How to Argue With a Meat Eater

by Ed Winters

How to Argue With a Meat Eater (and Win Every Time) is an essential companions for all vegans helping them to remain cool and calm (and win) even in the most heated debate. It comprehensively breaks down every argument used against veganism, providing readers with impressive rebuttals to these arguments.

Covering topics such as ethics, the environment, health and nutrition, as well as providing tips on how to have 'healthy' debates, this book will leave readers feeling confident and empowered knowing that, not matter what the argument, they can win every time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Vegan, Philosophy, Audiobook, Food, Nature, Health

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 28, 2023

About the author

Ed Winters, "Earthling Ed", is a vegan educator, public speaker and content creator based in London, England. Winters is the co-founder and co-director of Surge, an animal rights organisation determined to create a world where compassion towards all non-human animals is the norm.

In 2016 Surge founded The Official Animal Rights March which succeeded in a growth from 2,500 participants in London in 2016 to 28,000 participants across the world in 2018. In 2017 Winters produced the documentary Land of Hope and Glory and launched the on-going moving activism project The Big Vegan Activism Van. He has spoken at over 1/3 of UK universities and at 6 Ivy league colleges, including as a guest lecturer at Harvard University. He has given speeches across the world, including two TEDx talks in early 2019.

In October 2018 Winters opened Unity Diner, a non-profit vegan diner in London where all of the profits go directly back into helping animals. He launched The Disclosure Podcast in 2019.

Reviews

[Teo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ed saving my life per usual!

This is a great resource, both for vegans and non-vegans. Even though I feel like I've heard everything that has to do with animal agriculture by now, I still learnt new (disturbing) information. I know I will most definitely be referring back to arguments in here as I have discussions about veganism, so I'm ever so grateful Ed took the time to write something this helpful. Having so many arguments written out in succession makes you realise how ridiculous the majority of them really are. 

One thing I did wish for was a section dedicated to Black veganism and its anti-oppression for all philosophy. I think including that here would've been so useful and important with Ed being one of the most well-known vegan activists, as that still hasn't broken out of its own niche within vegan circles.  

I sincerely hope this will be the kick-start needed to get people moving into a more compassionate and logical lifestyle that is a way of enacting one's personal and political beliefs on the daily. Beings shouldn't be exploited and objectified just because of difference.

[Zoë!]

Thank-you, Ed 🙏🙏

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly insightful, passionate and thought provoking read. An effective ‘toolbox’ for vegans and non-vegans alike when communicating with others about the myths and misinformation surrounding veganism. Each chapter/archetype and ‘typical’ accompanying arguments are critically examined (with a dash of wit and humour) leaving readers feeling equipped and empowered to approach (often difficult) conversations about veganism with greater confidence.

This book is an important reminder that every day we have the opportunity to truly make a positive difference to the lives of non-human animals and to our planet. No more BS excuses to avoid eating a plant-based diet - they no longer stack up and Ed Winters will tell you why.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book and overview of objections to being vegan. While i knew a decent amount of the arguments in the book before reading, i still found it useful to see how Ed is able to frame arguments in very persuasive ways. I especially liked the emphasis he placed on the experiences of individual animals throughout the book, which is something that is often forgotten about. He has some great quotes on this, like "The strongest argument in favour of veganism is not to be found in the words in this book but from the animals themselves. They too are experiencing the world around them" (pg 277). "non-human animals are unable to represent themselves in the same way that we can. Not to mentioned they are also kept away, locked in farms and slaughterhouses, where people's ability to emphasize with them is reduced" (pg 18). "It's important that we view issues of morality from the perspective of the individual who is being harmed and exploited" (pg 52). It's easy to get caught up in thinking about veganism from a personal perspective, I like the taste of meat, I don't feel like doing nutritional research, and forgetting about the consequences these actions have on the experiences of individual animals.

