Do you think trees like being hugged? I have no idea, just asking...You should go hug a tree or something. Take your mind off it.
No, that really isn't her argument--you just read a sliver of her book. What Keith is saying in TVM is that 1) the premise of veganism--that it causes less "harm to the planet" or is "less cruel" or "is kinder to animals" or whatever is demonstrably 100% wrong and 2) the premise that vegan/vegetarian diets are healthier for human beings is equally wrong. The section you just read was about how she got from point A (a committed True Believer vegan for 20 years) to point B (an omnivore and advocate for environmentally healthy agriculture which includes the slaughter and consumption of many living things)...If I didn't post this review w/great comments before: The Vegetarian Myth | The Blog of Michael R. Eades, M.D.I'm not a vegetarian, but I find her response to the whole fence in the Serengeti thing dumb. It's like she's saying, "Some vegetarians are really stupid, so vegetarianism must be bad."
TVM may not be your cup of tea, but the reviews at Amazon might be more interesting: Amazon.com: The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability (9781604860801): Lierre Keith: BooksI'm just saying, that excerpt does not make me want to read more. I read the review you linked to, and am kind of horrified that that reviewer singled that out as a great part of the book, so I don't trust his opinion either.