Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Books and other good ideas

This evening I picked up Jonathan Safran Foer's new book about ethical vegetarianism, Eating Animals. I just heard about it this weekend, so in my expectation and hope that it's as good as its advance reviews, I thought I'd pass it along.

Maybe it's just my selective consumption of pop culture and fleeting optimisim, but I really believe we're in that transitional time when a social justice movement is moving from punchline to something that can't be marginalized any longer. It's like the Gandhi line - first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.

Since I'm off food and talking about authors I like, here's another one. Karen Armstrong is leading a project called Charter for Compassion, which will be unveiled on November 12. It's an admirable effort, calling on people of all faiths - and no faith - to affirm that all of the great cultural traditions share at their core a call for compassion. Shame it's taken us a few millenia to agree on that, but better late than never.


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5 comments:

  1. UnknownNovember 4, 2009 at 7:03 AM

    that book sounds really good, as well as the charter for compassion. i love reading books on morals that i completely can relate to.

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  2. River - The Crafty KookNovember 4, 2009 at 4:15 PM

    Jonathan Safran Foer was on the Ellen Degenere's Show today! Did you see it? It was very interesting and very down to earth. There are a couple of video clips of the interview on Ellen's website, in case you missed it (they are on the left column):

    http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2009/11/mariah_carey_-_wednesday_november_4_2009.php

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  3. miss vNovember 5, 2009 at 4:08 PM

    definitely give us an update on the book once you've dug in. i'm always up for a good book suggestion.

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  4. The Voracious VeganNovember 6, 2009 at 2:54 AM

    We definitely are at a tipping point for veganism, I really believe that. It isn't just a passing fad, we are here to stay because we HAVE to be. We are changing the world. As my friend Nathan says: Vegan for life, Vegan FOR life.

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  5. anthonyNovember 7, 2009 at 6:08 PM

    I am reading my way through the book right now. Its real good. The one question I have is if Jonathon Safran Foer is vegan himself? I ask this because the point of view he takes in this book is that of a vegan. Anyways, the food looks great on this blog. I am gonna try out those carrot gnocchi soon.

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