PositiveThe Washington Independent Review of Books... [Akhtar] has the scientific chops to make a strong case for animals as our co-equals, worthy of compassion and respect ... The author is living proof that the bond between humans and animals can be of mutual benefit. Her personal story gives Our Symphony with Animals easy access to the more challenging scientific material presented ... Some of the chapters are unsettling. I had to put the book down a few times while reading a section on New York City investigators who deal with animal abuse cases. And the section on factory farming is yet another indictment of a horrific industry ... Occasionally, the reader may have trouble following the book’s narrative. Sylvester the dog pops up from time to time in somewhat unexpected places, but he is usually welcome, even if we are not sure exactly how he got in. Think of him as empathy incarnate and it makes sense.
