Vegetarianism Books

This book is full of wonderful vegan cupcakes. Great recipes, and a detailed education on baking them in the beginning.

We bought this book because our daughter has an egg allergy. The chocolate cupcakes are perfect (I did use whole milk instead of soy but I'm sure soy would be great too). Everyone who has tried them can't believe that they are egg-less and it actually tastes just as good as my Mom's chocolate cake (with dairy) that has been a family favorite forever. I do eat dairy but I would choose to make the chocolate cupcakes over regular chocolate cake recipes any day. Can't wait to try more!

I bought this book on an excited recommendation of a friend of mine and, I must say, I'm now just as overjoyed as she is. I just got the book last week and have already made the Gingerbread cupcakes w/ Lemon Buttercream frosting and Coconut Lime cupcakes with Lime Buttercream frosting. Both batches were gone within a day they're so unbelievably good. I seriously cannot.stop.eating them.

This book looks full of great delicious looking cupcake recipes and also offers useful tips throughout the book. The author's experience is obvious in the helpful tips. It offers ganauche, basic icing recipes that you can vary throughout the book: it's simple, organized, and straightforward. However, non-hydrogenated shortening and non-hydrogenated margerine are staples in the icing which is brilliant but I don't know where to find non-hydrogenated shortening. Otherwise there are no really specialty items to buy. It looks really good.. i haven't tried it yet. But there are just enough pictures... not on every single page like some other overpriced modern-looking cookbooks... but just enough to show the important stuff. I want to buy Veganomicon now.

I have been baking my way through Ms. Moskowitz' book and have made the best cupcakes I've made in years! My family has been enjoying the treats and any problems have been due to my error, not due to any problems with the recipes themselves. No one needs to spend money on "Sprinkles" cupcakes when they have this wonderful book at their fingertips!!

Earlier this year I borrowed this book from my chiropractor, thinking that I should try to incorporate some non-fiction into my reading. I got way more than I was expecting out of this book. It changed my life; in fact, just yesterday I celebrated my 6 month anniversary of being a vegetarian. However, when I first started reading, I thought I would have to force myself through millions of dull facts, but I actually finished the book in a few days. I couldn't put it down, because every second that I wasn't reading, was another second that I was potentially poisoning my body with some animal product that I hadn't previously known could cause so many health problems. Basically what I'm trying to say is that this book was a little bit scary and intense, but it was more helpful than anything. It gave me that extra push I needed to make the lifestyle change I'd been considering for a while, but never actually had the motivation to pursue.
I believe the author does an exquisite job of telling his story at the same time as he brings awareness to a subject that much of America's population is oblivious to. Mr. Lyman's writing style does come off a little dramatic, which could be a turn off, especially concerning such a controversial subject. However the facts are included to back up every statement show that Mr. Lyman is just very passionate and well-versed in this subject. Also, Mr. Lyman's background as a rancher makes this book all the more powerful and easier to relate to. In short this book is an extremely useful tool, and is a must read for anyone with a vested interest in their wellness and the future of our earth and our society's health.

I don't have to give anyone a reason for why I eat meat other than because I like it. I'll be having a steak tomorrow! Despite that, this is a great read and I highly recommend it to meat eaters and non meat eaters alike. I was raised on a farm (cattle, chickens, hogs...) I also grew up with more fruits and veggies in my diet in a week than many people have in a lifetime. We grew our own and lots of it. You can absolutely live just as well on a full diet of fruits and veggies alone, but I'll have mine with meat, thanks! But still, get the book.

My wife (dairy farmer family background) read and confirmed a small portion from the book, and I became an instant vegetarian. I cheat a little, yet rarely and carefully.

Most meat producers should be forced into bankruptcy and thrown into prison. What the meat industry is doing is criminal.

We've given out many copies of this book.

Don't read it unless you're ready to give up eating animals! It's an easy to read, informative look at the dark side of the meat eating US culture and the effects upon our bodies as well as the environment. I would highly recommend it for anyone who is already vegetarian or thinking about becoming one, or for anyone concerned about our environment.

