Ninety-Five: Meeting Americas Farmed Animals in Stories and Photographs
This is truly a beautiful and moving book. The photography and stories contributed by caregivers and rescuers really bring into focus the deep emotional and complex lives of farmed animals. I’m not sure how anyone could read this book and still believe that battery cages or the slaughter of any animal is at all moral. The book does not go into the details of the horrors farmed animals live which I believe makes it a great choice for people who say they don’t want to know what goes on in factory farming. Maybe this book will bring those people several steps closer understanding. I plan on giving out several copies of this book.
Becoming Vegan: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Plant-Based Diet
One of the first books I read when I started looking into what living a vegan lifestyle means was Becoming Vegan: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Plant-Based Diet, written by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina. This book starts with a brief chapter that covers the history of veganism and some of the clearest and most moving definitions for what a vegan lifestyle is that I have come across. The book ends with a chapter called “Vegan Diplomacy” that offers very compassionate advice for living a vegan life among non-vegans. In between the book is filled with health information, nutrition for all stages of life, and suggestions for a successful transition into becoming a vegan. I absolutely love this book and have gone back to it a few times when I had questions about nutrition. I highly recommend this book to anyone new or thinking about going vegan.
I don’t consume any dairy, at all, in any form, ever. I am obsessed with not having it no matter how small the amount. I see Casein as my enemy. After reading The China Study and then doing some searches on my own I am committed to no dairy ever. So much cancer has invaded my family and after reading The China Study it just kills me to see the people I love eating cheese or milk like it is nothing. Think about it people, no other animal consumes milk after being weaned. Only humans and MOST humans are lactose intolerant. AND people are not even drinking the milk made for them (human milk) they drink milk made for COWS and GOATS. Doesn’t anyone see a problem with this? Doesn’t that tell us something? READ THIS BOOK!
Vegan for Life: Everything You Need to Know to be Healthy and Fit on a Plant-Based Diet
One of the things I like most about this book is that it explains upfront the definition as well as the pros/cons of various types of studies such as case studies, epidemiological research, and clinical trials. They talk about the importance of peer reviews and knowing who paid for the study. When referencing a study thought out the book they call out the reliability of the study as well as the limitations. Unfortunately that means one of my favorite studies, The China Study, is not referenced in this book because it was an ecological study and therefore did not provide enough information for the purposes of the book. I am a big, big fan of The China Study as are a great deal of vegans. That they chose not to rely on such a popular work in this book only made me respect the content even more.
This book offers a great deal of information and practical suggestions for maintaining a healthy vegan diet. They do this with a balanced view calling out the strengths and challenges involved without sounding like a paid spokesman or cheerleader for vegan diets.
Similar to Vegan for Life, Eating Animals is a balanced look at veganism. But instead of focusing on how food effects our bodies this book is focused on how animals are treated on the way to becoming someone’s dinner. The author Jonathan Safran Foer did not start writing this book as a vegan. He was interested in finding out more about food and dietary choices when he was about to become a father. The book doesn’t claim that all animal farmers or even those who slaughter animals are evil bad people. He takes a deeper look at those farmers struggling to survive the massive factory farming industry and provides a glimpse into how and why they do what they do. But he doesn’t allow that to justify the treatment of the animals or gloss over the horror that still exists for the animals that those farmers raise to be eaten.
All through the book he relates what he discovers with the people impacted, including his own family. This book gives a personal look into a very dark and difficult situation which touched me far more than just reading the stories of the animal abuses. This is an animal rights must read.
I admit that I ordered this book so I could build up my argument with a few bible quotes during those conversations that start with “but God said we could eat meat”. That isn’t what I got. While following the story of Annika as she rescues some chickens from a factory farm, this book offers a look at the intent of religious doctrine and how it applies or should apply to animals. Instead of quoting verses or claiming any “thou shalt” directives, the authors focus on mercy and compassion in the context of religious beliefs among Christian, Jewish, and Muslim teachings.
This book did not give me verses to recite or talking points designed to enlighten meat eaters, but it did make me think a bit more deeply about what compassion and mercy really mean. Religious or not, the stories in this book all had a strong message of compassion for all living beings, human and non-human alike.
I took a tofu class from David a few months ago. It was wonderful but the cookbook is even better. Of all my vegan cookbooks this is the one I go to for everyday foods. I make baked tofu cutlets at least once a week and use the marinade on page 24. I have it memorized now. He made the tofu ‘egg’ salad during the class and the tofu ‘egg’ salad was the main reason I purchased the cookbook. I have tried several tofu ‘egg’ salads but I think the thing that made this one so much better is that he made it with the tofu mayo recipe also included in the book. These are easy, everyday good food recipes. Oh, and did I mention, everything in the cookbook is also gluten free?
My Sweet Vegan: Passionate About Dessert
I’m not big on sweets. I won this book in an auction supporting Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. However, I must admit that the recipes sound wonderful. For those of us who like to see what the outcome of the recipe will look like this cookbook does not disappoint. The pictures are beautiful and mouthwatering. So far I have tried the Crumb-Topped Brownies and the Orange Dreamsicle Snack Cake, both amazing. I am looking forward to trying the Pumpkin Pecan Pie for Thanksgiving. One more note, she even included a recipe for dogs: Canine Cake. How wonderful is that?
