Meat Market: Animals, Ethics, and Money
by Erik Marcus
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Book Summary Information
Author: Erik MarcusEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-07-15
ISBN: 0975867903
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: Brio Press
Book Reviews of Meat Market: Animals, Ethics, and Money
Book Review: A fresh look at animals and activism
Summary: 5 Stars
VegKC.com presented author/speaker Erik Marcus to Kansas City on April 10th and 11th. He provided a focused talk for activists on Sunday, a public book presentation and signing on Monday, and joined us for meals after both. We talked about the job of activism and the nature, state, and future of animal protection movements. I have been thinking about these subjects for a long time and have finally found ideas that make sense to me, all neatly bundled in Erik's new book. I bought two copies of Meat Market. One for me and one to share with anyone I can get to read it.
Eight years ago, Marcus wrote Vegan: the New Ethics of Eating. Since that time, he has seen every side of animal protection movements, become dissatisfied with their progress, and developed strategies to improve them. If every major industry (including our competition) has a board to analyze and evaluate their effectiveness, so should the animal protection movements. Yet, somehow, this has been overlooked. Marcus provides Meat Market as a welcome first step towards movement refinement and evolution.
Meat Market is intentionally different from typical vegan literature in both format and content: Instead of striving to induce mass veganism, it provides a starting point for those who are compelled to accomplish something more. Topics are brief, focused, and without the shouting and gore that somehow became acceptable in the early stages of the modern movements. It's a solid information source and provides specific actions for individuals at any level of commitment. It's also timely for me because I held so many of its ideals, as well as frustrations, and this gave both a well-reasoned voice.
I divide the book into five sections: The first is a factual exploration of the business of growing animals for food. It doesn't identify actions as horrible (so much); rather, it describes the actions, provides the rationale for them, and lets the reader absorb the information. It shows the evolution of the industry, its current state, and explains that the current system can't change its methods. It provides the facts you need before talking to anyone about factory farming. You've probably met omnivores who said, "don't even talk to me about factory farming--I know it's horrible but I don't want to think about it." These 55 pages are what you give to them.
The second section offers a history, state, and future of the three animal protection movements. The last chapter of this section provides a great resource when books, pictures, or movies finally compel someone to action.
The third section contains essays from a cross-section of individuals who've incorporated a higher purpose into what they love to do. They're a good source of inspiration and will leave you wondering how you can weave activism into your professional life or weave a professional life around activism.
Section four provides unassailable information on vegan issues, while section five contains supplemental notes supporting section four (and the rest of the book). To give activists a sound knowledge base, Erik spent 18 months in the Cornell Agriculture Library (Mann) researching the latest and best science on vegan topics. He exposes the bad science and exaggerations that have crept into, and propagated through, our literature. The result is compelling while avoiding outlandish claims.
These sections combine to make Meat Market an important addition to every activist's library. In particular, section one and four are essential reading before discussing veganism in public. Section one also provides a gentle but thorough introduction you can give to friends or relatives without worrying that they'll think you're a kook. It's also compelling and short enough to make a great display/tabling item. Section two provides important direction for budding activists with a rational, results-oriented approach to activism. Section three serves up motivation when your batteries are low, as well as pearls for new ideas.
Erik Marcus's goal is not simply to convert people to veganism; it's to inspire people to activism - and he offers plenty of ways to contribute. My first suggestion is buy a copy for inspiration. My second suggestion is to buy a second copy and give it to the first interested friend, relative, or stranger you find.
Summary of Meat Market: Animals, Ethics, and Money
Meat Market elevates the debate over animal agriculture. Erik Marcus exposes and clears away the exaggerated claims and counterclaims put forth by the meat industry and its opponents. In the process, Marcus presents a thorough examination of animal agricultureÕs cruelties and its far-reaching social costs. Marcus then considers the discouraging progress made by the animal protection movement. He evaluates where the movement has gone wrong, and how its shortcomings could best be remedied.Animal Rights Books
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