Many of us consider ourselves animal-lovers, so why is our society bad at making life better for animals? Factory farming is growing worldwide, and a million species are at risk of extinction. In his book How to Love Animals, Henry Mance set out to find an ethos for living well with animals to guide his and his daughters’ lives. He explored farming, fishing, hunting, zoos, conservation and pets. He will speak about how our views of other species are changing, why we shouldn’t be scared of veganism, and how we can protect more of the world for wild animals.
WHY HENRY WROTE HOW TO LOVE ANIMALS
I decided to put myself to the test. I wanted to know whether my love for animals was reflected in how I behaved, or whether – like my love for arthouse films – it was mainly theoretical. Marvelling at the wonders of the animal world on nature documentaries is all very well; I wanted to do something. I wanted to look beyond animals’ physical beauty, and to understand their place in our world. I wanted to confront myself with the reality of farms and slaughterhouses, zoos and pet shops, oceans and forests. Was I treating animals fairly? If not, could I find a better way? This was the animal test. The experience would take me out of my bubble and, in various ways, has changed the way I live. I believe it can change how we all live.
Henry Mance is the award-winning Chief Features Writer at the Financial Times. He has contributed to a number of other publications including Tatler, GQ and Radio Times.
