5 Books to Read About Going Vegetarian
Plant-based and vegetarian diets have become very popular in recent years. This is mainly because of sustainability and animal cruelty concerns. Perhaps you are looking to learn more about the meat industry, animal cruelty or the environmental impacts of eating meat. These five books offer thoughtful perspectives on plant-based diets – with a mix of scientific research, memoirs and fiction.
THIS IS VEGAN PROPAGANDA (AND OTHER LIES THE MEAT INDUSTRY TELLS YOU)
By Ed Winters
Published in 2022
An informative read, Ed Winters, vegan activist and educator, details the history of the meat industry and his own journey with veganism. Winters discusses how the meat and dairy industries became widespread and the arguments that many people use against going vegetarian.
This book touches on three main reasons for having a plant-based diet: animal cruelty, protection of the planet and media bias against going plant-based. Based on current research, this book will make you reconsider the horrors of the meat industry, the environmental damage that the industry has caused and the barriers that prevent us from eating a plant-based diet.
“WHY WE LOVE DOGS, EAT PIGS AND WEAR COWS: AN INTRODUCTION TO CARNISM”
By Melanie Joy
Published in 2010
Social psychologist Melanie Joy discusses the attitudes and perceptions of eating different animals across cultures. While some countries believe it is acceptable to eat dogs, others think this is cruel. What is the difference between eating a dog and a cow? Joy coins this term ‘carnism’.
In this book, Joy describes the psychological mechanisms behind why we think only some animals are acceptable to eat, and how the meat industry uses these mechanisms to keep people purchasing animal products.
This book is vital for understanding how people think about animals and equality.
“THE LIVES OF ANIMALS”
By J.M. Coetzee
Published in 1999
This short fictional story follows Elizabeth Costello, who has recently become very passionate about vegetarianism. Costello’s son attends her classes about animal rights at Princeton University, where she makes strong and controversial arguments about animal rights. These arguments offend some attendees; however, her arguments demonstrate her deep compassion and empathy for animals.
Costello’s thought-provoking debates encourage the reader to spend time with animals, to understand that animals are living beings with feelings, and that community with animals and people is both possible and beneficial.
“MAD COWBOY: PLAIN TRUTH FROM THE CATTLERANCHER WHO WON’T EAT MEAT”
By Howard F. Lyman
Published in 1998
Lyman is a fourth generation dairy farmer and cattle rancher with over 20 years of experience in the field, as well as a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. After a discussion on the Oprah Winfrey show about the dangers of eating animals, Lyman was sued by cattlemen for depicting American beef as unsafe. However, the court dismissed the claims.
In this memoir, Lyman discusses the case, sustainability and the dangerous practices in the cattle industry. He talks about the health issues associated with eating meat and how Americans should be more concerned about the illnesses associated with animal-based diets.
Through his lived experiences, Lyman makes compelling arguments for a plant-based diet as well as what happens when someone speaks out about the dangers of the meat industry.
“EAT FOR THE PLANET”
By Nil Zacharias and Gene Stone
Published in 2018
In Eat for The Planet, Zacharias and Stone provide recipes, infographics and scientific research proving that small changes in what we eat can lead to positive effects on the environment.
Unlike the other book suggestions, this book offers practical guidelines for transitioning to a more plant-based diet. Zacharias and Stone discuss the plant-based alternatives to animal products, pantry and freezer essentials, and strategies for plant-based cooking for every meal.
Highlight Image:
@ Hümâ H. Yardım via Unsplash
