Last weekend, you Kind Lifers engaged in a lively discussion about our Kind Book Club selection for March, Meat Is For Pussies by John Joseph.
 
Although I think everyone who commented agreed with the overall point that meat and dairy are unhealthy, even for macho dudes, there was a raging debate among you about the title of the book. Many of you loved it, while others found it offensive. I’m posting some highlights from the comments below, so you can continue to think about it and decide for yourselves!
 
Thanks for your feedback, and a special shout out to our awesome author John Joseph for jumping into the discussion!
 
From Kind Lifer Denise:
 
“I totally dig the title & the book! It was an easy read with so many good facts. It was cool to get a different perspective on veganism. I liked the author’s aggressive straight up attitude. I like to take life not so serious. Some other readers & Kind Lifers found it offensive or were turned off by the title, but I wasn't at all. Life for me is all about having fun & being light hearted. There’s not much someone can say or do to offend me. I love that people are different & have different perspectives on things. It makes life sooo fun & interesting!”
 
From Kind Lifer Todd:
 
“I think this book is indicative of the schism within the rights movement. The problem is that we view animal rights, sexism, homophobia, and racism as separate entities and we should not. If our veganism was interwoven into the universal fight against oppression, then we would see the problem with objectifying women to convey our message (PETA), and also with the attempt to overcompensate and fit into gender norms.”
 
From Kind Lifer Taylor:
 
“I am definitely going to give this book to my boyfriend. Since I've gone vegan (a little over 2 months), he has drastically lowered his meat intake (he's eaten a turkey sandwich one time in the past 2 months.) We watched Earthlings together and it affected him a lot. More than anything he realized how unsanitary meat is as well as how disgustingly the animals are treated.”
 
From Kind Lifer Remy:
 
“I'm all for messages designed to reach a particular audience, and I know that *some* men and masculine people like myself may require more "macho" urging to veganism, but it's a major pet peeve of mine when something with such an honorable focus on a certain aspect of justice (food, animal, environmental) is so confused as to perpetuate other forms of injustice. Why say something radical about veganism without paying careful attention to intersections of agri justice struggles specifically with those of women? I'm sure most of us know that women (of certain races, classes, etc.) are often more violently oppressed (and sexualized) by systems of industrial agriculture than any other identity.”
 
From our author John Joseph:
 
“First off the book title has nothing to do with the female anatomy its a NYC slang term for a wimp this is true. Secondly, I have received thousands, that’s right, thousands of emails from average guys cops, FBI agents, truck drivers, MMA fighters, military personal in special forces, trainers, dads, teachers, sanitation workers, bouncers and the list goes on and on, all of whom read the book and changed what they were eating. So, as far as I'm concerned, the end justifies the means."
 
“To get hung up on a title and not see the good it’s doing is short sightedness. I mean, isn't the goal to save animals & the planet, stop disease and help the kids? I haven’t eaten meat for over 31 years and my band the Cro-Mags have gotten tens of thousands of people to stop supporting the killing of animals. I'm not bragging; I’m making a point, Alicia has her way of talking as does Rory (Skinny Bitch) as do I. The Vegan movement has failed to reach these hardcore meat eaters thus far. Even Dr. Colin Campbell (The China Study) loved the title - even asked me to come speak at his events to capture the heavy meat eating muscle head guys.”
 
“So some have a problem with the title - no problem - I will still be doing what I've been doing before anyone in America even knew what the hell the word “Vegan” meant. Actually, the people who [have said their] lives were changed [after reading the book] said they never would have changed what they were eating were it not for the tone I took. Also, I've come to realize, despite any good work you may do there will ALWAYS be some out there who have a problem with it. Oh and according to our sales figures most of the copies of Meat is For Pussies were bought by women trying to get their thick-skulled husbands, boyfriends, friends, dads, uncles to open their minds up a bit. Go figure. Peace – jj”
 
Well, there you have it! If you didn’t get a chance to read Meat Is For Pussies this time, I encourage you to pick up a copy and share it with the guys in your life. And, if you’d like to read the rest of the comments about this book, you can do so here and here. Stay tuned for our next Kind Book – I’ll be announcing it soon!
 
"Also, I've come to realize, despite any good work you may do there will ALWAYS be some out there who have a problem with it." Hear, hear to that my friend!