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Beyond Beef: The Rise and Fall of the Cattle Culture
An analysis of the beef culture incorporates anthropology, history, sociology, economics, and ecology to demonstrate how "cattle culture" has changed our world. Reprint. 25,000 first printing. National ad/promo.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
About the author
Jeremy Rifkin
69 books533 followersAmerican economic and social theorist, writer, public speaker, political advisor, and activist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 28, 2021
Despite that this book Beyond Beef, The Rise And Fall Of The Cattle Culture by Jeremy Rifkin was first published in 1992 (Dutton), I found that the writing is timeless. I never was much of a red meat eater but in the past year cut out dairy and went to a plant-based diet for health reasons. (My partner and I were thinking of becoming vegan for several years because of compassion for the animals. I found the change amazing. I actually never realized that I could feel so good.)
This book never mentions the word “vegan,” but it does mention people dying from the diseases of affluence – through the diets of the rich which are laden with animal products.
After reading the book — which is filled with many “aha” moments — I began to understand why beef is so central to U.S. culture. It begins by putting the cow in a spiritual context beginning several thousand years before the traditional birth of Christ with the cow worshipping peoples (often forming cattle cults) in ancient Egypt.
The book is non-fiction and rather academic, however it is worth reading to understand the central role that the agriculture industry plays in our lives. In particular, the English were known to be big consumers of beef. However, the expense of beef was a class issue. Beef was a delicacy among the lower classes. In particular, women and children of the lower classes were known never to eat beef but to be relegated to what was called the “white meats” – meaning dairy.
So “the other white meat” was originally dairy. This acknowledgement that dairy is an animal product came centuries before the vegan movement (which advocates for people no to use any products that come from animals) which is very big in England among other counties. The vegan movement is growing in the U.S. but is lagging behind other nations.
Eventually, England went on to use the United States as its grazing ground for cattle. Eventually the U.S. ranchers were able to own their own land and become the imperialists. (They learned their lessons well from the predecessors.) The book discusses the treatment of the land, the Native American people who originally lived on the land and the animals (the bison in particular) – as well as the treatment of the cattle. In fact, a parallel can be drawn between how the cattle, environment, the other animals, and people are treated.
In many ways, the book is not for the faint at heart. Even as a practicing vegan, I was often shocked. At one point, when reading the details of what is in the cattle feed, I remarked that it is little wonder that the consumption of meat and dairy causes so much disease.
Beyond Beef refers to the battle of man against nature several times – from the Spanish bull fighters to the struggle of man against the whale in the classic Moby Dick.
Now we are nearing the final days of that struggle – given the facts of climate change. It is clear that humans are losing. The planet may still be here, but humans may not be – unless we change.
And change is possible.
This book never mentions the word “vegan,” but it does mention people dying from the diseases of affluence – through the diets of the rich which are laden with animal products.
After reading the book — which is filled with many “aha” moments — I began to understand why beef is so central to U.S. culture. It begins by putting the cow in a spiritual context beginning several thousand years before the traditional birth of Christ with the cow worshipping peoples (often forming cattle cults) in ancient Egypt.
The book is non-fiction and rather academic, however it is worth reading to understand the central role that the agriculture industry plays in our lives. In particular, the English were known to be big consumers of beef. However, the expense of beef was a class issue. Beef was a delicacy among the lower classes. In particular, women and children of the lower classes were known never to eat beef but to be relegated to what was called the “white meats” – meaning dairy.
So “the other white meat” was originally dairy. This acknowledgement that dairy is an animal product came centuries before the vegan movement (which advocates for people no to use any products that come from animals) which is very big in England among other counties. The vegan movement is growing in the U.S. but is lagging behind other nations.
Eventually, England went on to use the United States as its grazing ground for cattle. Eventually the U.S. ranchers were able to own their own land and become the imperialists. (They learned their lessons well from the predecessors.) The book discusses the treatment of the land, the Native American people who originally lived on the land and the animals (the bison in particular) – as well as the treatment of the cattle. In fact, a parallel can be drawn between how the cattle, environment, the other animals, and people are treated.
In many ways, the book is not for the faint at heart. Even as a practicing vegan, I was often shocked. At one point, when reading the details of what is in the cattle feed, I remarked that it is little wonder that the consumption of meat and dairy causes so much disease.
Beyond Beef refers to the battle of man against nature several times – from the Spanish bull fighters to the struggle of man against the whale in the classic Moby Dick.
Now we are nearing the final days of that struggle – given the facts of climate change. It is clear that humans are losing. The planet may still be here, but humans may not be – unless we change.
And change is possible.
