I have always wondered if I was a cow or ...
357702
I have always wondered if I was a cow or not a cow. This question has puzzled  me for years. Thanks to this book i know now I am not in fact a cow
3611670
I saw this book on a shelf a couple weeks ago, and walked past it as I assumed it was, what I used to loosely semi-jokingly term "Nazi Vegan PETA Preachers". After all, I have been a proud omnivore my entire life and didn't feel like having someone else "preach" to me. This book was "staff recommended" and had a little blurb about "This book changed my life, etc etc".  I skimmed over most of what they wrote (see my "proud omnivore" comment above), but was fixated on the very last line:  "I dare you to read this book".

So what did I do?  I walked away.

After a few moments, I walked back and stated reading the back of the cover.

Then I walked away ... again.

Then I walked back ... again.  This time I chose to buy it. After all, what could it hurt to read a book, right?

To say this book altered the way I viewed my world was an understatement. The author was fantastic and I appreciated the fact that he kept his "preachiness" to a minimum, instead offering lots of data, first hand accounts, and lots of throught provoking questions.

I laughed, I cried, I was outraged, I was shocked, and I was shamed.  Most of all, my eyes were opened.  You see, I spent summers growing up on my grandparent's farm.  I already "knew" what farming was about, or so I thought.  However what "farming" is, and what "factory farming" is, are entirely different beasts. Our culture (and desires) have changed so radically that what I thought was normal was so far from the truth that I can't believe I was this clueless. Or maybe I just didn't want to think too hard about where my neat little packaged meat came from, how it was raised, slaughtered, and more importantly how it was processed.

When I turned the last page of this book, I made the conscious choice to never again be a willing participant to this kind of lifestyle "norm" again just for the sake of food, and I was reduced to 2 sentences that might sound eerily familiar:

"This book changed my life" and "I dare you to read this book".
3980050
Hit by Contradictions
It was very interesting to learn to farm along with the author and her partner and I felt empathy for them in their many difficult situations, including their relationship woes related to the stress of being new farmers. The animals were very endearing and fun to read about . This couple clearly felt  love and had personal relationships with their animals. So it was puzzling to me that they never really dealt head on with the contradictions of loving them and then sending them to slaughter.  Perhaps because they didn't "do the deed" themselves they were able to distance themselves from the fact that ultimately these animals were treated not as beings but as products for slaughter, sale and consumption. To come face to face with the contradiction would have been honest and riveting, even if they made a choice to continue on that path. They never seemed to recognize the contradiction they were living and that was very sad.
2941625
During my life I have been a Roman Catholic, an atheist, an agnostic, and recently looked to the Lutherans.  This book has given me a better answer to my quest for God and the nature of the universe.  Hopefully I can now resolve all my doubts and move to a rational alternative belief system.
1323902
I've always been a fairly healthy eater - lots of fruits and vegetables, with minimal meat and moderate dairy.  But I learned a lot from this film.  I've always known I feel better when I eat more plant-based foods.  This film may just give me the fortification to stick with it!  Plus, considering the impact raising beef and dairy cattle has on the environment and use of precious resources, it's just the ethical thing to do!!
651372
I've always been one to question traditional Christianity.  This book helped me to believe that I was right! I can't wait to see if there will be any more from Jenniffer Weigel.
660573
This. Book. Is. Everything. I feel 10000000% better about getting a family cow after reading this. It's only been a few weeks and I've already read it twice, it's been dog-eared, underlined, slept with and just a HUGE part of my farming resources.
2703175
I couldn't put this book down. I'm not normally a big reader. I took my kids to the library and happened to see it...thought I would skim it over. Not only did I read it cover to cover IN ONE DAY...I'm taking ACTION. I  love animals and thought I was pretty compassionate. Nothing could have  prepared me for what I was about to read. I can't believe, especially in  the U.S, that animals  are treated in such a manner. You HAVE GOT to read  this book. It will change how you live!
1282439
I have been studying personality types for a few months now. I found that at the beginning my test results varied. Not so much that each one was a complete opposite, but enough to realize I could fit in more than one personality type.
  I discovered I wasn't always honest or I answered based on how others perceived me and not how truly felt, wondering if how truly felt was real or superficial. So I took the test over and over again. I tried different sites and at different moments in my life. I kept taking it until the majority ruled. INFJ fits me perfectly.
  It's no wonder I couldn't figure myself out!
I once heard psychics are psychics for the good of others and cannot see into themselves. I think they were talking about INFJ's all along.
3047929
After reading only the first few chapters of this book, I was passing it on to others to read.  I found myself quoting it to those around me.  I have felt for a long time that I was one among only a few who made such connections to animals.  I can't believe someone else could really understand that side of me.  I would recamend this book to anyone who feels a bond between themselves and the others who share this planet with us.  It is not a bad choice if your trying to persuade others as well to share in your view.  I can't wait for another book from this author!
3027599
Sandra Boynton, Are You a Cow? (Simon and Schuster, 2012)

