Être the Cow

by Sean Kenniff

A poignant tale about pushing limits and challenging destiny Humiliated by his hoofed legs, the flies on his haunches, and the grass in his mouth, a bull named Être tells his tender story about the brutal insignificance of cow life at Gorwell Farm. In a world where the line between disgrace and dignity is drawn by a pasture fence, Être finds himself alone in his awareness and utterly powerless to change his circumstances. Être searches for understanding among the broads, bulls, and calves on the pasture, but finds none. On the best of days, Être listens to the farmer's boy sing lullabies at the fence. He likes those songs and loves the boy. But the grasses thin as the seasons pass, the cows hunger, and Être grows desperate. He is the only cow truly starving.

Genres: Philosophy, Fiction, Animals

135 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Sean Kenniff is neither a cow nor a vegetarian. The author of "Stop Effing Yourself", is a physician, television journalist, radio host, and creator of the popular health news website Healthapalooza.com.

In 2000 Kenniff was one of the original castaways on the CBS reality show Survivor. Born and raised in New York and now living in Miami, Florida, he was working for a large U.S. corporation during the recession of 2008-2009 when his position was suddenly eliminated. He went to live with the cows. The experienced changed his life and his diet. He no longer eats beef or meat from other mammals.

Être the Cow is his first novella.

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Berchtold Brecht wrote: „Die dümmsten Kälber wählen ihre Metzger selber“ Roughly translated "the dumbest cow, chooses its own butcher"

The meaning being: we follow blindly, without thinking and choose our life without really choosing it consciously.

Etre changes that... He becomes aware...

Or as some others would have said:

- He awakens (Jim Morrison)
- Cogito, ergo sum (Descartes)
- J'ai pas choisi de vivre ici, entre la soumission, la peur ou l'abandon, J'm'en sortirai, je te le jure, à coup de livres, je franchirai tous ces murs (Jean-Jacques Goldmann)

I have rarely read a more erudite and skilled story, packed with philosophical allegories. Very challenging psychological assertions, brought to you in a language you will LOVE and understand. Read it with an open mind, think about what it tells you, what unquestioned answers it reveals to you and it will blow your mind away!

All in all: I recommend it to 100%

Except to those who don't like books that accrue them as a human being and help them evolve into more consciousness! To those I say: Beware! Because you wont have any excuses left for NOT taking your life into your own hands, after reading this, anymore.

Desmond Tutu was right about this one Sean! Bon travaille!

[Semeiotickled · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Etre the cow
Is on être
Et cet'ra."
~Me.

-"Être" referencing the condition of the bovine protagonist's self-awareness, and his search for a meaning to his existence ("être" in French connoting being, existence).
-Etre's plight is juxtaposed with - and his struggles accentuated by - his interactions with the other cows, who lack his awareness and are therefore content with their bovine lot, be it alfalfa or abattoir. The Latin "et cetera" can be translated as "and the rest", "and the others", Etre's "people".


Thoroughly depressing: I really enjoyed this.

With terms like "modern fable", "philosophical novella" or "modern parable" coming to mind, I found "Etre the cow" to be a canny dystopian allegory for our age, perhaps in much the same way that "Animal Farm" was, in its time.

One main difference is that, whereas the latter was a satirical indictment of a political system, "Etre the cow" philosophically tackles the social and economic climate surrounding events of the Noughties, with its protagonist Etre (the bull, in fact) serving as a device with which to expound certain unappetizing truths. This places him in the role of prophet and oddity among his kine, with the attendant struggles, soul-searching, and blank incomprehension.

As such, in "Etre the cow" I saw shades of The Corporation (Bakan) contextually and even of The Little Prince (de Saint-Exupéry) technically, in addition to what it owes to Orwell's farmyard allegory.

Other parallels abound; from the philosophical and mythological, such as Plato's Cave, and the Lotus-Eaters of Homer's Odyssey, to the modern, particularly with what is probably Etre's watershed moment of perception or discovery, one which visually recalls similar instances in films, such as The Bodysnatchers ("They're here already!"), or Soylent Green ("Soylent Green is people!").

