Few things get our compassion flowing like the sight of suffering. But our response to suffering is often shaped by our ability to empathize with others. Some people respond to the suffering of only humans, and may relate to one person's suffering more than another's. Others react more strongly to the suffering of an animal than to human suffering. These facts can be troubling--but they are also a reminder that trauma and suffering are endured by all beings, and we can learn lessons about their aftermath, even across species. With Phoenix Zones, Dr. Hope Ferdowsian shows us how. Ferdowsian has spent years traveling the world to work with people and animals who have endured trauma--war, abuse, displacement. Here, she combines compelling stories of survivors with the latest science on resilience to help us understand the link between violence against people and animals and the biological foundations of recovery, peace, and hope. Taking us to the sanctuaries that give the book its title, she shows us how the injured can heal and thrive if we attend to key principles: respect for liberty and sovereignty, a commitment to love and tolerance, the promotion of justice, and a fundamental belief that each individual possesses dignity. Courageous tales show us how: stories of combat veterans and wolves recovering together at a California refuge, Congolese women thriving in one of the most dangerous places on earth, abused chimpanzees finding peace in a Washington sanctuary, and refugees seeking care at Ferdowsian's own clinic. These are not easy stories. Suffering is real, and recovery is hard. But resilience is real, too, and Phoenix Zones shows how we can foster it. It reveals the importance of considering people and animals both as individuals deserving of a chance to live up to their full potential--and how such a view could inspire solutions to some of the greatest challenges of our time.

About the Author
Dr. Hope Ferdowsian resolved to become a doctor at the age of nine when she first learned about human rights violations like torture. She is a double-board certified fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Preventive Medicine who works with organizations worldwide providing healthcare and advocacy for vulnerable individuals in urban and rural settings.

Reviews
"Human and nonhuman animal rights activist Dr. Hope Ferdowsian has witnessed the horrific effects of brutality directed at both. Phoenix Zones are sanctuaries throughout the earth that extraordinary people have created to allow these dignified human and nonhuman victims to reclaim their lives. An acute observer of all animals, human and nonhuman, Hope's fine prose and deftly drawn portraits allow us to understand how we can not only support these Phoenix Zones, but create a world in which they become obsolete."--Steven Wise, president of the Nonhuman Rights Project "An extraordinary, vital book that demonstrates how trauma runs deep, not recognizing gender, race, nationality, age or species. An absorbing read that combines hard science with adventure, personal observation, and compassion."--Ingrid Newkirk, president and cofounder of PETA "This is a gem of a book. Using real stories about real people, Phoenix Zones delivers a powerful message about how we may confront, understand, and overcome adversity, and make the world a better place for ourselves and the other animals that we share it with. It radiates light and offers hope in these dark and dangerous times."--David Livingstone Smith, author of Less Than Human



Book Information
ISBN 9780226475936
Author Hope Ferdowsian
Format Hardback
Page Count 224
Imprint University of Chicago Press
Publisher The University of Chicago Press