I also liked his analysis given for a large reason people do not become vegan. "Many people want to maintain their moral sense of self but do so comfortably and without the fear of rejection or ostracisation. So they decide to change their perception of their behaviour. In other words, they decide that they don't need to change at all. Their moral sense of self remains undisturbed because their actions are moral actions" (pg 24). This was something I was thinking about recently so I was glad to see it in the book. People feel themselves to be moral people not by reflection if their own actions line up with their ethics, but by the approval of those around them. The lack of condemnation by those around them is enough to perceive that their actions must be moral enough such that they don't need to be scrutinized or changed. This is why I think it's difficult for people to care about something like veganism. If I have approval from those around me, then I must be a moral person, and if i'm a moral person, why would I need to change?

There were also some parts about how many criticize vegans for not being perfect that I found relatable, since I have been told I'm still killing bugs, or what if rats infest your home or something. Ed sums this up nicely, "if you try to make a positive difference you can be criticized for not being perfect, but if you don't try then you can engage in those same systems and also avoid any scrutiny or criticism at the same time" (pg 89). From my experience it seems non-vegans are more interested in proving someone isn't vegan by breaking some edge case they think of, than trying to make any positive change themselves. Maybe they want to prove to themselves such a change is simply too difficult or impossible, absolving them from taking any action at all (nirvana fallacy).

The discussion about the costs of veganism was also useful to my understanding. I have been told by one friend that they heard veganism is 4 times more expensive than an omnivorous diet, and another friend (who is a single, software engineer in the U.S.) that they simply care too much about saving money to be vegan, which is more expensive. However, the research given in the book (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/la...) seems to show the opposite, so I'm not sure where the perception comes from.

I also had some issues with the book, the first of which is that there overall tone is pretty casual and has a lot of sarcasm and jokes. While I didn't mind this and actually found it made it easier for the book to read, it also might come off to those who disagree with his points as a dismissive attitude.

The title is also pretty polarizing and may be bad optics for the book. Vegans already have a perception of being combative and forcing their views on others, and the title seems to lend itself to this book being seen that way. While I found the content to be great, many people might only hear of the title of this book without reading it, reinforcing their belief that vegans are only interested in winning arguments and moral grandstanding. His previous book was called This is Vegan Propaganda, so it's likely the title of this one is also supposed to be provocative, but I wonder if it might hurt the book.

[alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Having read all three of his publications so far, I can say with confidence that Ed's writing only improves; I listened to this as an audiobook (about all I can manage at the moment) and found that his skills as a public speaker and debater translated wonderfully to narration.

Where, from memory, This Is Vegan Propaganda focused on the merits and, indeed, the necessity of veganism, How to Argue With a Meat Eater (And Win Every Time) comprehensively debunks the arguments against it. This framing is something I'm finding increasingly valuable in my everyday conversations; as the climate crisis heats up, the contribution of animal agriculture to the planetary emergency we currently find ourselves in becomes unavoidably pressing, and no longer an abstraction that the layperson can ignore. Unfortunately, the immediacy of the issue has outpaced the willingness of many to make change. Humans are creatures of habit, after all.

This book offers rebuttals to many of the defensive strategies offered up by those experiencing such challenges to their cognitive dissonance. Where This Is Vegan Propaganda was a book I bought and passed on upon completing, hoping it would do for others what it did for me, How to Argue With a Meat Eater is a book I'd like to own physically and refer back to. It's not only increasingly valuable, but invaluable for those looking to engage in such discussions and hone their skills.

Thanks to Penguin and Libro.fm for the ALC.

[Evie Ambler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the things I didn’t quite agree with but all in all I like all the facts he includes and it really has compelled me to consider veganism as a diet

[ReadingInRedLondon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really informative and helpful! Hopefully I'll be able to counter those inevitable questions now.

[Evie Crowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an amazing resource on veganism. Ed so clearly and passionately explains how we can shape a more compassionate and sustainable world through our food choices.

Every aspect of veganism and the common misconceptions against it are thoughtfully explored, largely focusing on ethics, the environment, and health. The structure of the book makes it such an easy read, and I like how simple it will be to refer back to certain bits of the book in the future. I also enjoyed the bits of humour in the book too. 5/5!

