It's so easy for human beings to feel that as a species we're the end of the line, the top of the heap, the best there is. We read and write. We build roads and bridges and buildings that soar up to the sky. We dominate the landscapes around us, bending them to our will and altering them to fit our needs--heck, we've altered the actual climate of the entire planet. But I can't help but think that if everybody had an animal companion in their life, or a bird feeder in their yard...or would read some of the amazing books on our list about animals, animal rights, animal feelings, and how animals experience the world around them, this world would become a better place.