Let's Discuss: Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

[@raesterling]

This is the book that made me become a vegetarian over 6 years ago! Within a few weeks, everyone in our 5-person apartment became vegetarian thanks to Jonathan Safran Foer - such a powerful book.

[@domesticcatlady]

Great insight. I've been vegan for 9 years, but when I went vegan, I failed at first. I went back to dairy and it took another 6 months until I fully went vegan, never looking back. For me, it was an animal torture video that still haunts me today, that ended my resistance. From that moment on, I was vegan. For me, being vegan, is for animal rights, and any health or environmental benefits are secondary. So that makes it very easy for me; keeping in mind that animals are the reason I'm doing this. But I know I'm lucky, my family, not only accepts me, but they also eat vegan with me during holidays. I think your family will respect your beliefs, especially since you're articulate about your reasons. Best of luck to you! 💚

[@samthenotetaker1]

I always like the quote from cloud atlas that says 'No matter what you do it will never amount to anything more than a single drop in a limitless ocean", "Yet what is any ocean, but a multitude of drops!"

[@DerekMcDow]

I was Vegetarian for 10 years before I went vegan. It took me a long time to transition but that was 10 years ago so I’m sure you’ll keep growing. It’s one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made and keeps me exited about the future of cruelty-free food! 😃

[@cleoh666]

I'm glad you enjoyed the book! I'm in my early days of transitioning to veganism and the cultural part of food is the most challenging part. I come from an Argentinian family and meat/animal products are huge in the cuisine! I'm hoping that my transition can help my family to understand eating animals differently.

[@gjori4704]

I've been going Vegan gradually, cutting out meat, then diary, then honey, changing makeup, changing clothes, changing soap. It's a process, but now I'm used to having all these other products. I really love this video and it's great that you talk about how it can be pretty chill to be vegetarian/ vegan as well. In all honestly, every meal counts for something, so if you start having one or two vegetarian days a week that is helping out the environment and animals enormously. :)

[@CharismaticLife]

I think a lot of people forget that it's ok to not be 100% perfect from the get go. Small steps do help, and they lead to taking greater steps. And as for your struggles with people making food, if they made you the food out of love, they would be fine with you not eating things that don't coincide with your ethics. Most people are receptive as long as you tell them before. It will get easier, and I'm glad to hear that you are still on the path

[@kayla8192]

I need to reread that book again, I really enjoyed it. I have been a vegetarian since 2011 overnight, but the big difference was that I mostly just watched a documentary, made up my mind, and never really delved much more into it or really immersed myself in a community. I never really talked about it and I still don't, really, my family was hard to impress with it at first. My mother did get annoyed a lot because in our family there was a lot of hunting, meat was a staple, but eventually it became apart of me and my family started to be ok with that and help me find things to substitute. They're still meat-eaters, but I won't approach anyone about the subject unless they're interested. If it makes you feel better, it's been 5 years and I still am moving my makeup and haircare and other items to cruelty-free. I think as long as you continue to try and progress, that's good enough. Eventually you gain more knowledge and it makes it easier. And at this point I couldn't really transition to veganism although I would love to eventually and like Jonathan I'm also well aware of the positives, but that is another big step.

[@kayla8192]

Also, I'll comment I changed my dairy over to almond or other substitutes. Some things are easier to change than others, one at a time makes it easier.

[@KristSoup]

definitely want to read that book now! great video & completely relatable. :)

[@darklivingroom]

The transition to veganism is extremly hard, but i'd like to tell you that being vegan is a lot easier, after some time noone will make you anything nonvegan. And you don't need to change over night, take it one step at a time...

[@1book1review]

I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot about factory farming I wasn't aware of - especially since it is/was different here when I read the book. Strangely I still am neither vegetarian nor vegan, what I took from that is that the main problem we have is the amount and the production priorities that are the problem...Unfortunately that will never change as people want to eat cheap meat 3 times a day and as long as there is a market there will always be offers...sadly.

[@ClicheAboveAll]

Hello! I loved your video (as I do all of them). I would just like to say that I've been a vegetarian for almost 11 months now and I let all of my family know. Even though a lot of them don't agree, they are still very supportive. During the holidays they all made sure I had food to eat! Also, in my school year I have just finished I was in a Hispanic culture class where we cooked traditional Hispanic dishes, many of which included meat. My Spanish teacher was very understanding and asked about what I did and could eat and helped me around that. Another thing I wanted to say was that I know a lot of vegans that still use make up that's technically not vegan or clothes until they run out of it or it's no longer usable so then they get vegan options. They don't want to waste. I hope this was easy to understand, I'm writing in a hurry!

