The Ethical Carnivore: My Year Killing to Eat

by Louise Gray

If you had to kill it yourself, if you had to look it in the eye . . . would you eat it?

Louise's first kill is a disaster. She injures a rabbit, and thinks it has died in agony. But the experience teaches her a lesson, and when she subsequently finds the rabbit, she vows to do its death justice by finding out what it really means to kill and eat animals. Many people claim to care about the meat that they eat, but do they really know how the animal died? The Ethical Carnivore addresses this universal question, through an emotional personal quest. Taking the current fashion for "ethical meat" to its logical conclusion, Louise vows to eat only animals she has killed herself for a year. Starting small, Louise shoots and traps game such as hare and squirrels, and learns how to skin and cook them. She builds a new appreciation of the British countryside, and its wild fish and animals. The narrative moves to domestic animals. Louise sees cows in the slaughterhouse; by talking to the men and women who work there, she finds out how the animals are killed and the effect it has on the people who do it on our behalf. At the end of her journey, Louise goes wildfowling in the Orkneys to shoot a goose for Christmas dinner. She reflects that the rabbit with the white blaze has taught her to appreciate meat by facing up to the death of animals and to look deeply at her own morals and values.

Genres: Nonfiction, Food, Health, Environment, Gastronomy, Philosophy, Food and Drink

320 pages, Hardcover

Published November 22, 2016

Reviews

[Giles Barrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not many books can make you want to go vegan and hunting at the same time

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is honest, well-researched, and thought-provoking non-fiction material about the vast industry that provides us with meat and fish. I had the opportunity just a few weeks ago to hear Gray speak about her time exclusively eating meat she'd killed herself, and was totally fascinated - if only by the practicalities! She said that she'd known eating less meat would ultimately be better for the planet, but she hadn't necessarily wanted to become a vegetarian, and that struck a chord with me. I bought the book that very same evening.

I'm a fairly unlikely candidate for becoming a veggie, and so I admit I was relieved to discover that Gray doesn't preach that you should. What she does do is present you with the current issues concerning our demand for meat and what it is doing to a) the animals, b) the environment and also c) the humans whose livelihoods depend on the industry. Gray patiently explains these issues without being too much of a cold hard statistician, instead embedding the facts and figures amongst her own personal experiences as a self-sufficient carnivore. She really holds nothing back on how she felt during her first experience in an abattoir, her first go at shooting a rabbit, her difficulty in stalking a deer, etc, and this makes all the difference, creating a real emotional connection with the reader and all the while imparting the important stuff. I'd sort of always thought, "Oh yeah, I could probably kill an animal to eat," but actually, I'm now not so certain. Apart from anything else, this is quite an uncomfortable uncovering of how removed we are from the process of how the things we eat actually end up on our plates. Perhaps meeting Gray and hearing her talk gave me a deeper insight into her experience, but the fact remains that her experiment and its findings resonated with me more far deeply than any documentary on climate change or animal rights has ever done. Indeed, I now feel pretty sure that I will be a much more conscious and, actually, infrequent consumer of meat. That's honestly without feeling like I'm losing anything from my lifestyle. I know!

Gray concludes that change in our eating habits is inevitable if we're to keep the biodiversity and general health of our planet and its inhabitants going. I'm inclined to agree! (...and not just because she signed my book.) Read it and decide for yourself - at the very least you'll enjoy her funny anecdotes and poetic descriptions of the British countryside, but hopefully you'll get much, much more out of it.

[TheCosyDragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

A vegetarian/vegan for many years, Louise set out only to eat meat that she had killed herself, or at least saw killed. After a scarring experience at her first abattoir visit, Louise takes a while to get on the train of killing larger animals, but rediscovers a love of other animal meats.

I’m not exactly certain what to say about this book. It looks quite unflinchingly at the conditions at some chicken and pig primary production farms, but also shows the positive side of eating meat! I felt like I was wandering around the English countryside with Louise the whole way, which was fascinating just in itself.

Even her vegan friends tested the roadkill that Louise prepares for them to eat! It’s dead already of course (even if it was a human that killed it), and so they aren’t at fault right? The idea of being an ethical anything is difficult, let alone being an ethical carnivore when something else needs to die for you to eat.

After reading this novel I was filled with questions about meat! I wanted to get my hands on more meat to eat right away! Specifically, rabbit or kangaroo, as both of those are often considered vermin in Australia. I don’t have the experience, and the gun laws are quite strict here, otherwise I would love to test my nerve in killing my own food. As it is, I think I would just have to settle for learning how to dissect it for eating.

