From what I’ve read ABOUT this book (I haven’t read the actual text yet), it seems that the title is purely for attention-getting. And it works pretty well, no? The Vegetarian Myth is written by Lierre Keith, a former vegan, who conjectures that veganism/vegetarianism isn’t any better for the planet than a typical omnivore’s diet. Her argument is for sustainable communities, sustainable living, sustainable eating. And maybe wants to knock a few vegs off their high horses?

::putting tack and saddle away::

I’d like to read this book to see if Keith gets into a deeper argument or rouses any larger points beyond the obvious. In my personal experience, eating a meatless diet can certainly be just as harmful to your body as to the environment, and I’m not just talking about getting one’s vitamins and mineral intake down properly. I mean that there is a lot of processed vegan food out there contributing to the environmental problems just as readily as a bologna factory. This is why I have such a hard time explaining my diet to those who ask or think they understand. It’s not just about eliminating meat and cheese (though sometimes that is how to say it with brevity). It’s about eating organic, WHOLE foods and, when possible, locally produced foods.

I have a feeling that I’ll agree with many of Keith’s musings, and now I’m off to my state library’s website to see if it’s available (what’s your guess?).