I have always loved animals. Whether soft and snuggly or slimy and slithery, there's nary a creature I haven't found some kind of kinship with. If you look into the eyes of another living being, it's difficult not to establish a connection of some kind, a sense of understanding that crosses species. Then again, these animals cannot advocate for themselves, their language and expression so different from our own. So, how should we approach our fellow creatures on this little blue and green rock orbiting the sun? Are we not meant to extend gentleness and cohabitate peacefully in lieu of exerting a flawed sense of superiority?
As a teenager, I began to confront a growing sense of cognitive dissonance between my habits and my beliefs. If I loved wildlife, why was I tacitly supporting slaughterhouses and inhumane conditions by purchasing and consuming meat? Though it felt somewhat futile in the grand scheme of it all, dropping animal products from my own diet helped relieve a bit of the hurt I was causing personally, and I found solace in not directly contributing to the deaths of these precious, intelligent creatures. Since making the jump, I've set out to continue learning and adapting my behaviors, both in being more mindful about my food, cosmetics, and self-care purchases and limiting my use of catastrophically damaging waste such as single-use plastics.
There are a number of reasons to consider adopting a plant-based, cruelty-free lifestyle. There's the ethical reasoning of preventing cruelty to animals; the acknowledgement that mass meat production contributes overwhelmingly to the production of greenhouse gases driving the climate crisis; and the prevention of the destruction of natural ecosystems for animal agriculture and the growth of crops meant to feed cattle. Some folks even credit a plant-based diet with increased energy and a decreased risk of disease, though you should always consult with your physician whenever making a major dietary change.
Whatever your reason for seeking out a shift (or some encouragement and tasty recipes if you've already made the leap), this list includes everything from nonfiction exploring factory farming, animal rights, and our wider global ecosystem, to how-to guides for shifting to a vegetarian or vegan diet, to tales from the animal world that might help you see things from their perspective. After all, there's no better way to celebrate Earth Day than by getting to know our neighbors a little better—and creating a home that serves each and every one of us.
In this author-narrated selection, Jonathan Safran Foer analyzes the ways in which we’ve sacrificed the health of our planet for comfort and convenience. In particular, he takes a hard look at how mass meat production has propelled the climate crisis, and how a collective turn towards more mindful consumption may be our only hope.
It goes without saying that majorly altering your diet and all the ins-and-outs of daily life certainly isn’t an easy task. In fact, living sustainably can be really, really difficult. Take the transition as slowly as you need to with this handy, short guide to shopping for and cooking easy plant-based meals and implementing sustainable DIYs, little by little.
The inhumane treatment of animals and the consumption of meat are often rationalized by the belief that humans are inherently superior to other beings. But at the end of the day, we’re just mammals. Get in touch with your animal side with Melanie Challenger’s introspective listen that blends scientific observation with philosophical musing.
When it comes down to it, our cultural understanding of and cohabitation with animals is full of troubling conundrums. A lot of folks have cherished pets, reject the cruel use of animals for entertainment or even testing and research, and are shattered by stories of animal hoarding or abuse. So why, then, are we okay with eating animals? In this accessible volume, an anthrozoologist reckons with this complex, oft-contradicting belief system.
Ecological icon and renowned primatologist Jane Goodall (who also happens to live a vegan, plant-based lifestyle) shares her thoughts on the significance of our individual dietary choices in Harvest of Hope. Goodall takes on the industrialization of food, offering her perspective on everything from factory farming and fisheries to the destruction of natural habitats to the use of pesticides and chemicals on agricultural products.
Eating to save the planet isn’t just about reducing or eliminating your consumption of animal products. In order to battle the climate crisis and the epidemic of pollution, it’s important to also consider the damage done by food waste and the use of plastics and excess packaging. In Go Gently, English actress and Greenpeace ambassador Bonnie Wright shares simple, actionable advice for enacting change from your own home.
To address the growing climate crisis, it’s imperative that we understand the cataclysmic possibilities of inaction—without losing our sense of drive or hope. While it can be discouraging to hear about the realities of climate change, this Audible Original podcast offers a glimpse into the innovative ways humans are taking on global warming—and what we can do to help.
Beginning your own plant-based journey and feeling a bit overwhelmed? Get back to basics with this handy starter guide, which offers easy animal-free substitutions and swaps for your favorite recipes, info on nutrition and ensuring proper vitamin and protein consumption, and how to safely (and sustainably) dine out at restaurants.
A guide to veganism for the new generation, Ed Winters's devastating, unflinching look at the damage that mass meat production does to our planet, the lives of animals, and our future encourages listeners to live compassionately and consume mindfully. It’s a science-backed, exhaustively researched case that is totally unapologetic yet deeply encouraging.
When I had a routine round of blood work shortly after I first transitioned to vegetarianism, I was struck by a new range of vitamin deficiencies and left a little bit dizzy by a lack of proper protein in my diet. Avoid a similar fate with the handy Becoming Vegan, a comprehensive guide to nutrition to help ensure you’re properly nourishing your body.
