Meat Market: Animals, Ethics, and Money
by
Erik Marcus (Goodreads Author)
recommended for:
animal rights activists
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In the 1990s, frustrated by the lack of literature in the vegan movement, animal advocate and former technical writer Erik Marcus turned his communications skills to creating books and other material that vegans and non-vegans alike would find access...more
In the 1990s, frustrated by the lack of literature in the vegan movement, animal advocate and former technical writer Erik Marcus turned his communications skills to creating books and other material that vegans and non-vegans alike would find accessible and informative. His first book, the groundbreaking Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating, introduced many readers to a new kind of activist writing: prose that makes its case without overt emotional appeals - the facts eloquently speak for themselves. "Vegan" showed that Marcus didn't mind challenging some of the movement's cherished tenets. The book was well received, regarded by many critics as on par with the work of John Robbins, and has become an indispensable guide to vegan living.
Among the few critical remarks reviewers offered of "Vegan" was that Marcus could have gone into greater depth on how meat production strains the environment and natural resources. Rather than simply an oversight, perhaps that was in keeping with the author's broader philosophy, which becomes clear in his latest book, "Meat Market: Animals, Ethics and Money." This is a powerful indictment of factory farming, examining the abuses perpetrated by corporate agriculture, but Marcus also offers his assessment of how the animal protection movement can claim victory - and the good news is his proposal makes sense.
The book is organized into three main sections, beginning with an exploration of how the mega-corporations that rule the agriculture industry have created many of their own problems - and, by extension, misery for animals - by striving for consolidation and economic restructuring. When we read of agriculture's often-ridiculous assertions (the beef industry, for example, claims that it cares about animal welfare, yet it persists in rejecting animal welfare reforms), we have to wonder how factory farms can even stay in business. They do so, says Marcus, by maintaining an efficiency that disregards many of the basic needs of farmed animals and, ultimately, by keeping their cruel conduct out of public view. "Meat Market" will likely bring the compassionate reader, perhaps uninitiated in the methods of intensive animal confinement, to an emotional crossroads. Of course, this is the book's ideal audience: those flexitarian and ethically minded diners most likely to fully embrace a vegetarian or even vegan lifestyle, if only they were confronted with the compelling documentation found in a book like this one, which presents the cold facts of modern agribusiness.
And what cold facts they are. Even for those familiar with the horrors of factory farming, "Meat Marke"t is at times a distressing exposé of what those in industrialized agriculture euphemistically call "Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations." Marcus invites readers to witness the brief, tortured lives of animals raised for food. We meet cattle who are butchered while still alive because the slaughterhouse line must not be interrupted; barely hatched male chicks who are cast into grinders, also alive, because they have no value (male chicks grow too slowly and don't lay eggs); and pigs who die from respiratory ailments because the air inside pig sheds is so fouled with contaminants. Many readers will be familiar with these tragic practices, but there are surprises for the engaged advocate, too, such as Marcus' assertion that consuming eggs contributes more to animal suffering than consuming meat products. This is an example of the author's unconventional thinking - he boldly offers new perspectives on accepted wisdom - and is one reason Marcus' work is such an important contribution to animal advocacy. (Indeed, a 2000 poll conducted by thevegetariansite.com ranked Erik Marcus as one of the most influential people in the vegan movement, placing him in the company of such activists as Peter Singer and Ingrid Newkirk.)
Although his latest book shares some similarities with "Vegan" - both cover the latest information on vegan advocacy, for example - "Meat Market" goes beyond the popular three-pronged argument for veganism, which says that a plant-based diet is good for our health, the environment and the animals. Put another way, if "Vegan" can be compared with Diet for a New America, then "Meat Market" could be the "Uncle Tom's Cabin" of the 21st century. While Marcus isn't the first writer to suggest that the struggle to end animal exploitation is similar to the abolitionist movement, he recommends in Part Two that animal protectionists learn from anti-slavery proponents and focus their attention on the evils of factory farming. Abolitionists recognized that 19th-century America was not ready for racial equality, but most Americans could agree that slavery was abhorrent. The lesson for the animal welfare movement, according to Marcus, is to avoid debates about veganism being good for the planet or our bodies and instead invest the full force of its energy into the position that factory farming, like slavery, is inherently evil. He also cautions against diluting the animal welfare issue with arguments pertaining to hunting, medical research or companion animals, since such discussion shifts attention away from farmed animals and allows the animal agriculture industry to win a wider share of public opinion.
