Radical Companionship: Rejecting Pethood and Embracing Our Multispecies World by Aiyana Goodfellow, a young Black, queer, neurodivergent anti-speciesist writer and theorist.

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The Anima Print ↪︎

“Exploring the rarely discussed dynamic of pethood, Aiyana Goodfellow speaks of reimagined relations between species, starting with the seedlings, expanding into the roots and blossoming into growth. The relationships we have with animals that are ‘colonised into pethood’ reveal the kind of humans we really are. A balance of theory and practise, this book is a guide to unlearning the oppressive tendencies within all of us. Filled with the hope, passion and rage of a young Black, queer writer, Aiyana asserts that to be a radical companion is to connect with the animality in all of us.”

The terms and phrases Animal Futurism, animal accomplices, animals colonised into pethood and radical companionship are all coined by Aiyana and expanded on in the book.

Reviews:

“It genuinely wasn’t what I expected. Was not ready for it to hit so hard…it made really strong points, and changed the way I cohabitate with my cat…and the way I view animals in general (beyond just being vegan). 10/10 🔥, lending it to my partner to read next. 🙌” 

A Reader
 
 
“With tremendous enthusiasm, I recommend this book by Aiyana…I won’t have enough space to elaborate on every reason I find this book valuable. But do highly consider grabbing a copy for yourself (and someone else) if you too want to continue acquiring constructive knowledge en route to total liberation. If you follow along and engage with the work of liberation advocates who emphasize the importance of ✨reimaging✨ and building new paradigms, it’s not often that you come across explicit offerings of what those frameworks would look like in practice. But here, Aiyana has incorporated critical thinking/theory along with actionable initiatives, and in large measure, pioneering the depths of discourse surrounding ‘animals colonised into pethood’. […] This book works at challenging and dismantling our biases surrounding domesticated nonhumans, encourages critical thinking, illuminates less obvious ways we fail at respecting nonhuman animal autonomy, and guides us to take accountability.” 

Yvette – Total Liberationist Social Critic
 
“Very inspiring brief pamphlet! As presented in the book, Radical Companionship is a visionary anti-capitalist perspective and practice to reimagine the interconnected and interdependent relationships between humans and nonhumans and the environment. […] This is a very-very good conversation starter, a comprehensive primer on anti-speciesist action and a great source of inspiration for further readings on the topics mentioned in it. And, at least for me, a very much needed accessible(!!) and militant writing which connects anarchism with anti-speciesism! I am grateful I could read it. <3”
 

A Reader

 
 
“This book blew my mind. I could not put it down, and it made my brain buzz with excitement and possibilities. 10/10!” 

Kirsty Alger – Author of Five Essays for Freedom