Tender Is the Flesh

What does it mean to be human? This is the burning question of Tender is the Flesh.

Let me preface this by saying the premise needs a very liberal suspension of disbelief. Yes, a virus affects all edible animals somehow. The ones that aren't affected are killed just in case? Also somehow, the disease can infect all mammals except humans? And somehow fish, shellfish, and birds get the virus too?

Anyway, once the reader gets over that, they're exposed to a brutal look at late-stage capitalism. The reviews are correct that the descriptions of preparing humans as food are extremely graphic. It's necessary. The ending hits like a semi truck.

So, what does it mean to be human? Are we a product of our environment, or is our environment a product of us?