What would it look like to create your own reading curriculum around veganism, animal advocacy, and our relationships with other animals?
Many of us first discover veganism through documentaries. Films like Cowspiracy, Earthlings, The Game Changers, and Dominion have inspired countless people to think differently about food and animals.
But books offer something different.
They invite us to slow down. To question assumptions. To take notes. To disagree. To reflect. And ultimately, to develop a deeper understanding of the issues that matter most.
In this episode, Michele shares the six books she’s considering for her Personal Vegan Curriculum this summer and invites listeners to read along.
Why Build a Personal Vegan Curriculum?
Shared references help us have better conversations.
When we’ve read some of the same books, we can move beyond opinions and explore ideas together. We gain a common language for discussing topics like animal ethics, nutrition, sustainability, psychology, and the systems that shape our food choices.
Deep reading can help us become:
- More curious
- More thoughtful
- Better informed
- Harder to fool
- Better equipped for difficult conversations
Perhaps reading is one of the most overlooked forms of activism.
Michele’s Summer Reading List
These are the books Michele is considering for her Personal Curriculum:
- Animal Liberation by Peter Singer
- Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows by Melanie Joy
- Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
- The Sexual Politics of Meat by Carol J. Adams
- Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy by Matthew Scully
- Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat by Hal Herzog
The goal isn’t to agree with every author.
It’s to think more deeply, ask better questions, and become a more informed advocate for animals and a more engaged participant in conversations about food and ethics.
We’d Love Your Reading List
What books belong in this conversation?
Michele is especially interested in recommendations from non-white, Indigenous, and colonized perspectives, as well as books that have challenged or expanded your thinking.
Consider these questions:
- Which books shaped your vegan, vegetarian, or plant-based journey?
- Which arguments have stayed with you?
- Which books changed your mind?
- What perspectives are missing from the books people usually recommend?
Share Your Recommendations
Leave Michele a short voicemail through SpeakPipe. Your recommendation may be featured in a future episode of the Vedge Your Best podcast.
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You can also send Michele a DM on Instagram at @Vedge_YourBest or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com.
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