[Sab · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Ed Winters, he doesn't miss.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stel je voor dat we allemaal veganistisch zouden gaan leven. Er komt een einde aan dierenleed, het lost een groot deel van het klimaatprobleem op en we worden gezonder. Er kleeft letterlijk geen enkel nadeel aan deze oh zo vreemde en spannende manier van leven. Daarnaast doet het nog iets anders met je...je gaat kritischer en rationeler denken en bekijkt de zaak meer van uit een open visie. Je blik zal veel meer openstaan waardoor je alle zaken in onze maatschappij die je voor lief neemt of moet nemen, anders gaat bekijken. Ik ben ervan overtuigd dat een veganistische levensstijl het begin is van een nieuwe manier van leven. Een manier van leven waarmee we een betere versie van de mens kunnen uitvinden. Nietsches superman begint bij een plantaardig dieet.

Mijn enige kritiek op dit boek zit hem in de titel. Het gaat er niet om een argument te winnen. Ik heb genoeg gelezen en gezien om te weten dat er geen enkel argument te vinden is om niet veganistisch te leven. Het gaat erom de niet-vegans te overtuigen. Ik hou van Ed en ik snap dat een prikkelende titel als deze meer boeken verkoopt, maar wellicht zou een zachtere aanpak om de ander te overtuigen beter werken. Fijn dat alle veganisten dit lezen en zich wellicht betere kunnen wapenen, maar hoe krijgen we de omnivoren en carnivoren zover dat ze zich gaan openstellen voor deze argumenten? Mocht je nog dierlijke producten eten...lees of ondanks de titel dit boek. Er is namelijk geen enkele reden om dieren of dierlijke sappen tot je te nemen.

Oh en lees daarna de werken van Dr Greger om te begrijpen wat voeding precies is en hoe belangrijk voeding is en als je dan toch bezig bent, pak dan ook animal Liberation erbij van Peter Singer. Ja..vleeseter..ik richt me tot jou! Een beter leven wacht op jou en de dieren met wie we deze planeet delen.

[Jojo · Rating 4 out of 5]

"How do 'compassionate' bloodbath, 'benevolent' massacre and 'kind' murder sound? The reality is that 'humane slaughter' is an oxymoron."

Mein zweites Buch von Ed Winters mochte ich etwas weniger als das erste, vor allem aufgrund der Prämisse.
Die Stärken liegen aber weiterhin bei einer langen Liste an Quellen und anschaulichen Beispielen, die das Thema sehr zugänglich aufbereiten. Für mich war nicht viel Neues dabei, aber die thematische Trennung der Aspekte hat auch bei mir für etwas mehr Ordnung im Kopf gesorgt.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource for vegans, vegetarians, veg-curious, and omnivores alike! Even if you aren’t vegan or intending to be, I think this is a great read for understanding why people are so passionate about going plant-based. Any move away from animal products is a good one. This book will help inform you as to why! And for vegans, it’s a good refresher on talking points from someone who understands both the issues and logical debate very well.

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation/argument with an omnivore, and knew in your heart that their argument was disingenuous, but couldn’t articulate exactly whyEd covers all the silly arguments people will throw your way and explain exactly what’s wrong with them. I don’t have a background in debate or understanding logical fallacies, but I find people want to instigate arguments with me all the time once they find out I’m vegan. This is a great resource for those situations.

[erin ✧˖*°࿐ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy 5 star. Hits every nail on the head perfectly. If you’re vegan, read it. If you’re not vegan, read it. Asks all the right questions and ultimately you will come to your own conclusion.

[Em Vantulova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive, funny and full of credible references

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edboi done did it again

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the years I like to think I've learned a well-reasoned and logical reply to almost every argument against veganism but this book surprised me with some really fascinating examples I hadn't heard or considered before. This book really is a comprehensive slam-dunk, and I would have expected no less from Ed Winters! This has been such a good lunch-time read as each thematic section is broken up into different parts - all of it is really easily digestible and is the perfect follow on from his previous book, This Is Vegan Propaganda.

