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206th out of 461 books
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MAD COWBOY: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat
This impassioned, no-nonsense account of the dangerous and potentially fatal practices of the cattle and dairy industries is told by a man uniquely qualified to blow the whistle--a former cattle rancher who has become a high-profile advocate for vegetarianism.
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
July 7th 2001
by Scribner
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Lisa Vegan
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
those who ever wanted to make a change in their lives, those who love animals
I really admire people who make huge changes in their lives, and Howard Lyman is one of them. He's an ex-multi-generational cattle rancher who became vegan after developing medical problems. He's since made it his mission to talk and write about the cattle & dairy industry, as well as the benefits, to both people and animals, of going vegan = giving up animal product foods. He gives the reader a lot of information with which to make their decisions about whether to consume animal products.
Until last week, I think I was one of the few remaining vegans in North America who hasn't read “Mad Cowboy”. Lyman and Merzer's book provides an interesting take on the reasons for being vegan, and may be one of the most compelling books on the topic ever written. If you have never read anything about the health and environmental costs of eating meat, this would be a great place to start. If you are already a vegan, or have read lots of books about the reasons for veganism, you might not fin...more
Oh my. This book has been in our house for a couple years. My husband read half of it. His sister is now a vegan and his mom a vegetarian. I have been meaning to read the book but wasn't sure where it was. But last night while looking for another book, I found it. I have been one of those "kinda" vegetarians who occasionally eats chicken or fish. (Same for the rest of the family) Well, after reading just through chapter 2, I am changed. Now I have read through a few more chapters, and ...more
Another book I went out an bought after seeing the author on Oprah. Remember when Oprah was sued by the meat industry for saying that she would never eat another burger? Yeah, that was this guy, the cattle rancher who wouldn't eat meat. A fabulous book, not only about the evils of the meat industry, but about self discovery and making a change in yourself and then helping others to change too. The author goes through a huge life change in the book. Does he want to continue to raise his cattle in...more
The best way to describe this book is a that it is "Skinny Bitch" for men, with the added bonus of the rancher perspective. Lyman, who was once a rancher in Montana, tells his story of growing up as a dairy farmer, dealing with bovine growth hormones, mad cow disease, and all of the challenges of surviving as "cowboy" in the modern dairy industry. He comes to the realization that the farming practices that he has adopted are ruining the soil, parching his land, and is moral...more
I stopped eating meat when, one morning in 1979 I woke up to the aroma of bacon being cooked. In that instant I realized I couldn't eat meat anymore. I don't know what happened. It still smelled good, I just had no desire to eat it. I still ate fish and foul, although I really wanted to be vegetarian, I just wanted it to be as "organic" (if that's what it was for me) as my relationship to meat. In the summer of 2000 I spent a week's vacation with my vegan daughter and decided to n...more
Be prepared to love tofu. This former rancher explains what goes on in the beef industry and exposes the risks of eating beef, not only to consumers, but also to the earth. It took me 6 months after reading this book to feel okay about eating a hamburger again. And now that I think about it, I don't want another one.
The author does rant at times, and seems to have an axe to grind with various diet fads (such as Barry Sears' ZONE diet)for which I subtracted 2 stars.
The author does rant at times, and seems to have an axe to grind with various diet fads (such as Barry Sears' ZONE diet)for which I subtracted 2 stars.
I found this book on the bargain table of a local bookstore years ago. I have to admit that I was a vegetarian before I read it but if I hadn't been I would have afterwards.
Lyman doesn't try to scare you or preach but he smacks you about the head with facts as though they were hammer blows. If you have any concern for your own health, the health of your family or the health of the planet and you have to date not read this book it is an absolute must.
N...more
Wow. This is singularly the best book I've read on the case for veganism. And I've read a lot of books on the topic!! You're not going to find a lot of animal rights stuff in here -- in fact, I think he spends one small paragraph on it. What you will find is a soul-baring, witty, down-to-earth tale about how this factory farmer gave it all up and became a vegan and why. If this guy can become a vegan, anyone can...and should!!
I was initially very put off by his Golly Ma'am, I'm Just a Dumb Ole Cowboy approach, but he kind of grew on me; also, he got less folksy once he got into the meat of the book (sorry, couldn't resist the stupid pun). The book is dated, but it's still a good read, with important information. It helps that it is a quick read. If you are interested in the subject matter - veganism, our food supply, factory farms, the impact of meat eating on individual health and the world environment - then it's w...more
Mr. Lyman was involved in the Oprah, "I'll never eat another hamburger" lawsuit. Also, just so you know, Mr. Lyman pulls no punches in the first chapter. No dipping the toe in to test the waters. Nope. He throws you in head-first. Caveat: first chapter on an empty stomach (there should be an advisory to that effect, Mr. Lyman!)
I also found it interesting that when he went to his bank and tried to get a loan in order to farm in such a way as to make reparations to the land dam...more
I also found it interesting that when he went to his bank and tried to get a loan in order to farm in such a way as to make reparations to the land dam...more
Mad cowboy certainly sends a clear message, the farm industry is severely messed up. After reading this book I felt deeply saddened that things have gotten so political and so inhumane.
I truly feel if the average person knew the horrible things that were happening they would change what they buy and how they eat as well as what they eat.
This book touches on the horrible treatment of the animals but really it is more about the horrible treatment of people. What exactly is in the fo...more
I truly feel if the average person knew the horrible things that were happening they would change what they buy and how they eat as well as what they eat.
This book touches on the horrible treatment of the animals but really it is more about the horrible treatment of people. What exactly is in the fo...more
BarkLessWagMore
rated it
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to BarkLessWagMore by:
a fellow bookcrosser
Though I may not have the willpower to give up milk, fish, cheese and ice cream (say it isn't so!) cold-turkey I am definitely going to aim towards a bean, grain, fruit & veggie diet and am starting to research vegetarian & vegan lifestyles. This book is a real eye opener and I'm very glad I had the chance to read it.
