Best book on subject by authoritative scholar, 12 Oct 2008
Keown is without doubt a leading scholar in this area and makes the topic accessible to his readers. He makes very difficult subject matter understandable and interesting. I highly recommend this book and this author.

Best book on subject by authoritative scholar, 12 Oct 2008
Keown is without doubt a leading scholar in this area and makes the topic accessible to his readers. He makes very difficult subject matter understandable and interesting. I highly recommend this book and this author.

Valuable, but a bit too dry, 11 May 2008
This book is based on a series of three lectures given by the author in Oxford in March 2006 at the James Martin Institute for Science and Civilisation. I had the privilege to attend these lectures and I was spellbound by them at the time. So I was looking forward to reading this book.

However, somewhere in the process between the lectures and the book, the material has become, well, too dry. It sparkles on occasion, but the author allows himself to become bogged down too often in academic analysis, intellectual tennis, and other hair-splitting.

He's a great proponent of the merit, the morality, and even the necessity, of human enhancement. So far, so good. Some of his arguments strike home well. But in my view he gives too much time to listing various nooks and crannies of the views of various opponents of his writing. That's where the book becomes tedious. The author needs to become pithier.

The views of opponents of human enhancement (eg the people who say "Enough is enough" and that "Enhancement would destroy our core essential humanity, and must be opposed, despite all its manifest good results") do deserve attention. But I believe that a better book is waiting to be written, that will make a better job of highlighting the perversity and self-delusional destructive nature of these views.

Best book on subject by authoritative scholar, 12 Oct 2008
Keown is without doubt a leading scholar in this area and makes the topic accessible to his readers. He makes very difficult subject matter understandable and interesting. I highly recommend this book and this author.

Valuable, but a bit too dry, 11 May 2008
This book is based on a series of three lectures given by the author in Oxford in March 2006 at the James Martin Institute for Science and Civilisation. I had the privilege to attend these lectures and I was spellbound by them at the time. So I was looking forward to reading this book.

However, somewhere in the process between the lectures and the book, the material has become, well, too dry. It sparkles on occasion, but the author allows himself to become bogged down too often in academic analysis, intellectual tennis, and other hair-splitting.

He's a great proponent of the merit, the morality, and even the necessity, of human enhancement. So far, so good. Some of his arguments strike home well. But in my view he gives too much time to listing various nooks and crannies of the views of various opponents of his writing. That's where the book becomes tedious. The author needs to become pithier.

The views of opponents of human enhancement (eg the people who say "Enough is enough" and that "Enhancement would destroy our core essential humanity, and must be opposed, despite all its manifest good results") do deserve attention. But I believe that a better book is waiting to be written, that will make a better job of highlighting the perversity and self-delusional destructive nature of these views.

Bridges the gap, 17 Dec 2004
The main problem with this book is that it is quite difficult to know quite where it fits in with all the other literature on the subject of genetics and cloning etc.

This is because at times it seems incredibly simplistic, explaining every little detail is child-like terms, assuming you, the reader, knows about absolutely nothing on the subject. However, at other times it can really clarify, explain and generally teach quite well, even at degree level. For this reason it is perfectly possible to use it as a reference book when doing research for assignments etc.

So, due to this mixture I would say it bridges the gap between the "lay" population and those of us that are more "enlightened". Essentially it presents itself as Popular Science yet it is obviously not, and as such avoids controversy and allows you to relax safe in the knowledge that what you are reading is generally sound.

The author's anecdotes and general enthusiasm shows itself throughout the book, which amuses and draws attention to specific things that are important.

Overall, a good solid book (if a little small), worth the money for use at education, but also well worth the read, if only out of curiosity.

Best book on subject by authoritative scholar, 12 Oct 2008
Keown is without doubt a leading scholar in this area and makes the topic accessible to his readers. He makes very difficult subject matter understandable and interesting. I highly recommend this book and this author.

Valuable, but a bit too dry, 11 May 2008
This book is based on a series of three lectures given by the author in Oxford in March 2006 at the James Martin Institute for Science and Civilisation. I had the privilege to attend these lectures and I was spellbound by them at the time. So I was looking forward to reading this book.

However, somewhere in the process between the lectures and the book, the material has become, well, too dry. It sparkles on occasion, but the author allows himself to become bogged down too often in academic analysis, intellectual tennis, and other hair-splitting.

He's a great proponent of the merit, the morality, and even the necessity, of human enhancement. So far, so good. Some of his arguments strike home well. But in my view he gives too much time to listing various nooks and crannies of the views of various opponents of his writing. That's where the book becomes tedious. The author needs to become pithier.

The views of opponents of human enhancement (eg the people who say "Enough is enough" and that "Enhancement would destroy our core essential humanity, and must be opposed, despite all its manifest good results") do deserve attention. But I believe that a better book is waiting to be written, that will make a better job of highlighting the perversity and self-delusional destructive nature of these views.

Bridges the gap, 17 Dec 2004
The main problem with this book is that it is quite difficult to know quite where it fits in with all the other literature on the subject of genetics and cloning etc.

This is because at times it seems incredibly simplistic, explaining every little detail is child-like terms, assuming you, the reader, knows about absolutely nothing on the subject. However, at other times it can really clarify, explain and generally teach quite well, even at degree level. For this reason it is perfectly possible to use it as a reference book when doing research for assignments etc.