[Mair · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book added 10 years to my life ✨

[Joeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

An argumentative power-house.

As a philosopher I can deeply appreciate the qualities of the arguments provided in this book. For that reason alone this book is worth reading.

[Jams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic compilation of all the arguments against veganism. I really enjoyed the use of humour and how each argument was presented alongside an archetype of the person making the argument. Now, it’s time to build a mind map and commit the finer details to memory!

The introduction to the art of persuasion and the techniques for having productive conversations are broadly applicable and will be useful for discussions beyond veganism.

[Tanel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author refers to animal experiments without any moral judgement. Is eating animals immoral, but experimenting on them is not?

PS. There are zero arguments for eating animals, as this book makes brilliantly clear. But you already knew that, didn't you?

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think maybe the title could have been chosen better - Ed does detail in the book that when he says "win" he means it more in the sense of having a respectful dialogue and planting seeds through getting people to scrutinise their beliefs rather than winning a contest, however to me the title comes across more as the latter.

The first few chapters of the book detail how to debate and have these conversations - Ed stresses being respectful and empathetic rather than hostile. I've never been aggressive in my veganism - partly because I struggle with assertiveness, but also because you catch more flies with honey than vinegar so to speak. In saying that, I've been so conscious of avoiding making people feel judged or coming across as a "preachy vegan" that I have not advocated for animals in situations where people are genuinely interested, instead opting to give half-arsed "oh, I just do it for ethical reasons" answers before immediately changing the subject. One thing this book teaches is techniques to have discussions that don't come across as accusatory but still convey a message, such listening and mirroring, asking questions (Socratic method), and seeking commonality to name a few examples.

The bulk of the book is a pretty exhaustive list of arguments against veganism, each with a few pages or paragraphs countering those arguments. Many of the arguments and counters I've heard before in Ed's YouTube videos (where he debates people on college/university campuses), and I think they're better conveyed through video format than in a book. In the videos you get a sense of the order which people tend to use arguments, which ones are most common and so on; I think the book is more useful as a reference. There were maybe two or three arguments that I felt didn't have a rock solid response (unfortunately I didn't note down which arguments these were during my read through), however none of these arguments negated the more important points regarding animal welfare or justified paying for animal suffering.

There were a couple of typos and the odd paragraph I feel would have benefitted from another draft to be clearer or more concise, but these are fairly minor gripes. A useful book for someone who is already vegan - I feel Ed's other book This Is Vegan Propaganda would be better to read first for anyone interested in learning about veganism.

[Martin Smetana · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Argue with a Meat Eater (And Win Every Time) is a guide and a companion for anyone looking to engage in discussions about veganism.

The book not only equips readers with persuasive techniques but importantly also fosters empathy towards differing viewpoints, making it a valuable resource for both seasoned vegans and those curious about the lifestyle.

Thank you for your service to the community, Ed!

[Magdalena Morris]

This is an interesting book. I support Ed and admire everything he does, so of course I picked up his second book immediately (his first, Vegan Propaganda, is such a brilliant and important book!). This one is definitely not a book I'd read from start to finish, but rather dip in and out of different chapters and return to some of them every so often. Winters's knowledge, research and reasoning are brilliant; this is a great compendium - even though I personally don't really like the word 'argue' in the title as it strikes me as confrontational and the last thing vegans and Ed himself (as he says in the book) want is to be seen as angry and hostile. Anyway, as someone who's been vegan for almost 10 years and is too aware of the most awful things people do to animals every day, reading some of the 'arguments' made me rather upset and/or irritated; it was a reminder of how stupid some of these arguments are (and I get it, the book is meant to explain veganism and help vegans trying to debate with a non-vegan, etc.). It's a good book, but I clearly didn't really need to read it (or maybe I'm just cross today because I love animals and would love for everyone to see them as sentient beings and not food, but then here we are).

