You note that animal rights activists are often asked: Who would you save, a person or a dog, if both were drowning? Your excellent comeback: "Well...what person?" You say most folks could probably think of a world figure who would come in second to their dog's favorite chew toy. Who would this be for you?
Ronald McDonald.
What's David Duchovny like, and did he hit on you?
Ha! No such luck! If I believed what I read in the tabloids I would take it personally, but I know better. I know David mostly from yoga class. He's super-smart and funny. And he is kind, always happy to help the animals when he can.
Admit it: Haven't you met vegans who fit the stereotype of being self-righteous and unreasonable?
Never! Well, maybe one. Or two or three or four or five. But, gosh, I tried hard not to perpetuate that stereotype with my own style in Thanking the Monkey. A consistent comment I get in reviews that makes me proud is that the book isn't preachy.
What are three things people reading this can do today to reduce the suffering of animals?
1. Overcome the horror of seeming trendy and suck up a soy latte. They taste good, they're better for you than cow's milk lattes, and when you read the part in Thanking the Monkey where the cow is running after the trailer that is carting her baby calf off to the veal crate, you're going to lose your craving for cow's milk anyway. Oops, was that a buzz-kill?
2. Order the veggie burger, not the turkey burger. People are surprised when they go to a sanctuary and meet turkeys who have been given lots of love and are incredibly sweet and affectionate -- even cuddly. (Yes, I know some people cuddle up to cucumbers, but I also know, for a fact, that the cucumbers don't respond.)
3. Save up for Cirque du Soleil -- give Ringling Brothers and Carson & Barnes a miss. The elephant-training videos will give you nightmares, while the human acrobats really do enjoy standing on their heads.
Is there any scenario in which you might eat a bacon double-cheeseburger?
I would eat one anytime there was a good reason to. For example, if I were on Survivor and could win a million dollars that I could donate to charity, then I'd put aside my personal moral compass and chow down. But I generally don't eat bacon double-cheeseburgers because the fact that they taste good is not a good enough reason for me to cut short a life, especially when there are many healthy and tasty alternatives.
When I told you I had jokingly referred to your book as Dominion for Dummies, I thought you'd get a kick out of it. Why did you object?
The Washington Post listed Thanking the Monkey as one of the best books of 2008. I don't think they've done that for any Dummy guides! I love Dominion but don't see my book as a simpler version of it. I prefer to think of it as a comprehensive animal rights handbook for smokin'-hot smarties.
