Vegetarian America: A History

by Karen Iacobbo, Michael Iacobbo

The first complete history of vegetarianism in the United States, this story reveals the people, the organizations, and the events from the late 1700s to the present. Despite generally held notions that today's vegetarianism sprang from 1960s counterculture and that prior to that its only advocates were fanatics and fringe groups, the authors explore strong movements in other historical eras, the proponents of which included esteemed physicians, socialites, and other notable members of the establishment. Until now, no one has chronicled the contributions that advocates of vegetarianism have made to the American way of life in areas such as general eating habits, preventative medicine, feminism, environmental awareness, and elsewhere.

From Johnny Appleseed and the Bible-Christians to John Harvey Kellogg and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the story features dedicated and colorful characters who persevered, undaunted by the many obstacles that they faced, to convince their fellow Americans of the benefits of vegetarianism. From a religious movement, to an ethical concern about the rights of animals, to many recent nutritional discoveries, vegetarianism is a movement that continues to evolve and grow.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Food, Vegetarian

267 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2004

Reviews

[Vegetarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was THRILLED to find myself mentioned on page 180 of _Vegetarian America: A History_ by Karen and Michael Iacobbo. My longtime friend, 'Saiom' Nellie Shriver was mentioned for her public media outreach with vegetarian PSAs and how I had heard a string of those PSAs on WEEI, then a local Boston news outlet, while at Harvard Divinity School I was preparing for an Old Testament exam (a section on the minor prophets).

I wrote down the PO Box 4333 for American Vegetarians, sent 'them' (her) a postcard asking 'for more information' (and received a generous 'care package' later on), then returned to preparing for my grueling exam at HDS. Within a few years, I started the Vegetarian Hotline (late 70s, not 80s as the Iacobbos wrote), then the Boston Vegetarian Society (www.BostonVeg.org).

It goes on to talk about how Shriver's missionary work 'made believers' out of lots of Americans. Love it! Gotta get this book! Oh, and gotta READ it!

[Keith Akers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good source of info on vegetarianism in America before the Civil War, goes downhill after that. Not an easy read, it gives the impression of being rushed into print by the publisher (typos galore), this book is primarily for those who are vegetarians or obsessed with the history of vegetarianism.

[Cora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chock-full of information. Seems well-researched and relies on primary sources and contemporary news reporting to provide a depth and breadth of biographic and social movement data that was almost entirely new to me. I appreciate the work that went into it and the information it provides, and am inspired to learn how many historical figures were affiliated with the movement for a plant-based food regimen.

However, I was frequently confused by the writing/editing. Either I could hear two voices of the two coauthors, or there were smaller articles pieced together with connecting introductions. For example, sometimes a figure is introduced with name, birth date, and birthplace after we've already read about him or her several paragraphs earlier. Sometimes the longer sentences only make sense if you imagine they were read aloud because of the order in which the clauses are arranged.

[Asdrgil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic research. The only thing that I missed was a greater disclosure of the nexus with the animal rights movements such as the Animal Liberation Front.

[Mila]

a must read for any vegan or vegetarian.

[Lizzy Seitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative but dry at the beginning