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Consequences of Factory Farms
Annotated Bibliography
Armstrong, S.J. & Botzler, R. (Eds.). (2003). The Animal Ethics Reader. New York, NY: Routledge.
This anthology that has a comprehensive review of the factory farming debate. The book is also especially useful to me given its consideration of both sides of the debate. For instance, some contributors present and effectively counter some of the arguments that have been presented by those in support of factory farming. In this case, the contributors who include but are not limited to Mary Madgley and Peter Singer are leading luminaries in this particular field. I found the introduction offered by the editors before each chapter particularly useful in helping one digest the contents of the chapter.
DeGrazia, D. (2002). Animal Rights: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Like Armstrong, DeGrazia also examines one of the most consistent arguments that has been presented in support of factory farming -- its economic relevance. According to the author, the architects of this argument are of...
DeGrazia however counters this argument successfully. Like Armstrong's anthology, this book will be of particular benefit to me when it comes to examining the various dissenting views.
Pollan, M. (2007). The Omnivore's Dilemma: The Search for a Perfect Meal in a Fast-Food World. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing.
In this amazing book, Pollan gives us a reason to seriously think about what we consume as food. In one instance, the author recounts of an interesting discovery he made after electing to trace a number of food items back to the farms they came from. In his own words, Pollan learnt that some milk (organic) came from factory farms hosting large numbers of "Holsteins confined to a fenced 'dry lot,' eating (certified organic) grain and tethered to milking machines three times a day." As the author…
This is one of the books that successfully offer a comprehensive look at the most urgent global issues facing us today. In addition to factory farming, Seitz and Hite examine several other global concerns affecting us on the social, political as well as economic arena. On factory farms, the authors in brief offer a candid "look at factory farms and the anticipated consequences that have come with the adoption of factory techniques to produce animals for human consumption." Seitz and Hite are respected academics and professionals in their diverse fields with both offering their services as instructors at Wofford College and at the School of Advanced International Studies respectively.
Weber, K. (Ed.). (2009). Food, Inc.: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter and Poorer -- And What You Can Do About it. New York, NY: Public Affairs.
This is yet another anthology that basically expands and complements subjects covered in the Food Inc. documentary. The book succeeds in challenging the reader's perception of food. In regard to factory farms, the contributors successfully highlight the harmful effects of industrialized farming to not only the affected animals but also to the environment and consumers. The only problem I have with the book is the occasional loss of focus. Although a majority of the chapters are largely concerned with the issues at hand, i.e. The factory/industrial food system, some other chapters occasionally deviate from the book's central focus. Contributors in this case are individuals and organizations of repute.
Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan: Socio-Economic Influences of Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Diets Michael Pollan, in his book The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, discussed the social, economic, and geographic/environmental factors that influenced humanity's diets, of which eating both plants and animals -- an omnivorous diet -- is the predominant diet in most of today's societies. However, in the midst of this omnivorous diet is an emerging group of
Omnivore's Dilemma In recent years social historians have began to delve into more and more minute topics about the way humans interact within their social and natural world, and most especially how certain everyday objects and actions have had a grand affect upon the way society and culture changes. In The Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan uses the tools of both history and anthropology to uncover that it is that concerns humans
Omnivore's Dilemma: Part I: Industrial/Corn "the Omnivore's Dilemma" - review Michael Pollan's book "The Omnivore's Dilemma" is not necessarily meant to put across breakthrough information or to trigger intense feelings in individuals reading it. Instead, it is actually intended to provide important information so as for readers to be able to gain a more complex understanding regarding what foods would be healthy for them to eat and how they can develop the
Omnivore's Dilemma In Michael Pollan's book he touches on many issues relative to what humans eat, and in the process he spends time covering the poor eating habits of Americans and the likely reasons for the obesity crisis in the United States (think carbohydrates). His narrative includes animal flesh that is produced on so-called "factory farms" -- including pig meat he proudly kills himself -- and in doing so he
Milk, cheese, yoghurt (cows eating corn), pig steak (pigs eating corn), fish (the catfish and even the salmon-which is known to be a carnivore have been taught to tolerate corn), and a large number of sweet beverages (numerous sweet drinks have high-fructose corn syrup in them) people consume exist because of corn. Foods are not the only ones which can contain corn, as magazine covers, diapers, batteries, trash bags,
Omnivore's Dilemma/Part III Part III of the Omnivore's Dilemma: Food Directly from the Source The purpose of Michael Pollan's book, The Omnivore's Dilemma, is to show that the choices we make about the foods we eat are not always simple. The book is divided into three parts; in each part Pollan attempts to eat from a shorter food chain. Part III of the book, the subject of this review, is entitled "The