While overly emotional and more than a little biased at times, I found this book a very interesting read. It makes you look differently at the environmental and sociological as well as medical impact of our society's increasing use of beef. I think this book has a lot of information that people should be told, but that doesn't make it into most mass-media

I bought this book almost as soon as it hit the shelves last fall. At the time, I didn't know anything about Colleen, her activism, her podcast, her website, etc. I just saw it at the bookstore & thought it was beautiful. The layout is so convenient, the pictures are gorgeous, and the instructions are easy-to-follow. I have been using this book quite often ever since buying it 6 months ago.

I have never made a recipe from "The Joy of Vegan Baking" that didn't turn out perfectly. A few of my favorites are: Butterscotch Pudding, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Date & Almond Butter Smoothie, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Focaccia (best bread I've ever had!), Soft Pretzels, Hot Chocolate, and the Light Lemon Bundt Cake with Lemon Sauce (I take the liberty of adding blueberries to this one). I always get rave reviews--all from my omnivore friends & family!

One feature that I really like in this book are the "Food Lore" snippets placed on some recipe pages. Here, Colleen explains the history of the dish, or shares an interesting factoid about it. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that the recipes included in the book aren't ALL baked goods; smoothies, teas, puddings, and others are also present. Additionally--and this might be my favorite part, besides the actual recipes themselves--the Index is the most comprehensive & convenient I've ever seen! There are THREE indices: one general, one by season, and one by holiday/occasion. Even in the general index, the recipes are sorted by name, type, and ingredient... So if you have cinnamon (for instance) & want to see what you can make, see "Cinnamon" in the index & all recipes that use this as a primary (or secondary) ingredient will be listed. Same goes for peanut butter, chocolate, pumpkin, nutmeg, etc. It's fantastic!

I love that this book seems to be made with EVERYONE in mind: meat- and dairy-eaters, as well as the veg crowd. Some vegan cookbooks have recipes that I personally find delicious, but I can willingly admit that they are a little too "crunchy granola" or "earthy tasting" for most to whole-heartedly enjoy. Not so in this book!

Also worth noting... Some people think "vegan" = "health food," and that misconception has led to some negative reviews for this book. Just by virtue of these recipes being egg- & dairy-free, they're a bit healthier than other [non-veg] desserts. But vegans know how to indulge, too! :) For the most part (there are a few exceptions), the recipes in this book are not lowfat, whole grain, or low-calorie. But they're perfect for special occasions, or for sharing desserts with those picky (or skeptical) eaters in your life. The dishes are so comforting & familiar, and don't taste like the "vegan version" of an old favorite; they taste just like the egg- and dairy-laden versions, only better & cruelty-free! They're by no means "diet food," but traditional desserts aren't meant to be! And if you don't like using white sugar & flour (like me), replace some of it with the healthier alternative of your choosing... The recipes are flexible enough to lend themselves to some tweaking!

I also want to say that if you like this book, you'll love the author's podcast. "Vegetarian Food for Thought" is smart, insightful, supportive and SO INSPIRING! I want to tell everyone I know about it because it's THAT amazing.

I highly, highly recommend this book--for beginning cooks, advanced chefs, and everyone in-between!

This is the best BAKING book I've ever seen, much less Vegan baking. Colleen has so many wonderful helpful tips for each recipe to make sure that they turn out the best possible. After taking a cooking class from her while in San Francisco, we couldn't WAIT for her cookbook to come out and now eagerly await her next cookbook. We tried to buy it right away but they were SOLD OUT instantly and we had to wait for the next order.
Colleen is an inspiration and a wonderful creative cook. I have made over 20 recipes from this book already and every one has turned out perfect and had rave reviews.
I used it for all of my holiday baking for non-vegan family and everyone loved it.

First, an admission. I'm not vegan. I have a dairy allergy but I still loved baked goods--I love to bake them and I love to eat them. The biggest challenge for me is finding the right balance of soy milk and oils in baking. I've had so many mishaps. So to find a book that doesn't rely on any dairy products is wonderful. I was anxious about buying this book because I thought that it would be too earthy-crunchy or use hard-to-find ingredients or just be too strange. Instead, it is chock full of great recipes, is presented very well and the recipes are easy to follow. I'm very happy with this purchase.

