Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect, and Inhumane Treatment Inside the U.S. Meat Industry

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Summary: Slaughterhouse: Factual and a bit dull.
Review: I would like to first say that this book is excellent for anyone who is wanting to change to an animal-free diet, but has some questions, concerns, etc. This book will definitely convince you that becoming vegetarian/vegan is the way to go. It is very detailed and at times graphic, and I found it to be rather disturbing. It was one of those books where I was crying every couple of pages because I could not believe that human beings could be so cruel to other animals.
On the other hand, I also found the book to be rather boring at times. I was interested in the research aspect of the writer's work, but I am not personally interested in the legal side of the meat industry. The author, at times, got a bit too detailed for my liking regarding laws, the USDA, and workers' union rights, etc. In fact, I was at times wondering how on earth this author could talk with these slaughterhouse workers (who brutally beat and abuse animals to be killed) like they were great people and friends. I mean, I know we should have compassion and understanding for all, but I personally could not find much compassion for these workers who choose to work in factories where murder takes place. I know that jobs are hard to find, but I am sure working in a slaughterhouse is not the only option.

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Summary: Wouldn't You Want To Know
Review: This book kept me interested. I have a son and what we consume is very important. This book made me open my eyes. I live in Oklahoma and the state produces alot of beef, pork, and poultry, but do my fellow citizens know in the aisles of the store where I see people picking up multiple packages of meat. Do They Know How The Animal Died For That Package? I deem it mandatory for all Americans read this book. I know after reading it I feel faint looking at meat.

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Summary: Delusion, Greed and Violence Exposed
Review: After reading this book, I realized that the whole system that labels animals as "meat" (a pleasing, sanitary little fiction!) runs on principles that the Buddha would clearly recognize--greed, violence, and delusion and ignorance. Most meat-eaters are simply unaware, unawakened, and do not see the faces and lives of what they are consuming. This is not the worst part. The worst is that, once confronted with an inkling of the suffering and cruelty behind "meat" production, many refuse to face up to the truth and see the suffering--ruins the appetite, and would call for something uncomfortable, such as (gasp!) CHANGE! We hear the rationalizing behind meat consumption; now, thanks in part to this book, we hear the truth. Animals are not designed to be commodities; they are not little machines for our exploitation; they are not "designed" for man at all!

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Summary: Do you know what you're eating?
Review: Have you ever bitten into a hamburger and found something unpleasant that you passed off as "gristle"? What if you learned it was actually spinal cord tissue? Are you aware that there are *allowable levels of fecal contamination* in USDA-inspected meat, and that those levels increased just as children in the US were dying from e.coli? What if you found out that the bacon or sausage you had for breakfast came from a hog that had been dismembered while still alive? Does this seem like sensationalism; too radical to be true? Sadly, these are all substantiated facts, and there is even more horror inside America's meat industry.

Some would rather not know what goes on inside many slaughterhouses and packing plants across the US. For those who would, I recommend as a starting point the book _Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect, and Inhumane Treatment Inside the U.S. Meat Industry_ by Gail Eisnitz. Slaughterhouse details Ms. Eisnitz's investigation that started with a complaint by one employee and led her down a dark and sickening road of inhumanity towards both the animals that are slaughtered and the employees who carry out the deed.

This book was the first step into a new lifestyle for myself and my family. If you cannot bear to turn a blind eye any longer, this book is the place to start.

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Summary: Ask an expert
Review: If you want to know about meat, ask someone who eats it, prepares it, or brings it to the market and table. I love it. And what is not to love? Baked, broiled, braised, barbecued, smoked, or fried, nothing satisfies like meat. Meat means dinner. Yum! If you've ever turned off the lights before you made love, then you will understand that you don't necessarily have to watch your meat killed to enjoy it. However, this book may add a new dimension of dining enjoyment for some. Millions of fans have thrilled to the exploits of Hannibal Lecter. Now, you TOO can enjoy the spectacle of bovine gore and angst while you await the arrival of tasty entrees upon your dining table. Buy this book and a whole new world of dining pleasure awaits.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but repetitive
Review: I've read some other similar works, such as Animal Factories by Mason/Singer. I consider it to be a superior work as it had more statitics and references. This book often feel like you're reading the same chapter again and again. She would go into various types of slaughterhouses, such as pig, cow, even horse. And the story she would tell may differ in the details, but still be basically the same.

