Eating Animals

Jonathan Safran Foer presents his reasons for investigating factory farming early in the book, citing his son as a motivating factor. Does this bias Foer toward vegetarianism? How might Foer be seen as a radical or an author who has already made their decision?

Foer’s grandmother, Ethel, only makes one dish, chicken and carrots, but her family loves it and respects her as a great cook. Do you have any family meals that are good because of the importance they have in your family? Could any dish replace that one, as Foer tries to do with turkey at Thanksgiving?

Even though Foer loves his dog, George, he reflects on how that love should reflect a love for all animals. This distinction involves a species barrier. What are the species barriers that you know of? Are there any animals that you would or would not eat, and how might Foer respond to that distinction?