New Books Network Ron Broglio, "Animal Revolution" (U Minnesota Press, 2022)
Oct 20, 2025
Ron Broglio, a professor and director of Desert Humanities at ASU, dives into his book "Animal Revolution," exploring the untold rebellion of animals. He shares fascinating stories of animal resistance, like boars invading towns and jellyfish disrupting naval battles. Broglio discusses the transition from academic writing to a lyrical style, the impact of illustrations on storytelling, and contrasts his work with Orwell's allegory. He offers insights on animal solidarity, radical hospitality, and bold ideas for creating a more inclusive, animal-friendly world.
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Animals As Their Own Revolution
- Ron Broglio tracked animal incidents for years and reframed them as a possible nonhuman revolution rather than human allegory.
- He blends humor and seriousness to make animal agency visible without reducing animals to human metaphors.
Illustrations Born In Collaboration
- Broglio collaborated with Marina Zirko during the pandemic by giving her the full manuscript and studio access to create evocative illustrations.
- The images act as visual commentaries that open up the text rather than merely illustrating it.
Beyond Orwellian Allegory
- Broglio rejects treating animal revolt as purely human allegory like Orwell's Animal Farm.
- He argues animals have distinct 'worldings' and their actions create frictions where shared earths collide.
