[.ca] Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical ... (ISBN 0826411843)

Wow!:
I just ate a steak. Last night I had a veal cutlet with a white wine sauce. When I woke up this morning I found that, for some strange reason I had developed a hostility toward women. So, in light of this revelation, I now believe the thesis of this twisted book. BBQ ribs anyone?

This Book is Crucial:
I could go on & on about this book. It is one the most inspiring and thought-provoking books I've ever read. I first read this book around the time I became a Vegan, developed a serious interest in Sociology, and earned a greater respect for Feminism. To truly appreciate and understand this book, one has to read it with an open mind. Some of the concepts and theories may seem extreme or abstract at first, but I suggest that people give Adams's text time to marinate.

Pseudo-intellectual balderdash:
I will not elevate this book to the status of a legitimate work of intellectual inquiry by writing a detailed critique of it. Suffice it to say that the author, rather than citing objective evidence in support of her conclusions, does nothing except make baldly conclusory statements which conform to her ultra-feminist world view. If Ms. Adams wishes to be a vegetarian feminist, that's her business. But until she can come up with objective evidence that her hypothesis is true, she comes across as nothing but a rambling mad-woman. Using the conclusory technique employed by Ms. Adams, I could easily write an equally legitimate book claiming that vegetarianism causes oppression of men worldwide. Any publishers out there interested?

Interesting, sort of.:
I am a vegetarian and believe in equal rights for men and women. I thought this book was an interesting idea, but might have been better as an article than a book. It seems at times she is just trying to fill in space. She even mentions not being able to find appropriate research. Still, I don't regret reading it and some of the ideas have stuck with me.

Adams Gives Gives Voice to Historical Vegetarian Authors:
Too long has vegetarian history been wrongfully called modern or faddish; Adams addresses this and explains how the messages of vegetarian authors have been muted, leading to these misconceptions. This book is a great help in giving historical examples of vegetarian authors (though mostly modern female writers) as well as how the writers assembled the messages in the texts. The first part of this book focuses on definitions and historical overviews of the treatment of animals and women. The second part gets to the literary examples, author techniques, and audience trivialization and/or dismissal of vegetarian messages. Now, when I read or hear someone discussing vegetarian authors such as Wells, Plato, Shelley, Shaw, etc., I will always have a historical and psychological awareness of how both their contemporaries and mine never had or will never have the entire messages acknowledged. I would especially recommend this book to any vegetarian and encourage him/her to read as many books by historical vegetarians as possble.