You Don't Need Meat

Rating:
Summary: This book is superb
Review: Everything is referenced so there's no debate. Even if you eat meat, just read it.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting educational text - very detailed
Review: In his book You Don't Need Meat, Peter Cox, details the link between meat and dairy consumption and disease by drawing on a host of scientific studies. While the book is almost overly detailed at some points, Cox's use of evidence supports his conclusion that veganism is not only an animal rights choice but a health conscious decision. This gives vegans, like myself, plenty to reference when told that meat and dairy are essential to a healthy diet.

The book includes a long section about Mad Cow Disease that is both horrifying and shocking, a description of the inhumane treatment of pigs in slaughterhouses, and a series of frequently asked questions and answers. Furthermore, the text contains a portion discussing major contemporary diseases such as cancer and diabetes, the connection to meat and dairy consumption, and alternative ways of treatment or prevention (usually through a vegan diet). In each part of the book, Cox expands on his topic writing with extreme precision and minute attention. This means the reader must be very interested, at some points, to remain engaged. Overall, though, by using humor and simple explanatory language, the complex issues explored by Cox prove easy to understand. Those who succeed in carefully reading through his arguments and evidence are handsomely rewarded with a wealth of knowledge.

You Don't Need Meat proves to be an educational text providing more reasons to choose or continue a vegan lifestyle. This makes it an intriguing and informative book for both the devout vegan and the meat-eater unconvinced by animal rights arguments. --Reviewed by Ellen Roggeman

Rating:
Summary: You Really Don't
Review: Mr. Cox has spent considerable time in the service of corporations as a marketing guru. His focus has shifted from corporate profits to human health and consciences but the tactics employed are the same.

The first 266 pages of his 339 page book are dedicated to "revealing" the realities of the meat industry, the failures of government to protect its citizens from said meat industry, and information about diseases that may be induced or aggravated by consuming the products of the meat industry.

One assumes the target for the bulk of this book are individuals who find themselves on the fence about choosing a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. In which case, this book inevitably has the ability to knock you clean off that fence and onto the non-flesh consuming side. Especially, if you were completely unaware of the realities of the meat industry and the products they produce.

The remainder of the book proves to be helpful, even through its brevity, in converting to a meat-free way of living. There is a small recipe section, some stories about how certain individuals coped with the social complexities of conversion, a Q & A section, and a list of vegetarian organizations.

If you are considering eliminating meat from your diet, or even shooting for the moon and eliminating all animal products, this book is useful in reinforcing your decision to do so. If you are looking for a how-to manual on developing a meat-free way of living, this book is limited in its ability to help guide you in that direction but can still assist you, if ever so slightly. In either case, I recommend, to all would be or current veggies, to read this book eventually.

Another book in a similar vein you may want to explore is Hope's Edge by Anna and Frances Moore Lappe.

If you are looking for information on what steps to take in becoming a vegetarian, I apologize, I haven't found a solid single volume to recomend. I would suggest spending as much time as you can before making this type of decision reading from many sources. Lorna Sass, Steve Brill, Dr. Timothy Smith, Dr. Ronald Klatz and Dr. Robert Goldman are authors you may want to take a look into to get started and get some recipe ideas.

Rating:
Summary: You need this book!
Review: This book will change your life! Peter Cox is solely responsible for my family giving up meat five weeks ago. The information is clearly presented and hits hard. After reading this book, I think it would be virtually impossible to continue consuming a Western diet. You don't need meat!! And you won't want any ever again after reading this amazing book.