Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

I haven't finished this book yet, but I cannot stress enough what an impact it has on me every time I pick it up. I actually found out about Eating Animals while reading about Natalie Portman (I totally have a girl-crush on her). The book spurred her to push from a long-time vegetarian to vegan.

Jonathan Safran Foer, the author, had long been back and forth between vegetarian and meat-eater. He started research for his book for the birth of his first son, so he could figure out his diet dilemma once-and-for-all and the best way to raise his child. I am absolutely amazed by the amount of numerical and statistical facts, first-hand accounts, and Foer's own work experiencing multiple types of farms and a small slaughterhouse (he couldn't get into the industrial slaughterhouses, no one can).

Eating Animals graphically covers the ethical dilemma and ecological damage caused by factory farms and slaughterhouses. It infuriates me as I read about large factory farm-owning companies dumping millions of gallons of waste into rivers. It tugs at my heart reading about the painful lives and horrific deaths factory animals are condemned to endure. I can't believe companies legally get away with their irresponsible genetic manipulation (many of the animals raised in factory farms are so genetically altered they can no longer survive outdoors, walk, reproduce, etc) and overuse of antimicrobials (we use them sparingly, but factory animals are pumped full of them) to make a profit off living animals. Their profit comes at such a hefty price to the world.

I suggest this book to everyone; in fact, I believe it should be required reading! All people should know where and how they get their food, so they can make educated consumption choices. I plan on passing around my copy to anyone that will give it a read.