This is a non-fiction book so I’m not going to give it any stars. However it was well-written and enjoyable, and I would recommend it strongly to anyone who wants to know more about the meat they eat. “Meat, we were made to eat it.”

[Gail (Neuroknitter) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content warning: this book (and review) discuss hunting and abattoirs and a partially carnivorous lifestyle. This was a really interesting book. My brother in law gifted it to me when I was going through a carnivore phase of eating. Briefly, the author is a journalist from Scotland and embarks on a year of eating only meat that she kills or collects in order to connect with her food and its sourcing. The writing is great, she introduces to people involved in all aspects of the meat industry from hunters and fisherman to small local farmers (as opposed to CAFO or intensive sources of meat) and different kinds of dispatching of the animals. She provides interesting facts and history along the way, and how certain small, local providers are struggling in the face of corporate and commercial pressure (e.g. sustainable fishing). Each chapter starts with a pencil sketch of the subject matter and a relevant quotation. The book is filled with gratitude, compassion, and respect for the animals that she eats. She takes you through the whole cycle of different animals used for food - from how they are raised on different types of farms to how they are dispatched, and how abattoirs have evolved over time to be more humane, with huge thanks for the enlightenment from Temple Grandin! You can feel the conflict the author has in pursuing her goal at times. Why 4-stars, and not 5? I believe some of the information she has written about animal methane emissions is not up to date and does not support the claims made about it. She also does not give a balanced overview of cost and nutritive values of lab grown and other forms of vegetarian "meat". Although she does have a dietary bias, I will give her the benefit of the doubt, that some of the updated information may not've been available at the time of writing and publication of this book. In the end, she does not force her style on the reader, and only describes what works for her. I learned a lot from this book and like the concept of an ethical carnivore and embrace this myself in my own way. I now see ways in which I could improve.

[Matt Kimsal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suppose I was hoping for more from this book. I found it difficult to read, I think largely due to a short language barrier. The author is Scottish, and I think that affected the writing style just enough that it made the book a bit jaunty to read. She was verbosely descriptive in many parts, describing the sights, sounds, and smells of the physical landscapes she was in. I think that's the most I've ever read about different types of flowers and fauna. Which was not what I was there for. She painted a really good picture, but in my eyes that got in the way of telling the story about the food. I think she was just having fun writing, and didn't have that strong of a story to tell.

Some parts were interesting, and will stick with me. For example, her description of identifying and eating roadkill as a source of meat. I suppose I had heard of that concept, but the author introduces us to a lady who regularly supplements her family's meat intake with roadkill. Not easily forgettable.

In the end, the author advocates for diets which include sustainably-sourced meat. It's more or less an "all things in moderation" approach. While meat isn't needed every day--or maybe even every week--it's not inherently evil to use animals as sustenance. However, we do need to take care that our moral compasses are set in the right direction, and strive to ensure that our meat is produced in the most humane ways possible.

Actually finished this book on 1 January 2020, but I'm putting 31 Dec 2019 to more easily parse my annual totals.

[enricocioni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would it be ok to eat an animal that was killed because it was a pest or an invasive species? what about animals who lived good, long lives, and who were relaxed or even unconscious at the time of death? hypothetically, is it better to eat an animal that was bred in Britain, where I live, or a vegan meal where half of the ingredients have a significant carbon footprint? and isn't it good to support farmers, fishermen, and butchers? especially if they treat their animals well? assuming that meat-eating will never completely go away (though who knows), could it be that the most ethical thing might actually be to support those trying to make animal husbandry more humane, rather than forswearing meat entirely? or, alternatively, could it be that avoiding meat alone is not enough, and I should avoid all animal products?

If you think these questions are worth asking, then The Ethical Carnivore is the book for you. It won't always provide you with clear, simple answers, but it will help.

Check out my full review here: https://strangebookfellowsblog.wordpr...

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first chapter of this and decided it wasn't for me (rabbit shooting a confronting way to kick things off if you a looking for an audience broader than your everyday omnivore) however for some reason I picked it up again a couple of weeks later and found it absolutely fascinating, although still very disturbing in parts.

An environmental journalist, Gray decides to spend a year only eating meat she has killed herself (or found, ie roadkill) while she investigates the ethical, social and environmental impacts of the west's high levels of meat consumption.

