Part memoir, nutritional primer, and political manifesto, this controversial examination exposes the destructive history of agriculturea"causing the devastation of prairies and forests, driving countless species extinct, altering the climate, and destroying the topsoila"and asserts that, in order to save the planet, food must come from within living communities. In order for this to happen, the argument champions eating locally and sustainably and encourages those with the resources to grow their own food. Further examining the question of what to eat from the perspective of both human and environmental health, the account goes beyond health choices and discusses potential moral issues from eatinga"or not eatinga"animals. Through the deeply personal narrative of someone who practiced veganism for 20 years, this unique exploration also discusses alternatives to industrial farming, reveals the risks of a vegan diet, and explains why animals belong on ecologically sound farms.