This book is a harrowing, gutsy read and if you're after “Babe” you won't find him here.  Self professed animal behaviourists may not like it and factory farmers will vent their spleen upon it.  But if you want an insight into how animals are farmed for mass consumption and the daily agonies they are subjected through and the untenable situations they are forced to endure but without the in-your-face gore from the likes of PETA and the Sixty Minutes' expose on live export et al then this book will undertake this task gently but with lung filled vigour. 

The author does not skirt his purpose. He feels it is wrong to raise animals for food. True, we don't have to consume meat and I do agree with this but I had to wonder where those who made the effort to raise chickens for eggs and goats for milk for own use (as I do) fit in to the bigger picture. 

You will not go quietly into dark world Masson speaks of but if you are not so arrogant as to believe that you are the only intelligent creature on this planet, then this book will not only prompt you to marvel, consider, react and ardently question but hopefully make some decisions that will impact upon the lives of these unfortunate souls.