Why am I passionate about this?

Professionally, I am a Professor of Toxicology (Emeritus) at the Johns Hopkins University. I devoted my professional career to improving the science of toxicology by developing a program that evaluated risk using non-animal methods. As such, I founded The JHU Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT). In addition, I spent the latter part of my career on Food Ethics. In short, my life work was devoted to animals and better foods. In 2022, the American Visionary Art Museum of Baltimore awarded me an Ambassador of Compassion. 


I wrote

Feeding the World Well: A Framework for Ethical Food Systems

By Alan M. Goldberg (editor),

Book cover of Feeding the World Well: A Framework for Ethical Food Systems

What is my book about?

My book examines the costs of cheap food while presenting a unique framework for ethical food systems: the Core Ethical…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Putting the Horse before Descartes: My Life's Work on Behalf of Animals

Alan M. Goldberg Why did I love this book?

Bernie, of blessed memory, provides ways to think about animal welfare and Animal Husbandry and its impact on food quality. Bernie argues that we have lost the concept of animal husbandry except in smaller, individually run farms. CAFOs have become so large and industrialized that they can no longer house their animals, resulting in poorer conditions that matter to the animals and ultimately impact human health. This book outshines the best of the best books on what an animal needs and wants. 


By Bernard Rollin,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Putting the Horse before Descartes as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A pioneer in animal ethics tells his story


Book cover of Understanding Animal Welfare: The Science in its Cultural Context

Alan M. Goldberg Why did I love this book?

Ian presents the basic principles of animal welfare and how they relate to Industrial Meat Production in a most readable format. Although written many years ago, it tells the story of industrial meat production and offers some justifications for large-scale production. I believe this is a critically important work. I do not agree with all that is said, but Ian shares what the systems are and their limitations.

By David Fraser,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Understanding Animal Welfare as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"This is a delightful book, full of interesting aspects of animal welfare. An excellent guide to the academic study of animal welfare science."
-Marian Stamp Dawkins, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford

Understanding Animal Welfare: The Science in its Cultural Context takes a completely fresh and thought-provoking approach. It is essential reading for anyone interested, studying or currently working in the fascinating field of animal welfare science. David Fraser places modern-day welfare issues within their historical framework by tracing the evolving ideas that led to current thinking. He also highlights some intriguing issues relating to the contradiction inherent in the…


Book cover of You Can't Market Manure at Lunchtime: And Other Lessons from the Food Industry for Creating a More Sustainable Company

Alan M. Goldberg Why did I love this book?

Maisie has more than 30 years of experience working with Bon Appetite to develop sustainable food production on a grand scale. I believe that the methods she and Fedele Bauccio developed are the future of sustainable and great foo systems. It's a great and fun read with wonderful stories. This book provides a clear path to sustainability and good food.

By Maisie Ganzler,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked You Can't Market Manure at Lunchtime as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Five invaluable lessons for doing sustainability right, doing it profitably, and getting the credit you deserve.

Did the title of this book get your attention? Good. Because as silly as it is, the idea behind it is serious, earnest, and authentic: you can't become a sustainable operation if you're doing the right things in the wrong place or at the wrong time.

Many businesses are in the dark about how to actually do better for the planet and the people in their company and their supply chain while also growing their margin. Some believe it can't be done. But it…


Book cover of Unsavory Truth: How Food Companies Skew the Science of What We Eat

Alan M. Goldberg Why did I love this book?

This book deals with conflicts of Interest in the food world and industrial influence on academic research. You can’t make this stuff up. One issue highlighted by the Pew Commission on “Putting Meat on the Table”—which Marion and I were both part of—was conflict of interest. In this book, Marion describes the range and impact of these conflicts of interest on the quality of the information used for nutritional information. It is scary.   