Ms. Patrick-Goudrea's cookbook has moved to the front of the line of all of my dessert cookbooks. Her recipes deliver. The proof they say, is in the pudding, and the taste is all there. I made the peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips for my daughter's kindergarten class. The children loved them. The chocolate cake is fantastic. No eggs, no dairy. It is amazing that you can make such moist, decadent desserts without the traditional ingredients we all grew up with and never miss a thing. AND in these tight economic times, it is great to know that one box of egg-replacer equals about 114 eggs! Not only do her recipes deliver, but her tips are very useful. It is like she is standing in the kitchen with you. Patrick-Goudreau also helps you stock your pantry, and plainly demystifies "vegan" labels. What does it really mean? By switching to egg and dairy alternatives, you are being more compassionate toward animals, you can save money, and you could be eating a healthier dessert! Back to the main point: These recipes are delicious. Your tastebuds will love every morsel. Patrick-Goudreau has created the right desserts that prove you do not need eggs and cow's milk for a sweet treat. This is baking for the 21st century and beyond. Give this cookbook a try. It will be a star in your culinary library. Happy baking!

This past weekend I tried out my first recipes from this book (Chocolate Cake page 72 & Buttercream Frosting page 231). I made the dessert for 4 non-vegetarians/vegans. I've tried to veganize baked goods myself in the past and have just not had a lot of luck with textures and consistencies. I bought this book because I hoped I'd be able to bake things my whole (non-veg) family would enjoy that I could feel good about making. Baking homemade birthday cakes is my absolute favorite thing to do in the kitchen.

I was so thrilled to see not only how easy this cake was but how great it tasted, looked and felt. The cake was moist and flavorful and the frosting was a huge hit with my extended family (lots of licking of beaters). I even got to lick the cake batter bowl which with non-vegan batter that contains eggs no one should really do but especially a pregnant lady. The batter was so good!

I see that some reviewers think this book is too basic or not experimental enough. But our family is on an EXTREMELY tight budget. Would I like to use all kinds of cool, hard-to-find ingredients in recipes? Sure. But the reality for us is that we have to keep our pantry stocked with the basics. To be able to bake vegan desserts that everyone likes on my budget is fantastic.

I can't wait to try out more recipes. I have about 1/3 of the pages folded down for that purpose. With a holiday this weekend, I'm sure I'll find something fun to make for a group of 10 non-veg folks.

Of all the cookbooks I've used this is one of my top two favorites. I picked this up when I first became vegan and was a novice cook, and it made me into an accomplished chef for myself and my family! It's written so well, in an easy to follow manner and offers great tips (how to roast veggies, blanch veggies, etc), has a glossary for vegan terms, and nutritional information on different legumes, grains, and so on.

I think I've cooked nearly 1/2 of the recipes and they're all delicious! I love the wealth and variety of recipes (from broccoli bisque to enchilada casserole to that's amore tofu cacciatore). Not only does it give you the recipes for the titled dishes but each recipe also includes 2-4 variations you can make on it, switching out vegetables, adding/mixing different spices to recreate the dish, etc.

The recipes are healthy without being bland or inaccessible, and the pictures are gorgeous. I love it, my family loves and we give it our highest recommendation.

This is a beautiful and useful book. Eating at the Blossoming Lotus in Kauai is truly an experience. I have eaten there many times and am always delighted. I love their food. This book lets me continue the experience in my own kitchen. It has easy to follow, delicious recipes. The photography is stunning and the book is a pleasure to merely read.

I am neither vegan nor vegetarian but due to my visits to both the Blossoming Lotus and this cookbook I find I like this way of eating and that this type of cuisine can be delicious.

I highly recommend this cookbook.

We bought this cookbook after visiting the Blossoming Lotus Restaurant in Kauai. The Green Goddess dressing is a new staple in our house, a must have for our daily salads. Moreover, the book offers creative, healthy, and delicious vegan recipes that will impress even the staunchest omnivore. I'll admit some of the recipes take a bit of practice to master like the sauces and gravies, but they are well worth the effort once this is accomplished. We are trying to include more vegetarian meals in our diet, and this cookbook has been a useful tool in attaining our goal. We cannot wait to experiment with even more recipes from it. The beautiful pictures make Vegan Fusion World Cuisine a delight to look at. This book is a must have for any cook. We have our own copy and have already given it as a gift to several friends. We highly recommend this wonderfully thought out and beautifully crafted cookbook.

I find the recipes in this book incredibly tasty...and so appreciate the broad use of delicious herbs and spices which truly give these dishes their unique and oh so ONO (delicious) appeal. The fact that the book is beautifully designed and artfully created is a complete bonus. I can feel the "aloha" and love in this cookbook...every one of my senses is stirred when using one of the recipes.


