This book tells the story of Rod Coronado, a legend in the Animal Rights Movement, who worked with the Animal Liberation Front, other organizations and independently. I found this story fascinating for several reasons. First, it showed Coronado's development as an activist, spurred by his spiritual develoment. He became involved in animal rights at a young age, late teens being his first deliberate activism. It tells of his initial non-violent activities, and their escalation. He begins conservatively, not wanting to damage property but merely to film animal abuse and use that as a way to educate the public and help animals. He moves on to freeing animals, progresses to destroying paperwork and records, on to destroying equipment and ultimately to arson and burning buildings. Kuipers does a wonderful job of describing Coronado's and other activists' wrestling with the ethical issues involved in saving animal life, in the midst of an adventurous story that is hard to put down.

I also find the details of this life interesting, how the people in this movement learn what and how to do in support of the goals of animal rights. As with other movements there are both conservative and liberal leaning people and the attendant disagreements about how to achieve what they want. I can clearly see how Coronado arrived at his personal beliefs and conclusions that drive his choices. I don't know that I initially would unconditionally have supported Coronado and his actions, but both the philosophical and legal analysis is compelling.

One of my all-time favorite reads - 5 stars ( )