This book investigates the historical origins and modern persistence of the 'man alone of animals' topos, which posits human uniqueness in intellectual, physiological, and emotional domains. Stephen T. Newmyer, a scholar of classical literature, utilizes a comparative framework to trace how ancient Greco-Roman assertions of anthropocentrism have been restated and transformed over time. By examining both classical texts and contemporary ethological and animal rights literature, the author argues that the ancient belief in human exceptionalism remains a central, often contentious, element in current debates regarding human-animal relations.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational study for its specific focus on the historical continuity of the 'man alone of animals' concept. Readers frequently note the academic rigor and the clarity with which Newmyer connects ancient philosophical traditions to modern ethical activism.