Maurer, Donna. Vegetarianism; movement or moment?

Temple Univ. Press. 192p. bibliog. index. c2002. 1-56639-936-X. $19.95. SA

Perhaps the subtitle of this resource on vegetarianism should be in large print, for it says it all. This book is primarily about sociological aspects of vegetarianism. Don't expect to find any recipes here--or even much of an explanation of the health benefits of a vegetarian diet. The author, a vegan and sociologist, devotes most of the book to an analysis of how people become vegetarians; he describes the vegetarian "movement" with an unabashed bias toward this lifestyle choice as a "morally" superior one. More and more high school and college students are choosing to be vegetarians and to join vegetarian eating clubs and organizations. This book would be a good one to put into such students' hands as a research tool, as long as they are well aware of the author's firmly entrenched stand. For example, she argues repeatedly that it is not enough to choose meatless meals because of nutritional benefits alone. As the meat industry comes up with more healthful, low-fat alternatives, people will choose these over vegetarian options, she predicts--and then, she asks, where will the movement be?

Where, indeed? This reviewer, for one, does not share the author's apparent admiration for activist groups such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The extensive bibliography and index contain several references to this group--but while Maurer mentions PETA's "meat is murder" bumper stickers and cute "Babe" banners, she fails to mention the group's abhorrent (and sometimes violent) ecoterrorist tactics. Still, Maurer's book fills a niche. It is a piece of propaganda, of sorts--but it does do a good job of describing the history of a particular movement that has not received a lot of well-researched coverage. Gloria Levine Bryant, Teacher, Hoover M.S., Potomac, MD