Sacred Cow

The Case for (Better) Meat

By: Diana Rodgers RD, Robb Wolf

Narrated by: Christine Williams

Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

We’re told that if we care about our health - or our planet - eliminating red meat from our diets is crucial. That beef is bad for us and cattle farming is horrible for the environment. But science says otherwise.

Beef is framed as the most environmentally destructive and least healthy of meats. We’re often told that the only solution is to reduce or quit red meat entirely. But despite what anti-meat groups, vegan celebrities, and some health experts say, plant-based agriculture is far from a perfect solution. In Sacred Cow, registered dietitian Diana Rodgers and former research biochemist and New York Times best-selling author Robb Wolf explore the quandaries we face in raising and eating animals - focusing on the largest (and most maligned) of farmed animals, the cow.

Taking a critical look at the assumptions and misinformation about meat, Sacred Cow points out the flaws in our current food system and in the proposed “solutions”. Inside, Rodgers and Wolf reveal contrarian but science-based findings, such as:

• Meat and animal fat are essential for our bodies
• A sustainable food system cannot exist without animals
• A vegan diet may destroy more life than sustainable cattle farming
• Regenerative cattle ranching is one of our best tools at mitigating climate change

You’ll also find practical guidance on how to support sustainable farms and a 30-day challenge to help you transition to a healthful and conscientious diet. With scientific rigor, deep compassion, and wit, Rodgers and Wolf argue unequivocally that meat (done right) should have a place on the table.

It’s not the cow, it’s the how!

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Diana Rodgers, RD and Robb Wolf (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

Very informative, organized and evidence based.

I am another RD in the field and have been skeptical about both plant based and paleo diets for some time. Always looking for the most up to date information to guide my sick patients. Reading the science on both matters has been confusing, nonetheless. After reading this compared to many other books and summaries from both similar and apposing perspectives, I found this book to be very well thought out, organized and enlightening. Loved getting a new list of references to dive into! Many of the principles were not new to me, but the details were very helpful for feeling more confident about my understanding on the issues. There does not seem to be an ulterior motive to the standpoint of the author, especially when evaluating all the evidence and the emotion background of “the meat eater” It does make sense, however, that the plant-based movement does have a massive financial and emotional motive behind misinterpretation of clinical trial and observational studies leading to piles of political propaganda and consumer manipulation. I will still, of course, be considering all perspective from future arguments and research findings, but have a lot more confidence in my current beliefs on the matter. Thanks Diana and Robb for the labor of love!

I learned from this

I'm a meat eater but I knew I needed to learn more. This book was very helpful.

Great journey through latest evidence

Not overly scientific, but also not pithy. It's a great dive into the latest nutritional research from all angles. It's level-headed, comprehensive, scientific, compelling, and entertaining!

Holy Cow the Vegan Cult!!!!

The author told me the exact conclusion of what I concluded from months of listening to LCHF/Keto talks. Although I came to the conclusion from a very different perspective, she is by far I agreed the most. Holy cow the God damned vegan cult ignoring the exact causes obesity and diabetes epidemic which is sugar and oppose to meats regardless of any convincing evidences, and manipulated the heavy environmental burdens caused by mono cropping and blamed cows for too much methane which in turn caused by heavy use of antibiotics according to Dr. Robert Lusting. The science of nutrition and environment truly need revamps and take out the garbage ideas like Ancel Keys’s diet heart hypothesis which never worked.

Good information about animal agriculture

I grew up on a farm and have studied agriculture and worked in agriculture. Too many people are declaring themselves experts on topics that they do not understand. Diana Rodgers does a pretty good job in spelling out many truths about agriculture that both the environmentalists and animal rights activists either don't know or refuse to admit. This was a good book.

Fantastic read for those who aren't closed minded

You're only upset about this book if you're a die hard vegan and your entire belief system was systematically torn apart with logic and science

must read book

every chapter learn something new and pivotal for your health, wallet, philosophy, or politics. fantastic overall.

Well-Researched, Worldview Changing

As a scientist, I'm used to these types of books using science sparingly, if at all. That is not the case for Sacred Cow. I was astonished at how well-cited their argument was, and how well-presented. This book has dramatically shifted my worldview on what we eat and why. I want to dive deeper into the idea of regenerative agriculture and want to do more research into the role of protein in nutrition. I'll definitely be buying copies of this one to send to family and friends!

excellent and eye-opening information!

Great information! The authors did a great job on their research. This will be life-changing for me. Thank you!

Appreciated the Different Environmental Perspective

Having invested a great deal of time reading about nutrition, I’m glad I added this book to my library. I found their discussion around regenerative practices and an alternative perspective on the animal vs plant environmental impact interesting. I also appreciate that they acknowledged a need for more flexibility in diets than most nutrition information I’ve come across thus far. If you are truly interested in learning and open to different perspectives, I recommend this book.