Beyond Beef: The Rise and Fall of the Cattle Culture (Plume)

Customer Reviews:

Beyond Beef, Rifkin........2007-03-26

This was an important book in the early 1990s, and although the thesis demands our attention now more than ever, it is still generally ignored, perhaps in small part because Rifkin's book is not at all perfect. The first third is the author's 'abridged' version of the entire human-bovine history, and the critical reader will have ample cause to question many broad assertions in Rifkin's sweeping saga, especially in the early chapters. I must agree with an earlier reviewer who rightly describes Rifkin's 'historical' generalizations and selected references as being "a mile wide and an inch deep." It is unfortunate, but this stylized yarn-weaving detracts somewhat from critical assent when Rifkin finally approaches the 'meat' of the thesis in chapter 15.
There are many excellent points made when Rifkin finally makes room for them (parts 3-6), but the quality of his reference sources continues to be dubious in some, though certainly not all, instances. The book finally hits its stride and makes its import observations in parts 4 (Feeding Cattle and Starving People) and 5 (Cattle and the Global Environmental Crisis). If the information here doesn't direct the reader toward a vegetarian lifestyle (or at least to rethinking the centrality of meat in his/her diet), he or she may be a pretty hardened case of wanton self-indulgence and thoughtless hedonism. We must hope that sometime soon, western consumers might become as interested in the welfare of human beings and of our entire planetary home, as they are in self-pleasuring. In fact, the reader may want to read this portion of the book only (chapters 22-32) before moving on to a better book -- MAD COWBOY: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat, by Howard F. Lyman.
Depending on the crop, plants can provide 5 to 26 times as much protein per any given unit of land, than can beef. In 1984, when thousands of people were dying for lack of food in famine-ravaged Ethiopia, feed crops produced there were being shipped to livestock producers in Europe! The affluent 'first world' continues to orchestrate, in large part, the starvation of hundreds of millions of the worlds poorest people, and does so in a way not only embarrassingly decadent, but demonstrably stupid: "In 1917 the Allied Powers threw a naval blockade around the German-occupied territories of northern Europe. The Danish people were particularly hard hit by the blockade. With its normal food supply routes cut, the Danish government was forced to enact a rationing program based on increasing the intake of potatoes and barley and virtually eliminating meat. Overnight, some three million Danes were turned into vegetarians, with some interesting results. During the year of rationing, the death rate from disease fell by 34 percent." p170. This was cited in the journal of the AMA.

Interesting stuff, but read Lyman's book instead.

It sealed the deal on being a vegetarian.......2006-08-07

This book was so amazing! I had become a vegetarian several months before reading it, but after reading it, there was no question in my mind- I'm never touching meat again!
Its an eye opening look into the facts and world of the beef industry. I highly recommend it if you are on the fence about red meat.

Better Books out there.......2006-08-01

The problem I have with this book, as well as a lot of other Rifkin's books, it's not the message that is being conveyed, it's how it's being conveyed. Rifkin's research style is a mile wide and an inch deep. I pined to have some of the chapters be at least a couple pages longer so there was more substance. He makes wide, sweeping generalizations with the minimum of hard data to back it up.

That, in addition to this book now being well over a decade old, makes me very reluctant to recommend. There are better, newer books that have the same point of view that are better written. And this is coming from a reviewer who has not eaten beef since 1997.

As timely as ever regarding out of control corn and animal fat.......2006-02-22

Important book outlining the culture of animal consumption (beef), it's devastating effect of the environment and natural resources, as well as afflicting human health.
Book sets stage for understanding what kinds of transformations
are needed for humans to sustainably survive as population and appetites continue to grow voraciously. Imagine the land resources, food resources, and the improvement in quality of life possible if corn and beef were removed from the landscape.

Great book.......2004-02-27

There's not much to add to what's already been said. I just want to echo the praise... It's a formidable book - scholarly and persuasive; it's a fascinating history. It's also a very easy book to read, one you won't regret reading: it's eye-opening.

Beyond Beef. The Rise and Fall of the Cattle Culture.

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Beyond Beef. The Rise and Fall of the Cattle Culture.
Jeremy Rifkin
Manufacturer: Dutton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NUICSO

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BEYOND BEEF. The Rise and Fall of the Cattle Culture.
Jeremy: Rifkin
Manufacturer: Pan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000W2X9N6

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Beyond Beef: The Rise and Fall of the Cattle Culture.

Manufacturer: 0
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ICHD46

Book Description

From passport and currency information to tips on packing and how to beat jet lag, Lynn Gordon covers everything you need to know for a stress- and worry-free trip. This deck of 52 helpful hints makes a great going-away present, and its small, portable size is ideal for travelers.

Book Description

A Primer of Ecology, Third Edition, presents a concise but detailed exposition of the most common mathematical models in population and community ecology. It is intended to demystify ecological models and the mathematics behind them by deriving the models from first principles. The book may be used as a self-teaching tutorial by students, as a primary textbook, or as a supplemental text to a general ecology textbook.

The Primer explains in detail basic concepts of exponential and logistic population growth, age-structured demography, metapopulation dynamics, competition, predation, island biogeography, and, in a chapter new to this edition, succession. Each chapter is carefully graded from simple material that is appropriate for beginning undergraduates to advanced material, which is suited for upper-division undergraduates and beginning graduate students. Advanced topics include environmental and demographic stochasticity, discrete population growth and chaos, stage-structured demography, intraguild predation, nonlinear predator-prey isoclines, and passive sampling. Each chapter follows the same structure: model presentation and predictions, model assumptions, model variations, empirical examples, and problems.