So, due to this mixture I would say it bridges the gap between the "lay" population and those of us that are more "enlightened". Essentially it presents itself as Popular Science yet it is obviously not, and as such avoids controversy and allows you to relax safe in the knowledge that what you are reading is generally sound.

The author's anecdotes and general enthusiasm shows itself throughout the book, which amuses and draws attention to specific things that are important.

Overall, a good solid book (if a little small), worth the money for use at education, but also well worth the read, if only out of curiosity.

a straightforward yet informative read, 16 Dec 2003
This book proved an essential aid to my MSc in animal behaviour and welfare. With comprehensive chapters on ethics, motivation, legislation and the various aspects of animal suffering, this book combines subjectivity and objectivity to provide a thoroughly integrative read.

Although primarily focussing on farm animals, this edition covers zoo and laboratory animals in basic detail. The separate chapters are written by different authors, all with different perspectives and styles of writing. With this in mind, this book provides a balanced, critical, up-to-date perspective of animal welfare.

All in all, this book provides the student with the ideal introductory read and the average non-acedemic with a very interesting piece of literature. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the field of animal welfare and also people involved with animals such as farmers, scientists and animal technitions.

Best book on subject by authoritative scholar, 12 Oct 2008
Keown is without doubt a leading scholar in this area and makes the topic accessible to his readers. He makes very difficult subject matter understandable and interesting. I highly recommend this book and this author.

Valuable, but a bit too dry, 11 May 2008
This book is based on a series of three lectures given by the author in Oxford in March 2006 at the James Martin Institute for Science and Civilisation. I had the privilege to attend these lectures and I was spellbound by them at the time. So I was looking forward to reading this book.

However, somewhere in the process between the lectures and the book, the material has become, well, too dry. It sparkles on occasion, but the author allows himself to become bogged down too often in academic analysis, intellectual tennis, and other hair-splitting.

He's a great proponent of the merit, the morality, and even the necessity, of human enhancement. So far, so good. Some of his arguments strike home well. But in my view he gives too much time to listing various nooks and crannies of the views of various opponents of his writing. That's where the book becomes tedious. The author needs to become pithier.

The views of opponents of human enhancement (eg the people who say "Enough is enough" and that "Enhancement would destroy our core essential humanity, and must be opposed, despite all its manifest good results") do deserve attention. But I believe that a better book is waiting to be written, that will make a better job of highlighting the perversity and self-delusional destructive nature of these views.

Bridges the gap, 17 Dec 2004
The main problem with this book is that it is quite difficult to know quite where it fits in with all the other literature on the subject of genetics and cloning etc.

This is because at times it seems incredibly simplistic, explaining every little detail is child-like terms, assuming you, the reader, knows about absolutely nothing on the subject. However, at other times it can really clarify, explain and generally teach quite well, even at degree level. For this reason it is perfectly possible to use it as a reference book when doing research for assignments etc.

So, due to this mixture I would say it bridges the gap between the "lay" population and those of us that are more "enlightened". Essentially it presents itself as Popular Science yet it is obviously not, and as such avoids controversy and allows you to relax safe in the knowledge that what you are reading is generally sound.

The author's anecdotes and general enthusiasm shows itself throughout the book, which amuses and draws attention to specific things that are important.

Overall, a good solid book (if a little small), worth the money for use at education, but also well worth the read, if only out of curiosity.

a straightforward yet informative read, 16 Dec 2003
This book proved an essential aid to my MSc in animal behaviour and welfare. With comprehensive chapters on ethics, motivation, legislation and the various aspects of animal suffering, this book combines subjectivity and objectivity to provide a thoroughly integrative read.

Although primarily focussing on farm animals, this edition covers zoo and laboratory animals in basic detail. The separate chapters are written by different authors, all with different perspectives and styles of writing. With this in mind, this book provides a balanced, critical, up-to-date perspective of animal welfare.

All in all, this book provides the student with the ideal introductory read and the average non-acedemic with a very interesting piece of literature. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the field of animal welfare and also people involved with animals such as farmers, scientists and animal technitions.

a very different approach to ethical theory - enlightening!, 06 Jun 2003
wittgenstein shows us a completely different way to view philosophical problems that run against the grain of traditional thinking. it is from this standpoint that this collection of authors approach various bioethical problems. it does not provide a tradional dissection of the for and against arguments in ethical theory and does not produce well packaged neat conclusions at the end. newcomers to wittgenstein may come away feeling the essays are a 'cop-out' for real debate but hopefully there will be some on whom this approach will have a profound effect on the way they look at ethical problems in the future. well written, interesting, and enlightening!

a very different approach to ethical theory - enlightening!, 06 Jun 2003
wittgenstein shows us a completely different way to view philosophical problems that run against the grain of traditional thinking. it is from this standpoint that this collection of authors approach various bioethical problems. it does not provide a tradional dissection of the for and against arguments in ethical theory and does not produce well packaged neat conclusions at the end. newcomers to wittgenstein may come away feeling the essays are a 'cop-out' for real debate but hopefully there will be some on whom this approach will have a profound effect on the way they look at ethical problems in the future. well written, interesting, and enlightening!