Pig Tales : an Omnivore's Quest for Sustainable Meat

A Splendid Table Staff Book Pick of the Year "Estabrook, a reporter of iron constitution and persistence, has dug deep into the truth about the American pork industry without losing his sense of humor and humanity." —Christopher Kimball, Wall Street Journal In Pig Tales, New York Times best-selling author of Tomatoland Barry Estabrook turns his attention to the dark side of the American pork industry. Drawing on personal experiences raising pigs as well as sharp investigative instincts, Estabrook covers the range of the human-porcine experience. He shows how these intelligent creatures are all too often subjected to lives of suffering in confinement and squalor, sustained on a drug-laced diet just long enough to reach slaughter weight. But Estabrook also reveals how it is possible to raise pigs responsibly and respectfully, benefiting producers and consumers—as well as some of the top chefs in America. Provocative, witty, and deeply informed, Pig Tales is bound to spark conversation at dinner tables across America. Barry Estabrook, author of the New York Times bestseller Tomatoland and a writer of great skill and compassion (Eric Schlosser), now explores the dark side of the American pork industry. Drawing on his personal experiences raising pigs as well as his keen investigative reporting, Estabrook shows how these immensely intelligent creatures are too often subjected to lives of suffering, sustained on a drug-laced diet just long enough to reach slaughter weight, then killed on mechanized disassembly lines. It doesn t have to be this way, and Pig Tales presents a lively portrait of those farmers who are taking an alternative approach, proving that it is possible to raise pigs responsibly and respectfully in a way that is good for producers, consumers, and some of the top chefs in America. Provocative and richly informed, Pig Tales is bound to generate conversation at dinner tables across America Pig I -- The nature of the beast -- Hog sense -- Wild things -- Of hogs and humans -- Pig II -- Life as a protein product -- Big pig -- Hog hell -- Raising a stink -- Hog fights -- Hog wash -- Drug abuse -- A bitter end -- Life on the line -- The crate escape Pig III -- When pigs fly -- Three little pigs -- The pope of pork -- To market "An eye-opening exploration of the commercial pork industry that tells you how you can bring home the bacon without compromising your conscience."-- Provided by publisher