Thanking the Monkey

Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals

About the author(s)

Born in the United States, Karen Dawn grew up and studied in Australia. She pursued a science degree colloquially tagged "rats and stats," so she knows firsthand that views and habits can shift. She hopes her furry subjects will shine forgiving blessings upon this book.

She worked as a news researcher and writer for Australia's national nightly news magazine show The 7:30 Report, then moved to New York, where she played the downtown music scene—and made fruit salad at the Saint Francis of Xavier soup kitchen every Sunday. After reading Animal Liberation she was moved to devote her efforts to those most abused by society and least able to help themselves—the animals.

Karen founded the animal advocacy media watch DawnWatch.com. As a spokesperson for the animal rights movement she has appeared on MTV and hosted talk shows on major radio stations. Her opinion pieces have been published in leading newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post. This is her first book.

Reviews

“Sensitive and informative . . . Dawn’s view is not only uniquely free of overt sensationalism but factual . . . . Dawn manages, despite the seriousness of the subject matter, to intersperse bits of humor throughout, primarily through cartoons. A riveting text you’ll be sure to want to read.” - Library Journal

“Witty and well-researched . . . Despite the gravity of the subject, Dawn is mercifully un-didactic throughout, cutting grim facts with whimsical cartoons, celebrity cameos and feel-good stories. A-” - Washington Post

“Karen Dawn discusses how people from all standpoints on animal rights can find common ground. Dawn, who writes the daily e-newsletter DawnWatch (www.DawnWatch.com), covers cultural differences, historical practices and a range of divergent views on the ways animals are raised and used.” - Daily News

“[Karen Dawn is] logical. She’s levelheaded. She’s funny. That’s why her message is so . . . darn . . . persuasive. THANKING THE MONKEY is a glossy, nearly 400-page, eminently readable book.” - Washington Post

“[A]n easily digested, sound-bite-laden primer to all sides and gradations of the crusade for animal rights . . . An excellent introduction.” - Booklist

“[C]ogent and thoroughly researched...[Dawn’s] goal is ‘to tell you everything you wanted to know about animal rights—but were afraid to get into a fight about -- and to let you weigh that information against your own values,’ and she succeeds admirably.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

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