Personalities on the Plate

February 1, 2017

King (anthropology, Coll. of William and Mary; How Animals Grieve) strives to maintain a realistic view as she encourages readers to consider the animals they eat. In each chapter, King covers a different animal. Readers might be confused as to why the first sections examine insects, arachnids, and octopuses and why the last is devoted to chimpanzees. These are not regular items on Western menus, and some may be tempted to skip over them. However, King makes a compelling case in the afterword, in which she compares dogs' cognition and personalities to those of chimpanzees. The author challenges our assumptions about which animals are acceptable to eat. Occasionally, the narrative strays too long into other subjects, such as animals living in captivity or environmental issues. Instead of offering hard scientific research, King sometimes speculates on the thoughts of animals or poses questions. More in-depth reading and information may be found in titles such as Sy Montgomery's The Soul of an Octopus. Many will appreciate King's personal tone as she relates her own thoughts and eating habits. VERDICT For those seeking a general overview of the topic or ideas for further research.--Elissa Cooper, Helen Plum Memorial Lib., Lombard, IL

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2017
King, professor emerita of anthropology at the College of William and Mary and author of Evolving God (2007) and How Animals Grieve (2013), takes readers on a journey of animal-eating cultures and explores the inner lives and experiences of chickens, cows, octopuses, goats, insects, and other creatures we eat. King writes cogently that her agenda is not to convert eating habits but rather to better understand the social interactions between humans and the animals we consume, and what consequences for our planet could result from our interactions. Touring Julia Child's kitchen or a Nairobi restaurant, King draws on her research and interactions with food scholars, scientists, animal activists, chefs, and farmers to illustrate engagements between people and animals for consumption. Covering the lives of different and unique animals, the book can be read quickly. Readers who are interested in animal sciences, culinary cultures, entomophagy, and anthrozoology may find King's work to be enlightening and informative when it comes to the minds of the animals we eat.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)