Cruel Favorite 

"Cruel" is a book written by Sue Coe, an activist illustrator known for her dedication to animal rights. It continues her mission of shedding light on how animals are mistreated in the food industry. The book is filled with striking paintings and drawings that vividly portray both the beauty and suffering of these animals and the workers who handle them. Despite its visually stunning presentation, "Cruel" is a deeply emotional and sometimes disturbing read. Coe's unique access to restricted areas allows her to share a powerful message about the cruelty inflicted by humans on animals. In addition to factory farming, Coe explores lesser-known issues like commercial fishing, the wool industry, pesticide use, and the use of livestock "protection" collars. Her work follows in the footsteps of famous artists like Goya, Käthe Kollwitz, and Diego Rivera, making it a significant contribution to social and political art.

In response to the question "How do you deal with what you witness? Is there place you can go to decompress or a routine that allows you to re-energize after being immersed in a project and the experiences behind it?"
Coe responded:

"I don’t think animal activists, who have shifted their awareness to animal oppression, the murder of the environment, the relentless assault on the poor—which is most of us—can ever be at peace in a world of continuous violence against others. You become the wrong alien existing in an imposed alien landscape, where billions of beautiful animals are being murdered, and it’s totally normalized. Courage is the ability to find hope in despair”; I heard that little homily somewhere….. And will stick it in the same place as, “When they go low, we go high.” I prefer a drooling wet dog lick to the face. Even observing wild animals live lives of joy, or companion animals who are safe, brings forth a kind of dread, that their situation is so precarious. Making art is my way of disciplining despair into something positive—and sharing with our activist family—who understand."