May 1, 2015
In Beyond Beef Jeremy Rifikin offers a scathing review on the multinational beef industry and cattle eating culture in the western world. This book however is not just some baseless rant; Rifkin uses logical arguments, sound facts and various supporting sources. He actually made an extremely sound argument that really swayed me (shockingly considering I am quite fond of cow). His use of evidence was so well done and strong it transformed a heavily biased topic into a logical sound book.
Rifkin Started by explaining the history of cattle culture and how humans and cows have been intertwined for many centuries. He discussed how they were once revered and treated like gods and sharply contrasted that to the way cattle are treated today using quotes from the Jungle. Rifkin then exposes some awful facts about the beef industry in America such as the USDAs lacking inspection standards.
He then shifts to the primary focus of his book, which is the heavy toll cows place on the environment, and the people of earth. How so much farmland is wasted to feed cows and the destruction of the rainforest caused for cattle production. He describes cows a “hoofed locust” and states the many ecological harms of cattle.
Beyond beef serves up a convincing argument on the high cost of cattle culture. From ecological damage to health effects Rifkin uses sound evidence and arguments to present his case. He ties in history, ecology, medicine, economics and philosophy to paint a vivid picture of the beef industry and its effect on mankind. This highly readable book produces a convincing argument on the harms of beef and is an all around enjoyable read.
Rifkin Started by explaining the history of cattle culture and how humans and cows have been intertwined for many centuries. He discussed how they were once revered and treated like gods and sharply contrasted that to the way cattle are treated today using quotes from the Jungle. Rifkin then exposes some awful facts about the beef industry in America such as the USDAs lacking inspection standards.
He then shifts to the primary focus of his book, which is the heavy toll cows place on the environment, and the people of earth. How so much farmland is wasted to feed cows and the destruction of the rainforest caused for cattle production. He describes cows a “hoofed locust” and states the many ecological harms of cattle.
Beyond beef serves up a convincing argument on the high cost of cattle culture. From ecological damage to health effects Rifkin uses sound evidence and arguments to present his case. He ties in history, ecology, medicine, economics and philosophy to paint a vivid picture of the beef industry and its effect on mankind. This highly readable book produces a convincing argument on the harms of beef and is an all around enjoyable read.
September 26, 2017
Libro di impostazione radicale e catastrofica, fin troppo documentato. Saltabili le prime 170 pag, di storia del bovino. Si fa interessante parlando dei giorni nostri.
Emerge con forza come addentando una gustosissima fiorentina da 8 etti è come se ci stessimo mangiando 30 Kg di cereali, avessimo contribuito a rendere deserta una superficie di circa 100 mq, avessimo inquinato i fiumi e le acque di una certa massa di sterco (non ho i dati sottomano...) e altre amenità del genere. Oltre, naturalmente, ad aver contribuito all'uccisione di un pacifico manzo. La cosa triste è che penso abbia tremendamente ragione.
Nel nostro piccolo, la lettura, anche se vagamente noiosa e USA-referred, aiuta a fare scelte alimentari di natura socialmente responsabile.
Suppongo che lo stesso testo orientato al maiale sarebbe di gran lunga piu' drammatico e porterebbe ad un indubbio calo nel consumo di prosciutti e coppa di testa... Aggiornamento 28.01.08 http://tinyurl.com/yp8bu8
Emerge con forza come addentando una gustosissima fiorentina da 8 etti è come se ci stessimo mangiando 30 Kg di cereali, avessimo contribuito a rendere deserta una superficie di circa 100 mq, avessimo inquinato i fiumi e le acque di una certa massa di sterco (non ho i dati sottomano...) e altre amenità del genere. Oltre, naturalmente, ad aver contribuito all'uccisione di un pacifico manzo. La cosa triste è che penso abbia tremendamente ragione.
Nel nostro piccolo, la lettura, anche se vagamente noiosa e USA-referred, aiuta a fare scelte alimentari di natura socialmente responsabile.
Suppongo che lo stesso testo orientato al maiale sarebbe di gran lunga piu' drammatico e porterebbe ad un indubbio calo nel consumo di prosciutti e coppa di testa... Aggiornamento 28.01.08 http://tinyurl.com/yp8bu8
July 17, 2021
Though dated (published 1992), what a mind opening jewel this book proved to be! This book is almost incredibly detailed, the research completed mind-boggling. The author goes from writing of the Kurgans to the needs of the future- what a spread!
My favorite quote of the book, from page 283: "While our contemporary society continues to guard against the commission of personal evil, it has largely failed to incorporate into its moral framework a sense of righteous indignation and moral repulsion against institutionally certified violence."
If you have any concern for the future of the Earth's ecosystems and the role you may personally play in the modern onslaught against it, this is a must read.
My favorite quote of the book, from page 283: "While our contemporary society continues to guard against the commission of personal evil, it has largely failed to incorporate into its moral framework a sense of righteous indignation and moral repulsion against institutionally certified violence."