A change in policy, Marcus believes, would lead to the dismantling of animal agriculture. This is a startling premise, and the author devotes much of the middle section to defining a new movement to finally liberate animals from factory farming. "The surest way to eliminate animal agriculture's cruelties is to seek to eliminate animal agriculture itself," he writes. "To accomplish this, we need a new movement expressly designed to go on the offensive, with the purpose of ushering animal agriculture out of existence."
It's in this second section that "Meat Market" truly excels. The writing is cogent and immensely readable, and his insights should appeal to anyone interested in animal advocacy. It is exciting to read a book that introduces fresh ideas to frustrating struggles, and I felt like a kid reading the latest Harry Potter story, devouring page after page of hopeful recommendations. Marcus' proposed movement might not seem radical on paper, but it would call for a paradigm shift that most activists are probably not prepared for. He also makes a tenable argument against militancy (destroying property in the name of animal welfare).
The final third of "Meat Market" consists of a wealth of supplementary material: eight activist essays and nine appendices covering the most fundamental arguments in favor of a plant-based diet. The essay writing varies in quality, but the activists, who range from a retiree to an MD, offer some sound advice for aspiring advocates and demonstrate that anyone can be involved in vegan outreach, something Marcus considers critical to bringing down factory farming.
The appendices, meanwhile, cover some familiar ground, starting with the health and environmental consequences of eating meat. But there's additional material that, while not part of Marcus' main proposition, nonetheless supports vegan ethics and will come in very handy should you find yourself having to defend the activist position on hunting, selective breeding, animal testing or the meatpacking industry, still one of the most hazardous in the country. The author concludes with a recommended reading list and an extensive collection of explanatory endnotes that add a significant layer of texture to his well-woven polemic. Meticulously researched and devoid of lectures, "Meat Market: Animals, Ethics and Money" is an invaluable addition to vegan literature.(less)
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Whether you want to bake a quick batch of oatmeal cookies on a rainy day or you’d like to impress your dinner guests with a mouthwatering apple strudel that will leave them breathless and begging for the recipe, you’re going to love “The Joy of Vegan...more
Whether you want to bake a quick batch of oatmeal cookies on a rainy day or you’d like to impress your dinner guests with a mouthwatering apple strudel that will leave them breathless and begging for the recipe, you’re going to love “The Joy of Vegan Baking.” Colleen Patrick-Goudreau is well known as a Renaissance woman – chef, entrepreneur, teacher, writer, activist, podcaster, public speaker and more. She’s so busy I’m frankly amazed she had the time to devote so much care to this beautiful cookbook.
What makes “Joy” a joy is that Colleen uses her vast experience and talent as a vegan cooking instructor to genuinely demystify baking (the “Compassionate Cooks” in the subtitle refers to her business). She knows how to teach, and the proof really is in the pudding (page 184). “The Joy of Vegan Baking” is extremely user-friendly, even for someone like me, who wouldn’t know a spreader from a spatula; this book now has me whipping up desserts like Martha Stewart on steroids.
Although you may be interested in this cookbook because you are vegan or want to give it to a vegan, it is perfectly appropriate for non-vegans. Indeed, the treats and sweets here are not only as delicious as anything you’ll find in any bakery, but they are generally healthier, since they obviously use no animal ingredients (good for you, the planet and the animals).
Some of the goodies Colleen guides us through:
Muffins, biscuits and scones
Cakes and cupcakes
Pies and tarts
Sorbets, shakes and smoothies
Cookies, brownies and bars
Crisps, cobblers, crumbles and whole-fruit desserts
Strudel, crepes, blintzes and pastries
Yeast breads and rolls
Confections and candy
Frostings, sauces, syrups and spreads
Mousses and puddings
As you can see, baking isn’t the only ground covered here. Basically, if it’s sweet, crispy, frozen, fruity, frosted, gooey, glazed, rich, flavorful, chocolatey, savory or otherwise delicious -- from comforting cupcakes to succulent smoothies -- you’ll find it in this comprehensive cookbook. I also love how Colleen fills the book with bits of food lore, baking tips, decorating ideas and suggestions for healthful eating (yes, even desserts can be guilt-free).
