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Mind If I Order the Cheeseburger?: And Other Questions People Ask Vegans Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 110 ratings

What about plants? Don't animals eat other animals? There are no perfect vegans, so why bother? If you're vegan, how many times have you been asked these, and other similarly challenging, questions from non-vegans?

Using humor and reason, Sherry F. Colb takes these questions at face value and also delves deeply into the motivations behind them, coming up with answers that are not only intelligent but insightful about human nature. Through examples, case studies, and clear-eyed logic, she provides arguments for everything from why veganism is compatible with the world's major religions to why vegetarianism is not enough. In the end, she shows how it is possible for vegans and non-vegans to engage in a mutually beneficial conversation without descending into counterproductive name-calling, and to work together to create a more hospitable world for human animals and non-human animals alike.

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Product details

Listening Length 9 hours and 5 minutes
Author Sherry F. Colb
Narrator Rebekah Nemethy
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date November 04, 2018
Publisher Lantern Books
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B07K1LQ6FW
Best Sellers Rank #316,930 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#735 in Animal Rights (Books)
#1,839 in Nature & Ecology (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
110 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book insightful and informative. They appreciate the clear writing style and enjoy the prose. Readers describe the author as compassionate, reassuring, and kind. The book is suitable for both vegans and non-vegans.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

29 customers mention "Insight"29 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insights and deductive reasoning. They find it informative, entertaining, and well-written. The author's arguments are compelling, compassionate, and well-balanced. Readers appreciate the detailed analysis of tough questions and find the book readable overall. However, some readers mention there are a few flaws.

"...It's like having a conversation with someone who is incredibly smart and honest, and who also shows genuine compassion for you." Read more

"“Mind if I order the cheeseburger?” is a spectacular exploration of veganism and animal rights that will entirely engross both the meat-eater who is..." Read more

"Lucid, thought provoking...." Read more

"Logical and thorough, this book helped me solidify my stance as an ethical vegan as well as feeling better prepared to explain myself to others...." Read more

20 customers mention "Readability"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and logically written. They enjoy the author's prose and humor. The reading flows smoothly from beginning to end, making it fun and enjoyable. Many readers consider it the best book on veganism they have read.

"...The result is a book impressive for both its depth and clarity...." Read more

"...analysis of tough questions, the book is (as noted) an absolute pleasure to read. If I could give more than five stars, I would." Read more

"Lucid, thought provoking...." Read more

"...It was reassuring and heart-warming to read such a brilliant, logical defense for veganism...." Read more

5 customers mention "Compassion"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the compassionate and heartwarming writing style of the book. They find it reassuring and heartwarming to read such an intelligent, thoughtful, and kind author.

"...someone who is incredibly smart and honest, and who also shows genuine compassion for you." Read more

"...It was reassuring and heart-warming to read such a brilliant, logical defense for veganism...." Read more

"...Her arguments are compelling, compassionate and well balanced. One of the best books on veganism I've ever read. (and I've read many!)" Read more

"Extremely persuasive, thoughtful and kind..." Read more

3 customers mention "Vegan content"3 positive0 negative

Customers like the vegan content. They say it's an amazing book for both vegans and non-vegans.

"Great for vegans and non-vegans...." Read more

"Great Book for Vegan and Non-Vegans..." Read more

"Amazing Book for Vegans and Non Vegans...." Read more

Anyone who thinks it's wrong to inflict suffering and death on animals should read this. That means you ;-)
5 out of 5 stars
Anyone who thinks it's wrong to inflict suffering and death on animals should read this. That means you ;-)
A cutting edge book by the very eloquent Prof. Sherry Colb. She provides morally consistent and irrefutable arguments as to why we should be stop eating, wearing and using animals. I urge anyone who believes it is wrong to inflict "unnecessary" suffering and death on animals (and most of us do believe this) to read this. It's an easy read. As a vegan I've heard many of these questions :) I enjoyed it immensely. I look forward to future publications by this author and will be giving copies of this offering to some of my non-vegan friends :) If you want to go vegan, check out this good vegan resource [...]
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2013
    This book surprised me--in a good way. From the title, I thought it might be a light romp. I should have realized that the author, a Cornell law professor, has listened carefully and thought deeply about the questions people frequently ask vegans. The result is a book impressive for both its depth and clarity.

    This is the first time I've read a clear explanation why it is consistent for someone to be vegan when it comes to animals, and pro-choice when it comes to abortion (Chapter 7). This is the first time I've heard a compelling argument why veganism is a harmonious extension of indigenous people's traditions, rather than a repudiation of them (Chapter 10).

