The Good Eater:
A Vegan’s Search for the Future of Food
An enlightening and delicious look at how vegans—and their critics—are redefining the way the world eats in the twenty-first century.
For years, there has been no doubt that widespread consumption of meat is both environmentally destructive and morally dubious. A growing chorus of scientists, health experts, and activists champion the benefits of a plant-based diet. Nevertheless, change has been slow to arrive, and the chasm between our appetites and our collective well-being seems impossibly vast. We know we must transition to a more plant-based world. But what would such a world look like, and how do we realistically get there?
One group of people has been grappling with this question for decades: vegans. Once mocked for its hempy puritanism, the vegan movement has grown from a fringe identity into a veritable cultural juggernaut. Yet visions of what our food system should look like continue to conflict. Is the healthful vegan lifestyle appealing—or alienating? Are high-tech meat alternatives merely a repeat performance of harmful fast-food values? Is modern veganism itself misguided—a wrong answer to the right questions?
In The Good Eater, Harvard-trained sociologist (and vegan) Nina Guilbeault, PhD vividly explores the movement’s history and its present-day tensions by grappling with the most fundamental question of all: Is there a truly ethical way to eat? What emerges is a fascinating portrait of how social change happens, with profound implications for our plates—and our planet.
“The Good Eater reminds us that what we eat plays a definitive role not only in our physical, but also our emotional and even spiritual well-being.” — John Mackey, cofounder and retired CEO of Whole Foods Market
“A vegan sociologist’s remarkably open-minded exploration of the historical, ethical, health, environmental, and social justice implications of not eating meat. Guilbeault’s extensive research and interviews get right into the tough questions about this movement, leaving us free to choose for ourselves whether to eat this way.” —Marion Nestle, Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, emerita, New York University, and author of Food Politics
“Nina Guilbeault is the consummate guide to modern veganism. With grace and rigor, she presents a compelling case for a more conscious and sustainable way to answer the question of what might be for dinner tomorrow.” —Raj Patel, coauthor of Inflamed
“Guilbeault’s clear and relatable writing style makes these complex topics easy to digest and enjoyable to read.” —Melanie Joy, PhD, author of Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows
“Nina Guilbeault is a broadminded, whip-smart guide to some of the thorniest ethical problems involved in eating of any kind. The Good Eater is guaranteed to force reflection no matter how you fill your plate—even for those of us who will always keep a corner of it reserved for (grassfed) steak.” —Benjamin Lorr, author of The Secret Life of Groceries
“A groundbreaking deep dive into the obstacles we face in creating a future food system that is both moral and sustainable—for animals, for the planet, and for the hungry humans who inhabit it.” —Nisha Vora, creator of Rainbow Plant Life
“I am grateful for this book that dares to stop and question some of the most popular assumptions and solutions in the vegan food space. It’s critical we examine new approaches from every angle so we don’t repeat the mistakes of history. The Good Eater is a start to reflecting deeper on how we can participate in ‘making history’ more effectively.” —Miyoko Schinner, entrepreneur, innovator, and author of The Homemade Vegan Pantry