Don't Put Animals in Your Mouth, or Did Eve Give Adam a Black Pudding?

It would be a mistake to pick up this book as light, humorous reading for a summer holiday on the beach. Its title is better interpreted as 'the eleventh commandment'—an important moral lesson that God forgot to pass on to Moses on Mount Sinai. The book presents readers with serious, controversial topics that are little discussed in the media: Why do we still keep millions of animals in the torturous conditions of factory farms? Must we kill them for our sustenance? Is vegetarianism a deviation, or a responsible and loving approach to all beings without distinction? What are the impacts of the 'livestock production' system on humans, society, and nature? Are Czech citizens indifferent, cruel, or just poorly informed? Would the world change for the better, and would we feel better, if we stopped viewing animals as walking steaks, fur coats, and deodorants? Should a tradition steeped in desire take precedence over love for one's neighbour? Is the evolution of the 'lord of creation' over, or does our species have the potential to evolve further? This comprehensive book is the work of a thoughtful citizen who is not afraid to express bitter feelings of absurdity, regret, and anger at stubborn and self-satisfied human actions. It is his attempt to find the most probable and complete answers to burning questions, and for this reason, it is conceived as a collection of interviews. Long-time animal protectors, as well as well-known public figures, speak knowledgeably on these and other topics: sociologist Jan Keller, philosopher Vladimír Šiler, religious scholar Jan Kozák, writers Jana Štroblová and Antonín Bajaja, Catholic priests Marek Orko Vácha and Matúš Kocian, and also experts on vegetarianism Jan Šťastný (lawyer) and Zbyněk Luňáček (general practitioner). Jan Müller, a multiple world champion in Thai boxing, speaks about his experiences as an athlete with a vegan diet. The publication is interwoven with quotes from significant world thinkers and historical figures, including occasional excerpts from literature. It is supplemented by a number of texts of an informative and practical nature, for example: Vegetarianism in numbers and expert opinions; 21 reasons to be a vegetarian; A gallery of famous vegetarians; Animal cruelty – the law, authorised bodies, information for citizens; How you can help animals yourself; Animal protection on the internet (a list of websites). And finally, an explanatory note from the author, Pavel Hub: 'Bookshops today are full of books that never needed to be written. This one, however—though it will hardly become a bestseller—had to be written.'