I want to make choices that reduce the negative impact I have on the world and teach my kids the benefit of eco friendly choices as well. We recycle and reuse as much as possible and think of ways to eliminate the negative impact we have on the world. The ideas are simple to implement in your life and it’s full of ideas that everyone can use. If everyone started out with one or two small changes it would have a great impact on our world. One of my favorite parts of the book includes the in-depth listing of animal ingredients we can find in our foods. Now I will do as much as I can from the things in the book I learned, but there are still areas where I can not, such as eating eggs, meat, and fish. The author organizes the book into easy to navigate sections including home and garden, fashion and beauty, food and entertaining, recreation and vacations, children and family, just to name a few. There are plenty of resources and companies that accompany the tips and ideas so you not only have why, how, but where to go to get the products.

For years I had a vague idea that I wanted to live a more compassionate and responsible life ... but it took a while for me to figure out exactly what that was.

This is one of the books that helped me, and continue to help me in that endeavor. This is full of common sense, practical ways to live a life that is kinder to animals, the environment and fellow humans.

Newkirk discusses alternatives to animal based foods, how to choose and care for a companion animal, how to avoid animal ingredients in every day products, and more.

I didn't find this book to be preachy at all, but rather a handy guide for the things I believe are important. I still keep this nearby as a reference for its list of cruelty free and environmentally sound products.

When I first seen this book at my moms house for whatever reasons I picked it up, I started going through the pages and something in the book grabbed my attention and well I borrowed it and read it. In the beginning I was kinda bored but I decided to set a goal and read at least a chapter a day, so with that I was able to read the entire book and actually ended up enjoy what Ingrid Newkirk said. What I liked about her book was how she explained things without putting anyone down, she would explain her ways and basically challenge you to try her way. She never made you feel like you were completely wrong for your choices in life, she never made you feel bad about making not so good choices, instead she would speak on things in a way that never sounded so bad, she would give you words in which you could take them and use them or hey throw em out your mind and well keep doing what your doing.

I was really impressed by this book. With a title like 'Making Kind Choices' followed by the descriptive 'Animal Friendly Living', I was fearing a sort of PETA manifesto rather than what this book actually is- a great volume devoted to ways everyone - omnivore, vegan, gas-guzzling driver, biker, etc- can make kind, ecologically and environmentally decisions in their every day life. It's to Newkirk's credit that she never becomes preachy, though it's clear that this is an issue that is near and dear to her heart. She writes with a firm, positive energy- never attacking people who eat/live/shop differently than she does. Instead, she seems to want to educate readers and empower them to make the best choices they can- to truly think about what they're doing and then to follow through on it.

I especially like that she doesn't stop with the normal, "DON'T EAT MEAT! DON'T WEAR LEATHER!" obvious brand of activism. This goes beyond that, to how to choose a good companion animal, how to rid your house of unwanted intruders (I'm talking mice and insects here, not your mother-in-law), how to travel, etc. And yes, she does give tips on what to eat and waer as well, but she does so by challenging people not to behave just as she does, but to be aware of what they do and to make well thought out choices consistent with the lives they want to live. Nicely done.

I'd never been really careful about being eco-friendly, so when I saw this book I sort of shrugged and though that it may be time for change anyway. It just sat on a bookshelf for awhile until I caught a glimpse of it again one day and decided I may as well read it.

Now, when I first lifted the cover, I was preparing myself to be attacked in bold letters by the words: BECOME A VEGAN. Thankfully, this book wasn't there to convert me and my steak-loving ways. Instead, if offered suggestions that went above and beyond the ordinary "Don't eat meat," and "Don't wear fur or leather."

Newkirk was pleasant and engaging. I learned a lot about animal treatment and ways to help out. This is great for animal lovers and people looking for change.