If you have any concern for the future of the Earth's ecosystems and the role you may personally play in the modern onslaught against it, this is a must read.
December 1, 2022
This book is a journey through the history of mankind with the cow in the backdrop. The author goes on to narrate the influence of beef (and other animal products) on the health and wellbeing of humans, animals and the planet without ever so slightly being biased about the topic. Only in the last two pages is where we get to see the author's opinion and concluding words. The amount of research that has gone into the writing of this book is really astounding. Even though this book was published in 1992, it is very relevant even to this day.
June 24, 2026
A HISTORICAL SURVEY FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE CURRENT DAY OF THE ‘CATTLE COMPLEX’
Jeremy Rifkin (b. 1945) is an American economic, political, and social theorist, author, and activist.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1992 book, “[This book] is the story of a unique relationship forged between humans beings and cattle over the millennia of history. We have prayed to these animals, sacrificed them to the gods, and used them to provide food, clothing, shelter, traction, and fuel. They have enriched our spiritual lives and fed our appetite. We have elevated them to divine status, yoked them to the plow to turn the soil, milked them to provide nourishment for our young, and eaten them to gain strength and energy… we will examine the human-bovine relationship throughout history, from the first archaeological records dating back to the Lascaux caves to the assassination of Chico Mendez in the Amazonian rain forests… This book concludes with a plea to humanity to move beyond the beef culture in the 21st century. Dismantling the global cattle complex and significantly reducing the consumption of beef is an essential task for the coming decades if we are to have any hope of restoring our planet to health and feeding a growing human population.” (Pg. 2-4)
He reports, “In order to obtain the optimum weight gain in the minimum time, feedlot managers administer a panoply of pharmaceuticals to the cattle, including growth-stimulating hormones and feed additives. Anabolic steroids ...are implanted in the animals’ ears… In the past, managers used to add massive doses of antibiotics to cattle feed to promote growth and fight diseases… While the cattle industry claims that it has discontinued the widespread use of antibiotics in cattle feed, antibiotics are still being given to dairy cows… Castrated, drugged, and docile, cattle spend long hours at the feed troughs … The feed is saturated with herbicides.” (Pg. 12)
He continues, “After being fattened to their ‘ideal’ weight… the mature steers are herded into giant truck trailers, where they are cramped together without room to move. Because the journey to the slaughterhouse is often a rough and brutal one, animals frequently fall and are trampled upon inside the trucks, suffering broken legs or pelvises. Unable to rise, these animals are known as ‘downers.’ The cattle are transported for hours or days… without rest or nourishment and frequently without water… The steers enter the slaughterhouse single-file… they are stunned by a pneumatic gun… Men in blood-soaked gowns…. Slit each steer’s throat… the dead animal moves along the main assembly line. At the next workstation the animal is skinned… the next day workers … cut the carcass into recognizable [pieces]… [which are] tossed onto conveyor belts… The neatly trimmed, vacuum-packed cuts of beef are then shipped off to supermarkets...” (Pg. 14-15)
He explains, “The beef packers were the first industry to successfully employ mass production techniques, division of labor, and the assembly line in their manufacturing process, becoming a model for the … rest of American industry in the 20th century. Their rational method of organization, with its emphasis on speed, efficiency, and utility applied to the manufacturing of meat… helped create the conditions for the emergence of a new cattle complex bearing all of the essential characteristics of modern industrial production.” (Pg. 116-117)
He states, “the popularity of precut packaged beef shifted the locus of power from the older, more staid meat-packing operations to more aggressive firms… Boxed beef also appealed to the new supermarket chains that were opening up in suburban malls… Retailers were anxious to cut labor costs, and consumers appreciated the convenience of prepackaged beef. The number of retail butchers dwindled in size by the 1980s... The new beef processors were also able to save additional dollars by retaining … waste materials in the slaughtering process and using them in the preparation of by-products.” (Pg. 125-126)
He observes, “the human toll of supporting a worldwide cattle complex and an artificial protein chain has been devastating… Yet these costs are only part of …. an environmental threat that is affecting the very survivability of the earth’s ecosystems… The world’s cattle complex is wreaking havoc with the earth’s ecology, destroying whole bioregions of the planet in a mad rush to increase the supply of meat… entire regions of the globe fall victim to hordes of hoofed [cattle] in search of grass and grain.” (Pg. 180-181)
He notes, “Nearly half of the water consumed in the United States now goes to grow feed for cattle and other livestock. To produce just a pound of grain-fed steak requires hundreds of gallons of water to irrigate feed crops consumed by the steer… Today, much of the available fresh water in North America is being used to grow feed for cattle. The result is that the water tables in the midwest and Great Plains states are fast being depleted… Already, western cities and suburbs have been forced to ration water, limiting both household and commercial uses. Rarely, if ever, are consumers advised that prohibitions on watering lawns, washing automobiles, and other uses … are attributable, in part, to the amount of water being siphoned off to raise grain for cattle and other livestock.” (Pg. 219)
