The Gist: Welcome to the first month of the VegNews Book Club! I hope you're as excited as I am to get started with our conversation of Mad Cowboy by Howard Lyman—the fourth-generation cattle rancher-turned-vegan. In chapter one, Lyman talks about his experience on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where he spoke out about Mad Cow Disease and how it was very possible that the US would follow in the same footsteps as England, where Mad Cow Disease spread quite rapidly. Both he and Oprah were subsequently sued by Texas cattlemen for "food disparagement" after Oprah claimed she'd never eat another hamburger. (Lyman and Oprah eventually won the case.) In chapter two, he points out the "simple facts" of eating meat and animal products, and how it contributes a variety of illnesses including atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, stroke, osteoporosis, diebetes, and hypertension. Finally, in chapter three Lyman talks about his personal history of growing up on an organic family farm, eventually taking over after reaching adulthood. Once in his control, he turned it into a much larger operation by using chemicals of all kinds in order to "improve on nature."The Discussion: Lyman brings up many important issues in these first three chapters, five of which I've summarized below. Feel free to answer only one or all of them in the comments section. I will be moderating the discussion throughout the week, responding to comments, and posting a summary of everyone's thoughts this Friday, July 9.
1. (Chapter 1 and 3) What makes Lyman different from other farmers? How and why do you think his consciousness emerged while most farmers don't or will not change their views on agribusiness?
2. (Chapter 1) Do you think the Oprah event was a turning point in how factory farming was viewed by the public?
3. (Chapter 1) If it would cost you your livelihood, would you speak your mind or tell the truth about something?
4. (Chapter 2, p. 42) Hypothetically, what do you think would happen if the world went veg/vegan overnight?
5. (Chapter 3) How could we separate the concepts of money and power (where agribusiness comes into play) from consciousness and morality? Is this even possible?
The Assignment: Read chapters 4 and 5 of Mad Cowboy for the July 12 discussion.
~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig
