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Vegetarianism

A History

NOW IN PAPERBACK!

" A history of religion and diet … totally absorbing and fascinating. "

—Weekend Telegraph

 

For reasons of health, the environment, and now with the recent incidence of mad

cow disease in North America, vegetarianism has increasing appeal — and Colin

Spencer cogently argues the benefits of such a diet. A compelling, lucid work,

Vegetarianism chronicles meat abstinence throughout history, describing its

ancient origins and the innumerable struggles of this now increasingly popular

movement.

Spencer traces vegetarianism back to 600 B.C. He presents the controversial

thesis that early hominids abstained from meat eating and argues that we

therefore do not need meat to survive. In what is probably the book's most

engaging section, Spencer demonstrates how vegetarianism has been central to

utopian thought throughout the ages. After all, vegetarianism was a hallmark of

Plato's imagined Republic, as well as a staple of Hinduism, Buddhism, the

Manichean sect of Christianity, and Seventh Day Adventism. Vegetarianism was

also a personal practice of Pythagoras, Leonardo da Vinci, and Gandhi.

The ideology of vegetarianism — often tied to pacifism and progressive thought

— has been regularly attacked throughout history. Despite this, the movement

is growing, with over two million vegetarians in the United States alone.

Spencer passionately argues that vegetarianism merits serious consideration as a

solution to the world's growing food crisis. Yet his ultimate message is one of

humanity and compassion, and he concludes that " Our common humanity tells us

that this is no way to treat animals, so eminently worthy of our respect and

kindness. "

In addition to his many acclaimed books on vegetarian cooking, including The

Vegetable Book and Vegetable Pleasures, Colin Spencer has written regular food

columns for The Guardian and Country Living. He lives on the south coast of

England, where he grows rare and unusual vegetables.