A good mix of investigation and personal experience this is an enlightening read and would be a good gateway (if you don't mind the UK bent) for those interested in the ethics of eating but who aren't quite ready for Singer levels of philosophising just yet.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book. Quite unlike the dense ethical exposition I expected it to be, Louise’s book is refreshingly easy to read and an intriguing recount of her past two years eating meat only when she has killed it herself. Covering a range of topics from fishing to abattoirs to halal processing, the mixture of facts and her own emotional reactions enabled me to see meat and the stories behind it in a new light.

[Wallis Greenslade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating premise. While I recognise this was Gray’s first novel, I did find her voice quite immature. However, I learned a lot and it’s certainly piqued my interest to read more on the subject.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most compelling books I have ever read. I love the environmental angle, the memories it stirs within me of the farm and the fells and most of all the message. Hopefully, I have the strength of will to make a change too, however slight.

[Richard Cockburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absorbing, educational and entertaining - a well-researched and interesting read.

[WF · Rating 5 out of 5]

This took a while to read. There is much information to understand - many hunting and gathering scenes to imagine, farms and abattoirs to vicariously visit - all food for thought. The chapters on fish and salmon saddened me the most, and the discussion on "cowspiracy" angry, and to the point. It raised the same question asked by Greta Thurnberg and many young environmentalists since - if the situation is so bad, the future so bleak, why aren't we - in particular, world leaders - doing something about it, seriously?

Make no mistake, the author has been able to embark on her year, which actually stretched over two years of eating meat ethically - eating what she has herself hunted or scavenged, because she is privileged to have the right connections through her profession, her family and friends. It's good that she has shared the experiences with her book, as it is not realistic for most of her urban living readers with no means or connections to do the exact same thing she has done. One statistic shared in the book is that the average British meat-eater consumes more than 80kg of meat in one year. It made me want to calculate how many kilos of meat I myself have consumed in the past year, and work out how to cut down, as a first step to learning to live differently.

I do believe that dire though the environmental impact of meat and fish farming may be, the people and organisations in charge will continue to be slow to change the rules, and that in the meantime, it is up to end consumers to create the demand for sustainably sourced foods by first taking time to understand the food production methods and making informed choices.

[Ashley Cracknell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the Ethical Carnivore troubling and inspiring in equal measure. I've seen videos of slaughterhouses but for some reason reading about Gray's visits turned my stomach. Just as she was unsure if she could visit another abattoir, I wasn't sure if I could turn the page to another scene of slaughter.

This isn't just a book about animal rights and the problems with our food chain, it's a book about reconnecting with nature. Gray's connection with the animals she hunts shows the human need for something deeper than plastic packaged chicken breasts from the supermarket and a wilting houseplant. Though I found the constant references to dinner parties a bit too British middle-class for my tastes.

Gray's prose is wonderful, I felt like I was walking in the woods alongside her, damp earth beneath our feet, all quiet until the crack of the gunshot. Her love of the British - especially Scottish - countryside is the best advert you could read for people who need a reason to holiday at home.

I worried at the beginning this book would be preachy, a bit 'holier-than-thou' like the stereotype of annoying vegans. Not so. Gray is grounded and lays out all the arguments for us to make decisions about whether to eat less meat and where to source it from. She won me over. I am much more wary at the supermarket, planning more trips to the butcher and eating less meat in general. The health-based evidence is clear, the animal rights evidence is clear, the planetary evidence is clear. Thank you, Louise Gray.

[Olivia Ard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always eaten meat, and probably always will--a farmer's daughter, through and through. However, I do feel that many of my fellow omnivores take the presence of meat on the dinner table for granted. We oftentimes don't think past the neat cellophane-wrapped packages we purchase at the supermarket, the ugly, sacrificial price of eating meat. Louise Gray tried to go vegetarian/vegan several times and usually stalled out, but this was still an issue she cared about gravely, so she decided to devise an experiment of sorts: for one year, she would only eat meat from animals she herself had killed. I found this book fascinating. The author and I have very different worldviews, so there were many times when I disagreed with her, but my respect for her never wavered. I admire her for sticking to her principles in ways that were inconvenient and upsetting.

As a Christian, I believe that animals are there for us to enjoy, but also that the act of killing to eat is a direct result of the Fall and that doing so does not relieve of us of our original job to take care of the animals placed in our care. Ethical treatment of animals being raised for meat, as well as the humane slaughter thereof, is imperative, and I hope that this book and others like it push the various industries at play into taking better care of the creatures in their charge. I definitely recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Aleisha Keating · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-researched and inspiring read, The Ethical Carnivore is a must for anyone curious about food or interested in exploring the ethics of our carnivorous ways.