All of that, in an accessible 130-odd pages, and I'm sure I'll find more as I read this again. A gem, and recommended.

[Sean Kenniff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it, so of course I am giving it a 5 star rating. I hope you enjoy it. It was not easy to write. Thank you.

[RYCJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

First must point out, this is the prettiest (in tangible quality) book I have held in my hand this year! Outstanding printing! So, kudos to the interior designer of etre the cow, and to the print house.

It was easy to appreciate the premise of être the cow remembering stories passed over to me by ancestors about the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, and covered in historical references. In terms of civility, knowledge bears no more comfort than ignorance.

Despite être, in his own suffering, believing fireflies enjoy a freedom he pined for, no life escapes the processes that subsistence require. Like the air we breathe, the vegetation (être himself trampled and ate) and/or flesh we consume, life is a continuously revolving process. And yes, we can be kinder in this process, but then as Kenniff so eloquently lays out in the voice of être, how are we to be sure what kinder is if we're unable to communicate with entities beyond our understanding. (For instance, in our own ignorance we may believe being a vegetarian is kinder to consuming flesh... until we get to hear from a talking blade of grass). Again, knowledge bears no more comfort than ignorance.

Compelling storytelling, and a very handsome tabletop book.

[Carol Royce Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those books where you sit-down-and-don't-know-what-to expect-and suddenly-you-are- drawn- in-and-don't-want-to-put- it-down-even-to-use-the-bathroom! Can you tell I loved this book? The storyteller is the cow, Etre, who believes there is something more to life and is constantly searching for happiness for himself, and then later his family, My Cow and Bull Calf. There are some very vivid scenes that would make this a book inappropriate to read to younger children, but for teens it would be a good one for discussions (discussion questions are included). I know that I will be thinking about it and pondering it for a long time. I bought this book electronically for my IPAD, but I think I'm actually going to go out and buy a paper copy because it's one I want on my bookshelf.

[James Kenniff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gets quite a bit grotesque/perverse but I think that’s part of Kenniff’s point of the violence inherent to the commodification of labor, its propagation to one’s psyche and orientation to power/sex, and the folly of solely individual-level alternatives/escapes. I still can’t place how it’s specifically about the 2008 financial crisis, but I also know he’s a troll and don’t think he believes any of that, so who knows.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

From My Blog (received 4.5 stars)...

A deeply philosophical and moving narrative, Être the Cow by Sean Kenniff is a brilliantly written novel about wanting more from life. The protagonist is highly intelligent and desperately wants to communicate with others. He views himself as rather ugly and has a fear of streams and dogs, as he proceeds to explain life as a bovine living in Gorwell, a rather large industrial farm owned by the Creely's. As he explains life, he starts to question life, free will, choice, altering destiny and non-conformity. Être the Cow is a tender, at times witty, and altogether serious look into society, belonging, and humanity, all through the eyes of a bull. A story narrated entirely by a bull may seem, if not a book for a child then, an unusual storytelling approach from this protagonist, yet rest assured the protagonist in this novel could not be more appropriate. Être the Cow is a beautifully written book, rich in metaphor, symbolism, underlying social implications as well as existentialism. The reader views life through the bull and learns beauty, love, and hope through the bull's views of My Cow and Bull Calf, what he sees and knows as well as the horror he has seen and his deep desire to be understood and to change his fate and the fate of others. The word "Être", which happens to be the only word the bull can say aloud, means "to be". Begging the question, what does it mean to be? This and other issues are raised in this short yet powerful novel of the known and unknown and the trappings of the familiar. Être the Cow is a novel that should not be missed and would definitely create some lively discussions for a book group.

[Vaishali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly the most important, compassionate book one will ever read. Jane Goodall's thumbs-up is well-earned. If there was one gift I'd give to each human being I'd ever meet, it is this book.