I noticed a reviewer that wasn't satisfied w/the cookebook. This shocks me. To this reviewer I would pose: Perhaps you haven't tried enough of the choices? Have you tried at least 3 of the recipes from each section of the book? Maybe you can give it another try...look for the recipes (there are PLENTY of them in there) that don't require a large amount of prep time and allow your senses to be turned on!

This cookbook is and will always be one of my all time favorites. I actually have two copies! One that can get messy with me in the kitchen while I'm creating the oh so yummy recipes...and one that can stay very pretty so that I can show it off to my friends...it is so very beautiful!!

In case you haven't guessed it...I HIGHLY recommend this cookbook! :0)

This is one of my favorite cookbooks and it's a MUST HAVE for your library of cookbooks.

It's filled with mouth-watering, delicious recipes for healthy vegan food (it also has a great collection of Raw, living food recipes that make this book worth every penny on their own).

My mom always taught me that if you can get one good recipe out of a book, it's worth buying it. Well, I'm here to tell you that this book is filled with so much more than just that. You will be so glad you bought this and find yourself using it time and time again!

This book is fantastic, it goes over many vegetarian issues and teaches you how to eat to get the maximum benefit from your food.

This is an excellent book for anyone wanting to change their eating habits and improve their health. highly recommend this book

You can never have too many books on health, and this is a great one to add to your library.

this is an awesome book and resource for anyone interested in vegetarianism, new veggies, experienced ones... encouragement, practical information and reliable resources, detailed scientific nutritional stuff, you name it, it's here for you, for life. it also includes info. and data so you can compare/contrast the vegetarian diet to that of omnivores, vegans, every shade in between. i highly recommend this book.

This book is extremely comprehensive. It is the first book about becoming vegetarian that I have read but I am completely satisfied that it covers all the requirements of a vegetarian diet. I would also recommend this book to non-vegetarians, particularly those seeking to reduce meat intake and increase nutrition from plant foods.

I have ample reason to be concerned about my health largely because of four ex-wives and the crazyness currently going on in my house between my bulldog (Colonel) and my current wife's annoying tabby (Bobo!). It doesn't help that I'm a beerswilling carnivore and largely a lazy couchloaf. Also complicating matters is the undeniable fact that my brooding spouse is a horrible cook and routinely serves beef-oriented t.v. dinners or worse (greaseburgers from the local fast food joint).

That's where this handy tome comes in. One of the girls from the bar I've been seeing on the sly has been trying to get me to start incorporating more vegetables in our relationship (in addition to the meat) and suggested several books (not this one) to help me get started. While those books had some value, this book really told me what I needed to know about the nutritional values of various vegetarian diets and how to make up for the nutirtion I would be losing by giving up meat.

It's very informative, well-written, easy to understand, but somewhat short on recipes. As I've mentioned, Bessie isn't a very good cook--even when she has cook-by-numbers recipes (which basically means, even if this book had recipes it wouldn't be of much value to her) and that's too bad. Nevertheless, this is a very informative book and has surprisingly convinced me that it is possible to maintain nutrition while maintaining an all-vegie diet. Unfortunately, the recipes in this book (and those I found in several others) have failed to convince me that any of these vegie diets taste any better than the leaves and grass in my backyard.

As a result, I've scrapped the vegetarian route, started cooking for myself, stopped worrying about my health, and I'm staying away from the girls at the bar.

This is an excellent book. I decided to become vegetarian a few years ago both for health and ethical reasons and this one one of the first books I bought - its remained the one I turn to over and over again - especially when friends or relatives questions how healthy a vegetarian diet is and I need to educate them. Some of the most fascinating parts of this book talk about the history of the current meat-based diet and how the government pushed it and helped market meats of all sorts to get people to buy more (to help farmers out). Also though there is great info on how much protien a person actually needs and where you can get it from - its actually pretty easy to get all the protien you need over the course of a day. Since becoming vegetarian (really almost vegan except for the eggs I get from a lady down the street who really takes wonderful care of her chickens) I've never felt better. My husband has even voluntarily made the switch as well (spurred on by a few episodes of food poisoning at the local sandwich shop). Vegetarian is the way to go and this book will give you ALL the info you need to get rolling and keep others quiet when they criticize. Bon sante and Bon appetit!

