Suggested Reading: Eating Animals

September 7, 2012

This book has been around for almost three years, and chances are you have already read it or heard of it.
If not, “Eating Animals” talks about the food industry with a particular focus on factory farming; providing a serious and
(unfortunately) horrific information of how livestock are raised in America today.
The detailed data presented is the result of more than 3 years of accurate research and it’s offered through the author’s own journey.
It reads like a novel, the narrative is captivating and at times funny; it’s well documented and gives factory farmers and animal activists a chance to speak in their own words.



It does not come from an hard-core environmentalist or a relentless vegan, Foer is a normal guy who tries - but struggles - to eat ethically, as his weaknesses often get the best of him. This makes this book different from others on the food industry as there’s no preaching about not eating animals in his prose.
The storytelling is so compelling that you hardly realize how much information he’s conveying: there are 60 pages of notes documenting the sources, but the text itself is uncluttered by footnotes.
Even though “Eating Animals” is a serious book that can definitely gives you a new perspective on the food industry, it’s actually a very fun book to read, full of anecdotes, family portraits and sketches that alleviate the rigorousness of it.
Foer’s journey is fascinating and he does hide his shortcomings, failures, fears and worries. He is his own main character, and his own self-examination inspires the same.
Still, the most powerful side of this book is the amount of quality information that it delivers to the reader. And that’s why I strongly recommend it, because, after finishing it you’ll be more aware of what’s going on behind the supermarket’s shelves you walk in every day. You’ll be left with a different and new found sensibility on food.
And whether or not this will ultimately influence the choices you make, you’ll a more informed consumer which is what I believe matters the most.
You know more, hence you’re in the position to make better choices.
However, I strongly believe you won’t be the same after reading it. And remember eating healthy involves not only consuming food that’s good for you, but also knowing where the food you’re consuming comes from.


The Iron You

2 comments:

  1. I haven't read this book, but the author is ah-mazing! If you get the chance, you should check out his fiction work. In the mean time, I'm definitely going to pick this one up!

    http://lifeatruestory4.blogspot.com/

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  2. I love love this book. And, as Megan mentioned, his fictional work is just as good!

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