Since the publication in 1987 of Diet for a New America, beef consumption in the United States has fallen a remarkable 19 kpercent. D... read full description
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Oct 21, 2008
Morgan
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The experience of transitioning into veganism was, for me, one of "coming out." Over the course of a week in March of 1993, I stopped wanting to eat dairy, eggs, sugar, chocolate, or anything artificial. I didn't completely know why I was I doing this other than it was what my body needed. The first books I read about veganism were cookbooks that focused on recipes and a smattering of nutrition. I figured I'd get around to learning about the moral, ethical and environmental merits of v
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Dec 16, 2009
Lisa
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This is the book that introduced me to veganism. It makes compelling arguments for eliminating animal products, and happily living on all plant products for all you consume. Talks about the ramifications of animal vs. plant products concentrating on 3 aspects: for the animals, for the earth, for human health. If you care about the future of the earth and its inhabitants, you'll be interested in this book.
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Oct 15, 2010
Chris
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This book was a very detailed depiction of where our food comes from here in America and how it affects our diet, our health, our community, and the effect it has on our planet. The book starts with stories of human encounters with animals in which animals prove to understand more than what most people think. It is clear that animals have the capacity to show love, gratitude, and friendship toward people, however, it is even more clear that they feel pain and they hurt just as humans do when the
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Oct 27, 2011
Dear
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I first read this in high school, shortly after it came out (showing my age), so this is a re-read. I found it at the second hand store recently and thought I should add it to my library, more because it's a classic than anything else.
The first part is about factory farming and animal cruelty. It has some cutesy animal stories that are much maligned by some of the reviewers on here, but I liked them. Then again, I like James Herriot as well, so that might be part of it. It is fair More...
The first part is about factory farming and animal cruelty. It has some cutesy animal stories that are much maligned by some of the reviewers on here, but I liked them. Then again, I like James Herriot as well, so that might be part of it. It is fair More...
Oct 11, 2009
Andrea
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I have been 95% vegan now for two years and finally got around to reading this classic expose of American factory farming, food industry propaganda and brainwashing, and environmental destruction, plus so much more.
Written in 1987 by the heir to the Baskin-Robbins empire, Robbins' book was highly influential and shocking at the time. These days, with Fast Food Nation, Michael Pollan's proselytizing on organic produce, and, really, the Internet's vast stores of information on feedlot More...
Written in 1987 by the heir to the Baskin-Robbins empire, Robbins' book was highly influential and shocking at the time. These days, with Fast Food Nation, Michael Pollan's proselytizing on organic produce, and, really, the Internet's vast stores of information on feedlot More...
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Jan 24, 2012
Amanda
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John Robbins was born into one of the most powerful corporations in America–Baskin-Robbins. A company based entirely on selling animal products. Yet he took it upon himself to investigate the reality of animals products and their impact on Americans, American land, and the world overall. This book summarizes his extensive research, including personal visits to factory farms.
There are books that you read that are so incredibly powerful you are left almost speechless. Simply wantin More...
There are books that you read that are so incredibly powerful you are left almost speechless. Simply wantin More...
Nov 08, 2009
Aleks
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When I first started reading this book, I felt it was overly sentimental. I'm not one to be moved into great emotion or change by stories of smart animals or their friendliness or human-ness. However, in the end, this book turned me vegan overnight.
Though the book opens with the sentimental, it moves onto information on how food affects the body, the environment, and the social impacts it makes to the world at large. The latter two were what affected me most.
While I've ha More...
Though the book opens with the sentimental, it moves onto information on how food affects the body, the environment, and the social impacts it makes to the world at large. The latter two were what affected me most.
While I've ha More...