[Connor Schwarz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Etre is a unique bull and the main reason why I love this book so much. I grew up on a farm and this book makes me see different perspectives of what animals feel. Etre shows a modern farm in the eyes of a bull that is very realistic at times. Etre tries hard to make sense of what humans are actually like. Etre shares about his experience.
The large reason I really like this book is it gives you an insight to what cows feel and see on a farm. The little boy that sings in front of the cows makes the cows really entertained. Etre runs into a cow he called ¨My Cow¨ and faces challenges with other animals and with resources. Etre acts fast and makes a quick decision that changes his life and other animals in the pasture.
This book is not for the faint of heart when things get dark in the book. The slaughterhouse becomes a reality for Etre and can be very gruesome and I do not recommend the book to someone looking for a soft book.
The larger theme of Etre the Cow is that the world is a fenced in place and people have to make changes to this internal struggle that others feel to become free. I believe in this theme which is why I recommend the book. Etre was not happy with things that were happening so he took charge and made change.

[R.Z. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fable for our time. Etre is a bull hiding among the cows. The story is from his point of view of what it is like to live in large pastures where cows are fattened for slaughter in very crowded conditions. Etre eventually pairs up with My Cow and they have a baby which is called Bull Calf throughout the book. After Etre sees the horror (detailed and explicit) of what happens to the cows, including My Cow, he does everything possible to escape with his reluctant son. I suggest that the reader read all the back material also, to get the significance of the daffodils at the end of the tale. This little book is shocking, and won't be forgotten soon!

[Isaac Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked up at a book sale because I grew up on a cow farm, and thoroughly enjoyed this. It's the first person narration of a bull, so yes symbolism is everywhere but it's a short read so it's super effective. The tale goes from heartwarming to horror and will resonate deep with anyone who finds themselves looking for better pastures.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course I cried

[claresgotbooksagain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey... what the fuck

[James F Kenniff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, full disclosure: I am his brother. But I absolutely loved this book. Beyond proud.

[Mia Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

heartbreaking. i was absolutely wrecked by the end of this book. the daffodils 😭😭😭😭😭 reading this right after animal farm was a choice

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

ETRE THE COW is a small book but don't let it fool you, the message is huge. When I first received this book from TLC Book Tours I didn't really know what it was going to be about. Is it simply a story about a cow named Etre? I don't think so. Here's what I do know: Etre is a bull living in the pastures of Gorwell Farm, and the first thing I noticed was his innocence and inquisitive nature.

Etre has lived at this farm for awhile and has watched as other cows and bulls come and go through the seasons, not really giving too much thought to the why's and how's of the farm. The one thing Etre wants more than anything is to be able to communicate with others. His favorite thing is listening to the farmer's son sing and whenever the boy is near, Etre moves closer so he can hear the sweet sounds coming from him. He tries unsuccessfully to get the boy's attention and to sing back but all he can do is hear the words in his own head. No matter how hard he tries, he is simply unable to make either the boy or the other cows hear him. He begins to feel insignificant and even more alone.

Then one day while standing under a large oak tree at the back of the pasture he meets another cow, who he calls My Cow and before long she gives birth to his Bull Calf. Once Bull Calf is born, Etre experiences the joys of fatherhood and loves watching his offspring as he grows. But something else begins to happen to Etre. He wonders what lies beyond the fenced pastures of Gorwell Farm? What is life like on the other side of the barbed wire where the grass is lush and green and dandelions grow? He dreams of a better life and he wishes that life for his Bull Calf.

As they sometimes do, the farmer's men came one day and rounded up the heard and sent Etre and some of the other cows through a chute into a building that Etre has never been in before, though he has often dreamed about the new life that must be on the other side of those chutes. But Etre is not supposed to be in this group of cows and it's almost too late by the time the men realize their mistake. But the damage is done and Etre is horrified by what he has seen. Soon he is back in the pasture where he belongs but life will never be the same and he now knows what he must do.

My Thoughts -
I guess you could say that I was surprised by where this story takes the reader. I believe the message behind this story is about life's bigger picture. It's not just about a lovable, curious cow and his family. It's about the sometimes harsh realizations we all face eventually. We all start out innocent and curious, like Etre, and as we move through life, certain things become clear and we see that things aren't always what they seem and life is not always better on the other side of the fence.

