Animals are a part of our daily lives. Not only do cats and dogs share our homes, but all day long we come across hens, rabbits, cows, rats, etc., often without even realizing it: those animals are on our plates, of course; but they are also in the clothes and shoes we wear, or are behind the scenes in the cosmetics and medicine we use. Yet we often refuse to admit that killing – interrupting the life of an individual who preferred to stay alive – was required in order for us to enjoy the 'finished product.' It is true that the fact that an animal was put to death is often inconceivable and counter-intuitive – how many of us can detect pork gelatin in sherbet or sweets??– either it is invisible, or else it’s considered as no more than 'a stage in the production process' – as with animal testing for various substances. By considering habits that may seem insignificant –swatting a fly, for instance –or much larger-scale practices, like industrial livestock breeding and animal testing, the author urges us to consider certain issues: what can these habits teach us? Are they justifiable? Why has acknowledging animals’ sensitive nature lead to so much debate recently?

A clear and brilliantly written essay that won’t leave readers unscathed.

A subject that’s in the news, at a time when French law has recognized that 'animals are living beings endowed with sensibility.'

A book that responds to a current demand: Matthieu Ricard’s 'Plaidoyer pour les animaux' ('An Appeal for Animals') and Franz-Olivier Giesbert’s 'L’animal est une personne' ('Animals are People') have enjoyed great success.