Meatonomics: How the Rigged Economics of Meat and Dairy Make You Consume Too Much—and How to Eat Better, Live Longer, and Spend Smarter

In this provocative and persuasive work, veganism advocate Simon argues for eating less meat and dairy (or giving it up altogether) as a means of fixing the broken American meat market, in which farmers regularly spend more than their animals’ value, but still come out on top thanks to more than $38 billion in annual subsidies. Simon wastes no time getting into explanations of serious economics and skillfully explains terms like “externalities” for the general reader. As he questions the deep ties between America’s meat industry and government regulators, readers will be hard-pressed not to wonder if something sinister is playing out in America’s farms and grocery stores. The bulk of the book is devoted to illustrating the enormous gap between the actual price of meat and the true cost in terms of economics, the environment, and health. Even though the horrors of factory farming are well known, the specific practices discussed here will inspire renewed outrage. Although the author’s largest suggestion for a “recipe for change” is a stretch (a 50% federal excise tax on meat and poultry, dairy, eggs, and fish), this is a well-researched, passionately written book. Agent: Lindsay Edgecombe, Levine Greenberg Agency. (Oct.)