[@CarolineReadsbooks]

Thank you so much for making this video almost two years ago. I've gone vegan since, and this video was so helpful for me. I'm currently reading Eating Animals, and I've wanted to read it since this video.

[@carolinethomas9872]

Great review, I feel like you made me think even more then all this documentaries that I've been watching for the past week. Well done !

[@selfidolization]

I've been vegetarian for nearly six years now and I plan on going vegan this December (on my 6th year mark). It gets more and more obvious how brainwashed we, as humans, are when it comes to eating animals. The meat industry is extremely sickening and I have no interest in being a victim to it anymore.

[@joannemepham29]

I've been vegan for almost a year now, and that book was one of my inspirations. I have and never will look back.

[@VeganWifeLife]

Great review! I am also trying to educate myself more on the food industry, so I'm definitely going to pick this up! It's so sad what actually goes on behind closed doors. I've seen a couple documentaries so far and follow a few vegan youtubers, which is definitely helping! I know this is a book channel, but you should make a "vegan what I eat in a day" video! I love getting new ideas.

[@nikkil3219]

I've recently became vegan, but I did the same as you - I transitioned into vegetarian first :) what really helped me was stopping thinking about what I couldn't eat and actually look into all the amazing food that I could and I was surprised how much there is! It's awesome you're looking into it and making a change :) look forward to hearing about your journey! Xxx

[@thetastychapter]

Very well articulated! I am learning about this subject too and you make this book sound very interesting and I think I will pick it up - thank you! You're so lovely, I'd love to sit down and chat to you about books and food and life!!!!!!😜

[@bookbabyy]

I went vegan overnight 9 months ago and haven't looked back! I told my entire family and they don't offer me food that contains meat and dairy. I come from a Mexican/Central American family so yes it was a hard transition but after the first two weeks it was so much easier. Of course I've had slip ups with random things with dairy but that's fine i just don't buy it again. What motivates me is my love for my pets and thinking about what if they were in the shoes of cows and chickens and pigs what if dogs were being slaughtered by the millions for meat! I'm an animal rights activists & some people think I try to shove veganism down their throat by simply stating facts, u can't ever really win with meat eaters but I understand bc I was in their place for years! So many people have thanked me for helping them go vegan, it's a wonderful community with millions of new vegans each year! Best of luck to you and congrats on taking your blinders off and refusing to stay ignorant on the subject!

[@DeafGirl93]

Im a vegetarian. So, I started researching books for vegetarian or vegan and this one kept coming up in the searches after my mom asked me if I wanted any books for Christmas.

[@debmann5168]

First, I'm super impressed that someone your age is thinking about the issues that will severely impact your generation. It's going to be up to the younger generation to force change in order to survive. You can call yourself a vegan. You can be 80-90% vegan and that's okay. It's a journey. It does not have to be all or nothing. I struggle with the same thing and I remind myself that I do not need to be perfect. I went vegan for health and saw incredible benefits that convinced me it was a healthier way of life. Then I learned about factory farming, it's impact on animals, humans and the earth. Now I'm in it 100% for the animals and the environment AND my health.

[@violetnightblue3986]

Hi there beautiful! I reeeeally enjoy watching your videos and you're truly a big inspiration for me. Making monthly favourites videos would be SO great. Not only books but everything could be included. Love your personality. Keep up the good work. Much love from Switzerland

[@em_harring]

I was a pescetarian for four years, because I too didn't really comprehend the issues concerning the fishing industry until earlier this year. I've since gone vegetarian, and am transitioning to being a vegan. I think being frank right off the bat when it comes to your dietary needs when you're going over to someone's house is the easiest way to alleviate someone cooking you food that you can't eat. If people want to feed you, they want to make sure it's something you can enjoy! And, if they would have no problem tailoring their meals to someone who can't have gluten, etc, then they should also be able to tailor to a vegan meal, as well. At least, that's how I view it.

[@victoriahoyle-publichistor6986]

I transitioned to veganism over the last year, partly because of this book and partly because of KZbin vegans. The hardest thing for me was definitely the cultural stuff. It really hurt to think I will never have fish and chips again (I'm from the UK) or a turkey dinner at Christmas or Friday night pizza. The way I got over it was to say to myself, ok, go without those things till New Year. If you feel like those losses are more important to you after 6 months than the ethics are, then you can go back. In the end it wasn't even a decision. Once I got over the initial urge I didn't want it anymore. And there are so many great alternatives. 😀

[@DeafGirl93]

I got this book as a Christmas gift, it was one of the books I asked for that I actually gotten as gift. I am a vegetarian for almost two years now, before that I was a meat eater most of my life. I started reading this book two days ago and I love it so far. I did struggle with trying to go vegetarian since I was in high school. But I finally just said to myself I can’t do this anymore after I gagged on a piece of chicken fat. I finally switched to a vegetarian back on April 10, 2017 as of October of 2017 I stopped eating egg yolk. I will eat it if it’s already mixed in with something but just straight up eating it no. I would like to switch to vegan in the summer of 2019 but one thing I wouldn’t be able to give up is my gummy vitamins since I gag trying to swallow pills. And my doctor said that’s common for some people. They just have really bad gag reflex’s.

