NAKED FOOD BOOK CLUB REVIEW
Book Title: Farm to Fable
Author: Robert Grillo
Publisher / Release Date: Vegan Publishers, September 28, 2016
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The NEW AUTHENTIC KIND AND ENLIGHTENED DIET (NAKED) celebrates books and cookbooks that embody a philosophy of sustainable health and healing, self-sufficiency and self-care, wisdom, awareness, and consciousness for humans and planet alike.
To request a book review please provide a book sample and email submissions (at) nakedfoodmagazine.com.
WHAT IS NEW:
Many books describe the horrors that farmed animals endure, but few delve into the details of how the agriculture industry and popular culture reinforce mainstream beliefs about eating animals. Robert Grillo does just that in Farm to Fable, outlining why we make the choices that we do.
WHAT IS AUTHENTIC:
Author Robert Grillo started off as many of us did: eating the standard “omnivore” diet and accepting the mainstream status quo that there were some animals that were “pets” and some animals that were “food.” He even worked for a while designing McDonald’s Happy Meal boxes, and Kraft Foods brand packaging and signage, not seeing the issue with having happy animals depicted on packaging that contained dead body parts of those same species of animals. It wasn’t until fairly recently—2009—when he adopted and raised some “cast-off” chicks that he began to question his relationship with farmed animals.
WHAT IS KIND:
Farm to Fable is an easy-to-read, accessible book, with no graphic photos, and a minimum of harsh, detailed descriptions of factory farm life and slaughter, so those already familiar with inhumane practices need not worry about reading traumatizing text. Rather, this book is more about challenging widely held ingrained beliefs about non-human animals and our relationship to them. Grillo does not write with a “preachy” voice, but rather a calm voice of reason.
WHAT IS ENLIGHTENED:
Farm to Fable is written with sensitivity and compassion, yet skillfully challenges the reader to examine and question their own beliefs—beliefs often held since birth. That is no small task, but Grillo manages to do just that. In addition, those of us who have already changed our views and relationships with animals can still gain wisdom and understanding from this book.
IS THIS BOOK FOR YOU?
If you are an omnivore seeking to learn the truth about where your food comes from, and challenge why there is such a mental and emotional disconnect between your idea of animals and the “meat” or “dairy” that is on your plate, this book will help you on this journey. However, seasoned animal activists and vegans will find it helpful as well as Grillo imparts important insights and can assist in articulating what you already know to be true.
STAR RATING? (1 to 5): 5