I must be honest - having grown up in the mid west on a mini-farm where my family raised a few horses, cows and chickens, I wasn't blinded by the realities of farm life. But I have to say I was a bit taken aback by the path this story takes. I appreciate the point the author is making with this boldness, however, I have to admit that I had to skip over certain parts. Maybe because as a child, I loved the cows and chickens we raised and it was difficult for me to accept that one day they were...just gone. In my youth, I simply tried to not think about it too much. When I was a little older I was taken to a slaughter house and that was a very difficult experience for me to handle. Suffice it to say, it left deep impressions on me and still effects me today in the food I eat and obviously how I reacted to this book. that said, I can appreciate the message of this book and I think it is important for some to read, but this book may not be for everyone. If you do choose to read this book, be prepared, it will be one that you won't soon forget.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm glad this book is acting as a catalyst for lots of readers, it just isn't one for me. The writing is fine, but the premise just seems trite to me (cows as a metaphor for the general public while the ranchers indicate government - not terribly deep, honestly.) We've read it before and this doesn't do it exceptionally well.

I actually picked this up because I was interested to see how the cattle aspect of it was handled since I am a partial homesteader and follow issues associated with the reasons for being one (CAFOs being most relevant here, probably.)

While the process of the cattle killing floor seemed pretty accurate the fact that the rest of the time the cows are in pastures is fairly inaccurate - but it is a fiction/philosophy book and I can't hold that liberty against the story itself - it's merely an observation.

What I can hold against the story, however, is the overall tone. I became frustrated very quickly with the stereotypical "maleness" of the voice (obviously, as the story is told from the viewpoint of a bull it couldn't necessarily be otherwise.) This may seem contradictory in light of Etre's admittance to backing down and/or losing fights with the dominant bull in his herd (which is merely anima,) but I'm not talking about bravado so much as the stereotypical characteristics we often associate with male achetypes. The main character sees everything only in relation to himself. Things belong to him. He is the smartest and the only being that understands existence. His own offspring is only of import to him because of that specific fact. I think (hope?) most of us are past buying into this.

I also found the nature vs. man take misguided and overdone. Not only are the cows in the story as violent (or more so) as the humans, but cows are not "natural" creatures - they are domesticated to behave in ways humans want them to. While their ancestors were wild beasts, most modern day cows are not "wild." This is slightly explored towards the end of the book but appears more as a wild-animals-being-trapped-by-humans issue than a domesticated-animals-aren't-fit-for-the-wild issue.

Obviously the book does provoke discussion and that can never be a bad thing. It's a quick read for even the laziest reader and for someone who hasn't read much in a similar vein it may be eye-opening. I just don't happen to think it is.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. I expected to be deeply moved and affected by etre. As a former vegan/vegetarian and current supporter of many animal rights groups, I truly thought this book might be what I needed to send me back to my vegan ways. Unfortunately, I just didn't feel what everyone else seems to have felt while reading etre's story. I didn't see the deepness that supposedly existed. I can see the parallels that were supposed to exist between etre's situation and a country stuck in a recession and dealing with a government that won't listen to its citizens. However, the parallels were so vague that it didn't sit with me throughout the books entirety. This book has been compared to Orson Wells' "Animal Farm." But other than the fact that both are narrated by thinking animals, I don't see the similarity. "Animal Farm" is in a completely different league. I really was disappointed, simply because I'd built this book up in my mind so much from reading the synopsis and reviews. It certainly wasn't bad or difficult to get through. But it didn't change my life either.

[Farrah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting quick read that I know I would not have read if it was left up to me to pick up. This was the first time as an adult I’ve read a story from the point of view of an animal. More gruesome and truesome I’m sure than a Charlotte’s Web tale. While I’m not apt to quit eating my beef and become a vegetarian I do have to say that the slaughterhouse and mating scene from a bull’s perspective had my stomach turning a bit. Kenniff does do a fascinating job in making you feel as if you’re the bull experiencing it’s grief from being on the farm amongst the confusion and chaos and watching others be killed both by nature, animal and man. Etre was the main bull of the story whom you come to feel sorry for and one I even thought to be rather smarter than my assumption that cows and bulls are as dumb as they appear. Definitely an interesting read. Etre the cow is a book I doubt I re-read again or keep on my shelf but I’d pass on to another to read. Still, the book was intriguing and thought provoking. 3 stars.

