Jonathan Safran Foer at the Free Library

Author Jonathan Safran Foer is probably best known for his works of fiction, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and Everything Is Illuminated. Foer's latest effort, Eating Animals, is a new and, some say, risky non-fiction look at our food industry.

Phillyist got a review copy of Eating Animals from the publisher. Since a few of us are dabbling in various forms of vegetarianism (with the obvious hindrance of cheesesteak addiction), and even more of us are filthy whores for any food book, we were eager to read it.

From the start, we feared this book would be one of those holier-than-thou hippie screeds, making omnivores feel like horrible people for enjoying bacon-wrapped bacon with bacon sprinkles and a side of bacon. (If you read Skinny Bitch, you know what we're talking about. Also, BACON!)

And we were right... at first. In the first couple chapters, yeah, he's a little haughty. A little Skinny-Bitchy, if you will. Plus, he's one of those people who started thinking seriously about his diet only when he had a child, which... yuck. Seriously, you're important, too—you should probably work that kind of thing out before you spawn.

But then Foer starts to win us over with charming descriptions of his family dog, and forces us to look more closely at our Wawa hoagie habit by posing the question: Why is it OK for us to eat cows, pigs, chickens, etc., but socially taboo to eat dogs, as they do in other cultures?

Stumped, we could come up only with, "Because it IS, you wank!" And then we went home to hug our dogs.

As the book goes on, it becomes more clear: Foer doesn't want to bacon-block us. He just wants us to know where the bacon comes from, to make an informed decision with all the facts on hand. (Sure, sometimes he also wants to ruin Thanksgiving for us all on the Ellen show, but that's fine, sir. You underestimate the conscience-quieting properties of stuffing.)

A well-balanced blend of Foer's personal stories, reporting, and insider perspectives from all sides of the debate, Eating Animals is a thoroughly researched, sometimes stomach-turning, but most importantly honest examination of, for better or worse, where our food is coming from, and it really does make you stop and consider what you're consuming.

(If you're unable to make tonight's event at the Free Library, Foer will be coming back to the area on December 15 for another free signing at the University of Pennsylvania.)

Jonathan Safran Foer on Eating Animals
Tuesday, 11/10/09, 7:30PM
Philadelphia Free Library Central Branch (1901 Vine St.)
FREE