He points out, “very little has been said about the impact that modern cattle raising is having on the greenhouse effect. The fact is, the grain-fed cattle complex is now a significant factor in the emission of … global warming gases---methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide… Cattle… are now polluting our atmosphere and earthly environs, transforming the biosphere itself into a wasteland of deadly gases.” (Pg. 223)
He states, “Much of the biomass being burned in the world today is done specifically to promote the worldwide cattle-ranching industry. Millions of acres of tropical forest are being burned, vast stretches of grazing lands are being charred, and large tracts of agricultural wastes from feed crops are being set afire every year, releasing millions of tons of carbon into the heavens, all to secure the grain-fed beef complex.” (Pg. 225)
He summarizes, “Modern meat is a testimonial to the utilitarian ethos. The spirit of the animal is ruthlessly repressed and deadened shortly after birth. Cattle are castrated, injected with hormones and antibiotics, sprayed with insecticides, placed on a cement slab, and fed grains, sawdust, sludge, and sewage until they reach the appropriate weight. The animals are transported by truck to automated slaughterhouses, where they are killed, disassembled into their constituent parts, mixed, molded, shaped, and reconstituted into useful products and by-products that are far removed from the sentient creatures from which they were derived. Children of the industrial world have little relationship to or understanding of the animals they incorporate into their bodies three or more times a week. Youngsters are often shocked on coming upon a beef carcass hanging in a butcher ship. They have grown up to think of meat as a ‘thing,’ a piece of material produced by the same processes that provide them with toys, clothes, and other such things.” (Pg. 272-273)
He concludes, “Moving beyond the beef culture is a revolutionary act, a sign of our willingness to reconstitute ourselves, to make ourselves whole. Restoring nature, resacralizing our relationship to cattle, and renewing our own being are inseparably linked. They are the essential elements of a new postmodern sensibility, the harbingers of a new earth-centered awareness. The dissolution of the modern cattle complex and the elimination of beef from the diet of the human race portends a new chapter in the unfolding of human consciousness. By doing battle with ‘the world steer,’ a new generation expresses its sensitivity to the biospheres and its regard for the plight of the poor. By eliminating beef from the human diet, our species takes a significant step toward a new species consciousness, reaching out in a spirit of shared partnership with the bovine and, by extension, other sentient creatures with whom we share the earth.” (Pg. 291)
This book (which contains a GREAT DEAL of interesting historical information about the development of the ‘cattle culture’ from ancient times to more recent) will be of keen interest to those studying ecological issues, animal welfare/rights, and related topics.
Jeremy Rifkin (b. 1945) is an American economic, political, and social theorist, author, and activist.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1992 book, “[This book] is the story of a unique relationship forged between humans beings and cattle over the millennia of history. We have prayed to these animals, sacrificed them to the gods, and used them to provide food, clothing, shelter, traction, and fuel. They have enriched our spiritual lives and fed our appetite. We have elevated them to divine status, yoked them to the plow to turn the soil, milked them to provide nourishment for our young, and eaten them to gain strength and energy… we will examine the human-bovine relationship throughout history, from the first archaeological records dating back to the Lascaux caves to the assassination of Chico Mendez in the Amazonian rain forests… This book concludes with a plea to humanity to move beyond the beef culture in the 21st century. Dismantling the global cattle complex and significantly reducing the consumption of beef is an essential task for the coming decades if we are to have any hope of restoring our planet to health and feeding a growing human population.” (Pg. 2-4)
He reports, “In order to obtain the optimum weight gain in the minimum time, feedlot managers administer a panoply of pharmaceuticals to the cattle, including growth-stimulating hormones and feed additives. Anabolic steroids ...are implanted in the animals’ ears… In the past, managers used to add massive doses of antibiotics to cattle feed to promote growth and fight diseases… While the cattle industry claims that it has discontinued the widespread use of antibiotics in cattle feed, antibiotics are still being given to dairy cows… Castrated, drugged, and docile, cattle spend long hours at the feed troughs … The feed is saturated with herbicides.” (Pg. 12)
He continues, “After being fattened to their ‘ideal’ weight… the mature steers are herded into giant truck trailers, where they are cramped together without room to move. Because the journey to the slaughterhouse is often a rough and brutal one, animals frequently fall and are trampled upon inside the trucks, suffering broken legs or pelvises. Unable to rise, these animals are known as ‘downers.’ The cattle are transported for hours or days… without rest or nourishment and frequently without water… The steers enter the slaughterhouse single-file… they are stunned by a pneumatic gun… Men in blood-soaked gowns…. Slit each steer’s throat… the dead animal moves along the main assembly line. At the next workstation the animal is skinned… the next day workers … cut the carcass into recognizable [pieces]… [which are] tossed onto conveyor belts… The neatly trimmed, vacuum-packed cuts of beef are then shipped off to supermarkets...” (Pg. 14-15)