The book is loaded with poetic descriptions of nature (“The dog violets wink through the orange bracken”), tales of her encounters with a cross section of people (slaughterhouse workers, farmers, fishermen, roadkill foragers, vegan meat producers), her emotional reactions to her experiences and facts (globally 49 billion chickens are eaten every day!) which are all adeptly woven together so that The Ethical Carnivore becomes so much more just another book about meat.

Full review here at my blog 'An Ethical Yarn': https://anethicalyarn.com/2018/01/15/...

[Simon Dobson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A study of meat-eating that's somewhat wider than the title might suggest. Indeed, very few mammals (although rather more fish) are actually killed by the author in the course of this book. There are several tours of slaughterhouses, a trawler voyage, some fish farming, and plenty of farm visits to see how the animals are kept and killed.

This book is probably best seen as following in the general tradition of animal welfare, with extensive side journeys into climate change and the human population explosion. Its central message – eat less meat that's been better raised – is far more derived from these sources than from anything to do with killing the animals yourself.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. It took me a few chapters to get stuck in but then I was thoroughly hooked. Gray writes beautifully both about her own experiences and her understanding of societal and philosophical ideas. I’d already been deeply thinking about food and ethics, and this book gave me a really solid understanding of some of the sides of the industry I had not been exposed to previously. I think it’s important to think about these issues in a nuanced way, especially when the debate is so dominated by staunch meat eaters or staunch vegans. It’s definitely made me continue in my plans towards an increasingly plant based diet as I can’t get my head around how meat is produced and sold.

[Theres · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite an enjoyable ramble through different animals and ways of farming them. I came out feeling that unsurprisingly, factory farming was horrible (the experience traumatises her for months), shooting animals kind of okay and that with regards to fish it might be best to think about sustainability over sentiment (e.g. mussels - excellent to eat!). Because she avoids taking too strong a stance (although she does explain her position) I was left a bit "now what"-ish at the end but I preferred that.

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book - it wasn't what I was expecting at all. The narrative was emotionally honest which I found refreshing. The no-nonsense approach to the food chain and issues facing it as a whole made for easy reading even if the subject matter is not always so palatable. I'm very much looking forward to hearing more about Louise's journey at her book launch in Edinburgh in October. I'll also be looking forward to reading more books from her I the future.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eating only what you have personally killed brings a heightened sense of respect and responsibility in your consumption of meat. As Gray points out, it's not just the dignity of a quick death but the quality of its life leading up to it. Salmon farms and intensive piggeries tend to escape public scrutiny, who remain focused on chicken egg production. There are so many things to think about in this book, although I'm still not sure I'll take up roadkill consumption! A worthwhile read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been wanting to read this book for ages and finally got it from the library. Really interesting book which presses all my buttons in terms of the very rational reasons why we should be eating less and better meat. Didn’t quite make me want to go hunting, but almost! Did make me think more about the fish that I sometimes eat. Very well worth reading v

[James Ryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is what I’m always saying, it’s all good if we just kill the dogs ourselves! I’d never pay for someone else to kill a dog, I’m not a monster. But I thrive on a canine diet, by which I mean I eat dogs exclusively, dogs I look in the eye as I slit their throat🥰 Thanks to Elwood’s organic dog meat for teaching me how to slaughter dogs ethically😊🐶🌭🌭

[Alexandra Shuttleworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastically written. Gray delves into the topic of meat consumption with an open mind, exploring so many different routes. Whilst we do not have an opinion that is entirely the same, as I am a vegan, I appreciated how candid she was - and I felt my mind opened to new ideas. I will be lending this one to family and friends.

[Harley Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and enjoyable delve into the authors quest to eat only the meat from animals she hunts. From oyster shucking to factory farming Louise Gray captivates us with all the juicy details and her personal journey and dilemmas surrounding our need to eat meat.

[Jon Shanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, thought-provoking book that manages to make its points, not only without being too preachy or smug, but also with warmth and good humour. Well researched and well worth a read, but still not going to put me off my steak or bacon!

[Rowan Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a proactive vegetarian, this genuinely changed the way I think about the production and consumption of meat AND plant-based food. Gray's research-driven but personable prose allows a level of comfort that makes the discomfort present in much of the book easier to swallow.

[Sue Gross · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could not kill what I eat, she's quite a gal! Interesting reading, tho I had to put it down sometimes.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written and thought-provoking.

[John Childs · Rating 4 out of 5]

very thought provoking by an author who has been to the sharpe end of our food production that most people don't even want to think about let alone see

[Danta Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book made me really think about a lot of things, where my food comes from our connection to it, with out being judgemental.