[@CCass-jv4fx]

Currently reading this. I am flying through it which is strange cause it usually takes me ages to get through non-fiction. I love how non-preachy it is. Like he just gives you the facts. I wish more people would read this, and stop eating animals, or at least reduce the animal products intake. We are killing them and they are killing us basically cause of all the diseases which come from eating animals. It's an awful, vicious cycle that we need to stop.

[@DeafGirl93]

I’m a vegetarian. I went vegetarian after I gagged on a piece of chicken fat off a piece of cooked frozen chicken breast. I was a vegetarian for 5 months before I saw a documentary film. The film I watched was What The Health on Netflix. I heard about this book today from another KZbin i follow l her channel name is booksandquills I believe. I want to now read this book. I might ask for it as a birthday or Christmas gift.

[@daniiwho6616]

Good to know I'm not the only one who's stressed out about this vegan thing... I feel like people who are already vegan often put sooo much pressure on people who are not but (maybe) want to. That's also a reason why I don't like talking about what I eat or don't eat. There are a lot of people who think being vegan is stupid and I don't want to feel like I have to defand myself to everybody. I try really hard to eat vegan but I also feel so bad when someone cooked for me and I don't eat it. I just wish that people would be more open to this topic or to have a conversation about it and not just make people feel bad because they are not 100% vegan already or because they don't want to be.

[@AnnaJ55]

Thank you for talking about this! I have been vegan for two months now and I love it so much! It's really overwhelming when you start educating yourself on the subject. It's so scary how the majority of people have no idea what's going on and what they're putting into their bodies and supporting. I totally agree with you that the social aspect of it is the hardest. Cooking and eating vegan food is easy, but I hesitate about telling people that I'm vegan. I feel like there's a stigma attached to it and I'm not yet comfortable answering the questions (that are sometimes almost hostile) that are fired at you when you tell people about your lifestyle. But I guess it will be easier with time :)

[@anacavancalti]

Nice review.

[@Jenexplainsitallx]

I've been vegan for 2 and a half months and eating with other people always causes me stress. I feel like i'm inconveniencing or annoying people when I tell them i won't eat butter or cheese. Luckily I have a sister thats really supportive and the rest of my family is trying but every time I don't eat something they point it out. I have one other friend who is almost vegan (she still eats eggs) so i make her go to vegan restaurants with me!

[@katyapodkovyroff7564]

YES YES YES! Okay so first off, I love your channel. You're such a beautiful and kind soul. Secondly, I recently have been on my own journey through pescetarian/vegetarian/vegan and I found the written words struck me a lot more than documentaries. Some novels that helped me were: The Sustainability Secret: Uncovering the Largest Environmental Challenge to the Future of the Human Race by Kip Anderen (which is the book Cowspiracy is based off of, although it is pretty much a reiteration of the documentary), Cowed: The Hidden Impact of 93 Million Cows on America's Health, Economy, Politics, Culture, and Environment by Denis Hayes, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan, The Compassionate Diet: How What You Can Change Your Life and Save the Planet by Arran Stephens, Food Inc by Karl Weber. Also, as far as transitioning to veganism, I am also having issues as far as life style go (aka makeup, clothes, etc) but just remember why you're interested in making this choice and focus on the positives. Also while research is obviously great, don't get all caught up in the "vegan cult" type mindset - yes there are different types of vegans as far as diet go or this and that, but at the end of the day whatever strides you're making for the planet is great; just keep in mind that it is your life so whatever labels you want or don't want are for you and you only. Other than that, good luck on your journey! It's going to be confusing and a jumble of emotions and situations but remember what it's all for.

[@thebookishknitter]

Fantastic review of the book, I read it years ago but plan to re-read it this summer. I also suggest Vegan Freak and Main Street Vegan :)

[@sawneybean5518]

I have been vegan for eight months now and my english teacher let me borrow this book from her. I watched this video before starting to read it! V

[@Rollypollyrory]

I couldn't quite relate to this book, I found it so easy to become vegetarian from the age of 9 and then when I was more educated, I went to vegan. Even with the lack of support from my family and friends with no one around to relate to and talk to about this, It's easy to consciously not support the environmental damage, the cruelty, and health. I wish Jonathan was more of a role model for this. I really did enjoy his writing but I was a bit disappointed.