[Alex Rohani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it better to kill an animal when we don’t need to or not kill an animal? The answer seems obvious. Should we reduce animal suffering? Again, the answer seems obvious. Is hurting animals unnecessarily morally wrong? Once again, an obvious answer. If you caught someone kicking a dog, how would you react? Another obvious one? Can we love someone that gets tortured and killed because we pay for it?

Being vegan is simply aligning our morals with our actions. Ask yourself, do I want to support a business that brutally tortures, rapes, uses gas chambers and slaughter houses to kill? If you’re answer is no then great news there’s an easy alternative. Go vegan!

Still have doubts? Read this book, any argument or idea you have against veganism (which again is simply the idea that we shouldn’t kill/exploit animals when we don’t need to) is rebutted beautifuly in this book.

[Shaun D · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTE CINEMA

How to argue with a meat eater is exactly what the modern vegan needs. Part written in catechism, Ed's exegesis of scientific studies most definitely allays any further concern over his literary and persuasive prowess with the pen. As you proceed through the book you are bombarded (in a good way) with fact after fact on environmental, health and economic factors regarding animal and plant agriculture, furthermore Ed has only seem to have gotten better at his theory and praxis of vegan ethics. Ed's calm, strong, and to-the-point speaking demeanor carries through to his writing, allowing him to further use his skills as a great orator into becoming a great writer.

If you are not a vegan, or already are this book, as is his first book are a must read, to bolster your own resolve, or if you are not a vegan, then did you really take in the content of the book after reading?

[Maria Diz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pocos libros tengo tan subrayados como el primer libro de Ed Winters, y ahora este segundo libro.
El primer libro es desgarrador, porque habla sin tapujos de la realidad de la industria cárnica, ganadera y pesquera, a la vez que nos comparte experiencias tan universales para quienes intentan ser coherentes con sus valores éticos cuando el resto de la sociedad todavía no ha llegado ahí.
Este segundo libro ahonda más en esta segunda parte y nos ayuda reuniendo en un único libro toda la información científica frente a bulos más o menos extendidos (lo de los veganos carnívoros me dejó muy loca).
Como dice Ed en el libro: "veganism is not the solution to all the world's problems, but there is no solution to all the world's problems without it".

[Luca Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manuale perfetto, tradotto in italiano, adatto sia a chi è già vegano sia a chi è interessato all'argomento. Ed Winters, attraverso la sua annuale esperienza di attivista fornisce tutte le risposte alle domande che quotidianamente vengono poste ai vegani cercando di screditare questa filosofia. Risposte basate su dati e studi scientifici reali. Veramente un bel testo, lo consiglio a tutti, anche, ripeto, a chi non è vegano ma è semplicemente interessato alla cosa. Troverà moltissimi spunti che un'analisi superficiale non riuscirà a dargli.

[Sophia Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay! This was incredible! I am such a huge fan of Ed’s but had a hard time getting into his first book. His second book is far more concise, humorous, and outrageously educational. Ed presents fair counter arguments to every single argument against veganism, and presents facts and data in a way that is easy to read and understand, but also fair. Studies are explained in depth. Ed goes over health, privilege, access etc but always brings it home to ethics.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers well-substantiated rebuttals to arguments against veganism. Ed covers the key arguments against veganism from those that are logical to the completely outlandish.

It’s an informative read for vegans and non-vegans alike. It’s definitely helped me develop the way in which I inform others about veganism and how I can challenge misinformation around the subject online and in-person.

It’s definitely an important read if you want to understand how you can change your lifestyle in order to benefit the lives of animals and the environment.

If you have doubts about veganism read this book with an open mind and then get back to me!

[Kirstin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great and useful book, as someone who does a lot of vegan outreach I hear lots of excuses, this book covers all of them in detail. It is filled with short facts that are great to remember (whilst I have an answer for the majority of excuses already, this provides me with confidence in my sources etc)… Ed backs up all his information and answers every excuse objectively.