When Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., first asked Nicolette Hahn Niman to head up his environmental organization's "hog campaign," she balked. Investigat... read full description
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Feb 11, 2012
g-na
rated it: 
Righteous Porkchop is very similar to The Face on Your Plate, which I just finished reading, but it is also an entirely different book. The similarity lies in that R.P. really does tell you the truth about food; you learn about the major types of animal foods--milk, eggs, beef, pork, chicken, and fish--as well as specifics about how the animals are housed, fed, drugged, and treated. It goes in-depth on subjects such as how "old-fashioned" traditional farms actually improve the soil in
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Jul 20, 2010
Bill
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"While I fully accept the appropriateness of humans raising animals for food, I do not accept that humans have a right to treat animals cruelly in the process, least of all for the purpose of higher profits"
That sentiment about sums up the philosophy of Nicolette Hahn Niman after a books worth of life-journey and immersion in the practices of producing food from animals.
Bobby Kennedy, Jr decides to set his Waterkeepers organization after the confinement pork i More...
That sentiment about sums up the philosophy of Nicolette Hahn Niman after a books worth of life-journey and immersion in the practices of producing food from animals.
Bobby Kennedy, Jr decides to set his Waterkeepers organization after the confinement pork i More...
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Jun 28, 2010
Pia
rated it:
One of the best books I've read in years. this was a really well written book on industrial farming. She starts with the hog industry in NC, and how the closed containment farms are a disaster for the environment, the polluted rivers and estuaries are a result of the manure and urine of the hogs. And how superbugs/viruses have developed as a result of antibiotics that are added to the daily feed of the animals (pig, chicken) living in crowded, stressed, disease laden envirnoments. The antibx co
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Nov 07, 2009
Annie
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This book is part memoir, part history and partly just informative. It belongs to the same family as the current popular food reformers in the Michael Pollan camp, but it's distinctly separate as well.
The story begins with Niman's first experiences with industrial hog farming as Robert Kennedy Jr.'s lead attorney for his environmental action group, Waterkeepers. Legal drama interspersed with tales of environmental degradation and human interest stories made the whole thing pretty More...
The story begins with Niman's first experiences with industrial hog farming as Robert Kennedy Jr.'s lead attorney for his environmental action group, Waterkeepers. Legal drama interspersed with tales of environmental degradation and human interest stories made the whole thing pretty More...
Jul 29, 2009
Steve
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A very interesting, fact-filled book.
The negatives: several typos (annoying), the middle drags on a bit, and it is a slight bit of "propaganda" for Niman Ranch.
The positives definitely outweigh the negatives, however, and I found myself very into the book, especially in the beginning and end.
I'd say my favorite section (where I learned the most) turned out to be the section on seafood and farmed fish; I learned a lot about eating it, and Niman's info More...
The negatives: several typos (annoying), the middle drags on a bit, and it is a slight bit of "propaganda" for Niman Ranch.
The positives definitely outweigh the negatives, however, and I found myself very into the book, especially in the beginning and end.
I'd say my favorite section (where I learned the most) turned out to be the section on seafood and farmed fish; I learned a lot about eating it, and Niman's info More...
Mar 21, 2009
this is a very informative book, i have read many books on factory farming so a lot of the information was not new to me, however, it was from a fresh perspective, a vegetarian (very much not a no-meat activist) learns the ropes and marries a cattle rancher..quite the twist. i will say it was very enlightening to the cattle/beef production versus all other. definitely some good facts there. also, i learned that 80% of all seafood and fish is imported and 90% of shrimp is, almost all from china w
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Mar 11, 2009
Dana
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I'm only on p.56, but already having anxiety about the sources of the meat, dairy, and eggs we eat. Not that I am a stranger to this discourse. I've read Michael Pollan and Peter Singer. And, honestly, I'm beginning to feel as if "eating ethically" might be something only the rich have the luxury to do. That is, unless you swear off meat, dairy and eggs entirely. But then again, could I give up cable TV and spend the $96 a month on the above-mentioned foods, yes.
