Project Animal Farm: An Accidental Journey into the Secret World of Farming and the Truth About Our Food

Description

Sonia Faruqi, an Ivy League graduate and investment banker, had no idea that the night she arrived at the doorstep of a dairy farm would mark the beginning of a journey that would ultimately wind all the way around the world. Instead of turning away from the animal cruelty she came to witness, Sonia made the most courageous decision of her life: a commitment to change things. Driven by impulsive will and searing passion, Sonia left behind everything she knew and loved to search the planet for solutions to benefit animals, human health, and the environment. Over the course of living with farmers, hitchhiking with strangers, and risking her life, she developed surprising insights and solutions-both about the food industry and herself. Lively and heartfelt, Sonia takes readers on an unforgettable adventure from top-secret egg warehouses in Canada to dairy feedlots in the United States, from farm offices in Mexico to lush pastures in Belize, from flocks of village chickens in Indonesia to factory farms in Malaysia. Revelatory in scope, Project Animal Farm illuminates a hidden world that plays a part in all of our lives.

Sonia Faruqi graduated from Dartmouth College with cum laude distinction and several honors and recognitions. She then worked at an investment bank on Wall Street, before changing her path to investigate animal farms around the world, toward the aim of improving animal lives and reforming our current system of food production. An unconventional author with an original approach, Sonia stands primed to become one of the most important voices in food today. She lives in Toronto.

"Farqui thoughtfully explores the way in which brutality and disregard of animal welfare is endemic in the industry on a global scale, and provides suggestions for realistic actions that readers can take to encourage change. The book begs a comparison to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle." -- Publishers Weekly (starred) "Every so often a book comes along that has the power to alter the course of history. Project Animal Farm is that potent. It is so inspiring, so moving, so deeply personal and yet also has such profound cultural implications, that it will change the lives of everyone who reads it. People will be talking about this book for decades." -- John Robbins, author of DIET FOR A NEW AMERICA and THE FOOD REVOLUTION "Following the lead of other sharp critiques of the food industry, such as David Kirby's Animal Factory (2010), Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma (2006), and Jonathan Safran Foer's Eating Animals (2009), newbie author Faruqi does a commendable job spotlighting the ways animals are mistreated around the globe in order to make their milk and flesh available in our stores. Written with a dry wit and an inspiring dose of crusader's zeal, resulting in a work that will compel health-conscious and environmentally aware readers as well as those concerned about animal rights." -- Booklist "Into an engaging account of the adventures of a young city dweller among the factory farmers, Sonia Faruqi manages to smuggle a body of useful-and disturbing-information about this most secretive of global enterprises." -- J. M. Coetzee, Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature "Project Animal Farm is an original and thought-provoking exploration of where our food comes from." -- John Mackey, Founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market "The author successfully brings to light less-than-optimal living conditions of farm animals. This title flourishes when highlighting the humanity and well-intentioned nature of farmers, even when they are utilizing horrific practices professionally. This intriguing and accessible debut may find a niche with readers of popular nonfiction in a society increasingly concerned with how our food is produced and where it comes from." -- Library Journal "Let Sonia Faruqi take you on her courageous personal journey of discovery. I thought I already knew everything there is to know about modern animal production, but I learned many new things from this very readable book, and you will, too." -- Peter Singer, philosopher and author of ANIMAL LIBERATION "An extraordinary triumph of narrative nonfiction. A seminal work of investigative journalism." -- David Kirby, author of ANIMAL FACTORY "Brave, captivating, enlightening, and impossible to put down, this remarkable true story pries open hearts and minds and exposes the travesty of industrial farming like none other." -- Frances More Lappe, bestselling author of DIET FOR A SMALL PLANET "Written in the most vivid and engaging way, this remarkable book demands to be read by anyone who cares about where their food comes from." -- Philip Lymbery, CEO of Compassion in World Farming and author of FARMAGEDDON "Everybody who is interested in food policy and animal welfare should read this book. Project Animal Farm will make you think long and hard about problems with intensive diary farms and egg production." -- Temple Grandin, author of 'Animals in Translation' and 'Animals Make us Human' "A poignant work of depth and clarity. An accessible and educational examination of our food system. Highly recommended." -- Gene Baur, President of Farm Sanctuary "An eyes-wide-open view of industrial animal farming and its effect on farm animals and consumers. A compelling and thoughtful work, a clarion call for acknowledgment." -- Wayne Pacelle, President, the Humane Society of the United States "This is a book about the people who make their living putting food on our tables. In it, you'll see how some of them struggle to do it well, while others are willing to do it any way at all if it will help them get ahead. You'll be glad to have seen them all with Sonia Faruqi's eyes." -- Daniel Quinn, bestselling author of ISHMAEL "Warning: This book might change your life!" -- Hal Herzog, author of SOME WE LOVE, SOME WE HATE, SOME WE EAT "Following a whim, debut author Faruqi decided to take a break from the hectic pace of Wall Street and volunteer for two weeks on an organic dairy farm. That decision proved to be both eye-opening and life-changing. Even small, family-run operations often use the methods of factory farming. Faruqi contrasts this with a visit to a successful pastoral farm to demonstrate a humane alternative at only slight higher consumer prices. The author's expertise in finance provides an extra dimension to this well-documented report." -- Kirkus Reviews