The Animal Catalyst deals with the 'question' of 'what is an animal' and also in some instances, 'what is a human'? It pushes critical animal studies in important new directions; it re-examines basic assumptions, suggests new paradigms for how we can live and function ecologically, in a world that is not simply "ours." It argues that it is not enough to recognise the ethical demands placed upon us by our encounters with animals, or to critique our often murderous treatment of them: this simply reinforces human exceptionalism. Featuring contributions from leading academics, lawyers, artists and activists, the book examines key issues such as: - How "compassion" for animals reinforces ideas of what distinguishes human beings from other animals. - How speciesism and human centricity are built into the legal system. - How individualist subjectivity works in relation to animals who may not think of themselves in the same way. - How any consideration of animal others must involve a radical deconstruction of our very notion of the "human." - How art, philosophy and literature can both avoid speciesism and deliver the human from subjectivity. This volume is a unique project which stands at the cutting edge of both animal rights philosophies and posthuman/artistic/abstract philosophies of identity. It will be of great interest to undergraduates and researchers in philosophy, ethics, particularly continental philosophy, critical theory and cultural studies.

Twelve-year-old Zoe's rescue kitten quickly becomes a giant, talking cat that Zoe and her friend Harrison must keep hidden, especially since there are rumors of other strange creatures in their town.

A perennially unattached recent transplant to Texas creates a hypothetical Father Time message for his students, which becomes all too real when he is adopted by a miraculous stray cat named You Too. Experience this wondrous mystery/adventure as feline and humans develop the first, Me and You Too, Eco-cohousing-Homestead, where no people are allowed without pets.

Experts in the field of human–animal studies investigate the ways in which humans and other animals interact. While offering different interpretations of the human–non-human interactions, they share a common goal in attempting to find pathways leading to a mutually beneficial and shared co-existence.

"Animal Internet is a most important book. This excellent work could be a strong catalyst for people to rewild, to reconnect and become re-enchanted with all sorts of mysterious and fascinating animals, both local and distant. By shrinking the world it will bring humans and other animals together in a multitude of ways that only a few years ago were unimaginable." —Marc Bekoff, University of Colorado, author of Rewilding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence "An original book that goes against the trend to stubbornly keep nature and technology divided from one another."—Der Spiegel "Animal Internet is one of the most interesting books that I've read in recent years."—Bavarian Radio "What Pschera describes sounds futuristic but it's already widespread reality . . . Pschera's book is not just popular science: he describes not only the status quo, but also thinks about an ongoing transformation."—Wired.de Some fifty thousand creatures around the globe—including whales, leopards, flamingoes, bats, and snails—are being equipped with digital tracking devices. The data gathered and studied by major scientific institutes about their behavior will warn us about tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, but also radically transform our relationship to the natural world. With a broad cultural and historical perspective, this book examines human ties with animals, from domestic pets to the soaring popularity of bird watching and kitten images on the web. Will millennia of exploration soon be reduced to experiencing wilderness via smartphone? Contrary to pessimistic fears, author Alexander Pschera sees the Internet as creating a historic opportunity for a new dialogue between man and nature. Foreword by Martin Wikelski, Director, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology Alexander Pschera, born in 1964, has published several books on the internet and media. He studied German, music, and philosophy at Heidelberg University. He lives near Munich where he writes for the German magazine Cicero as well as for German radio.

What Can Tigers Teach Us About Stress? After the horrific events of September 11, 2001, Kevin Rose knew that warfare was inevitable, and he needed to develop a way to help those who served when they returned home. He witnessed how the devastating attacks affected the country's collective psyche and felt the resulting meteoric rise in his manual therapy clients' stress levels. Kevin knew if he could build a program to help combat veterans counterbalance stress, people from all walks of life could benefit as well. Calling on a lifetime of experience with wildlife interaction and a career in human wellness, he explored this question: can a face to face, adrenaline-fueled encounter with a lion, tiger, cougar, or leopard possibly facilitate deep relaxation? The idea sounds counterintuitive, but the lesson Kevin learned from these rescued captive-wild creatures is how to gain peace through counterbalance. We counterbalance hunger by eating, thirst by drinking, and fatigue with rest. For stress and anxiety, the natural remedy, taught by the world's most powerful apex predators, is total sensory engagement. This book offers: -- a simple grounding technique to shift from feeling chaotic to calm in seconds -- tips for using this grounding technique to deeply attune to the wisdom of nature. -- the potential to dramatically transform your emotions, your personal environment, and perhaps, the world.