Oct 05, 2011
Melissa
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Even as a vegetarian and given the fact that this book was written in the 80's, I was still shocked by the statistics. It was an easy read that definitely was written for the shock value but still gave a good argument for avoiding the meat industry. It, once again, made me realize how selfish and overindulgent some Americans are. We constantly think of nothing outside our little suburban realities. if only half of us would have some compassion, enough to make a lifestyle change, it would hav
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May 03, 2009
Lain
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I know I should love this book, or at least consider it life-changing, but I just could not muscle my way through it. The typos and poor grammar had me questioning everything (if you can't bother to proof-read, did you bother to fact check?). And the individual anecdotes, cute though they were about dogs tracking hundreds of miles to find their owners and hens who surrogate parented ducks did not have the intended effect of making me see animals as more like "us." In fact, the whole id
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Feb 27, 2009
JM
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I don't know why I even picked this book up and started to read it, but I did. It's kind of like "Fast Food Nation" for people who don't have to read it for a college class. It's well-written, straight-forward, and clear. I enjoyed reading a good book about the best way to eat for the planet by someone who is genetically related to one of the Baskin-Robbins' Robbins. And, you know what? I felt good about the way I ate after I read it. Usually you feel guilty when you read books a
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Dec 23, 2008
This is actually the grandson of the inventors of Baskin Robbins, ironically. He did a lecture at Southampton College while I was studying for my masters and I read his book shortly after seeing him. His lecture and his book really changed the way I saw the FDA, the meat and dairy industry and the way I ate. Though a positive experience, reading this, he tends to be just a little fanatical and overboard (I think there were some pretty graphic animal farm photos in there if my memory serves me
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Aug 12, 2011
Sheri
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So interesting that I couldn't put it down. With some of these non-fiction books, skimming them is the only way to get through them. But not thius one. John Robbins does a great job of telling all the facts and convincing one that fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, ect. is the way to better health. Live longer, feel better and do it by becoming a more compassionate human being. Maybe not everyone is interested in becoming a vegetarian, and I'm sure many aren't, it is still good to know
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Oct 27, 2010
Erin
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What a wonderful book! I have been a vegetarian for over 9 years and this book just convinced me to be a vegetarian until the day I die.
I read "The China Study" a few years ago and was amazed to see all the benefits of having an animal-free diet. For one, there is a drastic reduction in cancer rates among vegetarians, they have lower cholesterol, healthier hearts, bodies, and live longer and healthier lives than their meat-eating counterparts.
This book, unlike More...
I read "The China Study" a few years ago and was amazed to see all the benefits of having an animal-free diet. For one, there is a drastic reduction in cancer rates among vegetarians, they have lower cholesterol, healthier hearts, bodies, and live longer and healthier lives than their meat-eating counterparts.
This book, unlike More...
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Feb 04, 2010
Erin
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I didn't realize that this book was published in 1987. So I sort of skimmed through the bits about factory farms (sad they've been around that long) and mainly read up on the health issues in the back.
Things that I remember:
Vegan breastfeeding moms have way way way lower contamination in their breastmilk than meat eating moms. In a New England Journal of Medicine article the vegan mothers who had the highest level of breastmilk contamination was way lower than the lowes More...
Things that I remember:
Vegan breastfeeding moms have way way way lower contamination in their breastmilk than meat eating moms. In a New England Journal of Medicine article the vegan mothers who had the highest level of breastmilk contamination was way lower than the lowes More...
Jun 15, 2009
Marshall
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This is one of the pivotal vegetarian advocacy books. Now I understand why. Reading this book made me a vegetarian all over again. My understanding of the issues that led to my decision to become vegetarian is only a fraction of what this book covers. I was truly astonished by what this book revealed. I really understood how so much of the meat industry depends on ignorance and deception.
It starts out by going straight for the heart. It talks about what animals are like--what t More...
It starts out by going straight for the heart. It talks about what animals are like--what t More...
Oct 12, 2008
Don
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I have been married to a vegetarian for 25 years and have been encouraged to eat a healthy vegetarian diet during all of these years. This has been based on scientific health supporting information. During my years with this wonderful intelligent woman I have attempted to become a vegetarian numerous times. Each time I have felt better and seemed healthier. Nutrition and diet have been important in our raising of our 6 children and I can say that my wife has done an incredible job. Not only are
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Dec 11, 2008
Casey
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An absolute must read for all - so important to know where your food is coming from, what you put in your bodies. Every time we make a decision to eat something, we are responsible for the consequences of those decisions - both on humans, non-human animals and on our environment. This book made me change my eating habits to vegan - and ultimately took me on a path that made eating and cooking something I grew to love, rather than just something I did when I was hungry.