The scariest part about this book for me was the possible US epidemic of Mad Cow and the fact that this book made so much sense that I want to scream out these facts ...more
The scariest part about this book for me was the possible US epidemic of Mad Cow and the fact that this book made so much sense that I want to scream out these facts ...more
This is a five star book for the great information and for the perspective of an ex-rancher gone vegan. I had to dock it a star for the diet information at the back of the book. Skip that and instead read Eat to Live or a couple of books by Andrew Weil.
I really think all people should read this and learn what goes on in the production of their hamburgers. I also think people ought to know what raising cattle is doing to the earth. And, to those of you who think the solution is ...more
I really think all people should read this and learn what goes on in the production of their hamburgers. I also think people ought to know what raising cattle is doing to the earth. And, to those of you who think the solution is ...more
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I just disagreed with a lot of this man's philosophies. I learned some things, though, and it was worth reading. I'm glad he found a lifestyle (vegan) that works for him. He just seemed too extreme to me. Like he has a bit of a chip on his shoulder...
I still like my meat. I just make sure it's grass-fed with no hormones or antibiotics. He wrote as though there were no alternatives to factory meat at all. And, quite frankly, some of his medical information and stats just don't jive wi...more
I still like my meat. I just make sure it's grass-fed with no hormones or antibiotics. He wrote as though there were no alternatives to factory meat at all. And, quite frankly, some of his medical information and stats just don't jive wi...more
I read this a couple of years back it was given to me from a raw foodist (only eating things raw) It was so Eye opening that I didn't touch meat for a year my first year in college ate an apple a day and lost 30 pounds that year. Unfourtunatly got a soft spot for BBQ so that habit didn't stick to long however in the book Omnivores Delima it puts forth that perhaps eating meat isn't the culprit that is bad it's how it's processed and raised. So now I have an out on the times when I indulge in som...more
This book was an eye opener, strangely because I approached it knowing alot about the issues Lyman discusses. It became apparent within just a few pages that, as we often discover about this "great country" things are alot worse then I imagined. I knew what a renderer was, but had no idea how diverse its processing contents really were. I knew about Mad Cow disease but not how much the real threat of it has been covered up by the same people that were too cowardly to do anything abo...more
This book was amazing! I can't believe that many of the facts backed by scientific studies are swept under the rug by the livestock industry! This book is very factual and graphic at times, but provides a persuasive report of the benefits of veganism, and how it is good for the earth, and man kind. I had no IDEA that consumption of animal products is continuously linked to chronic illness, and that there are SO MANY chemicals in our foods. We ban chemicals, but let them be used for a year after ...more
Happyreader
rated it
I read this during my vegan years and I thought of it again when I checked out Mad Sheep. Howard is so Texan - plain-spoken, to-the-point. Persuasive without being preachy. This book is the forerunner to Omnivore's Dilemna (and much better written), Fast Food Nation, Food, Inc. etc. A quick, engrossing, maddening read.
This book was very eye opening to say the least. Do not read if you plan to eat meat the rest of your life. The details of what these animals are fed will gross you out for certain. I have not eaten beef or beef products since May, 2011. I also gave up chicken, but now have added it back into my diet. I'm buying organic, naturally raised chicken. This book opened my eyes to what I'm actually feeding my family. A lot has changed since this read!
This book, which I read when I was voraciously reading everything I could find on the Pet Food Industry in the late 90s, is repulsive, of course, as is just about anything on the subject. But the Pet Food Industry, and trying to do my little part to do something about it, is a passion, as I got a degree in human nutrition in the early 1980s and found, in the nineties, that my pets were literally dying from what I was feeding them.
I felt that this book, while eye-opening for someone who might not know about the meat industry, and rather humorous for the rest of us, totally disregarded some of the other omnivorous options humans have. His argument for veganism was close-minded and naive. He failed to take a good look at what grass-fed cattle can do for the environment, and barely grazed over what 100% veganism would do to the economy. We would wipe out all of the huge factory farms (at least those that control the meat we ...more
a great veggie read. robyn and i heard an interview with this author for hours up highway 5 (from disneyland) on am radio, the only station that came in and were fascinated. passing the stench of coalinga was very apropos! this is why i don't crave beef...
I found this to be a well researched, courageous, and informative book that anyone who wants to eat with eyes wide open should read. As a former farm girl and a now passionate vegan, I could totally relate to this author! It is now on my list of recommended reads for my Vegan and V curious friends.
How much more convincing an account can there be than this story by a former corporate cattle rancher? He exposes the ugly truth about the mass-production of beef in this country. Compelling for its deep research, but also "insider" perspective.
Mad Cowboy... what I have learned from you! This is one of the very first books I read about the food industry. Before Food, Inc., SuperSize Me, Fast Food Nation. This is way before that. Howard Lymann is amazing. He has opened my eyes to what is really going on. It's kind of really mind blowing, to be honest. Before this book, I had no idea these things were going on. I trusted the government. I would have never believed anything in this book. How could it be? How is it possible? It still blows...more
It's enlightening to hear about the cattle and dairy industry from someone who used to be a catttleman. I felt a slight connection to this man since he is from Montana.
This ex-cattle rancher has a very interesting story to tell. I recommend it to people who want the "short version" of the truth about the evils of meat for us and our planet.
Linda
is currently reading it
Picked this one up b/c my dh wanted to read it. (Preaching to the choir here...) Nonetheless, I'm finding it eye-opening and think I'll be eating vegan from here on.
Not sure where to start with this one. He covers everything from the health issues of eating meat, to the environmental impacts of raising livestock.
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