In "Should We Eat Meat?" Vaclav Smil embarks on a meticulous exploration of a question that resonates through the corridors of history, across the dinner tables of the world, and within the heart of contemporary ethical and environmental debates. With a scholar's precision and a master storyteller's flair, Smil navigates the complex journey of meat consumption from its roots in human evolution and agricultural development to the sprawling, industrialized systems that dominate today's global landscape. This is not merely a book about meat but a profound inquiry into humanity's carnivorous legacy, examining the intricate interplay between diet trends, nutritional value, and the staggering costs—both visible and hidden—of sustaining our appetite for animal flesh. Beyond the statistics and the scientific discourse, Smil confronts the reader with the pressing realities and consequences of "massive carnivory"—the environmental degradation, the alarming energy inefficiencies, and the profound health implications that shadow our choices. Yet, this narrative is far from a polemic. It is a reasoned, balanced call for a "rational meat eating" future, where ethical considerations, environmental sustainability, and a reimagined respect for life coalesce to shape a new paradigm in our relationship with meat. Smil invites us to ponder not just the act of eating, but the profound implications of our dietary choices, making "Should We Eat Meat?" an essential read for anyone invested in the future of food, the health of our planet, and the moral dimensions of our culinary habits.