[@Katek8]

Coming from someone who's been vegan for a year and a half: It gets easier. It can be awkward at family functions. However we're fighting for a cause that could be more important… If you're invited somewhere you just have to tell the hosts ahead of time that you're vegan and what that means. Most of the time I just offer to bring my own food so that the host doesn't have to worry about me and it ends up being totally fine. Just do the best you can do. Any little bit helps. Also, The people around you will see and hear about this lifestyle and maybe consider trying it out as well. I seriously have never felt better or been happier since I decided to go vegan. I honestly believe that it's the best thing you can do for your body, the environment, and the other beings who live on earth with us. I wish you the best of luck on your vegan journey.

[@ozumakanser4175]

I was exactly in your shoes and now I have been vegan for the last 11 months, please watch SEASPIRACY: What You Should Know About Fish, The Ocean, and More! by The Friendly Activist

[@sarazuliani3468]

Thank you. You help me to survive to depression

[@ginafourie4733]

Can a 14 year old read this book because I the 14 year old saw it in my book store today

[@sawneybean5518]

I'm 15, I'm sure you can!

[@selfidolization]

One thing I don't like about the reasons why people go vegan/vegetarian is they only consider the fact that eating animals is not good for them rather than just seeing that killing an innocent creature is wrong. Like I hate that people can't do things not for themselves.

[@SuperStrangSshadow]

Have you seen the movie Earthlings? That movie is extremely sad:/

[@meghang3534]

Please do a video on vegan makeup!!

[@lifeisagifthorse]

Thank God ! (who ate & served fish) that I had Boca Burgers before watching this. I had a grilled Boca Burger with fresh tomato, grilled onions and...cheese !! I will not be giving up cheese in this lifetime. (You can only be so good.)

[@weirdoforeveralone]

you're an amazing person 💜

[@alexramage7916]

I have just ordered it, thank you =D

[@aks-core]

this video is so interesting! (I almost cried twice whoops) im trying to transition to veganism too and even my family is very skeptical about it and keep making omlettes for me😂😅 I'm pretty sure this happens to almost everyone! I'm so happy to see your thoughts on this bc SAME

[@CharismaticLife]

Keep at it, slowly transitioning is ok. It gets easier and you find ways to overcome things and challenges (and also realize that it wasn't as hard as you may think). :)

[@LegareProd]

that seminar video is what made me finally go vegan

[@TheWowza445]

[@selfidolization]

You should check out Gary Yourofsky's vegan speech thing it's on youtube and it really helps see the morality concept in not eating animals.

[@drucru4998]

Are vegans ever toxic?

[@paulasimow741]

There are bad people in virtually every community. Veganisn sometimes feeds a greater-than-thou attitude, but that doesn’t actually say much about the ideology.

[@MrMbarczyk]

wooow im in love with Yoyu ... :)

[@Bookworm5589]

My sister in law is vegetarian and when she comes for dinner I make sure she has something she likes to eat. She is thinking going vegan and if she does I will make her a vegan meal. Parts of my husbands family in the past has not very supportive.

[@nicmae5112]

I'm confused... why would you not just say to your family or whoever is cooking for you "i don't eat meat" BEFORE they do it..? Like that seems like a really strange reason to me

[@scorestreakrebal9359]

Personall i love veagans though my advice is grow your own food font buy store bout foods

[@felinebg]

Anyone who can recommend youtubers who make videos similar to hers? Not nesecarily vegan, but who reads a lot and also make shorter vlogs?

[@tonybrooks1729]

There are not only 2 available options in this issue. Murder animals or go vegan. The premise is that CAFO is the only option, it is not. Farmers like Joel Salatin advocate a sustainable, eat local, holistic farming that improves the ecosystem and the animals, not degrade them.

[@peyton1956]

I'm still finna eat them

[@bread2246]

I would still call you vegan even if you don't use vegan makeup.

[@cleoh666]

I'm glad you enjoyed the book! I'm in my early days of transitioning to veganism and the cultural part of food is the most challenging part. I come from an Argentinian family and meat/animal products are huge in the cuisine! I'm hoping that my transition can help my family to understand eating animals differently.

[@cleoh666]

I'm glad you enjoyed the book! I'm in my early days of transitioning to veganism and the cultural part of food is the most challenging part. I come from an Argentinian family and meat/animal products are huge in the cuisine! I'm hoping that my transition can help my family to understand eating animals differently.

[@cleoh666]

just try not to put too much pressure on yourself :)