It is a very thoughtful look at American culture through the porthole of the relationship of people to pigs.
Many people have commented on the plight of "family farmers" as affected by "integrated" agriculture, but they either have a political agenda or little real understanding. In this case, tremendous effort is made by the author to understand the business of pigs and pork, and changes in society and the pig industry. This description of the swine industry is a studied, objective viewpoint, even if it is incidental to the real purpose of the book.
Mainly, the book is a unique study of human beings and relationships to each other and other species, including pathogens. The book contains thought-provoking observations on life, death, culture, agriculture, multiculture, and communication.
There's also some humorous, but basically true observations about academia and faculty challenges, all in the context of "sh__ happens."
To people very close to the industry, there may be a few observations of the business in error, slightly skewed interpretations of events, and (very few) errors in describing technology. However these are insignificant to the intent and lessons to be learned, and should be forgiven. Industry insiders should be tolerent when reading some portions of Hog Ties, but it is well worth the effort to see an objective "outsider's" point of view.
There may be portions of the book that seem tedious to readers not interested in the swine industry or swine disease, but if those readers stay with the author through such depths, interesting parallels are drawn.
Judging portions of the book out of the context of the whole work could lead to misinterpretation.
This would be interesting to anyone, but should be required reading for those in agriculture.