Read the previous reviews for a clear and sometimes thorough description of what you will find in this book (bypass other comments of much less value, that you will easily spot). Read on for more general and in-principle comments on the text.

This book is a clear, concise, thorough, practical, no-nonsense book about nutrition. The underlying idea and the scientific ground of vegetarianism is built and reinforced as one proceeds through the book. The laudable approach is indeed to give solid reasons for a vegetarian preference, instead of freely attacking diet based on food of animal origin.

The text is ideal for people who have started to change or are thinking to change their relationship with food, who have started to demolish old beliefs about food of animal origin and need a solid ground to be able to contrast negative pressure coming from inside themselves, from family members, from friends and from society.

With this book you will learn in an easy, pleasant, and often funny way the chemistry in our body of vitamins, minerals, metals, proteins, essential ammino acids, lipids (fats), fibers. This is fundamental to be able to throw away old false beliefs and substitute them with the pretty obvious (once you are enlightened) conclusion that eating lower in the food chain is a habit perfectly tuned to the chemistry of our body, to the ultimate sole possible realisation that nature made (healthy) humans vegetarian.

Read this book and to you it will be common sense to refuse old tests and studies made on rats "proving" that animal proteins are superior (do we really need the same protein that they need to grow their thick hair?) and to just look at a picture (you will not find them in the book, though!) of a Gorilla, our Body Builder cousin, which by the way is a vegan, or of an elephant, who rarely suffer from osteoporosis, lives a long life, has a very good memory and, again, is a vegan.

A final word. This book is ultimately a guide to be healthy and energetic. But why giving up meat and keeping a little of the old beliefs and continuing with milk and eggs? Why not going for the 100% energy availability that nature is ready to give us, if we stick to the lower end of the food-chain? If you are a person aiming at an excellent health, you are missing a lot: you are giving away an outstanding health and an oustanding energy availability. A Pure Vegetarian nutrition is the complete disgregation of obsolete, wrong beliefs that, consciously or unconsciously, some people have instilled in our mind. Be in charge of your ideas about the world in and around you, starting from where it is more important: breathing, drinking, eating, moving, thinking, communicating.

I thought this book was very thorough, yet easy to follow. Every recipe I've made has been very delicious. I was a vegetarian for 6 years before I became pregnant and began to eat meat for fear I wouldn't get enough protein my babe needed. I wish I had this book then, as the authors lay out precisely what you need for nourishment. My son and I now have a great reference so we can be healthy lacto-ovo vegetarians, and possibly convert my husband as well!

Easy to read and a good book to use as a jump-off point for more specific readings catering to your individual vegetarian interests.

All around a very informative and well-written book. Great for anyone that would like to see positive changes in this world.

I have been a vegetarian all my life and have stopped using animal products (tested or material) for a decade or more. And still this book gave me ideas about plenty of more things to do to make my commitment more valuable to earth and me. One of the few 'How to' books that actually gets you started. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is considering becoming animal and earth friendly in their daily lives. I would also recommend Karen Logan's Clean House, Clean Planet for the people who are specifically looking for eco-friendly non-toxic house keeping tips

This book shrugs off all shrill rhetoric and provides many resources for animal-free products and animal-friendly services. Where it falls short is in its reliance on pointing out particular companies and services rather than being prescriptive. While interest in green products is on the rise, its still a business model that has more risk than average. In short, there's a good chance that many of these companies will close up shop. A better approach would have been to spend more time on how consumers can evaluate products and services. What are the best-in-class standards PETA expects? A good first effort for tone, but I will wait for the next edition in hopes that it will have more than a list of references.

I picked up this book mostly out of curiosity. I was curious about small choices I could make that could make a difference. I went to school and I have a degree in environmental science, but I never applied it in my work. I have always tried to make good informed choices as a consumer. As I feel while I can not change the world, but as a block on informed consumers together we can make kinder choices for our environment.

I liked that this book is broken down into sections that apply to all ages. Home and Garden, Fashion and Beauty, Food and Entertaining, Recreation and Vacations, Animals in the Home, Children and Family, Business and Education, Health, Volunteering and Getting active. So you can see the topics that go well with all members in a family.

