As an activist and historian, Jérôme Segal is part of this tradition of committed intellectuals capable of constructing, with rigor and hindsight, the historical narrative of caricatured or little-known causes. Radical Animals thus makes it possible to enter a movement whose concerns concern us all. — La Vie des Idées

Anti-speciesism is a movement that has often made headlines in recent years, with activists upping the ante by breaking into farms or restaurants. But it is by no means new.— Ici Radio-Canada Première

It is a fun book read, with a dynamic style that makes it accessible to a wide audience, whether or not they are familiar with the animal cause. In short, an enjoyable summer read for anyone who wants to (re)discover the political bases of a just and exciting cause whose activists, all over the world, are mobilized by a key interest: compassion and concern for justice. Highly recommended! — Virages

The professor of history and semiology at the Sorbonne is open from the outset about the fact that he is himself a vegan; but his work, he swears, is not a militant pamphlet. Faithful to the goal of “axiological neutrality” introduced by Max Weber, the author strives to objectively present anti-speciesism, i.e. the ideology consisting in thinking that all animal species are equal and that animals therefore have the same rights as their human brothers, starting with the right to stay alive without being eaten.— Paris Match

From the emergence of animal protection movements in the mid-nineteenth century to action groups such as L214, the historian explores the various means of protest used by animal advocates. In spite of the radicality of the theses defended, pedagogy remains the most widely used tool. A portrait of a current of thought, more diverse than one might imagine. — Libération

Unlike veganism, which is more of a lifestyle, anti-speciesism – i.e. the fight against all discrimination based on species membership – is more explicitly political and gives rise to radical movements, some of which rely on direct action.

By the end of the 19th century, socialists and anarchists created vegetarian communities and fought against vivisection in sometimes radical ways, but it was in Britain, in the middle of the 20th century, that another form of radical animalist militancy emerged and took the path of radical and violent action, notably with the creation of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), which would also develop rapidly in the United States.

Through a study of the movement in Canada and in Israel, this book analyses the most sensitive points of the anti-speciesist discourse, such as the comparison between slaughterhouses and extermination camps or slavery, addresses the issue of vegan-washing, and assesses the progress of the cause and the openness of our societies to issues anchored in our relationship with animals.