All of that More...
All of that More...
Dec 02, 2008
Alexa
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There is far too much about litigation (against big mean hog containment "farmers" which is important but has boring day-to-day details) and far too little about this porkchop mentioned in the title. If you like food books and you make it past the first third of the book, you'll probably like it, unless you really like the first third in which case you'll probably stop after the first third. I did appreciate that the author's big love story wasn't larger than life in the book and sat
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Dec 15, 2009
Zinta
rated it:
For many years, I thought I had been doing the right thing, eating the right foods and watching out for my health. I thought I was an environmentalist, caring about the preservation and good stewardship of the natural world we live in.
Holy cow, was I wrong.
Some time ago, I was reading another good book about human behavior, and what is required for us to behave against our own values. Compartmentalization was a concept I came to understand is absolutely necessary for mo More...
Holy cow, was I wrong.
Some time ago, I was reading another good book about human behavior, and what is required for us to behave against our own values. Compartmentalization was a concept I came to understand is absolutely necessary for mo More...
Jan 25, 2010
Everything you need to know but didn't want to about meat production, how she took on the pork industry in North Caroline and set precedents which allow communities to fight corporations who are breaking federal laws (Clean Air and Clean Water Acts), to raise meat. journal of a vegetarian's journey fresh out of law school, filing litigation against a major industrial menace,l through to her subsequent life married to humane husbandry, pastured meat mensch, Bill Niman of Niman Ranch.
Jul 30, 2011
If you eat meat this is a really great expose on the factory farming model for meat production, especially pork. The one thing this book doesn't do is give enough meaningful suggestions for sourcing non-factory farmed meats. That would have been a nice addition--to sum up by saying exactly where you can find and buy non-factory farmed meats. If you are new to this topic--and I am not--this book is a good introduction to everything that is wrong with agribusiness.
Mar 02, 2010
Sara
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This was a great supplement to the Omnivore's Dilemma. While Michael Pollan spotlights the beef industry in industrial agriculture, Niman explains that the pork and chicken industries are arguably in worse in terms of pollution, treatment of animals and food safety. She also highlights the fish industry (aquaculture) and though brief, it was eye-opening. Her book is less pedantic than Pollan's. Niman is an environmental lawyer and focuses on how these industries break the law. The best part is t
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Mar 07, 2011
Rebecca
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I hate it when I have to dislike a book that I agree with in principle because of the way those principles are presented. The author is a lawyer, not a journalist, but still the spin is profound. I felt duped midway through to find out she's married to a cattle rancher, and that fact shoots holes in her credibility. While she does make some good points, this isn't a sustainable-food-lit book that I would recommend to anyone just getting into the subject.
Feb 17, 2009
Erica
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I would like to have Nicolette as a friend. She seems passionate, driven, kind, practical and smart. It doesn't hurt that we both care about food.
Righteous Porkchop starts off slow, but then picks up momentum as it details the atrocities of big ag and the meat industry. I appreciated her middle of the road, practical stance in a country that is torn by partisanship.
Righteous Porkchop starts off slow, but then picks up momentum as it details the atrocities of big ag and the meat industry. I appreciated her middle of the road, practical stance in a country that is torn by partisanship.
Jul 23, 2009
Myriah
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This author has certainly researched her topic, and she takes you along for the ride. I think her topic is incredibly interesting, however the book's documentary feeling can be a little hard to get through some spots. You know how when you are watching a documentary and suddenly you get to listen to music as you watch images fly by that in reality took weeks, maybe months to happen? Well, I wish this book were like that instead of trudging through the mundane.
On page 87 we read, " More...
On page 87 we read, " More...
Jun 10, 2010
De
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The more I learn about industrial farming the less I wonder why we're all sick, fat and tired. Honestly. And now to see that we're messing with the organic standards as well just makes me look at my local farmers who actually take pride in what they do. I'll be happily handing my cash over to them.
