How much of what you “know” comes from deliberate study—and how much comes from whatever the algorithm decided to show you today?

That question has been on my mind for a while. Social media is a wonderful way to discover new ideas, recipes, creators, and communities. But it’s also designed to keep us moving quickly from one piece of content to the next. We consume snippets of information without always understanding how they connect.

This summer, I want to try something different.

I’m building a personal curriculum around veganism—its philosophy, history, ethics, and practice. Rather than relying on scattered posts, videos, and headlines, I’m choosing books and other resources that provide context and invite deeper thinking.

The goal isn’t to become an academic philosopher. It’s simply to become a more thoughtful learner.

What Is a Personal Curriculum?

A personal curriculum is exactly what it sounds like: a course of study that you design for yourself.

It doesn’t have to resemble a college syllabus. It can include books, documentaries, podcasts, interviews, cooking experiments, online classes, museum visits, conversations, volunteering, or anything else that helps you explore a subject with intention.

The important part is that you’re making conscious choices about what to learn instead of allowing an algorithm to make those choices for you.

For me, that subject is veganism.

Why Start with Animal Liberation Now?

The first book in my personal curriculum is Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed by Peter Singer.

Originally published in 1975 as Animal Liberation, Singer’s work helped shape modern discussions about animal ethics. The 2023 edition updates the original text while preserving many of the philosophical ideas that have influenced conversations about animals for decades.

Whether you ultimately agree with Singer’s conclusions or not, it’s difficult to understand the history of the modern animal advocacy movement without understanding his contribution.

That’s why I chose to begin here.

Learning the Language of Animal Ethics

One thing I discovered almost immediately is that discussions about veganism often rely on philosophical terms that many of us have heard without fully understanding.

In this episode, I unpack ideas such as:

• Speciesism and the principle of equal consideration of interests
• Sentience and why the capacity to experience suffering matters ethically
• Utilitarianism, explained in plain English
• The distinction between animal welfare and animal rights

 

You don’t need a philosophy degree to explore these concepts. In fact, I don’t have one either. My goal is simply to understand the ideas well enough to think critically about them.

Difficult Questions Don’t Have Easy Answers

Singer’s work also addresses subjects that are emotionally and ethically challenging, including factory farming, animal experimentation, and how we weigh human preferences against animal suffering.

The book has also generated significant criticism over the years, particularly from disability-rights advocates who object to some of Singer’s writings about euthanasia and profound cognitive disability.

These criticisms deserve serious consideration.

That’s one reason this podcast episode is neither a blanket endorsement nor a takedown of Peter Singer’s work. Reading critically means engaging with ideas honestly—recognizing both their influence and their limitations.

Understanding an argument isn’t the same thing as accepting it.

What About Plant Sentience?

One question that often arises in conversations about veganism is whether plants can feel or communicate in ways we don’t fully understand.

The episode touches on why this question doesn’t necessarily undermine the ethical case for veganism. Instead, it invites us to think carefully about what we mean by suffering, consciousness, and moral consideration.

Rather than searching for simple answers, I’m trying to ask better questions.

Why I’m Doing This

I’m not creating this personal curriculum because I expect every book to change my mind.

I’m creating it because I want a stronger foundation.

I want to understand where ideas come from, how they’ve evolved, where they’re persuasive, and where they may fall short. That feels far more valuable than collecting isolated facts from social media.

The algorithm is very good at showing us what captures attention.

A personal curriculum helps us pursue understanding.

Listen to Episode 307

In Episode 307 of Vedge Your Best, I share why I decided to create a vegan personal curriculum and why Animal Liberation Now is the first book on my list. We explore the philosophical foundations of modern animal ethics, discuss some of Singer’s most influential—and controversial—arguments, and begin what I hope will become an ongoing journey of thoughtful learning.

This is only the first installment. Over the coming weeks, I’ll continue sharing books and resources that are helping me deepen my understanding of veganism from multiple perspectives.

I’d Love to Hear From You

If you were designing a personal curriculum, what subject would you choose?

Would you dive into nutrition? History? Gardening? Music? Climate science? Philosophy? Something completely different?

I’d love to know what’s worth studying in depth—and what you’ve learned by slowing down and going beyond the algorithm.

Until next time, keep learning, keep questioning, and keep doing your best to Vedge Your Best.