    I also appreciated the reminder (in Chapter 12) about what domestication has really meant for farmed animals: it has meant the selection of traits *not* beneficial to the animal (in contrast with natural selection). The traits desired by humans have been traits like rapid growth rate, and oversized body parts. This wouldn't be a problem for a vegetable, but, as Colb has already covered in Chapter 1, animals aren't plants. And she challenges the premise that we confer a benefit upon these individuals by bringing them into existence.

    Her examination of the flaws of the "AA analogy," in Chapter 2, is great as well.

    Colb shows that she understands where the questions are coming from. She, too, grew up eating meat, dairy, and eggs. She knows that these questions call for "a commitment to open, honest, and compassionate communication." I think that's why I found this such a good read. It's like having a conversation with someone who is incredibly smart and honest, and who also shows genuine compassion for you.
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2014
    “Mind if I order the cheeseburger?” is a spectacular exploration of veganism and animal rights that will entirely engross both the meat-eater who is exploring the concept of veganism for the first time, as well as the veteran vegan/animal rights supporter who has read most of the vegan literature cannon.

    I especially enjoyed:

    1) The writing. Colb writes beautifully. Every chapter is full of gems of rhetorical construction that are, quite simply, fun to read.

    2) Colb's compassionate and detailed treatment of each question. Some of these questions drive vegans a bit nuts, and we may want to say, “you cannot be serious!,” but Colb explains (for every single question) why the question makes sense from the vantage of the one asking it. For each of the thirteen questions Colb explores (and these do represent the thirteen most important questions), she thoroughly lays out the psychology behind the question, why the question is reasonable (she puts the most positive possible spin on the philosophical rational for it), and her thoughts in response.

    3) The analysis. Colb brings her brilliant legal scholar’s mind to both why the question is asked and to her response. Most chapters include incisive analogies that distill each issue to its essence, and some of them are laugh-out-loud funny (e.g., a bad Samaritan who passes by a dying person and then drops by the bookstore to purchase Atlas Shrugged).

    Although all 13 chapters include the three qualities I just listed, I particularly enjoyed Colb’s treatment of: 1) abortion; 2) animals eating other animals in nature; 3) plants being alive and perhaps suffering; 4) the idea that since animals are already dead, eating meat does not lend complicity to harm; and 5) the fact that farm animals would not exist if not for the meat industry.

    Although deeply philosophical and packed with detailed analysis of tough questions, the book is (as noted) an absolute pleasure to read.

    If I could give more than five stars, I would.
    23 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2013
    Lucid, thought provoking. Makes you consider what humans do to their "fellow travelers" on this earth, and the excuses we make to justify those acts.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2015
    Logical and thorough, this book helped me solidify my stance as an ethical vegan as well as feeling better prepared to explain myself to others. Becoming vegan started with a gut feeling and emotion, but it's hard to answer well-meaning questions from non-vegans with a shrug and an "it feels wrong". That convinces no one. I never seek out arguments or even discussions with omnivores, because I feel uncomfortable telling people I care about that I find their food choices immoral and sad. However, I now feel prepared to better discuss principles of veganism when approached at a cocktail party by the argumentative omnivore who wants to know why I'm denying factory farmed livestock the opportunity to live by reducing demand for cattle, etc. This book made me feel less alone in a world that is accepting of animal cruelty. It was reassuring and heart-warming to read such a brilliant, logical defense for veganism. Chapters address specific arguments or questions about veganism, such as whether vegans should all be pro-life also, about eating meat in the presence of vegans, about why humans should hold themselves to higher standards than meat-eating animals, etc.
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Sarita
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect book for anyone
    Reviewed in Canada on February 10, 2019
    This book is for vegans and non-vegans alike. It calls for respect and understanding on both sides of the issue. It is intelligently written, easy to read, and an enjoyable way to learn something about yourself and others. I highly recommend this to absolutely everyone! :)
  • Tappa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 3, 2018
    The best book on veganism I've ever read.
  • Laurent Korsten
    5.0 out of 5 stars Top!
    Reviewed in Germany on October 3, 2018
    Tolles Buch!
  • lindsay
    5.0 out of 5 stars Funny read
    Reviewed in Canada on January 16, 2020
    Bought this for myself as a vegan person, I found it to be a very humorous read.
  • L.A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2016
    No problems at all.