I am a book worm, but one of my main goals this year is to read the books I already have on my shelf. I thought I would review some of the books I have read for you and add ones to the wish list as I learn of them, by genre. I think vegan books are an integral part of my advocacy and psychological self-care.
Classics
Animal Liberation – Peter Singer
The Jungle – Upton Sinclair
Animal Farm – George Orwell
Health
How Not To Die – Michael Gregor
Proteinaholic – Garth Davis
The China Study – T. Colin Thomas & Thomas M. Campell
Environmental
Cowspiracy – Kip Anderson and Keegan Kuhn
Plastic Ocean – Capt. Charles Moore
Waste Not – Erin Rhodes
Ethics
The Ethics of What We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter – Peter Singer and Jim Mason
I read this a few years ago. Peter Singer explores the diets of three American families; the first exemplifies the standard meat-and-potatoes diet sourced from the local supermarket, occasionally eating fast food and drinking Coke and beer. The second family is concerned about its health, buying fresh, locally grown vegetables, calling themselves ‘caring carnivores’, eating meat from animals raised to humane standards. The third family is vegan: nothing they eat comes from an animal and wherever possible they buy organic. Peter and Jim trace back the origins of the food purchased in a standard shop by each family and discuss the ethical implications on other humans, non-human animals and the environment. A very informative read, I recall learning a lot about organics and fairtrade.
Eating Animals – Jonathan San Foer
I read this about a year ago and got absolutely absorbed in it on the bus to and from work each day. I had never read anything that encompassed philosophy, literature, science, undercover detective work, folklore, pop culture and family traditions into a holistic discussion about eating animals. It really opened my eyes to different perspective sand was so beautifully poetic to read.
Reasons for Hope – Jane Goodall
Psychology
Why we Love Dogs, Eat Pigs and Wear Cows – Melanie Joy
I started reading this over Christmas and couldn’t put it down once I picked it up. Melanie applies basic and advanced psychology to explain her theory of carnism. Carnism provides an understanding of how we numb ourselves to our natural empathy for farm animals through carnistic beliefs, such as we love some animals but eat others. Being a social psychologist, there is an emphasis on social justice and change. A wonderful read.
Living Among Meat Eaters – Carol J Adams
I started reading this recently after attending a vegan advocacy workshop and realising I had some symptoms of secondary traumatic stress and that my interactions with others were being affected by this. Carol has a beautifully direct way of empowering the reader without being dogmatic. This book provided me with healthier perspective of almost every significant relationship in my life and practical tools for my vegan toolbox, of which perhaps the golden rule is a blanket rule of not discussing food choices whist eating.
The Sexual Politics of Meat – Carol J Adams
The Inner Art of Vegetarianism – Carol J. Adams
When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals – Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Susan McCarthy
Beast: What Animals Can Teach Us About the Origins of Good and Evil – Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
Yoga and Spirituality
Yoga and Veganism: The Diet of Enlightenment– Sharon Gannon
I was required to read this book as part of my Jivamukti Yoga teacher training. Sharon Ji eloquently describes how five of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras have implications for the modern treatment of animals. According to Sharon Ji, the co-founder of the Jivamukti Yoga method, vegetarianism is the single most important yogic practice and in itself a path to enlightenment.
The Jivamukti Yoga Book – Sharon Gannon and David Life
Cats and Dogs are People too – Sharon Gannon
The World Peace Diet – Will Tuttle
The Compassionate Animal: The Yoga of the Extended Circle of Compassion – Barbara Gardner
Cookbooks
Natural Harry – Harriet Birrell
Forks Over Knives: The Cookbook
Simple Recipes for Joy – Sharon Gannon
Please comment below on your favourite vegan reads or any I could be adding to my list!
Happy reading,
Meg x
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