I'm not sure I can, or need to, give you any more of a recommendation than this. The bean, an inveterate Boynton fanatic, has never asked me to read a Boynton book more than once in a row until tonight. Are You a Cow? Got read three full times before I was allowed to put it down. If that doesn't qualify as the Bean Stamp of Approval, I don't know what does. From my perspective, it's a rather slight thing, but fun to read and just as adept at rhythm and rhyme as all of Boynton's stuff (this is something I still feel weird about pointing out, but the more kids' books I've read over the last few years, the more of them I've noticed are, shall we say, less than adept at one, the other, or both). A big hit at Goat Central. ****
4952817
I was raised "evangelical" in the Church of Christ and went almost 3x per week until my early FORTIES... I started memorizing Bible verses around age 4.  In my early 40s, I started a chronilogically Bible study group and spent a year in study of the scriptures.. but this time it was different.  After reading that God's price for rape of a mans wife was 10 shekels and 50 shekels if it was his virgin daughter ( I believe that was the price)... I started to doubt the entirety of God's existence... As how could a loving God place a price on rape? How could a loving god put one human so much over another's existence..... to me, it sounded like the delusional writing of a middle eastern MAN.. ... Then about that same time, I had a "dream"... I was squeezed out of my body one night and taken to this beautiful place of the sun ( I called it heaven at the time)... my body was like the sunshine and so was the person walking with me... I could feel joy in my body.. I have never felt such love in my life..I absolutely didn't want to return to my reality here...but "they" told me that I had to come back that it was "not your time".. so boom.. I woke up and the I have never been the same again.  I didn't know how to proceed... I then knew that there was something more but I didn't know how to find it.. and there started my seeking.. I am now in my 52 nd year.... I have learned so much in the last 10 yrs... but mostly , I have learned to be grateful ...  Mr Walsch,  I am grateful to you... to my core.  I know that God has always been in my life... I was led to this book.. a book that I had never even heard of until the summer of 2015 when I went to a conference and you walked into the room and a several thousand people stood up to applaud you and I didn't know why... now I do.  Now I have peace.  Religion gave me only FEAR.. fear of burning in hell b/c of divorce, speeding, bad thoughts, being drunk on occasion, watching rated R movies, sex outside of marriage.... people that is what the Bible teaches... Now, I know that I will still work every day to make high choices b/c that is my nature...but that on the days when I disappoint myself... I still ok.  I am going to treat others like myself ..bc we are all one.  I am going to note that I need to fill my own cup up before I can have a relationship with someone... they are not here to "complete me"... I am going to accept what shows up and let happiness be my state of being.  I am going to put my hands in the air as much as possible and tell God "thank you thank you thank you".... and then ultimately... I am not going to fear death  anymore.
3385624
It's great to learn about the adventure of a new vet in the country. Till now I always thought you can have cows, put them out to the pasture and that was it. I had no idea cows and other farm animals can have so many problems. No raising cows for me. Thanks for the eye opener.
1718492
It was a slow build up, but I was very pleased to be convinced that I had been interpreting Genesis I incorrectly.  Over the last couple of decades I have tried in several different ways to fit the "creation story" found in Genesis in with what I know about who God is and how He has revealed Himself in what I see.  I've never been comfortable.  Now I am.  Yes, there are still unanswered questions, but I'm ok with that.
1537305
I have often wondered when looking into a group of people I don't know, what all their stories are. I 've always believed everyone would have one if I could talk to each person, and sometimes, I got to find out what some of them were. This book bears out that theory. Every one who came into he diner had one and we get to know what the stories are.... And how they turned out.
3971100
I must first start by saying, I am a farmer and former mason.  I read farm journals, farming technology and auction periodicals. Not So Black and White was a first for me, first time I EVER finished any sort of book. I picked the book up off of our ottoman, before I knew it the sun had set, my day had ended and I had finished reading the entire book. Having no direct connection to dance, Broadway, New York or any other detail of the author's life, I was drawn in and completely fascinated after a few pages.  Everything that she has been through is such a contrast to my simple life. I wanted and had to know more !!! I have passed the book along to my mom & dad.  Thank you Alexis for changing my narrow/small view of life !!
1549498
For decades I have been wondering about the meaning of life. Religion, nah. Science, perhaps? The betterment of mankind, promising. Then it struck me! Square Eggs! My life will never be the same again.