There are two things I love about the new paperback version of PETA founder and president Ingrid Newkirk's book, One Can Make a Difference: How Simple Actions Can Change the World. First—and most importantly—it includes a brand-new essay written by none other than actor Mickey Rourke. In his contribution, which is exclusive to the new paperback version, the Golden Globe winner writes about his struggle to overcome his personal demons and about the six rescued dogs who helped him succeed.

"There isn't much worse than being a 'has been,' being used to sitting at the best table in the fanciest restaurant just by showing up, and then reaching a point where the restaurant won't even take my call," he writes. "It was a humbling experience for me, and the dogs were the biggest help in getting me through because I could see that the dogs from the pound are like me. Bad things have happened to them, too, and they bear the scars."

Second, the lighter version is easier to stick in my purse, so I can have it handy to read while commuting.

One Can Make a Difference now fits conveniently into vegan handbags across the country.

Other celebrity contributors to One Can Make a Difference include Sir Paul McCartney, Willie Nelson, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Brigitte Bardot, and so many more. The new paperback version is available here, so check it out!

Posted by Amanda Schinke

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I'm fascinated by some celebrities' bizarre backstage demands—the Backstreet Boys' list of "must-haves" includes black nail polish while John Mayer's concert rider includes a demand for four soft-headed toothbrushes.

The most recent celebrity requests to pop up during my Internet perusing left me giddy instead of scratching my head. Sir Paul McCartney, Chrissie Hynde, and Morrissey are making animal-friendly "front of stage" demands during their summer tours. Sir Paul has ensured that meat-free options are available for fans at his shows, two of the Pretenders' recent shows offered only vegetarian fare for concertgoers, and Morrissey requires people working his shows to abstain from meat.

I can think of a handful of celebrities who could learn a lot from these three about using their clout to help animals rather than hurt them.

Posted by Karin Bennett

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In an effort to push forward Sir Paul McCartney's plan for "Meat-Free Mondays," PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk has written to U.S. President Barack Obama urging him to help turn the White House into a "green" house by adopting the global initiative.

In her letter, Ingrid points out that "on October 5, 1947, in the first televised White House address, President Truman asked Americans to refrain from eating meat on Tuesdays and poultry on Thursdays to help stockpile grain for starving people in Europe. Today, the number of starving people in the world is on a par with the number of obese people in the U.S., and a restriction on meat and dairy-product intake could help tip those scales for the better."

It's enough to persuade even Bob Geldof that he does like Mondays.

Posted by Alisa Mullins

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We'll love him at 64 or 104, because he's kind. But now our favorite vegetarian sexagenarian (say that aloud) is officially the sexiest man over 60.

Sir Paul beat out a list of Hollywood heavyweights to be voted Sexiest Sixty-Something.

Any man who spends his free time between benefit gigs and singing to his daughter (have you heard "Two Magpies"?) to urge Armani to go fur-free, razz Kentucky Fried Cruelty, or rile people up for a worldwide boycott of McDonald's is the sort of man you'd want to bring home for a bean casserole and chips. And his vegetarian lifestyle gives him good odds to outlive most of the other men on the list!

Posted by Shawna Flavell