He explains, “The beef packers were the first industry to successfully employ mass production techniques, division of labor, and the assembly line in their manufacturing process, becoming a model for the … rest of American industry in the 20th century. Their rational method of organization, with its emphasis on speed, efficiency, and utility applied to the manufacturing of meat… helped create the conditions for the emergence of a new cattle complex bearing all of the essential characteristics of modern industrial production.” (Pg. 116-117)
He states, “the popularity of precut packaged beef shifted the locus of power from the older, more staid meat-packing operations to more aggressive firms… Boxed beef also appealed to the new supermarket chains that were opening up in suburban malls… Retailers were anxious to cut labor costs, and consumers appreciated the convenience of prepackaged beef. The number of retail butchers dwindled in size by the 1980s... The new beef processors were also able to save additional dollars by retaining … waste materials in the slaughtering process and using them in the preparation of by-products.” (Pg. 125-126)
He observes, “the human toll of supporting a worldwide cattle complex and an artificial protein chain has been devastating… Yet these costs are only part of …. an environmental threat that is affecting the very survivability of the earth’s ecosystems… The world’s cattle complex is wreaking havoc with the earth’s ecology, destroying whole bioregions of the planet in a mad rush to increase the supply of meat… entire regions of the globe fall victim to hordes of hoofed [cattle] in search of grass and grain.” (Pg. 180-181)
He notes, “Nearly half of the water consumed in the United States now goes to grow feed for cattle and other livestock. To produce just a pound of grain-fed steak requires hundreds of gallons of water to irrigate feed crops consumed by the steer… Today, much of the available fresh water in North America is being used to grow feed for cattle. The result is that the water tables in the midwest and Great Plains states are fast being depleted… Already, western cities and suburbs have been forced to ration water, limiting both household and commercial uses. Rarely, if ever, are consumers advised that prohibitions on watering lawns, washing automobiles, and other uses … are attributable, in part, to the amount of water being siphoned off to raise grain for cattle and other livestock.” (Pg. 219)
He points out, “very little has been said about the impact that modern cattle raising is having on the greenhouse effect. The fact is, the grain-fed cattle complex is now a significant factor in the emission of … global warming gases---methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide… Cattle… are now polluting our atmosphere and earthly environs, transforming the biosphere itself into a wasteland of deadly gases.” (Pg. 223)
He states, “Much of the biomass being burned in the world today is done specifically to promote the worldwide cattle-ranching industry. Millions of acres of tropical forest are being burned, vast stretches of grazing lands are being charred, and large tracts of agricultural wastes from feed crops are being set afire every year, releasing millions of tons of carbon into the heavens, all to secure the grain-fed beef complex.” (Pg. 225)
He summarizes, “Modern meat is a testimonial to the utilitarian ethos. The spirit of the animal is ruthlessly repressed and deadened shortly after birth. Cattle are castrated, injected with hormones and antibiotics, sprayed with insecticides, placed on a cement slab, and fed grains, sawdust, sludge, and sewage until they reach the appropriate weight. The animals are transported by truck to automated slaughterhouses, where they are killed, disassembled into their constituent parts, mixed, molded, shaped, and reconstituted into useful products and by-products that are far removed from the sentient creatures from which they were derived. Children of the industrial world have little relationship to or understanding of the animals they incorporate into their bodies three or more times a week. Youngsters are often shocked on coming upon a beef carcass hanging in a butcher ship. They have grown up to think of meat as a ‘thing,’ a piece of material produced by the same processes that provide them with toys, clothes, and other such things.” (Pg. 272-273)
He concludes, “Moving beyond the beef culture is a revolutionary act, a sign of our willingness to reconstitute ourselves, to make ourselves whole. Restoring nature, resacralizing our relationship to cattle, and renewing our own being are inseparably linked. They are the essential elements of a new postmodern sensibility, the harbingers of a new earth-centered awareness. The dissolution of the modern cattle complex and the elimination of beef from the diet of the human race portends a new chapter in the unfolding of human consciousness. By doing battle with ‘the world steer,’ a new generation expresses its sensitivity to the biospheres and its regard for the plight of the poor. By eliminating beef from the human diet, our species takes a significant step toward a new species consciousness, reaching out in a spirit of shared partnership with the bovine and, by extension, other sentient creatures with whom we share the earth.” (Pg. 291)
This book (which contains a GREAT DEAL of interesting historical information about the development of the ‘cattle culture’ from ancient times to more recent) will be of keen interest to those studying ecological issues, animal welfare/rights, and related topics.
