Committed: A Rabble-Rouser's Memoir

by Dan Mathews

Book Overview

Committed is a bold, offbeat, globe-trotting memoir that shows how the most ridiculed punching bag in high school became an internationally renowned crusader for the most downtrodden individuals of all -- animals. This irresistibly entertaining book recounts the unorthodox coming-of-age that inspired a reluctant party boy to devote his life to a cause, without ever abandoning his sense of mischief and fun.

Mathews is the irreverent...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743291948
• ISBN13: 9780743291941
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 3.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Taking the world by storm

Born to a hurricane-seeking earth mother, Dan Mathews has become a force of nature, taking the world by storm with his out-of-the-box campaigns for PETA. Your take on his methods may vary, but you cannot argue with his results. Committed is a delicious read, easy to digest with plenty of juicy nuggets, and a flavor that will linger in your gut as well as your mind. Told with an unbridled exuberance and a shameless animal magnetism, the book artfully assembles the jigsaw puzzle pieces that have naturally transformed a shy and ridiculed boy into literally the world's greatest stuntman. From a mystery-shrouded meeting at the Vatican, to the raucous and raunchy Kid Rock's invitation to dance with him at a fancy Vienna ball, Mathews gaily takes us on a swashbuckling journey of heart, soul, courage, humor, creativity and cosmic karma. This globe-trotting veggie-bound vagabond takes the reader on a light-hearted journey that will leave you feeling the heart - and seeing the light. Mathews doesn't apologize for his tactics; he has no need to. A Harvard case study proved that straight information is ignored, while sensationalism makes the nightly news. In our MTV sound-bite culture, Dan has found the recipe for getting the message heard - and acted upon. His personality and sincerity converted fashion icon Calvin Klein from a victim of Mathews' vandalism into a socializing buddy who has sworn off selling fur. Getting the message heard is sometimes the hardest part. Dan uses wit and W.I.T. (whatever it takes) to get PETA's message heard, with some amazing results. Between his "800 pound gorilla" tactics and some fortuitous timing, he has made great strides both in the US and abroad, making conditions better for living creatures with four legs - and with two. He's a protector of all beings, a champion of fruits and vegetables with a paradigm-shifting sense of humor. His compassion is both contagious and courageous. Here's the straight truth - few heterosexual men have the cajones of this homo-genius. And fewer still have the audacity and the ability to turn adversaries into allies. He's got the ingredients of a true hero - along with a life-sized sprinkling of pixie dust. In a world where animals have become just so much collateral damage of our often self-destructive lifestyle choices, Dan Mathews has plenty of hard-won and bankable collateral for balancing the scales. For those floundering in a sea of moralistic hypocrisy and uncertainty, he flings a literary lifesaver, with a vibrant and inviting "Bite me - you'll be glad you did." Committed is a gourmet dish for the humor, the heart, and the soul. It's a timely treatise (and treat) that reveals a great deal about the animal rights movement, and about our culture. And it's the unsweetened account of a true warrior in the movement, one with the battle scars to prove it. For sentient beings of all types, Dan would recommend "Live `til you're dead". This book will convince you t

DAN ROCKS FOR THE ANIMALS!

Dan's book is a trip! From his lonely childhood to his liaisons with celebrities, Dan takes you to all kinds of interesting places in his writings. He has turned his passion for animal rights into a career, using his gift of gab and endearing charm to enlighten so many people to have more compassion for animals. This book is a must-read. It is entertaining and fun, full of positive and upbeat experiences. Real men are kind to animals, and in my book, Dan is the man!

Dan is AMAZING!

I started to read this book and couldn't put it down till I finished! I loved every chapter. Dan's amazing life has been so well lived and with such courage and conviction! I hope he writes another book down the road!

Light, Frisky and Provocative

Although this book contains plenty of information about animal rights, it's really different from what you might expect: Instead of the tedious sense of indignation and moral superiority you find in many activists, Mathews is all about having fun and thumbing his nose at the corporate social order in classic punk rock style. If the book weren't so witty and entertaining, it could be a textbook on how, with zero money but abundant ingenuity and humor, one person can create staggering positive changes in the world. Whether or not you agree with everything PETA stands for, you have to admire Mathews's playful exuberance, his selflessness and his commitment to improving the lives of animals, a horribly maltreated class of beings that need people like Mathews because they can't speak for or defend themselves.

I loved this book

This book is hilarious! Even if Dan Matthews was writing a narrative about paper towels he could make you roll over laughing, but this memoir really has it all--celebrity gossip, personal drama, and you finish the book not only with sore stomach muscles from laughing so hard, but also with the feeling that you have learned about an important social issue that doesn't get enough attention from main stream media. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for an enjoyable way to learn how to make this world a better place.