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Pig Tales: An Omnivores Quest for Sustainable Meat
Pig Tales: An Omnivores Quest for Sustainable Meat | Barry Estabrook
3 posts | 1 read | 2 to read
Illuminating, a window into the world of pigs and pig farmers that every American omnivore needs to read. Ruth Reichl, author of Delicious! Barry Estabrook, author of the New York Times bestseller Tomatoland and a writer of great skill and compassion (Eric Schlosser), now explores the dark side of the American pork industry. Drawing on his personal experiences raising pigs as well as his sharp investigative instincts, Estabrook covers the range of the human-porcine experience. He embarks on nocturnal feral pig hunts in Texas. He visits farmers who raise animals in vast confinement barns for Smithfield and Tyson, two of the countrys biggest pork producers. And he describes the threat of infectious disease and the possible contamination of our food supply. Through these stories shines Estabrooks abiding love for these remarkable creatures. Pigs are social, self-aware, and playful, not to mention smart enough to master the typical house dog commands of sit, stay, come twice as fast as your average pooch. With the cognitive abilities of at least three-year-olds, they can even learn to operate a modified computer. Unfortunately for the pigs, theyre also delicious to eat. Estabrook shows how these creatures are all too often subjected to lives of suffering in confinement and squalor, sustained on a drug-laced diet just long enough to reach slaughter weight, then killed on mechanized disassembly lines. But it doesnt have to be this way. Pig Tales presents a lively portrait of those farmers who are taking an alternative approach, like one Danish producer that has a far more eco-friendly and humane system of pork production, and new, small family farms with free-range heritage pigs raised on antibiotic-free diets. It is possible to raise pigs responsibly and respectfully in a way that is good for producers, consumers, and some of the top chefs in America. Provocative, witty, and deeply informed, Pig Tales is bound to spark conversation at dinner tables across America.
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8little_paws
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I'm almost halfway through this, my FINAL unread #botm book! And it's really terrific. I love the author's voice/ style.

Texreader This book looks so good but I can hardly fathom much less read about animals raised in harsh conditions. My grandparents raised pigs for a bit and both my grandparents and parents had/have cows. And they were/are really loved and cared for (ok the pigs loved the muddy squalor). My heart tells me to be a vegetarian but I do love pork and beef, so if I‘m going to eat it I want them treated right!! 3y
8little_paws @texreader he visits different farms in this book, some factory some local. Also a lot of it is about the processing and the regulations around it. 3y
Costrye This was a BOTM book? How did I miss it? 3y
8little_paws @costrye yes, back in 2015 before BOTM was mega popular! 3y
41 likes4 comments
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8little_paws
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I liked #botm when I could prepay a year in advance for a great discount, but I've been converted to 12 credits and when those are gone it's month to month, meaning my days are numbered as I'm not interested in the new version with the price increase. So this month I'm excited to get their nonfiction pick, and I'm snatching this other selection while I've got the credits!

Reviewsbylola Yup I think I‘m with you. My feelings toward BOTM are not great rn. 6y
swishandflick They still have a yearly option available if you go to the account section! Not as good a deal as it used to be (comes to $12.50/mo). And they took away the 6 and 3 month options. 6y
8little_paws @swishandflick oh really! They didn't make that clear at all. I will see how this year goes and review then. I find I'm excited about fewer options each month, there's too many thrillers and "chick lit" imo, but I'll see how it goes. 6y
See All 9 Comments
MicheleinPhilly Once my yearly subscription is done, I‘m out. 6y
Jess7 I‘m not sure about the yearly subscriptions, but they do offer gift memberships - which you can buy and apply to your current account. I like mine ok, but I bought it when it was on promotion. I think the discount the gift memberships leading up to Christmas 6y
swishandflick @Jess7 when I click on the Account page on the site, and then click on the "learn more" spot under "My membership", that's where I see the option to switch to a yearly subscription. Same price as gifting, but takes out the extra step of applying a gift card. (All that to say, I'm still not sure if I want to lock in for another year, still deciding and staying month to month for the time being). (edited) 6y
WhatDeeReads You already know I cancelled my subscription. Not regretting it. I do really want to read Circe though. 6y
Jess7 I think if you switch to a yearly subscription you may not be able to have the option of applying the 12 credits to extra books should you decide you want it to end sooner. Whereas now with the extra box they added, with my gift membership, I dont have to use credits for extra books (I could pay $9.99 each), but I could if I wanted to and end the subscription quicker @swishandflick 6y
8little_paws @Jess7 I noticed that, and I like that, actually. It gave me the option to use a credit or pay cash for the extra. 6y
54 likes9 comments
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Chelsibeau
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After skipping Book of the Month two months in a row (just wasn't interested in any of them) I'm back on board this month!! Can't wait!

Bookworm83 I've skipped a couple, too. This month was 👌🏻 though! 7y
Megabooks 👍🏻👍🏻 7y
58 likes2 comments