[Lorettajo Kapinos · Rating 4 out of 5]

My complete writer's review can be read at: http://lorettajokapinos.blogspot.com/ But here's an excerpt:


I loved Être the Cow. It was everything I'd heard it was. I was moved by Être's outlook and could relate to his thinking-who hasn't felt trapped and desperate to escape? Who hasn't look around at others and wondered what they're thinking. Even with people I can converse with, I sometimes feel more confused than centered. I, too, feel the desire to inspire only to be frustrated when others don't respond. And to me, that's the whole point of the story. Interestingly enough, the book also comes with a warning-the shocking part of the resolution I referred to. Overall, I think this is a great story for so many people-from young adult on- to read. I'd rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

etre is a bull blessed (or cursed) with human-level cognition. When the reason cows are raised by humans becomes clear to him, he attempts to warn his companions and escape the corral.

I was disappointed that the author (who was also once a contestant on "Survivor"?!) felt it necessary to note that he is not a vegetarian in his jacket bio. It's hard to imagine that someone who so accurately describes the workings of a slaughterhouse and obviously feels such empathy with cows could continue choosing to eat them. I imagine that the author's head and heart will eventually win out over his tastebuds, however.

[Tiare · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit I chose to read this book based on the title, "Etre" in French means "to be" or "to exist". But to quote from the book, "The savagery overwhelms me". The book was smooth sailing until of course it came to the fate of all cows, the slaughterhouse. But we're supposed to face the truth and feel uncomfortable. I like the social, political and economic symbolism, and it really is a quick read. Nice reading group questions at the end.

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

The world through a bull's eyes. Most of it was ok. The bull can't seem to get anyone, bovine nor human, to understand his attempts at language, not sure how he learned to write! ;) But as a vegetarian the last parts were very hard to read. Still I'm sure others will enjoy so I will pass it on to friends. It come highly recommended by Dr. Jane Goodall.

I am hoping to add this to another book for a BookCrossing duo. Attention: Cherylllr

[frumpburger · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5...decently written, but one of those oh-so-philosophical books that's been done a million times before. That said, the life of a cow thru the eyes of a bull endowed w/ higher consciousness is interesting, and Kenniff did a pretty good job at it.

Apparently Jane Goodall liked it. Which makes me think I should have liked it more. Oh well.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Etre is Ferdinand the Bull, only in 3D, no rosy pictures, the full story on what it means to be a cow in a pasture where he is the only enlightened one. And poor Etre is not as enlightened as he believes he is, which he finds out after a mistaken journey into the slaughterhouse. A fable fraught with meaning, sweet one moment, horrific the next. A great group read.

[Suzie Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great story. Stirred up many emotions. I connected to it because it seemed like a similar struggle that many human beings experience. Many tend to 'be fenced in' to their lives, and those few who are brave to stretch beyond their comfort, beyond what's expected, can create a field of possibilities.

[R.S. Lentin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this gem through the author’s Twitter account, which followed to his website, www.etrethecow.com. Intrigued to learn about a cow’s perspective of living within fences, I bought the book and read it in one sitting. An enjoyable, thought-provoking read. I look at cows from both sides now.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what brilliant story! Don’t be fooled by the name of this book, it is not just a book about cows. It is filled with interesting metaphors and symbolism that relate to the struggles that we humans face, a roller coaster of emotions. Etre the Cow is more than a good book, it is an experience, and a definite must read. It changed my life forever!

[Lorriezm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book, though at times it was difficult to read. Kenniff is a beautiful writer and this book will stick in my mind forever. Beware, this book may cause you to stop eating meat. Thankfully, I had already given it up.

[Megan Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about the struggle we all face-to identify ourselves among the crowd-to be an individual.
Etre is touching in its simplicity and elegant in its sentiments.