For those of you who don't know about it, "Eating Animals" is about, well exactly what the title tells you; eating animals. There is an emphasis on factory farming versus family farming (which I don't feel the need to explain to you). This book has a particularly interesting take, as it not only tells you the "bad" about factory farming but Foer also provides interviews with workers on the "inside" of these farms to show you things from their perspectives and some of them only have "good" to say.
As I've mentioned before, Jonathan Safran Foer is a personal favorite, but his previous books were novels and completely different than "Eating Animals". On that note I have to add that I am still a huge fan.
I can't believe the amount of actual abuse that the animals at factory farms go through. Before reading this book, I was well aware that a lot of animals are not slaughtered in the most humane ways possible, but it sickened me even more to learn about the perversion and torture that takes place at some of these factory farms. Unbelievable. My faith in humanity is depleted in some way every day the way it is and this book only made it deplete more rapidly.
There was a point during the book when Foer was writing about the amount of pollution given off by factory hog farms. I'll just say that it made me want to plug my nose when I drive by now for many reasons more than just the smell.
Oh yeah, and I might want to add that I have a new term ingrained in my brain thanks to this book: "fecal soup". Read the book. You might not like what you learn.
I have never felt more of a connection with a quote that wasn't my own than I did while reading this book. That quote being, "ignorance is bliss". I guess I don't know that I was really ignorant before but I definitely know a lot more now and it is definitely going to make me change some of my buying habits.
First line teaser for y'all: "When I was young, I would often spend the weekend at my grandmother's house."
Oh! I also must add that this book has only furthered my desire for a Whole Foods in the area. It's time Des Moines. Get a move on!
This book is DEFINITELY: RECOMMENDED
Up next: "Look Again" by Lisa Scottoline (book club selection)