She gives very practical suggestions substitutes for products that we currently use. She gives recipes for replacements that are harder on the environment. She gives tips on how to keep your pets happy and content. I liked that she gave a wealth of ideas and substitutions for things we currently do. Some books give one suggestion that isn't always workable. I feel that through reading this book that I can make better and informed decisions as a consumer.

My roommate bought me a copy of this book and it's really opened my eyes! Although I've been vegan for several years I didn't realize how much more I could be doing to help the world around me by making smarter choices. It's not only inspiring but a great resource book as well.

I purchased this cookbook a few weeks ago and have made 3 dishes so far. The Egyptian Potato Soup was delicious - nice and creamy without any dairy. It had a beautiful vibrant color with a wonderful potato/lemony taste. I also tried the Romanian Potato and Vegetable Patties. They were pretty good; not my favorite veggie patty but not bad at all. Lastly, I made the Ashenazi barley with mushrooms which was very yummy. I plan to try many more recipes as they all look really delicious. I enjoy reading the small blurb about each recipe. All in all, a wondeful Jewish Vegetarian Cookbook that I highly recommend.

This is essentially an international cookbook focusing on cuisines of places which have historically had significant Jewish populations (although not much on Ashkenazi cuisine). Much of the cookbook is divided by vegetable. For many recipes, variations are presented, some of which transfer the recipe from one cuisine to another. The food is delicious and this is one of the only mainstream cookbooks with Ethiopian recipes. Highly recommended. My only warning is that Marks expects you will be feeding a large group, so singles beware... my huge batch of lovely Persian rice just didn't get finished.

I love this book. The recipes are so good, and are quite unique and easy to make. Instructions are well explained, and some are simply amazing.

My friends recommended the book and it is great (Written by Brett's wife!).

"A land of wheat and barley, of grape vines and fig trees and pomegranates; a land of olive trees and honey . . . you shall eat and be satisfied." Deut. 8:8-10

Tracing vegetarian Jewish Diaspora recipes is no easy task: Rabbi and chef Gil Marks has created a painstakingly researched cookbook that at times reads more like a history book. With recipes from Azerbaijan to Yemen, Olive Trees and Honey is a catalogue of the vast variety of Jewish vegetarian cuisines, including chapters on cheese and dairy spreads, pickles and relishes, soups, salads, savory pastries, cooked vegetable dishes, vegetable stews, beans and legumes, grains, dumplings and pasta, eggs, and sauces and seasonings.

Each section features fascinating information about the origins and spread of each type of cuisine, often with illustrative maps. Some examples include a map of which type of cheeses are popular in which Diaspora community, or the spread of stuffed cabbage from Persia. Each recipe contains a myriad of further variations to try. Every recipe is labeled Dairy or Pareve for those keeping kosher, and many recipes offer Pareve alternatives (which generally are vegan).

Some of the more interesting recipes that caught my eye were Moroccan Pumpkin Soup, Hungarian Wine Soup, a sangria-like cold soup (red wine and fresh/frozen fruit mixed with orange juice, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, and cloves), Middle Eastern Bulgur-Stuffed Cabbage, Sephardic Cauliflower Patties (perfect for Passover if made with matza meal), Indian Coconut Rice, Middle Eastern Wheat Berry Stew, and the classic Ashkenazic Sweet Noodle Pudding (Kugel).

Also included are suggested vegetarian menus for special occasions and holidays. This is a monumental work and one of the most beautiful vegetarian cookbooks out there, refreshing for the soul as well as body. I only have two small complaints: Rabbi Gil Marks wrote the excellent (and out-of-print) World of Jewish Desserts, with over 400 Diaspora recipes. I would have liked to see the incorporation of more of his well-researched desserts as a final sweet note (there are recipes for several pastry-based desserts included). Also, the large number of variations in addition to the core recipes (example: ten recipes for red lentil soup, many of which are minor variations of the basic Sephardic Red Lentil Soup) made this a bit overwhelming; although I enjoyed browsing through the 300+ recipes, I honestly don't see myself ever making more than a handful on a regular basis.

