A case for vegetarianism from the perspectives of health, morality, ecology and spirituality.
Founder of Nature’s Path Foods Arran and health writer Rosen present an elegant universal plea for compassionate dietary change on several levels: for the animals who suffer to become our food, for the millions of starving humans and for the preservation of the planet, which is being rapidly consumed to feed the meat addiction of wealthier nations. Supportive and staggering statistics from Environmental Defense and the EarthSave Foundation describe the massive quantities of crops, acreage and money it takes to support the meat industry, along with its impact on health and the environment. Shaded text boxes contain applicable quotes from famous vegetarians like Albert Einstein, religious texts, or medical professionals: “I don’t understand why asking people to eat a well-balanced vegetarian diet is considered drastic, while it is medically conservative to cut people open and put them on cholesterol-lowering drugs for the rest of their lives,” states Dr. Dean Ornish. Considering the authors’ backgrounds, it's no surprise that the strongest portion of their argument is their sharing of the significant nutritional benefits of the meatless diet, which include lower cholesterol, decreased risk for cancer and a longer life span. Spiritual rationale for the fleshless diet abounds in various religions, and the authors have dug deep to find supportive passages from each. However, in attempting to portray Jesus Christ as a vegetarian, the authors reach for corroboration using ancient literary evidence that contradicts most versions of the Bible. The brief chapter describing karma and our complicity in killing when we consume the flesh of other sentient beings would have sufficed.
Wonderful quotes and legitimate arguments for an animal-free diet make up this manageable, convincing book.