One thing that I did find intersting is that while I was aware that horsemeat is sold in other countries, I did not know that we export significant quantities of it. If you haven't read any other work on the meat industry, then you need to read this one. If you've read some others, you can probably skip this one.

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Summary: Shocking Truth About the Meat Industry's Dark Side!
Review: This is the most powerful book I've ever read! I thought the meat industry was bad before i read this book, after words I was speachless and horrified. EVERYONE should read this book. If you care about your health and the health of your loved one's make sure to read this.

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Summary: Total Truth
Review: I do not know what "A reader from Sterling Colorado" has been smoking, however, I know from 30 years of personal experience from working in beef and pork factories, that everything that Ms. Eiznitz has said is accurate.

"A reader from Sterling Colorado" is obviously lying or his father was lying, or maybe they have never worked in these factories.

When I first discovered that Ms. Eiznitz was an animal rights activist, I was skeptical. However, I have now learned that she, and many other activists may be the most open-minded people in this country when it comes to this issue.

For years I turned my head to these issues, however, I can no longer live a "lie".

This book is a MUST read for anyone. I can only hope that Americans stop hiding their heads in the sand and speak out about these issues.

Rating:
Summary: Shocking
Review: The beginning of this book was a little boring, but i had togive it 5 stars because from the middle of the book to the end was 10stars. Plus the author almost died trying the write this book to inform the American public because the media thought it was "too vigor"

Not only obviously extreme cruelty to animals, but has lots of interviews with slaughterhouse workers about their injuries and watching workers die on the job...35% of all workers get seriously injured....hundreds die as increased line speeds lead to increase cruelty, injuries, and meat contamination with feces, rat ( ), etc. Workers get few breaks and thus ( ) on the floor... also has a part about 1 company violating Clean Water Acts hundreds of thousands of times by dumping animal feces into the rivers contaminating the drinking water with e-coli, salmonella. Worse of all, the meat inspectors are now run by the company and not the federal government...how can they do this when line speeds have increased 40% and less workers are "needed." END

Rating:
Summary: Slaughterhouse
Review: Slaughterhouse explodes the popular image of obscure factories that turn dumb livestock into sterile, cellophane-wrapped food in the meat display case. The testimony of dozens of slaughterhouse workers and USDA inspectors pulls the curtain on abominable hellholes, where the last minutes of innocent, feeling, intelligent horses, cows, pigs, and chickens are turned into interminable agony.

The agony starts when the animals are hauled over long distances under extreme crowding and harsh temperatures. And if the animals refuse to wait quietly to ther deaths. Some will beat the animals with a lead pipe. It's really scary and thrilling, somehow disturbing though.

You will realize that safety is a major problem for workers who operate sharp instruments standing on a floor slippery with blood and gore, surrounded by conscious animals kicking for their lives, and pressed by a speeding slaughter line. Yes, indeed it's the most hazardous job in America.

So Slaughterhouse mainly focuses on animal cruelty and worker safety, but it also addresses the issues of consumer health, one of them is E. Coli (Escherichia Coli, causes infections including meningitis, septicaemia, urinary tract infections and intestinal infections etc).

We just don't know how animals suffer from cruelty and now we've to be brave enough to face the reality. The closing statement just make me in awe "now you know, and you can help end these atrocities". Let's applaud Gail for having the compassion. Appaling, informative and insightful. It's certainly a real eye-opener. This just make us concern about slaughthouses in our own countries, maybe these are happening to us too, who knows.