April 26, 2012
3.5 stars - I liked this book, found it to be very factually presented and enjoyed the history as well as interesting cultural commentary on the reasons behind the prominence of beef consumption in today's society. But here's the thing. Twenty years later the "...fall of the cattle culture" half of the subtitle still hasn't happened. The conclusion rubbed me the wrong way because the fact of the matter is that a critical mass of millions of people haven't read this book and made the choice not to support the beef industry. And it's not looking especially likely that they will. Instead of ending on a dreamy note of how all the world's ills will be solved when this does happen, I would be far more motivated to attempt to reduce my beef consumption (and encourage others to do so via sharing of this book) if the focus were more on how altering our habits as beef consumers would impact each of us personally. Because that is where change really begins and is most immediately noticed. Being told I'm going to be part of a movement that as yet is not coalescing is less than inspirational - in fact it rings a little false.
September 10, 2020
Ho scoperto l'esistenza di questo libro leggendo il commento di un utente sotto una discussione online riguardante il tema della distruzione ecologica, o probabilmente non ne avrei mai sospettato l'esistenza.
È un libro "raro", non più in stampa (da quel che mi risulta). Sono addolorata dal fatto che un simile libro, contenutisticamente immenso, non possa essere facilmente reperibile.
Oggi più che mai abbiamo bisogno di libri simili, in grado di incrinare le lenti con cui abbiamo guardato al mondo per intere generazioni.
È un capolavoro della saggistica; ricco di dati, testimonianze e riferimenti filosofici. Brutale, pregno, disturbante, avvilente, il libro più deprimente che io abbia mai letto in vita mia.
Un excursus storico, e infine anche antropologico, sulla specie umana e su come abbiamo, noi tutti, portato gli ecosistemi al collasso senza neanche rendercene conto (i motivi occulti, di cui in molti non hanno interesse a parlare), con i risultati che oggi possiamo "apprezzare".
Non basterà chiedere perdono.
È un libro "raro", non più in stampa (da quel che mi risulta). Sono addolorata dal fatto che un simile libro, contenutisticamente immenso, non possa essere facilmente reperibile.
Oggi più che mai abbiamo bisogno di libri simili, in grado di incrinare le lenti con cui abbiamo guardato al mondo per intere generazioni.
È un capolavoro della saggistica; ricco di dati, testimonianze e riferimenti filosofici. Brutale, pregno, disturbante, avvilente, il libro più deprimente che io abbia mai letto in vita mia.
Un excursus storico, e infine anche antropologico, sulla specie umana e su come abbiamo, noi tutti, portato gli ecosistemi al collasso senza neanche rendercene conto (i motivi occulti, di cui in molti non hanno interesse a parlare), con i risultati che oggi possiamo "apprezzare".
Non basterà chiedere perdono.
August 21, 2012
I read this in the library at Lubbock Christian University my junior year while doing research for a speech to persuade people to eat more vegetables & less meat. I think I looked thru more of this book than I planned because it was more intriguing than I expected. Within a few weeks to months after reading this back in 2001, I became an ovo-lacto-vegetarian.
December 29, 2008
The history of cattle in relationship to which the word itself (etymologically preceding "capital"). Lots of juicy, eye-opening history, which is brutal. Very interesting read...we'll see if I can get through it without becoming vegetarian. doubtful.
June 18, 2012
Reading this book 20 some-odd years ago changed my life.
A must read . One of the first books available that exposed
Factory Farming and its consequences. Brought attention to
the way we raise livestock before it was 'cool' .
A must read . One of the first books available that exposed
Factory Farming and its consequences. Brought attention to
the way we raise livestock before it was 'cool' .
January 15, 2020
I was already vegetarian when I read this book, so it simply gave me some good arguments to reply to the usual stupid questions that I get when I tell people that I'm vegetarian. Actually, today I'm vegan, so the questions I get are even more stupid.
February 17, 2020
First, before anyone gets the wrong idea,this is not about the company Beyond Meat, (although I do hope he writes a book one day).
This book is quite exceptional and honestly if you were looking for a non "preachy" or nongraphic book to cement to anyone or yourself, the reason to go plant-based,this is my new first pick.
This book is the Entire, underline Entire, history of cows from the most ancient civilizations and the Aurochs to all of the cow based religions and their eventual demise due to Christianity,to the first snobbery of breeding and how cows came to America, right down to the hierarchical and gender roles that were created by eating meat,plus the health and environmental effects. This book has every statistic, every number, every fact available,it's overwhelming! The bibliography is 40 pages alone!
