The Vegetarian Myth by Lierre Keith
The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability by Lierre Keith is not a vegetarian cookbook. It is a provocative blend of personal memoir, nutritional criticism and environmental argument. The author describes her experience of long-term veganism and questions whether avoiding animal products is always the most ethical or ecologically sound choice. This is a book to read for its point of view—and to examine critically rather than accept as established science.
What argument does the book make?
Keith questions industrial agriculture and the ecological costs of turning diverse landscapes into large-scale crop production. She argues that healthy farming systems should function as living communities and gives animals a place in that picture. Her criticism extends beyond food and into soil, habitat, animal welfare and the moral dilemmas of eating.
These concerns are worth discussing. Agriculture can contribute to habitat loss, soil degradation and pollution, regardless of whether a crop is eaten by people or fed to livestock. But that does not establish the book’s broader conclusion that vegan diets are inherently harmful. Those are different questions, requiring different evidence.
Does the research support her conclusions about food?
The environmental impact of food varies by production method, land use and food type. The evidence gathered by Our World in Data finds that meat and dairy, particularly beef, generally have greater greenhouse-gas and land-use impacts than most plant-based foods. Buying locally may have advantages, but location alone does not determine a food’s total environmental footprint.
On nutrition, the 2025 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics position paper finds that appropriately planned vegetarian and vegan diets can meet the nutritional needs of nonpregnant, nonlactating adults. Planning matters: a vegan diet needs a reliable vitamin B12 source, and people should also consider iron, iodine, calcium and other nutrients as appropriate to their circumstances.
Who should read The Vegetarian Myth?
Readers interested in food ethics, conservation, regenerative farming and disagreements within environmentalism may find it thought-provoking. Vegetarians and vegans can read it without treating the author’s personal experience as a prediction of their own health; omnivores should likewise avoid assuming that all animal agriculture is low-impact.
Its value is in the questions it raises. A fair reading compares the book’s claims with independent nutrition guidance and environmental life-cycle research, while recognising that reasonable people may place different weight on animal ethics, sustainability and personal health.
Related reading: Diet and Fitness: How Carbs, Fat and Protein Fit Together.
Book: The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability by Lierre Keith
Find the book on Amazon (affiliate link; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you)