shantelldanielle's review against another edition
5.0
So good. I'm now a vegetarian. 3 weeks strong. Will be working toward being vegan. Very inspiring book.
vellanorah's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed hearing about Russell's journey to veganism. He had some good ideas on ways to not alienate your family too. I didn't enjoy the part that recreates the suffering of the animals but that is only because you are not supposed to. I have done extension research and just didn't want to go through it again.
thetarantulalounge's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
3.75
It’s a natural time for change: new school year, new season, new job. So, I decided to freshen up my routines across the board. Since I’ve felt sluggish, lately, I’m trying to switch up what I’m eating. Libraries have like a million food books, so I just ran through that aisle and threw all of them in my cart, Supermarket Sweep-style.
The Happy Vegan had a great title, so it’s the first one I read. It’s written by mogul Russell Simmons. I don’t know much about him, so I didn’t really come into the book with any expectations.
I enjoyed the book because it’s a quick, non-judgmental read. It has the normal stuff you’d expect – why a plant-based diet can make you less sick and more well, the various reasons eating meat causes trouble (environment, water, cruelty), etc.
However, there are three things in this book that I really liked. One, SImmons’ thoughts about disentangling eating meat from one’s own culture. Simmons talks about the place of food in Black culture and how initially he was ostracized for not eating certain foods. I’m not Black, but I live in the South, so his observations about being different (but also the same) resonated with me.
Second, I liked that Simmons gives the reader permission to ease into a plant-based lifestyle. It’s not a cold-turkey (so to speak) change for many, and he acknowledges that it can take months and may involve some setbacks. Instead, he gives some suggestions on not just cutting out meat, but adding in plant-based options, new spices, etc. He is gracious in his timing and posture.
Finally, I thought it was funny he chose not to add in any recipes. He explains that beyond sauteeing spinach with garlic and throwing some hot sauce on it, he doesn’t actually cook all that much. Instead, he provides practical snack advice, and some helpful websites and recipe books from people who actually cook. I appreciated the honesty. (I enjoyed the HappyCow website the most – found some great vegan and vegetarian places in my suburb I never knew about!)
One kind of funny thing – this book was published in 2015. A lot of the celebrities that Simmons quotes would probably not be quoted, now: Ellen, Casey Affleck, Dr. Oz. Yeesh. That’s neither here nor there – just a reminder that maybe we shouldn’t put our faith in celebrities or influencers or whatever we call salespeople these days.
glassesgirl79's review against another edition
4.0
A good read for those interested in becoming vegan as well as a good refresher book for those who have been vegan for a while. I enjoyed the writing tone and style used by Simmons and feel that this book is very informative without being preachy or forceful. Simmons suggested approach to veganism is multifaceted in that he not only
suggests changing one's diet in increments, he also suggests adding a yoga or meditation to center the mind.
suggests changing one's diet in increments, he also suggests adding a yoga or meditation to center the mind.
woodlandbooklover's review against another edition
4.0
Quick and accessible read. Debunking the myths at the beginning was a good move. It acts as a good introduction to all these issues including the problems of the standard American diet, the horrors of factory farming, and the devastation of the environment. The book also offers a discussion of things like how to respond when people shame/mock you. Powerful, practical, and convincing.
carter322's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.75
This book is great for what it is: an outline of why you should adopt the vegan diet and how to do it. The author does a fantastic job of outlying many different arguments for being vegan, the primary three being healthiness for your body, protection of the environment, and animal rights. All three arguments are very convincing, and it did enough to make me want to be vegan sooner.
Furthermore, the author is very relatable and does a very good job of convincing the reader to become vegan while avoiding a condescending tone. He himself was once a meat eater and lets the reader know that he understands how hard it is to switch lifestyles.
After providing arguments regarding why being vegan is a good choice, the author describes the types of food a vegan should eat and exactly how the vegan diet works.
Content Warnings
Some adult language
magalys's review against another edition
5.0
This is really, really, really good. I liked it more than I thought I would. It's written very simply and concisely on how our connections to animal agriculture negatively impact us in each segment of our lives.
A great guide that compiles all information we hear about veganism and the harms animal products. Definitely made me want to eliminate meat from my diet.
A great guide that compiles all information we hear about veganism and the harms animal products. Definitely made me want to eliminate meat from my diet.
afrugalfather's review
3.0
Good introduction to giving up meat, with a lot of emphasis on how to change your routine and how to deal with social stigma. However, this is very introductory, if you are already well educated on the health benefits, environmental benefits, and the obvious benefits to animals, then this book is a bit repetitive to what you probably already know. In other words, good introduction for people who know little about veganism, but maybe too basic for most others.
Also, one thing I will say, is that rather than strong citations on medical studies/doctors, most of the quotes and endorsements come from high profite figures in entertainment/media, and business (e.g., athletes, musicians, celebrates etc). While I can see the relationship between showing that an athelete can thrive on a vegan diet and be competitive (i.e., therefore so can you), the relationship between business owner Steve Wynn and health advice is tenuous at best. However I can also see that some people are more easily motivated when they see rich and successful people endorsing a lifestyle, so this might be a good gift for them. As a side note, I don't give a _[insert random useless body part or expletive metaphor here]___ about what celebrities are doing with themselves, so to me this was just a distraction to the core of veganism (improve your health, save the environment, reduce animal suffering).
Also, one thing I will say, is that rather than strong citations on medical studies/doctors, most of the quotes and endorsements come from high profite figures in entertainment/media, and business (e.g., athletes, musicians, celebrates etc). While I can see the relationship between showing that an athelete can thrive on a vegan diet and be competitive (i.e., therefore so can you), the relationship between business owner Steve Wynn and health advice is tenuous at best. However I can also see that some people are more easily motivated when they see rich and successful people endorsing a lifestyle, so this might be a good gift for them. As a side note, I don't give a _[insert random useless body part or expletive metaphor here]___ about what celebrities are doing with themselves, so to me this was just a distraction to the core of veganism (improve your health, save the environment, reduce animal suffering).
acesarrows's review
3.0
Nothing earth-shattering here that you won't have read elsewhere, but a good overview of the health/ethical/environmental reasons to go vegan. A bit preachy at times, but that's hard to avoid when talking about this topic. I liked how Simmons rolled together his yoga/meditation/food lifestyle into a coherent whole, instead of talking about each concept separately. A few recipes, or a week-long menu plan, would help those who are just making the leap.
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