Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Endorsements for The Accidental Activist

Wisdom is the ability to learn from one’s own mistakes and from the mistakes of others. We are fortunate to have people like Matt Ball helping us to be wiser tomorrow.
-Peter Singer, from the Foreword

I wish Matt’s essays had been around when I first became part of the animal protection movement. You have the benefit of reading Matt’s essays right here, and then thinking critically about how they may help you become a more pragmatic protector of animals. I’m certain they’ll give you a lot to think about, and more importantly, to act on.
-Paul Shapiro, from the Introduction
Vice President, The Humane Society of the United States

 Over the past two decades, Matt Ball has had a singularly profound influence on the animal protection movement in the United States. Matt's reasoned, eloquent focus on having the biggest possible impact with the greatest possible efficiency has resonated with tens of thousands of individuals, and created fundamental, pragmatic change on every level of the movement.
-Michael Greger, M.D.
Director, Public Health and Animal Agriculture Humane Society of the United States

 Matt Ball is a terrific human being and a seasoned campaigner who really knows his onions. In this book, he ably condenses his decades of experience, public outreach, and good deeds into an irresistible practical guide for the ethical Everyman. Buy this book and give it to anyone who aspires to do right and do good.
-Ingrid Newkirk
President, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

 Matt Ball is in the very small group of people who have had the most significant influence on animal advocacy.
     In 1995, when Matt was preparing some of his first essays, the magazine The Economist did a cover story on animal rights, which noted that in the United States, the movement focused on fur and vivisection. Matt has been an essential, logical, relentless force for changing our movement’s focus, stating over and over in every possible forum that since something close to 99% of animals killed in the U.S. each year die to be eaten, our priorities as a movement should shift to reflect that.
     As much as anyone I know, Matt has bent the arc of history toward justice.
 -Bruce Friedrich
Senior Policy Director, Farm Sanctuary

A true pillar of inspiration, Matt serves up his life's lessons on a silver platter. His advice has accelerated my own activism career by years.
     Tired of feeling frustrated? Starting to feel like it's hopeless? Don't waste another minute; read this book, get inspired, and maximize your effectiveness!
-Jon Bockman
Executive Director, Animal Charity Evaluators

Eloquent and inspiring, The Accidental Activist is essential reading for any animal advocate.     Read this book and I can guarantee that you will come away uplifted, determined, and armed with exactly the information you need to change the world for animals.
-Virginia Messina, MPH, RD
Co-author of Vegan for Her, Vegan for Life, and The Vegan Sourcebook

 Matt Ball is a thought leader in the animal movement who has helped pave an important path towards more pragmatic advocacy. For years he's inspired many not to focus on activism that may “feel good,” but rather on what's actually effective.
-Erica Meier
Executive Director, Compassion Over Killing

Matt Ball presents activists with the most important question: How can I do the most good? This is why his essays are required reading for all our of staff and interns.
-David Coman-Hidy
Executive Director, The Humane League

There are few people whose work I have more respect and admiration for than Matt Ball. A true pioneer, Matt has put veganism on the map, sparing millions of animals from suffering on factory farms. In his essays he unabashedly recalls the lessons he's learned through decades of activism. I am excited that this book exists and hope it will serve as a textbook for new and veteran advocates alike.
-Kristie Middleton
Food Policy Manager, The Humane Society of the United States

Matt Ball is one of my heroes. There is nothing I want more than to help make the world a kinder place, and nobody whose work has guided me better toward that goal. This book is a terrific collection of his ideas, which I wish were compulsory reading for animal advocates. Unable to force it upon others, a tactic he would surely advise against anyway, I will just recommend, wholeheartedly, that it go to the very top of every activist's reading list.
-Karen Dawn
DawnWatch.com and author of Thanking the Monkey

The Accidental Activist is a fun read of fascinating stories and interviews from many of the most impressive animal advocates in the world. I highly recommend it to all of us who strive to become more effective voices for animals.
-Josh Balk
Director of Food Policy, The Humane Society of the United States

 For over two decades Matt Ball has shaped, led, and expanded vegan advocacy. He’s shared a wealth of information over these years – in articles, speeches, pamphlets, interviews, and other outreach sources - never hesitating to examine and modify his own assumptions and strategies as he went. The Accidental Activist highlights the best of his work, with the added bonus of pieces by other leaders in the movement whom he’s inspired.  Read it and be inspired, too.
-Charlie Talbert
Board President, Alliance For Animals and the Environment  

 Read this book if you want to prevent cruelty and inspire compassion.
-Nathan Runkle
Executive Director, Mercy for Animals

 Matt Ball is the activist's activist. His mantra is effectiveness, his style is cool, calm, and collected, and his driving force is a palpable passion to end suffering. If you want to find out how to make your life matter, this collection of his wisdom is necessary reading.
-Mariann Sullivan and Jasmin Singer
Our Hen House, www.OurHenHouse.org

 Animal advocates are fortunate to have the benefit of Matt Ball's many years of experience as an activist, and to be able to access that experience through his writing. In his essays, Matt provides many important insights and guidance for anyone who wishes to wield their time and resources to efficiently defend animals from harm.
-Mark Middleton
AnimalVisuals.org

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