The Butcher and the Vegetarian: One Woman's Romp Through a World of Men, Meat, and Moral Crisis

Fun read!

I'm a long time vegetarian and enjoyed this book. I think it was interesting to hear the author's views on eating meat after being a vegetarian for so long (even though she did dabble with meat in her past so not completely new to her). It was very funny and I really loved her style and sense of humor. She did a lot of research and experienced all sides of meat eating and the meat industry. I will say that her descriptions of her meat meals made this long time veg's mouth water!

WOW! One great book!

This is one of those books I want every meat eater to read. The chapters on the Prather Ranch up north of me near the Oregon border is one of the finest chapters of any food book I have ever read. The fact a woman I adore, admire and have some things in common with, Temple Grandin of Colorado State University is mentioned only made the piece better. Since I was raised in a hunting family where it was mandatory that we thanked the animal we were about to take for meat. Chapter Twelve is great because I see so many people cooking meat incorrectly and alas, unhealthy, and this chapter is a how to on cooking and in cooking right so you have NO waste. God I hate food waste. Getting back to the Prather Ranch which is a ten star set up where nothing is wasted, feed is raised on site and the cows are NOT finished off in some feed lot being fed corn which adds weight but is poorly digested. I want people to read this book and then demand, yes demand more Prather Ranch set ups, where a quick profit isn't the goal, but the healthiest beef, raised in a sustainable, environmentally sound ways as possible.
Chapter 20 to which is titled How It Ends brings up some interesting questions.. The author notes on page 213 'Vegetarians are quieter with their opinions', which may be the case for her and her journey, which includes going back to being a non meat eater, but that's not the case with most people I have encountered and I am 80% vegetarian, or lacto ova (eat dairy and eggs). She also notes 'Many months and many hamburgers later, I still don't have a conclusive answer as to whether we humans should be eating meat or not.' Those who wonder if humans should eat meat, or those who believe humans should not eat meat, tend (in my view) to come at the issue from a comfortable, plentiful food supply here in the developed world place. Fact is native people in places above the arctic circle would perish if they didn't eat meat and seafood. They simply do not have ready access to the fruits, vegetables, and grains that I have access to. The poor nomadic people of dessert regions have to consume milk items they make from the camel, ox, horses milk.

Honest, thought-provoking look at diet choices from a vegetarian's perspective

Rife with ethical dilemmas, The Butcher and the Vegetarian follows author Tara Austen Weaver's struggle with eating and health. Raised on a strict, vegetarian diet she's been happy to follow into her thirties, Tara suddenly finds meat-eating the doctor's orders. And then multiple doctors' orders. What to do? How to start? Weaver's meandering tale is pure foodie flip-floppery, as she eats in ways that defy a label, trying to take her waning health in hand.

What we're eating is a charged choice these days, ethically speaking, from winter tomatoes to organic labelling issues. It's rare to grow up veg and not have your choices challenged by friends, relatives, and even medical personnel, though you, like me, may be a nonconfrontational person who doesn't object to others' carnivorism and simply prefers a face-free, guiltless diet. Weaver's embracing approach to all the major eating groups - meat-loving to raw - sets the tone for a truly unbiased memoir of one woman's journey to find her ideal diet, food to replenish sapped energy levels and fuel her adventurous spirit.

Weaver balances the scale between improved personal health and minimized environmental impact by thoroughly researching her food's origins. Even if it means visiting a grass-fed beef ranching operation on slaughtering day and then downing a burger afterwards, Weaver proves it's possible to make to make food decisions - meat or veg - that one can proudly defend.

In the end, Weaver shares a personal experience and ends with a personal choice, one she admits is far from where she began and never expected to find herself. While Weaver's eating habits may not be my own, this is a woman I'd invite to dinner for her thoughtful, open approach to both food and friendship.

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