When I purchased the book “Eating Animals”, I did not know exactly what to expect, but I did expect something different. Having read several books concerning the veg*n movement and veg*n philosophy, I would never have bought the book if not for reading some very favorable reviews.

I was not disappointed. Before I dive into the review, let me say that Jonathan is an excellent writer, and his work was enjoyable to read.

While the subject of eating meat is a very emotionally, ethically, and politically charged issue, I was surprised to crack open the book to find the author discussing his reluctant and non-consistent move toward a vegetarian diet. Our culture is one of meat eaters. As a result, we have many traditions, sentiments, and beliefs about eating meat. Most would never give these ingrained practices a second thought, and those that do often require a strong argument to elicit change (or youthful energy, but that often easily fades).

Jonathan’s initial purpose for this book is one in which many readers can relate: he wanted to fully understand what he was feeding his new son, and wanted to make informed and educated decisions about his family’s food source. Prior to the birth of his son, both him and his wife, while aware and concerned with the eating animals issue, considered themselves vegetarians that occasionally ate meat. As a human, it’s too easy to rationalize our non-perfect behavior for more selfish, comfortable, or convenient purposes. But, where is this line drawn? Jonathan seeks to answer where he will draw his line by exploring our practice of raising, killing, and eating animals.

If people are reluctant to buy this book for fear of reading ramblings of another rapid vegetarian, fear not! This book is presented in a very down to earth, non preachy, non holier-than-thou way. If nothing else, Jonathan exposes himself as a very rational, sensible, and reasonable human. His philosophical arguments are not sensationalistic, and neither are his accounts of the factory farms and slaughter houses he visited. However, truth is in this book. He does not avoiding writing about atrocities, but does present them as they exist. Reality is often not a pretty thing, and while nature can be cruel, I would propose that humans can be much crueler.

Jonathan also includes several perspectives from different sides of the meat predicament. One man writes about being the last turkey farmer that “does it right”. Another is a girl that sneaks into factory farms and documents her findings. Then there are the accounts from a natural beef farmer and his vegetarian wife, yes you heard me. The book even includes the perspective of a vegan that builds slaughterhouses! He tries to paint the reader a full picture of how we raise and kill animals, and doesn’t just focus on the worst of reality (however, the worst tragically accounts for the gross majority, not the minority). He seems to take care to avoid the bias often associated with the veggie movement without censoring, attempting to justify, or defending the practice and methodology of eating animals. This book is simply about what it means in this country to take part in the eating of animals.

The first time I became vegan, I was young and needed little more than the cruelty argument to sway my eating habits to veganism. As I got older, I felt a lot like Jonathan did in the beginning of the book, and I am sure many people can relate. After reading this book, I feel like I have the appropriate information to now not only commit to a vegan diet and lifestyle, but to also feel justified. While I do not seek to push a veg*n diet on anyone, I will not apologize for my diet choices. I have no reason to be ashamed for the way I have chosen to eat, and I thank Jonathan for reminding me.

Eating animals is a much larger and broader issue than just eating animals. To never zoom out beyond one’s own plate is to grossly misunderstand the argument.

I would recommend this book to everyone, yes everyone, even meat eaters. Not in an attempt to persuade them to stop eating meat, but to educate them on the importance of at least eating meat responsibility. Know where your meat comes from, and how it is produced. If you eat meat, that’s fine, but at least educate yourself about your decisions. One big problem with eating meat today is one of ignorance and apathy. Those who don’t know don’t care to know, and many of those that do know just don’t care enough to change.

Since Jonathan has a way with words, I wanted to include some of my favorite quotes from the book:

It’s always possible to wake someone from sleep, but no amount of noise will wake someone who is pretending to be asleep.

Not responding is a response – we are equally responsible for what we don’t do.

We can’t plead ignorance, only indifference.

One of the greatest opportunities to live our values -or betray them- lies in the food we put on our plates.