Challenge your perceptions of wildlife with primatologist and ethologist Frans de Waal’s exploration of both the scope and the depth of animal intelligence—from crows to wasps to bonobos—in this compelling listen. Then, check out his Mama’s Last Hug for new insight into animal emotional intelligence, perception, and sentience
Those looking for a crash course on the global industrial food system’s effect on climate change (and what changes we can make to our own consumption to counter this impact) will find a helpful call-to-change in Diet for a Hot Planet. Sustainable food advocate Anna Lappe guides listeners through all the ins and outs of envisioning a future where harm done by our diets is minimized.
It sounds silly to speak aloud, but cows were a major factor in the ethical dilemma that drove me to a plant-based lifestyle. They’re such smart, sweet, gentle creatures, and I simply could no longer stomach the thought of doing them harm. This charming listen offers a window into the souls of humble farm animals and challenges the notion that we should be doing anything but protecting such creatures.
Over the years, many folks have been hesitant to talk to me about my herbivore ways, fearing they’d be chastised or belittled for their own decisions. But if you want people to listen and have an open conversation, you need to be a warm and welcoming participant, non-judgmental of the behavior of others. And in the vegan world, there are few voices more warm and welcoming than Tabitha Brown, an endlessly delightful viral star whose joy is as boundless as her recipes are delicious.
In one of my very first intro courses in college, we studied Upton Sinclair’s stomach-churning classic The Jungle and discussed the impact of that text on popular opinion and food safety legislation. Ruth Ozeki’s entrancing My Year of Meats is a kind of updated spiritual sequel to the famed muckraker’s novel, following two women whose paths cross in unlikely ways against the backdrop of commercial meat processing plants.
Evanna Lynch, best known for portraying Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter film adaptations, hosts this delightful podcast alongside fellow actor Robbie Jarvis, conservationist Momoko Hill, and animal rights activist Tylor Starr. Together, the four bring a bright sense of humor and heart to discussions on topics ranging from poaching to food equity, interviewing experts and thinkers along the way.
With nutritional guidance and health advice for everyone from athletes to pregnant folks, this useful guide from two registered dietitians is valuable for anyone looking to transition to a plant-based lifestyle. Making such a major change to your diet can be daunting, but with the support of this listen, you’ll learn everything you need to know about caloric needs, supplements, and more.
Health and food writer Sophie Egan offers a practical, easy-to-follow guide to the ins-and-outs of eating mindfully for your health and the planet, from navigating the multitude of labels—cage free, pasture-raised, free range, organic, certified humane—that appear on animal byproducts like eggs to the truth about controversial eats from farmed salmon to soy milk.
A comprehensive framework for tackling and reversing the damage done to our planet, Paul Hawken’s Drawdown offers actionable techniques and practices that corporations, politicians, and everyday citizens like you and me can employ to counter climate change. Featuring fixes from seeking renewable energy resources to embracing a plant-rich diet, this listen is a valuable resource for anyone looking to go green.
Journalist, television personality, and sustainability expert Ashlee Piper takes listeners on a lighthearted, step-by-step journey for implementing eco-conscious choices, from their homes to the wild. With a playful, entertaining tone, Piper meets listeners at whatever stage in their sustainable journey they happen to be in, giving tips for a more ethical kitchen, closet, and beauty routine.
Despite all the good the vegan community has done for the planet and the welfare of animals, it still struggles with being inclusive, reckoning with the same systemic racism that plagues so many other aspects of American life. This listen spotlights and amplifies the voices of Black women vegans, offering a lens honed in on ecological destruction, personal identity, and social justice.
This is a listen you can feel good about, both because of its ethical, well-researched look at the American farming industry and because author Gene Baur has pledged all royalties to Farm Sanctuary, a nonprofit that rescues and advocates for farm animals. Baur takes a hard look at the realities of factory farming, but never loses hope for a gentler, more compassionate world.
Sometimes, all it takes to nudge you towards a more empathetic view of the planet and its inhabitants is a walk through nature, taking in all its beauties and the complexities of even the smallest of ecosystems. Legendary marine biologist Rachel Carson documents such a stroll in this stirring listen, which crafts a gorgeous portrait of Earth’s wonders—big and small.
Futures anthropologist Roanne Van Voorst shares a vision of a time ahead where we are no longer reliant on animals for food, clothing, or other byproducts. In a tone that’s uncompromising and assertive, Van Voorst lays out the argument against omnivorism, begging the question: What can we gain if we put our consumption of animals well behind us?
Another entry from Jonathan Safran Foer, Eating Animals is a modern classic in the plant-based revolution. A distinctly level and evenhanded look at factory farming and food reform, this listen spurs a necessary conversation about the food we eat, how it's produced, and why—and how—we should challenge narratives about meat consumption we’ve been fed for generations.
It’s been said that modern complexities require innovative solutions, and in no instance is that more clear than in the truly innovative Eat Like a Fish. Bren Smith used to be a commercial fisherman before he pivoted to a career as a restorative ocean farmer. In his new role, Smith is embarking on a journey to grow sustainable ocean veggies (think kelp and seaweed) that addresses issues from food scarcity to global warming.
Living peacefully means caring for the inhabitants of both land and sea, and this listen sends out an urgent call to defend the most misunderstood creatures on the globe: sharks. (In your own life, be on the lookout for squalene in your lotions and sunscreens; this oil, often sourced from shark livers, has contributed to the death of millions of sharks worldwide. Switching to plant-based, cruelty-free products ensures your skincare won’t leave an indelible mark on the ocean.)