But wait, there’s more! As she does so well her in cooking classes, Colleen explains the suffering animals endure to provide a fleeting pleasure for human palates. Really now, when food tastes THIS incredible, is easy to prepare AND is cruelty-free, what more could you want?
Don’t let the holidays go by without this book in your kitchen. In fact, get a few -- you’ll want to give them to your friends!(less)
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The Longest Struggle: Animal Advocacy from Pythagoras to PETA
by
Norm Phelps
recommended for:
those interested in animal advocacy
read in July, 2007
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Laying the groundwork for this penetrating and thoroughly engaging survey of animal advocacy, Norm Phelps begins with the dawn of civilization, when humans began to enslave animals for food, clothing, sport and sacrifice. We witness millennia of prof...more
Laying the groundwork for this penetrating and thoroughly engaging survey of animal advocacy, Norm Phelps begins with the dawn of civilization, when humans began to enslave animals for food, clothing, sport and sacrifice. We witness millennia of profound abuse before any real advance is made in the interest of animals, though a few early voices of reason appear – Jesus, for example, may have been history’s first animal liberator.
The author brings his considerable experience as an activist and writer to bear here, introducing the reader to some of the movement’s most fascinating activists and the campaigns they pioneered. His examination of campaign strategies includes those that did not fare so well – and why. Phelps has created a true page-turner here; indeed, I re-read the book again a month after reading it, just to absorb it all.
“The Longest Struggle” is a lively account of the evolution of animal protection, revealing how the movement has grown from the ideas of a few ancient philosophers to become one of the most influential forces of modern society. If you’re looking for a comprehensive discussion of animal advocacy – including its origins, strategies and controversies – look no further.(less)
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Why Animals Matter: The Case for Animal Protection
by
Erin E. Williams (Goodreads Author)
recommended for:
anyone who eats food or wears clothing
read in May, 2007
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Our systematic abuse of non-human animals is so shocking and extensive that it is surprising how few people are even unaware of it. That’s why this book is so indispensable. With this comprehensive survey of animal exploitation, Margo DeMello and Eri...more
Our systematic abuse of non-human animals is so shocking and extensive that it is surprising how few people are even unaware of it. That’s why this book is so indispensable. With this comprehensive survey of animal exploitation, Margo DeMello and Erin Williams -- both longtime activists -- seek to lift the veil of ignorance that sustains a cruel status quo. Product testing, breeding, medical experiments, hunting, blood sports, clothing (fur, wool, leather), and entertainment are all covered in heartbreaking detail. But it’s the authors’ discussion of animals used in food production that truly stands out, introducing readers to practices that some other animal rights books overlook, such as fishing and aquaculture, which they call “underwater factory farming” and observe is the fastest-growing segment of agribusiness.
With prose that is both vivid and insightful, DeMello and Williams invite the reader to reconsider the attitudes many of us hold about animals and the purpose we believe they have for existing. What would our world be like, they ask, if our choices expressed our compassion for the planet and those with whom we share it? “[G]iven what we now know about the lives of animals who die in order to provide us with our food, clothing, and entertainment choices -- the playfulness of pigs, the intelligence of whales, the family values of elephants, and the personal relationships of cows -- it’s difficult to see how we can continue to make these personal choices. How do we proceed knowing how much a pig enjoys grunting to her friends, napping in a soft bed, splashing in a pond, and eating apples with the reality of what many female pigs’ lives are like: trapped inside warehouses, confined in small stalls on concrete floors, with not a bit of straw to cushion herself, and separated from one’s kin -- for her entire life?”
Buoyed with stories of animal survivors and their rescuers, Why Animals Matter offers some hope in a world of despair and is a compelling resource that is certain to widen our circle of compassion. Whether you’re a long-time animal activist or you’re just looking for an outstanding survey of humanity’s offenses against our fellow creatures, this is an extremely reader-friendly guide that every compassionate person should read. Give a copy to everyone you know!(less)
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3.91 avg rating — 46 ratings
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published
2008
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2 editions
to:
