalley for an early copy to review.

I have never read any of Barbara King’s books before (although How Animals Grieve has been on my TBR list for a long time), but after reading this one, I am definitely going to be reading more by her. She writes beautifully about the ways that humans interact with animals, helping the reader to rethink our own interactions with the animals around us. Although she definitely has a point of view, her writing never becomes preachy, and was a pleasure to read throughout.

Thanks to the publishers for providing me with an advanced reading copy via NetGalley.