Nonprofit publisher No Voice Unheard specializes in education, particularly about animals. It was founded by former animal shelter workers and is “dedicated to promoting compassion and respect for all living beings and the planet we share.”

Many of us believe that if people were aware of the full, rich lives that farmed animals live when outside factory farms that they might consider seriously reducing the amount of meat and other animal products in their diets and lives. No Voice Unheard decided to create a beautiful book about these lives and tell the abbreviated stories of 95 of them, in the hope that people coming across this book might enjoy the stories and respond to these lives. Thus Ninety-Five.

The number is an oft-quoted number that represents the number of farmed animals “saved” by one person living as a vegan in one year. Of course, 95 animals are not actually saved; they are never born. As fewer and fewer animals land in factory farms, because the demand has reduced, not only do fewer animals suffer but also our world and our health gains.

The book is a pretty one, full of pictures of beautiful individual animals and stories about many of them. The stories are written by several people, all sanctuary workers. The animals live (or lived) in sanctuaries in several parts of this country. The stories focus on the personalities of the individual animals, and emphasize uniqueness, compassion, habits. The end of the book tells more about the sanctuaries involved, the animals, and contributors. There is also a section of resources for more information on factory farming.

I do not know if a die-hard omnivore, who does not have any special relationships with other animals, would respond to this book by immediately cutting back on animal products. It’s possible. What is more likely is that if such a person glanced through the book and read a bit here and there he or she might well be affected, if just a little. And over time, after thinking about this book and other encounters with farmed animals, this person might just start thinking differently about food.

As a confirmed vegan I found the book enjoyable, if at times a little bit too “poetic” and sometimes a bit too sentimental. For the most part, though, the little stories are simply written and often funny.

I can see books like this on tables in waiting rooms or on coffee tables in homes, just sitting there invitingly. The publisher is interested in spreading these around and offers discounts for packages of five to be donated to schools, hospitals, community rooms, coffee houses, or wherever else they can reach people. I think it’s a great idea and hope many people will consider taking them up on the offer. I intend to do so myself.

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Sections: Vegan Et Cetera
Topics: book review, books, factory farming, Vegan