This book was definitely full of good information, if a little slow to read. Nicole's passion for research definitely shows but at times makes for slow going. A must read for all thos More...
This book was definitely full of good information, if a little slow to read. Nicole's passion for research definitely shows but at times makes for slow going. A must read for all thos More...
Sep 09, 2009
JBEG
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She's not the stylist that Pollan is, but this is nevertheless an impressive book. I learned a ton about the history of American agriculture -- not to mention the brutalities of its present manifestation. There is also nothing sanctimonious (except when she descends into biography, but I skimmed those parts!)
Dec 17, 2009
Patrcia
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Do you know where the meat on your plate comes from? Read Righteous Porkchop and find out. There is a vast difference between factory farms and farms where animals are allowed to graze. This book gives you both sides in a well thought out manner.
Jun 30, 2009
Anne
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Extremely compelling case for moving away from factory farming in all of its forms. Highly recommended to anyone interested in learning about where their food comes from, and making more environmentally and socially responsible choices about food.
May 16, 2009
Mary
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Very good overview of what current animal confinement "agriculture" is doing to our soil and water quality in the US and a strong statement in support of more sustainable food production.
Feb 14, 2010
Rae
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A fresh point of view from a vegetarian married to a rancher. I wasn't necessarily interested in all the legal hijinx but really appreciated the no-nonsense guidance on how to make better food choices. A good read.
Apr 11, 2009
Donna
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Very interesting book. I told my husband if he reads this he'll never eat pork at a restaurant again, and he said, "That's why I'm not going to read it."
Mar 25, 2011
Gina
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While I don't agree with Niman's philosophy that meat is okay as long as it's produced less cruelly, this book was well written and interesting.
Sep 15, 2009
This is a nice look at (and a strike against) the industrial animal producing industries, specifically pork. I finally had to abandon it because I'm getting bogged down with work reading, not because I don't want to come back to it later. I'm curious to see if Niman's personal investment in Niman Ranch skews things at all if I read to the end, as it feels like it does where I've left off.
Jul 07, 2009
Amber
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I enjoyed what the author had to say, but her general tone throughout the book struck me as somewhat self centered in that the "right" always seemed to conveniently fall around her personal choices and views. She happens to have married a beef rancher so therefore beef must be the most humane of meat choices etc. I didn't really expect this to be as much of a memoir and was hoping for more of an information/research based book. Still enlightening though.
Feb 27, 2010
Karen
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A memoir focused on the ethical treatment of animals in factory farms and the gross violations of the Clean Water Act by the pig, dairy and chicken industries. Hired by Bobbie Kennedy to head up the investigation into hog manure pollution for the Waterkeeper Alliance, the book follows her career which ultimately brings her to marry the founder of Niman ranch. This book gives more reasons to pay attention to where your food comes from and the impact factory farming has on our health and the hea
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Mar 27, 2011
Haley
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It is taking me ages to get through this book, but it's a good read. I find parts of her logic flawed, especially her views on the corn-fed meat industry. Kind of hard to take someone who is literally sleeping with the meat industry seriously. But, overall, a good read. My goal is to finish this book this weekend and move on with my life.
Update: She gets way too preachy at the end. And pulls in Christianity to show that Jesus ate morally/righteously, and therefore so should we.
Update: She gets way too preachy at the end. And pulls in Christianity to show that Jesus ate morally/righteously, and therefore so should we.
Jul 07, 2009
Josh
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This book really opened my eyes to the world of ethical farming, and the atrocities that are comitted in order to bring mass produced food to our tables. Animals kept in awful conditions on these factory farms, and pollution is unchecked most times.
Its a sad, but realistic book that shows you what goes into the food, that goes into your mouth. Think twice about that McDonald's burger! I can honestly say that it helped me to become a more ethical consumer.
Its a sad, but realistic book that shows you what goes into the food, that goes into your mouth. Think twice about that McDonald's burger! I can honestly say that it helped me to become a more ethical consumer.
