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The Way We Eat  By  cover art

The Way We Eat

By: Peter Singer, Jim Mason
Narrated by: Rick Adamson
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Publisher's summary

Eating is about more than satisfying our hunger. It's also about the environment, social justice, personal development, and sustainable living. Many Americans already know this. We're eating less red meat and more organically produced foods, and most restaurants offer vegetarian options. But do we really know the truth about mechanized animal farming and slaughterhouses, herbicide and pesticide use, and labels that promise "Certified Humane"?

In this revolutionary look at food and the future of life on earth, Peter Singer and James Mason examine the diets of three typical families and track down the sources of their food to see how humanely it was produced. They identify six empowering ethical principles that conscientious consumers should consider when shopping for groceries or eating out. They name names, of companies that are voluntarily instituting more humane systems, and of those that continue to offend. Recognizing that not all of us will become vegetarians, they explore ways to make the most ethical choices within the framework of a diet that includes some animal products. The bottom line is: You can be ethical without being fanatical, and here's how.

©2006 Peter Singer and Jim Mason (P)2006 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"A no-holds-barred treatise on ethical consumption, this is an important read for those concerned with the long, frightening trip between farm and plate." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Way We Eat

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting, but leaves something to be desired

I've been reading related books like those by Marion Nestle, the _Walmart Effect_, as well as documentaries like _Super Size Me_ and I was expecting alot from this book. (Can you tell I'm on a bit of a consumer awareness campaign for myself?) Perhaps that was my problem: expectations. After reading _Walmart Effect_ which I felt was written quite well and with a fair look at both sides of the argument around Walmart, this book is in many ways one-sided in how it presents its material. I *will* reconsider what I eat in the future (beef, pork, and chicken), so in that sense, the authors have enlightened me, but I would have liked a more balanced presentation of the facts provided.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

I'm Glad I'm A Vegetarian!

I've been a vegetarian for over 20 years and one of the main reasons that I became vegetarian was because of reading some of Peter Singer's previous books. This book like many of his books and writings is not for the faint of heart but for those who really seek to understand more about our food and food choices and how we can make a difference.

I only wish that this information was more widely available and accepted by our general public. I am fully and firmly committed to continue making the difference anyway I can. Besides, vegetarians are sexy!

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Guilt throwing vegans

There are many good points made in this book, particularly about factory farming and the "unseen" costs of our food production to the environment and the lives of people who live and work or or near these farms. They also allude to some regulatory issues, mosty here in the US. The authors are also fair in their discussion of how buying from nearby sources may not in fact be as environmentally or ethically sound as buying imported foods, and raise some questions about "organic" and the extent to which we can trust that label. And of course they do remind us that eating lower on the food chain has unquestionable value. It's just that they really have a totally one-sided view toward killing of any animal for food, and make sure to paint the ugliest picture possible. Yes, many of the practices they menion are abhorrent, but I didn't hear any good suggestions from them about how it could/should be done differently .. except that they tell us to buy Tofurkey for Thanksgiving. They push their "moral" views so hard that I felt my back going up. I noticed myself surprised when they made a statement that was apolitical or didn't seem to serve their point, but I had the feeling that they put those in just so they could say "see, we're showin both sides." I think this book might guilt a small number of people into becoming vegans, but I don't see it having the kind of influence needed to change the way food is produced in the US. I think it should have been entitled "The Way You Eat" as they claim to be exempt. And about waste of "outdated" food from groceries, they did not address whether stores, made by law to discard outdated food, are able to give that food away.

Read it with the understanding that this is a sales job.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Started well but ended poorly

The first half of this book was well written, balanced in viewpoint, and informative. I learned things about the industrial animal production system that previously I didn't know.

Unfortunately, it turned into a miss guided guilt-fest as the authors blatantly started pushing their vegan agenda. When they started bashing on Joel Salatin's Polyface farm aligning it with the likes of a confingnment farm, and trying to discredit the writings of Michael Pollan, I had just about had enough. It was really hard to even finish listening to this book. Save your time and money, don't buy this book!

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

ANOTHER GREAT LISTEN FOR THOSE WHO EAT FOOD!!

great listen for people who really don't have a clue what they are consuming as "food" and why they choose and why their choice of food is actually a "vote" for bad or good government and health. mandatory reading for everyone!

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Ridiculously dramatic

If you listened to this book you wouldn't eat anything. Oh, wait, they did say it was ok to eat mussels, clams and scallops if you HAD to. Everything else, though, is off the table. I stopped listening to this book when they said eating local was less environmentally friendly than eating something that had been shipped from half way across the world. Their one sided arguments were self serving and ridiculous. The fact that they compared this book to the Omnivore's Dilemma is a joke.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Very good

I like Singer a lot as his Animal Liberation book is excellent and this book is no different. Every meat eater, should listen!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

About all of us...

This book is timely. It is a great read and ranks at the top of my list. Singer and Mason offer an ethical, thorough examination of our food choices. It matters on so many levels!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding!

This book was not only narrated well, and easy to listen to but the context was informative and entertaining. I followed the ration thoughts for the author easier than most other arguments of its kind based on emotion. I don’t write many reviews but I was compelled because of the message and the messenger.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating story from start to end

Great narration and captivating story makes this book an easy read despite the hard topics at times. A must read.

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1 person found this helpful