Jan 27, 2012
Jeannie
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The subject matter contained in this book is even more important today than when it was written 25 years ago. A lot of it is hard to read, not only the plight of farm animals but those who inhabit our oceans and our skies, but even harder for me was realizing that life hasn't changed much for the animals who share this world with us. I find that so very sad. Robbins makes valid points about the way food is produced in this country and speaks loudly for making better food choices. Robbins is very
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Aug 19, 2009
Pat
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I was close to being a vegetarian and now I will try to be complete ( EXCEPT FOR BACON, CHEESE - sorry Robbins has done a lot of research and the bibliography is extensive and I am sick about eating meat because of the resources used, the pesticides , the treatment of living beings, the dehumanizing of the meat workers and us,the hormones used on the animals, etc. and hoping that we can get complete protein without meat
Aug 26, 2008
Kristan
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Diet for a New America was a little sappy in the first few chapters. Robbins offers up a few quirky animal-themed anecdotes that are meant to tug at the hearts of animal lovers who may not have made the connection that beef, pork, and chicken come from the adorable, doe-eyed creatures cuddled at petting zoos. He finally starts to make some sense about a quarter through the book. He basically lays down the plot-line for his second book, Food revolution; a
book, I feel, was more organized an More...
book, I feel, was more organized an More...
Dec 04, 2008
Irvin
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Another great book on why meat eating is not only harmful to yourself but also to the environment. This author was actually entitled to the inheritance of the Baskin and Robbins empire but couldn't do it because he knew the food he was selling was going to be killing people. This European has a sense of morals and I respect him for that. Definitely recommended.
May 25, 2011
I read excerpts from this my sophomore year in college and stopped eating meat (until Peace Corps). I just came across the printout (from a dot-matrix printer with the holey edges still attached) and thought maybe I should read the book. I remember being really struck by how many more people could be fed if we weren't busy growing plants to feed animals.
Sep 04, 2009
Thomas
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This book will make almost any normal person want to be a vegetarian. It is well written and exposes Americas meat and poultry industry for the horrors that they are.
I am no longer Veg, but was for several years after reading this. I try to eat only friendly beef and poultry as much as possible.
I will forever remember the lessons learned.
I am no longer Veg, but was for several years after reading this. I try to eat only friendly beef and poultry as much as possible.
I will forever remember the lessons learned.
Jul 13, 2010
Von Rauch
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Whatever beliefs one may have about our food chain, this is a valuable informative book about factory farming and the implications it has on our health and the environment. I didn't find it to be an ode to veganism but one mans own personal look into his family business. Mr. Robbins, heir to the Baskin/Robbins looks into what we don't see.
Feb 13, 2010
Susan
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I read this years ago so don't really have a review for it, but it is a great introduction to vegetarianism. It is divided into sections for the 3 main reasons to go veg: concern for animals, human health, and the environment. Highly recommended for anyone at all interested in learning more about the subject.
Aug 12, 2007
Kathleen
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Diet for a New America is to Kathleen, as My First Summer in the Sierra is to Sylvia Seymour (by John Muir, see review). Though I did not drop to the floor in tears, I did begin a no-looking-back, 20 years and counting, life of ethical vegetarianism. This book completely changed my thinking about the world, and my place in it. This honest, intelligent, and gentle appeal to consider how food gets to the table is transforming at a cellular level. Without anthropomorphizing, Robbins explains the tr
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Aug 21, 2011
Kc
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Informative, tough-love book that pushed me towards vegetarianism. Not the easiest book to read if brought up on the Standard American Diet - lots of things you might not wish to know - but really should. Easier to read and more persuasive might be Robbin's The Food Revolution.
Jul 04, 2010
Colleen
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This book changed my life. I became a vegan after reading it, and the information I learned from it is some of the most interesting I've ever learned. I didn't feel as if I was reading a diet book, but learning valuable, secret information about a truly overlooked topic. So sad.
Jan 31, 2010
Tina
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A must read for anyone interested in what they are truly putting into their mouths and how that food ended up on their table. I wish I could give a copy to all of the people who vehemently argue that consuming animal protein is the only way one can survive.
Apr 29, 2010
Jamie
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I read this book in college, and the information within had a great deal to do with inspiring me to become vegetarian (and later, vegan). It's certainly not a perfectly written or edited book, but it was/is hugely inspiring nonetheless.