'Olive Trees and Honey' is an amazing book. Not only will you get wonderful vegetarian recipes, but just the history and traditions that are explained in this book is worth the price of the book. Don't think that it's full of "talk" though!! It contains lots of wonderful recipes. Pages 1-34 contains a brief explanation of the various countries that Jewish people come from, the traditional Jewish foods eaten in those countries, the spices used, etc. Did you know that there are Jewish people in India? Ethiopia? Yemen? The rest of the book (about 400 pages of it) contain some very interesting recipes. The beginning of each chapter includes a little section on the history of that type of food, along with recipes from various countries, and some possible variations. This book is for everyone - vegetarians, vegans, meat eaters, Jewish or non-Jewish. I promise you will learn something from this book (and not just new recipes!) It's obvious that the author took a lot of trouble to research th background of the various types of Jewish communities before he wrote this book, and I wish I could give it 10 stars!

This book helped me a LOT. The style and writing explain everything clearly, so it is an easy reference for me if I need a quick idea for lunch, or if I need to look up nutrition information. By having this book, it has helped be me able to defend myself when I get questions thrown at me about staying healthy, especially from my parents. I would reccommend it to anyone, not just teens, and not just beginners.

I first read this in junior high, when I tried being a vegetarian the first time. I loved it and I learned a lot from it. When I returned to vegetarianism as a young adult, I read it again. Although I'm not a teenager anymore, I feel the book is still a handy guide for making the difficult transition to being a vegetarian a lot easier. When people question the food you eat or don't eat and challenge your beliefs on the subject, it can be hard -- this book offers advice for what to do and say in all sort of situations, educates you on nutrition, and gives you basic ideas for meals. "A Teen's Guide to Going Vegetarian" doesn't assume you have a lot of money, time, or resources for food shopping and meal preparation (as teenagers and adults alike usually don't), so it's great for anyone who needs to be frugal or doesn't have a lot of time to search for unusual ingredients. But it does introduce you to foods you might not of heard of or tried before, which is important.

I have been a vegetarian for almost two years but I had never really read any books about it. Before I buy something, I always read the reviews, and this book had such good reviews. It is so helpful and fun to read. It has a lot of information such as what they really do to animals at slaughterhouses. It is really sad and it made me become a vegan, but it is necessary that aspiring vegetarians/vegans are aware of it. In every chapter, it has things that you can do to help. It also gives the titles of other books that you can read to find out more. I would definetely reccomend this book to anyone who wants to be a vegetarian or who already is one.

This is a great book for teen vegetarians, or teens thinking about becoming vegetarians. This book has 13 chapters, each full of information.
1. What is a vegetarian, anyways?- This gives straight forward answers, and describes different kinds of vegetarians and why people are vegetarians.
2.For The Planet- About how being a vegetarian benifits the planet.
3. For The Animals- You guessed it, all about how being a vegetarian helps animals.
4. For Your Health- About how being veggie helps you. This part also dispels many myths not-vegetarians have about a vegetarian diet.
5.Making The Switch- About going from meat-eater to vegetarian.
6.What will your parents say?- I think this is one of the best chapters, as it gives lots of information about what parents may be thinking and how to convince them without being rebelious.
7. What will your fiends say?- Yet another concern to teens, this chapter deals with dealing with friends.
8. Sticky Situations- This is another great chapter for teens, that answers all those nagging questions. What about at friends houses? How about when I'm traveling?
9. Surviving at School- All about cafeteria blues, science class diesection, and ways to make changes in your school.
10. Some Nutrition Basics- Another great chapter. All the nutrition you need to know, written in a clear way for teens to understand.
11. Fabulous Vegetarian Foods- All about vegetarian foods to try.
12. The Makings Of A Meal- About what to include in yummy and healthy meals.
13. Some Recipies To Get You Started- I'll be honest, I haven't tried any of the recipies yet, but they sound great. They are written in a ay great for beggining cooks.
This book is written in a non-judgmental, just facts way, but after reading it you will probably want to be vegetarian, if not vegan. I love the way the author talked to real teens, and included their quotes, knowledge, and tidbits of information about being vegetarian. This book includes a good concrete basis on all information nessecary to a teenage vegetarian, and is written in a engaging, interesting, funny, and informative way. I wish I could give this book 10 stars, it is such a great reference for the teenage vegetarian.

I became a vegetarian almost ten years ago, and this book was released soon after I made the switch. It could not have come at a better time. I originally found it at the library, but I checked it out so many times, I knew I needed my own copy. The book really set me on a great path, and helped me deal with a number of different situations.

I became a vegetarian while I was still living at my parents' house (where every meal revolved around meat) They initially dismissed my new vegetarianism as a "phase". I was so happy to prove them wrong! This book really helped me gain confidence, and gave me the will-power and drive to stick with the vegetarian lifestyle.

