Yesterday a long-time friend and his wife stopped by for a visit on their way to a weekend at their family’s getaway cabin. I hadn’t seen him for years, so in catching up on what’s new I of course mentioned the release of Exposing the Big Game. I had previously sent him some excerpts so was caught off-guard when he asked, “What is the premise of your book?” Knowing that he is a fisherman (we fished together back in Boy Scouts before I recognized that fish are sentient and have the right to be left alone), that he dabbled in duck hunting and his father was an avid sport hunter, I geared my answer toward what I thought he would be equipped to comprehend, given his current position along the compassion continuum. I said frankly that the book is pro-wildlife, taking the animals’ side over their exploiters.

Since they were dinner guests (my wife served vegan Boca burgers, which they politely accepted—and eventually finished) I didn’t want to spoil the atmosphere of a friendly get-together, so I went a little easy on him and spared him the full-frontal assault he’ll be subjected to when he reads the book.

Here’s what I will say to the next person who asks, “What is the premise for your book?”

“Forget hunters’ feeble rationalizations and trust your gut feelings:  making sport of killing is not healthy human behavior.”