By Marion Nestle,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Unsavory Truth as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Whenever we turn on the TV, flip a page in a magazine, or glance at a flyer in the grocery store, we are constantly bombarded with nutritional advice. Almond products can boost your memory! Milk helps build up your bones! Cereal is part of a doctor-approved balanced breakfast for growing girls and boys! Study after study tells us what we should eat, how much, and when. Words like "superfood" and "guilt free" convince us that we're making the right choice when we pluck an item off the shelf and head for the checkout line. We count on nutrition science to…


Book cover of Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed

Alan M. Goldberg Why did I love this book?

The classic and most influential book on Animal Welfare update. Peter is regarded as the father of Animal Welfare, and his influence has been exceptional. This book presents a detailed account of Industrial animal food production. Peter provides an understanding of Industrial Farm Animal Production with details that provide clarity. Caution: You may change your eating habits.  

By Peter Singer,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Animal Liberation Now as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE UPDATED CLASSIC OF THE ANIMAL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, NOW WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY YUVAL NOAH HARARI

“The indispensable foundational text for the movement, new and updated with the honesty and philosophical depth characteristic of all of Singer’s work.” —J.M. Coetzee, author of The Lives of Animals and Disgrace

“Peter Singer may be the most controversial philosopher alive; he is certainly among the most influential.”—The New Yorker

Few books maintain their relevance – and have remained continuously in print – nearly 50 years after they were first published. Animal Liberation, one of TIME’s “All-TIME 100 Best Non-Fiction Books” is one such…


Explore my book 😀

Feeding the World Well: A Framework for Ethical Food Systems

By Alan M. Goldberg (editor),

Book cover of Feeding the World Well: A Framework for Ethical Food Systems

What is my book about?

My book examines the costs of cheap food while presenting a unique framework for ethical food systems: the Core Ethical Commitments. These commitments are designed to guide consumers in choosing foods that align with their values while helping producers enhance the ethics of their practices and products. The volume features contributions from leading ethicists and food systems experts.

Addressing complex issues such as climate change, worker exploitation, obesity, antibiotic resistance, wasted food, and biotechnology, the book discusses the fundamental forces that have shaped, and will continue to shape, our food systems. My book explains what the Core Ethical Commitments are (and what they are not), how they were developed, and how food system actors might use them.

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Tap Dancing on Everest: A Young Doctor's Unlikely Adventure

By Mimi Zieman,

Book cover of Tap Dancing on Everest: A Young Doctor's Unlikely Adventure

Mimi Zieman Author Of Tap Dancing on Everest: A Young Doctor's Unlikely Adventure

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m an OB/GYN, passionate about adventuring beyond what’s expected. This has led me to pivot multiple times in my career, now focusing on writing. I’ve written a play, The Post-Roe Monologues, to elevate women’s stories. I cherish the curiosity that drives outer and inner exploration, and I love memoirs that skillfully weave the two. The books on this list feature extraordinary women who took risks, left comfort and safety, and battled vulnerability to step into the unknown. These authors moved beyond the stories they’d believed about themselves–or that others told about them. They invite you to think about living fuller and bigger lives. 

Mimi's book list on women exploring the world and self

What is my book about?

Tap Dancing on Everest, part coming-of-age memoir, part true-survival adventure story, is about a young medical student, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor raised in N.Y.C., who battles self-doubt to serve as the doctor—and only woman—on a remote Everest climb in Tibet.

The team attempts a new route up the East Face without the use of supplemental oxygen, Sherpa support, or chance for rescue. When three climbers disappear during their summit attempt, Zieman reaches the knife edge of her limits and digs deeply to fight for the climbers’ lives and to find her voice.


Tap Dancing on Everest: A Young Doctor's Unlikely Adventure

By Mimi Zieman,

What is this book about?

The plan was outrageous: A small team of four climbers would attempt a new route on the East Face of Mt. Everest, considered the most remote and dangerous side of the mountain, which had only been successfully climbed once before. Unlike the first large team, Mimi Zieman and her team would climb without using supplemental oxygen or porter support. While the unpredictable weather and high altitude of 29,035 feet make climbing Everest perilous in any condition, attempting a new route, with no idea of what obstacles lay ahead, was especially audacious. Team members were expected to push themselves to their…


5 book lists we think you will like!

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