At last an honest view of diet and health. If you wish to avoid the common diseases of the western junk-food culture get this book and follow it.

I have never met a doctor more concerned with the public health than Doctor McDougall. His book is honest and backed up with decades of factual knowledge.

Do yourself a favor and read this book!

Following the McDougall plan now for 2.5 years I have never felt or looked healthier. Not to mention loosing over 100 lbs. If you are serious about improving your health, loosing weight, or just want some sound advice about going VEGAN then this book is a MUST! Dr. McDougall makes total sense and is easy to follow. Finnaly someone who understands the real road to long term health and weight loss does NOT start with eating eggs and bacon every day!

Written in the early 1980s, this book was one of the first to establish the nutritional superiority of a diet free of animal products. Dr. McDougall documents his assertions with extensive references to scientific studies and medical journals.

However, the diet as set forth in the book is not accessible to many people, due to its extremely low fat content. Dr. McDougall maintains that one "won't feel hungry" on his "health-supporting diet"; in fact, its lack of fat makes one ravenous. I myself tried for years to make it work, without success.

An instructive anecdote: the day I bought this book I was so inspired by it, I cooked myself up a batch of its Vegetable Stew, ate heartily, and--an hour later consumed half a gallon of ice cream. If you want to avoid such binges and make a vegan diet work for you, you need to adjust it to your needs. (McDougall Porridge-- oatmeal without salt and milk, with only a few raisins or currants added, equals mutiny.)

So, while I recommend this book for its scientific and nutritional information, I also suggest buying some other vegan cookbooks that contain better recipes. I also share my own adjustments to the McDougall program:

I disregard the book's cautions about high-fat plant foods, and eat them in moderation and as needed for satiety. I eat more protein-rich plant foods than are recommended by the book. I add some extra-virgin olive oil to the recipes. I add a little salt.
The diet should serve the person, not vice-versa. Good luck.

This is the first book of Dr. McDougall's that I read. I consider this book the "owners manual" to the human body. This book really helped me to understand things that I was experiancing and the relationship to the food I was eating. All the doctors I had seen, would say "we don't know what causes it, but here is a medication to help with the symtoms,"to the questions I would ask. After reading this book and begining to change to a plant based diet, symptoms started to disapear. I no longer have digestive issues. Although I have tested the system, by reverting to some of my prior diet habits from time to time, I find it doesn't take long for the symptoms to return. I think this is refered to as McDougall's revenge. The work that Dr. McDougall has done in this book, & others has helped me to be much healthier than I would otherwise have been. So far I have avoided developing the diseases that are in my family, and I have reversed all the intestinal issues that I was diagnosed with. If you really follow what he says all the way, it does work, and health is worth the effort!

I found Dr. McDougall's website while surfing for vegetarian recipes with Vegetarian Times website as a starting point. It definitely sounded interesting, if not completely do-able for the average person.

A couple days ago I spotted the book in a local second-hand store, and snapped it up, to get a better idea of Dr. McDougall's research and background info. You see, I am a lifelong vegetarian (lacto-ovo, not vegan), and I am married to a doctor who is not vegetarian, and scoffs at veganism (but loves my vegetarian cooking).

I don't think I've ever come across a health book that was this hard to put down. Every chapter has a plethora of numbered references citing an amazing array of highly-respected medical journals (some of which, my husband subscribes to) to back up the sweeping and often surprising claims McDougall makes. It also offers case studies of individuals who have wrecked and/or healed their bodies through food. I, being a visual type, found the numerous lists, charts and diagrams helpful as well.

It almost inspires me to go vegan. Almost. The evidence against cage-free vegetarian eggs and organic range-fed milk is not strong. But then, in the early eighties, most people didn't have access to these. Also, the only thing he has against yogurt is that it is made of milk and has no fiber (although he gives medical evidence that it may not be as helpful in digestion as it is touted to be). Also he says pasteurized cheese is not especially harmful, except in that it's fattening. So, I'm not eliminating yogurt or cheese from my diet, or the occasional fresh egg from my friends' chicken coop.

But, it is an extremely engaging book. Reads more like a popular college nutrition lecture than a sermon, definitely. It is unprejudiced and helpful, patient, and offers a variety of options for different types of people. Recommended.