The Meat Question
Animals, Humans, and the Deep History of Food
By Josh Berson | Publisher: MIT Press
About the book
A provocative argument that eating meat is not what made humans human and that the future is not necessarily carnivorous.
Humans are eating more meat than ever. Despite ubiquitous Sweetgreen franchises and the example set by celebrity vegans, demand for meat is projected to grow at twice the rate of demand for plant-based foods over the next thirty years. Between 1960 and 2010, per capita meat consumption in the developing world more than doubled; in China, meat consumption grew ninefold. It has even been claimed that meat made us human—that our disproportionately large human brains evolved because our early human ancestors ate meat. In The Meat Question, Josh Berson argues that not only did meat not make us human, but the contemporary increase in demand for meat is driven as much by economic insecurity as by affluence. Considering the full sweep of meat's history, Berson concludes provocatively that the future is not necessarily carnivorous.
Berson, an anthropologist and historian, argues that we have the relationship between biology and capitalism backward. We may associate meat-eating with wealth, but in fact, meat-eating is a sign of poverty; cheap meat—hunger killing, easy to prepare, eaten on the go—enables a capitalism defined by inequality. To answer the meat question, says Berson, we need to think about meat-eating in a way that goes beyond Paleo diets and PETA protests to address the deeply entwined economic and political lives of humans and animals past, present, and future.
Editions of The Meat Question
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780262042895
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262354790
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262354806
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262354813
Read an Excerpt
A provocative argument that eating meat is not what made humans human and that the future is not necessarily carnivorous.
Humans are eating more meat than ever. Despite ubiquitous Sweetgreen franchises and the example set by celebrity vegans, demand for meat is projected to grow at twice the rate of demand for plant-based foods over the next thirty years. Between 1960 and 2010, per capita meat consumption in the developing world more than doubled; in China, meat consumption grew ninefold. It has even been claimed that meat made us human—that our disproportionately large human brains evolved because our early human ancestors ate meat. In The Meat Question, Josh Berson argues that not only did meat not make us human, but the contemporary increase in demand for meat is driven as much by economic insecurity as by affluence. Considering the full sweep of meat's history, Berson concludes provocatively that the future is not necessarily carnivorous.
Berson, an anthropologist and historian, argues that we have the relationship between biology and capitalism backward. We may associate meat-eating with wealth, but in fact, meat-eating is a sign of poverty; cheap meat—hunger killing, easy to prepare, eaten on the go—enables a capitalism defined by inequality. To answer the meat question, says Berson, we need to think about meat-eating in a way that goes beyond Paleo diets and PETA protests to address the deeply entwined economic and political lives of humans and animals past, present, and future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Meat Question about?
A provocative argument that eating meat is not what made humans human and that the future is not necessarily carnivorous.
Humans are eating more meat than ever. Despite ubiquitous Sweetgreen franchises and the example set by celebrity vegans, demand for meat is projected to grow at twice the rate of demand for plant-based foods over the next thirty years. Between 1960 and 2010, per capita meat consumption in the developing world more than doubled; in China, meat consumption grew ninefold. It has even been claimed that meat made us human—that our disproportionately large human brains evolved because our early human ancestors ate meat. In The Meat Question, Josh Berson argues that not only did meat not make us human, but the contemporary increase in demand for meat is driven as much by economic insecurity as by affluence. Considering the full sweep of meat's history, Berson concludes provocatively that the future is not necessarily carnivorous.
Berson, an anthropologist and historian, argues that we have the relationship between biology and capitalism backward. We may associate meat-eating with wealth, but in fact, meat-eating is a sign of poverty; cheap meat—hunger killing, easy to prepare, eaten on the go—enables a capitalism defined by inequality. To answer the meat question, says Berson, we need to think about meat-eating in a way that goes beyond Paleo diets and PETA protests to address the deeply entwined economic and political lives of humans and animals past, present, and future.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Meat Question?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Cultural and media studies > Cultural studies > Cultural studies: food and society
Where can I read a sample of The Meat Question?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780262042895
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Meat Question?
Josh Berson
Who is the Publisher of the book The Meat Question?
MIT Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Meat Question is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780262042895) and ebook(ISBN 9780262354790) and ebook(ISBN 9780262354806) and ebook(ISBN 9780262354813)
Where can I buy The Meat Question online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Meat Question from below
Where can I buy The Meat Question?