From the dawn of civilization to the modern globalized world, humans have built their societies on the backs, hides, and lives of animals. In An Animal’s History of Humanity, Chris Jeffries traces the often-overlooked story of animal exploitation through time, revealing how the fate of nonhuman creatures has been intimately intertwined with human progress, power, and profit.

From prehistoric kinship turned conquest, to the rise of agriculture, the weight of beasts in medieval life, and the mechanized horrors of the Industrial Revolution, Jeffries paints a sweeping narrative of domination and cruelty. He examines colonial plunder, the paradoxes of Renaissance thought, and the industrial-scale suffering that continues into the present day, ultimately asking what the future holds for the voiceless members of our world.

Deeply researched yet accessible, this book challenges readers to confront the ethical cost of human civilization, offering a provocative reflection on morality, progress, and the shape of exploitation yet to come. An Animal’s History of Humanity is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the hidden history of our species through the lives of those who suffered for our sake.