By Juliet Farmer

Eating meat is not a new concept, and the reasons people do so can range from practical to palatable. And while the to eat or not to eat debate ranges on, rather than take a meat/no meat stand, Melanie Joy, Ph.D., wonders why people, Americans in particular, eat the types of meat they do. Her new book, Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism, is part educational, part philosophical, and thoroughly entertaining.

Joy’s description of carnism--a belief system or ideology that allows people to selectively choose which animal eventually becomes the meat on their plates--is one that is sure to spark conversation. Without condescending, Joy looks at the way unrecognized carnism can taint people’s food choices, and how we can all make more informed choices as both citizens and consumers of meat products.

In addition to being an author, Joy is a psychologist and professor, which means readers should expect to not be told what to do, but rather have their eyes opened to ideas they may have been suppressing.

Think of it as therapy for your stomach.