Eating Animals: Book Review

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

I just completed Jonathan Safran Foer's most recent book 'Eating Animals'.
(He is the author of 'Everything is Illuminated' and 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' - both of which I highly recommend).

First, I must give some context to this - I read the majority of it while waiting for my car to have it's Spring 'tune-up', sitting across from a man who may have been a farmer (I recognized seed company-emblazed "free merch.") and a woman who appeared to be mapping out her Easter dinner menu while talking to her Mom about details of her Guinea Hen recipe. Reading this book, I wondered if they thought I was a vegan, tree hugging, PETA-loving, Green Peace-supporting, hippie freak (none of those terms, by the way, I would be the least bit offended by). Part of me wanted to ask, the other part of me was too absorbed in the book and didn't want to broach the subject.

On to the book - Becoming a first-time Dad, the author wonders if he should raise his son as a vegetarian (as he and his wife have moved towards) or let him eat meat. He delves into the history of meat consumption, why it is accepted to eat some kinds of meat and not others, the path from the farm (factory or family) to your dinner table and the cultural and social implications of eating meat - are you denying your family's love if you ask for more vegetarian options at Thanksgiving?

This book offers an in-depth, unbiased (or at least attempted - sometimes the situations speak for themselves) approach to these questions - from first-hand accounts by farmers, ranchers, workers, activists and reports from various governing bodies.

One thing you wouldn't expect - it is funny at times. Sometimes it is in that unflinching, tongue-in-cheek sort of way that we discuss things that make us squeamish, but sometimes it is funny because the author just cannot help himself.

Sometimes it is also sad ~ sad for our health, sad for the planet and sad because we intuitively know that the cheapest meat in the supermarket came from companies that care more about profit than they do about our family's health (or the welfare of the farmers and animals) but who can resist a deal - right? Oh, and if you are buying free-range chicken because you think you are making a better, more informed decision, think again.

This book is not for the faint of heart. He spares no details about the things he witnesses and about the experiences of others. Once you know the facts, you can make an educated decision about where you want to buy your meat from or if you pass the meat counter altogether.

I highly recommend this book.

for more information on this book: http://www.eatinganimals.com/