While the author is vegetarian,he never once tries to push the reader to joining him, the contents of his book do all the cajoling necessary. It's a brilliant book. This isn't a heartbreaking behind the scenes of Big Ag and all the crushing cruelty type book,there are dozens of wonderful books like that already.
There was a lot of really cool stuff I learned,some adorable like the ancient Greek wedding vows
"Where thou art the bull,I am the cow" Aww! I enjoyed it very much and wish he'd written more.
This book is quite exceptional and honestly if you were looking for a non "preachy" or nongraphic book to cement to anyone or yourself, the reason to go plant-based,this is my new first pick.
This book is the Entire, underline Entire, history of cows from the most ancient civilizations and the Aurochs to all of the cow based religions and their eventual demise due to Christianity,to the first snobbery of breeding and how cows came to America, right down to the hierarchical and gender roles that were created by eating meat,plus the health and environmental effects. This book has every statistic, every number, every fact available,it's overwhelming! The bibliography is 40 pages alone!
While the author is vegetarian,he never once tries to push the reader to joining him, the contents of his book do all the cajoling necessary. It's a brilliant book. This isn't a heartbreaking behind the scenes of Big Ag and all the crushing cruelty type book,there are dozens of wonderful books like that already.
There was a lot of really cool stuff I learned,some adorable like the ancient Greek wedding vows
"Where thou art the bull,I am the cow" Aww! I enjoyed it very much and wish he'd written more.
March 7, 2019
Lots of insights about the history of the Meat industry.
October 13, 2016
The writer finished the book saying eating beyond beef is a revolutionary act; it brought me a whole different phase of looking at cattle business in the US in a quite revolutionary way. There were more reasons that I want to pursue eating in a low food chain level than I could have imagined.
It was painful to know once a sacred animal developed into a 'thing' that is no more than something we would pick up at a store and 'use' because it is no more than just to be used.
I like to think there are ways for us to truly be grateful for what we consume by remembering that they used to be animals that lived near us and breathed same air with us. Clearly, we love our dogs and cats that we would take care of exact same way as we do for our children, but we tend to forget what we eat are same animals and it even becomes a part of ourselves.
Highly rcommendable for those who are interested in sustainable ways of life; the book has thorough knowledge over history, topography, and policies.
It was painful to know once a sacred animal developed into a 'thing' that is no more than something we would pick up at a store and 'use' because it is no more than just to be used.
I like to think there are ways for us to truly be grateful for what we consume by remembering that they used to be animals that lived near us and breathed same air with us. Clearly, we love our dogs and cats that we would take care of exact same way as we do for our children, but we tend to forget what we eat are same animals and it even becomes a part of ourselves.
Highly rcommendable for those who are interested in sustainable ways of life; the book has thorough knowledge over history, topography, and policies.
June 5, 2013
I was disappointed - I thought it would be balanced.
He is TOTALLY against anything beef. He does not go into small farms or home farmers - he never mentions the grass-fed trend or home farmers (which are growing in segment because of many of the things he complains of) and never mentions improvements made or in the process in ethical animal treatment (think Temple Grandin).
Good book if you are on track with him I suppose, but I really read it hoping to get a balanced picture of what IS, what is CHANGING and what it CAN be - and that is only addressed by the total eradication of eating beef in this book - he paints no other scenario. To me that's just not addressing how progress can be made (even if you go with his end goal, which not all of us do). Just thought it was totally dismissive of reality and the baby-steps society usually needs to make and the branches in the path along the way to any goal - and alternatives to what one considers perfect.
The word Zealot came to mind - but maybe that's what he was going for. I was looking for realistic.....
He is TOTALLY against anything beef. He does not go into small farms or home farmers - he never mentions the grass-fed trend or home farmers (which are growing in segment because of many of the things he complains of) and never mentions improvements made or in the process in ethical animal treatment (think Temple Grandin).
Good book if you are on track with him I suppose, but I really read it hoping to get a balanced picture of what IS, what is CHANGING and what it CAN be - and that is only addressed by the total eradication of eating beef in this book - he paints no other scenario. To me that's just not addressing how progress can be made (even if you go with his end goal, which not all of us do). Just thought it was totally dismissive of reality and the baby-steps society usually needs to make and the branches in the path along the way to any goal - and alternatives to what one considers perfect.
The word Zealot came to mind - but maybe that's what he was going for. I was looking for realistic.....