Essential equations are highlighted for students' use. Intermediate algebraic "expressions" are also illustrated so that students see where the equations came from. New terms are introduced in the text in boldface type to alert students to novel concepts. The Primer contains more mathematical detail than many ecology textbooks, but avoids jargon and mathematical terminology that can intimidate students. Both simple and advanced problems are included, followed by fully worked solutions so that students can gain confidence and a better understanding of the models. Citations are kept to a minimum.

Customer Reviews:

Amazon purchase review.......2005-10-25

The book I ordered was in perfect condition and I received it very quickly!! I've always had excellent service from Amazon.com!

Excelent book.......2005-10-12

This book is an excelent work on population biology, it includes the basic elements to study the dynamics of population in nature, I recomend it.

Great book for beginners and advanced........2005-09-24

Gotelli has done a great job with this book. He explains most things concisely as well as thoroughly. He not only mentions the concepts, but the people and events leading to the discovery of those concepts. This can be a rare thing in textbooks. The only complaint I have is that he doesn't always explain the derivations of his equations, he just wants us to trust him on them. Other than that, a great book on Ecology for its size.

Easily one of the best on the topic.......2003-06-23

Four and one half stars.

Dr. Gotelli's book is the most successful which I am familiar at "demystifying" the mathematical concepts in ecology. "A primer of ecology" is very well organized and written so as not to frighten off the uninitiated, but covers the mathematics well enough to be an adequate refresher for those that have slipped in some areas. The inclusion of ecological succession in the 3rd edition is an important addition and not merely a reason to put out a new version. I highly recommend this text to anyone who is interested in learning about ecological study, and I think it would make an excellent senior undergraduate or supplemental graduate text.

Easy to understand, but simplifies a little too much.......2002-05-11

I found this book was a really good introduction to the subject - really clearly explained and laid out, unlike some other books I have read, which start of simple and then suddenly leap off into degree-level maths! However, it does tend to simplify a little bit (would have liked a little more information on the types of discrete and continous logistics that can be used).

All in all a really good book to buy to keep your feet on the ground when learning

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Primer of Population Biology
Edward O. Wilson
Manufacturer: Sinauer Associates
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Modeling hydrologic changes and predicting their impact on watersheds is a dominant concern for hydrologists and other water resource professionals, civil and environmental engineers, and urban and regional planners. As such changes continue, it becomes more essential to have the most up-to-date tools with which to perform the proper analyses and modeling of the complex ecology, morphology, and physical processes that occur within watersheds. An application-oriented text, Modeling Hydrologic Change: Statistical Methods provides a step-by-step presentation of modeling procedures to help you properly analyze and model real-world data. The text addresses modeling systems where change has affected data that will be used to calibrate and test models of the system. The use of actual hydrologic data will help you learn how to handle the vagaries of real-world hydrologic-change data. All four elements of the modeling process are discussed: conceptualization, formulation, calibration, and verification. Although the book is oriented towards the statistical aspects of modeling, a strong background in statistics is not required. The statistical and modeling methods discussed here will be of value to all disciplines involved in modeling change. With approximately 100 illustrations, Modeling Hydrologic Change will equip you with an understanding with which to perform the proper analyses and modeling of the complex processes that occur across various disciplines.

Amazon.com

Since Journal of a Solitude, May Sarton's musings on books, poetry, friendship and the pleasures of everyday life have grown richer with each new installment. In this, her last journal, Sarton continues to adjust to the feeling that she is a stranger in the land of old age. And though her struggles and daily setbacks continue, there is an optimistic, musing tone as she contemplates this unique time in a person's life. May Sarton died in July 1995, not long after completing this volume.

Book Description

May Sarton's eagerly awaited journals have recorded her life as a single, woman writer and, in later years, as a woman confronting old age. She completed this pilgrimage through her eighty-second year a few months before she died in 1995.

Customer Reviews:

Much-diminished Sarton.......2007-06-21

Sarton's last several journals are, in my opinion, not worth the money. That she attempted to continue writing when she had to dictate her thoughts put much too much of a strain upon her, I feel. Sarton was a competent, sometimes excellent, writer in her earlier years, but these final few journals are more painful to read than illuminating. House By the Sea began the decline of quality of her journals, it seemed to me, perhaps due to my frustration with Sarton's apparent inability to comprehend how dangerous allowing Judy Matlack, her longtime lover and companion, to wander about unsupervised was when it was clear to any reasonably perceptive reader that Matlack was so senile that she needed near-constant supervision. Sarton, however, clearly alternated between concern for Matlack and frustration with her that arose from denial of the seriousness of Matlack's condition. In the end, it was quite sad to witness such clear evidence of Sarton's inability to consider realistically the needs of others, which ultimately foreshadowed her eventual inability to stop trying to write when doing so was clearly beyond her sadly diminished capabilities.

The succeeding journals, chronicling Sarton's gradual deterioration and accompanying fury and frustration at her decline, are wrenching and not particularly enlightening unless witnessing a once-effective writer's diminishment intrigues you for some perverse reason.

Stick with Sarton's earlier works, Plant Dreaming Deep or Journal Of a Solitude.

The Closing Chapter of a Stellar Life.......2000-10-03

At Eighty-Two is an incredible though painful final journal from Sarton. If you are reading Sarton for the first time, read Journal of a Solitude or (my favorite) Recovering first, and then turn to this one. Sarton deals in this journal primarily with the diminishment of old age. Being quite ill at the time, she occassionally comes accross quite bitter, but perhaps this is what makes this journal so poignant and so important for a society that either forgets about or romantizes old age.

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