The Animal Rights Reading Group is dedicated to exploring the ethical theory behind animal rights as written by philosophers, scientists, activists and others. What are animal rights, why are they important and how can they be actualized? The books we read offer varying perspectives and will, hopefully, help lay the groundwork for a deeper understanding of animal rights and our capacity for action.

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For January we'll be reading "Just Food: Where Locavores Get It Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly," by Associate Professor of History James E. McWilliams. Outlining the shortcomings of contemporary ideology regarding "food miles" and offering a series of prescriptive ideas for a more just, environmentally sustainable food system, McWilliams' rational and data-driven argument tackles the conventional wisdom about transportation, aquaculture, and genetic engineering. McWilliams urges concerned consumers to move beyond the false dichotomies that have come to characterize the debate-global vs. local, abundant vs. deficient, organic vs. conventional-and imagine a middle ground within the existing system, even if it runs the risk of "selling the sustainable soul." He presents thought-provoking ideas about food reform, sulfur fertilizers, and eating meat.

"McWilliams has guts. Some of the changes he champions will draw fire from all quarters...but he also presents ideas that may appeal to both the greenerati and capitalistas...McWilliams forgoes sloganeering in favor of measured logic, but he doesn't downplay the notion that a worldwide food crisis is imminent and that we had better fix things. Soon." (Texas Monthly Mike Shea)

"McWilliams presents some appealing alternatives to the views of both the agrarian romantics on the left and the agribusiness capitalists on the right. The author advocates a judicious use of genetically engineered seeds and food products, believes we must reduce our passion for land-animal protein...and urges more attention to the nascent science of aquaponics...He concludes that the best food-production model may be "a broad pattern of regionally integrated, technologically advanced, middle-sized farms." Rich in research, provocative in conception and nettlesome to both the right and the left." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Enlightening....James E. McWilliams is stirring up trouble, the kind that gets noticed-and the kind that makes us all scratch our heads and think harder....Just Food ultimately offers a brave, solid argument that anyone who cares about their food-and everyone should care about their food-should consider." (Atlanta Journal-Constitution Meridith Ford Goldman)