The Compassionate Diet: How What You Eat Can Change Your Life and Save the Planet

by Arran Stephens, Eliot Jay Rosen

What can we do to allay global warming, contend with world hunger, be healthier, and live longer? In The Compassionate Diet, Nature’s Path founder and CEO Arran Stephens, who has been at the leading edge of the organic food movement for decades and a vegetarian his entire adult life, answers these complex questions in the simplest Eat vegetarian.A balanced and natural vegetarian diet is neither a fad nor a passing trend. It has been part of many cultures over untold millennia. The Compassionate Diet distills the history, philosophy, and core benefits of eschewing meat.  A sense of compassion and humanity has animated Stephens’s life’s work, and it drives this book. The vegetarian lifestyle has innumerable benefits, but for Stephens, eating a plant-based diet is first and foremost an expression of compassion for animals, for ourselves, and for the planet. This elegant and completely approachable bo

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Food, Activism, Spirituality, Vegan

160 pages, Paperback

First published May 24, 2011

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very quick (I read it in slightly more than an hour on a train), engaging overview of the justifications for a vegetarian diet, including economic, environmental, animal welfare, and health, as well as spiritual. It didn't really get into depth with any of these issues, but it is a great book to give someone an idea of the reasoning behind vegetarianism. I also liked the spiritual discussion, which I hadn't read as much about before.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The spiritualism of vegetarianism doesn't interest me so the section of how world religions view vegetarianism was of no use. However, the rest of this little book was filled with a number of interesting facts. So interesting, that I wish the book was a little more expansive on those areas. I'll have to seek out another book to fill in the gaps.

[Veganacious DeGrande · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful little book about organic gardening, GMOs and other information, but it misses the mark about vegetarianism versus veganism.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a vegetarian for several years (trying to go vegan now). Just researched and wrote a paper on our current industrial animal food farming system. I knew it was bad -- now I know it's horrible. Small wonder then that this book appealed to me. Checked it out today; the author looks at the spiritual benefits of abstaining from meat-eating, along with health, ecological, and economic benefits, and, of course, curtailing widespread animal abuse throughout the meat industry. I'm not a spiritual person, but could always read more about extending my compassion, as it's a win-win situation in my humble opinion. I feel it behooves us all to know where our food comes from. "Old McDonald had a Farm" is a myth, folks.

It's a quick read as it's small and portable; in other words, I'm buying a copy. Succinctly and simply states the perils of continually supporting this farming method, for all the above reasons.

[Susan Clark-cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you read this little book you will think long and hard about your meat eating habits and the problems that meat eating creates, with health, environment, poverty and the many ramifications of our over reliance on meat...easy to read, hard to forget it has important things to tell us and our own level of "compassion". You will find things you have heard before, but also things you most likely didn't know. I know I did.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book for its esoteric references. One would think that all references are scoured to support the author's notion of vegetarianism. But this book is rather convincing. Reading it is like walking through papyrus fields and enjoying freedom from bondage. Alot of references to ancient and religious philosophy and their founders who are vegetarians also. Overall this book improved my outlook and am trying to eat more veggies.

[Kerri Fairclough · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is a good, basic, guide for those considering vegetarianism, but some of the statements were questionable at best and most of the religious examination is simply unnecessary. I've read better. I've read worse

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Balanced and interesting view of the vegan diet.

[Tanya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short and to the point; not the best I've read but not a bad place to start. Focuses in on the religious and spiritual basis of some vegetarian practice.

[Melanie Mauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

articulate, beautiful and behavior changing.

[Shana · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was full of information that seemed like misinformation. There was little evidence for backup. Rodale might have reconsidered this one.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really inspiring and full of great info -- would have preferred to have formal citations instead of just a general "selected sources" list at the end.

[Hali Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some points were wrong, others silly, but I enjoyed it; it'd be useful to own as a quick reference to main points of why to be vegan.