August 27, 2008
Rifkin's book, beyond Beef, is a truly insightful history lesson about America's love affair with Beef. This author has some very interesting ideas about why our Founding Father wanted to eradicate the American Indians from the plains - to make room for their grazing cattle. He also blames the British for Ireland's Great Famine. The Irish were left with only potatoes to eat while the British used Irish land to graze their cattle; that is until the Potato Famine of the 1740'2 left the Irish starving to death. Such is the beginning of the trend that continues to this day. The richest in the world eat beef that graze on the land of the poorest nations - leaving them with no room for their crops, and no food. I would urge all Americans to educate themselves on the impact their food choices have on the rest of the world.
December 5, 2008
Continuing in my trend of food-based books, this is another alarming display of our industrial food system. Specifically, targeting the cow and all of its ill-begotten fortunes.
I was already inclined to buy the arguments in this book, and aware of the "hoofed-locust" destruction wrought by what most people assume is a fairly harmless animal. However, I was also ready to dispute the author's main argument - that ruminant animals, and especially the cow, should be removed from our diet.
Follow this book up with "The Omnivores Dilemma" to see examples of how cows (and preferably buffalo) can still play a role in modern agriculture. But this book does provide a thorough description of why our current cow-production is not sustainable.
I was already inclined to buy the arguments in this book, and aware of the "hoofed-locust" destruction wrought by what most people assume is a fairly harmless animal. However, I was also ready to dispute the author's main argument - that ruminant animals, and especially the cow, should be removed from our diet.
Follow this book up with "The Omnivores Dilemma" to see examples of how cows (and preferably buffalo) can still play a role in modern agriculture. But this book does provide a thorough description of why our current cow-production is not sustainable.
December 30, 2011
An important, comprehensive, and disturbing book.
While the book doesn't say it (it was written 20 years ago), raising beef can be extremely good for the environment and can build amazing soil, but it has to be done completely differently from the way it is commonly done now. Think 100% pastured cows on diversified micro farms. Some biodynamic farmers estimate that changing the way we grow beef could sequester twice as much carbon as the most alarmist climate scientists say is necessary. Some people think this type of beef is "expensive" and "elitist", but in terms of nutritional density, it is far cheaper than grocery store meat. And it is the same type of meat peasants the world over eat.
While the book doesn't say it (it was written 20 years ago), raising beef can be extremely good for the environment and can build amazing soil, but it has to be done completely differently from the way it is commonly done now. Think 100% pastured cows on diversified micro farms. Some biodynamic farmers estimate that changing the way we grow beef could sequester twice as much carbon as the most alarmist climate scientists say is necessary. Some people think this type of beef is "expensive" and "elitist", but in terms of nutritional density, it is far cheaper than grocery store meat. And it is the same type of meat peasants the world over eat.
May 29, 2007
Very well-written history of the beef cattle industry. The book covers the environmental impacts of the beef industry, health concerns, and modern meat processing in addition to historical developments.
This is getting somewhat outdated by the passage of time, but I feel it is probably still worth a read. It was one of the best written and informative books I read about the meat industry when I first became a vegetarian.
This is getting somewhat outdated by the passage of time, but I feel it is probably still worth a read. It was one of the best written and informative books I read about the meat industry when I first became a vegetarian.
September 30, 2008
After reading this book as a teenager I didn't eat beef for a little while. Since then I've been around some big cattle ranches and realize Rifkin is very one sided and leaves parts of the story out. Now days I still don't eat much beef, but that is because a great mighty hunter taught me how to hunt.
February 4, 2010
What a detailed writer. Well-researched. The writer really explored the history of the cow and how eating beef has shaped our culture today.
It will be a long time before I buy beef again, if ever. I definately recommend this to anyone struggling with vegetarianism, or anyone wanting to go vegan.
It will be a long time before I buy beef again, if ever. I definately recommend this to anyone struggling with vegetarianism, or anyone wanting to go vegan.
September 18, 2007
I became a vegetarian in January of 2000 (over 7 1/2 years ago now), and I picked this book up shortly after. If nothing else, it sealed the deal for me. I am a life-long veggie. Very critical, but honest look at the cattle industry in our nation.
August 27, 2007
this book made me a vegetarian for six years.
December 3, 2007
a great historical perspective on meat (esp beef) in societies past and present.
May 1, 2008
In some ways this is a modern version of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. The descriptions of abattoirs might make one think twice about eating much meat. It's a good history of the beef industry.
December 20, 2008
For people who really take pride in their carnivorous habits, this is a reasonable, solid examination of what led us to believe that steak for all was a moral good. Interesting history.
May 17, 2008
This was a hard read - I never did finish. Anyone else encounter troubles staying focused with this book? Hmm...
October 4, 2008
Made me never want to eat beef again. And I have not for more than 15 years since reading this book. Probably a bit dated now, but I doubt much has changed.
April 30, 2009
Very interesting book about the cattle industry and the effects of grazing cattle on our environment. I actually stopped eating beef for awhile after reading this.
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