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Summary: Important, timely, credible -- and fun to read too
Review: A little too much love in the writing, which I wish wasn't so, because I think it'll lose Joe and Jane Sixpack (i.e. most of my friends) -- but LOTS of facts, an insane amount of research, and excellent writing to tie it all together. A die-hard carnivore would need more than this book to be convinced that vegetarianism is a wise decision. One of John McDougall's or Dean Ornish's books perhaps. But it's still persuasive. The Food Revolution puts the argument for environmentally-motivated vegetarianism into scientific and common-sense contexts, something that sorely needs doing. The animal rights context just doesn't do much to persuade people who already know their hamburger comes from a cow, and still want to eat it. After this book they might better understand the implications of that decision. As for biotechnology and genetically engineered agriculture, there's some scary stuff in here. This book will cast a permanent shadow of doubt over the mind of even the most dedicated biotech fan. You can't be hit with arguments as good as this without doing a double-take. I'm a computer guy so technology (admittedly a very different branch) is my bread and butter, but I know the first thing we techie types should be aware of is our own limitations, and I know how often we aren't. If you think Europeans are overreacting to genetic engineering, you need to read this book.
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Summary: John Robbins does it again!
Review: John Robbins' previous books have been spectacular, so it's no surprise to me that The Food Revolution is the best book I've read in years. It is, to quote Dr. Neal Barnard, "carefully researched, eminently readable, and starkly accurate." With The Food Revolution, Robbins doesn't just tell us what's wrong, he empowers us to do something about it, which is why, despite all the information about problems with our food supply, PETA's Ingrid Newkirk calls it, "the most positive book of the decade." Give it to everyone you know.
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Summary: Compassion in action
Review: The Food Revolution is a remarkable book. John Robbins was heir to the Baskin-Robbins ice cream fortune, but turned it down to become a vegan activist. His earlier book Diet for a New America, published in the mid-80s, opened a lot of people's eyes to the horrible conditions animals live in on American "factory" farms. Now even many omnivorous people I've met will not eat veal, for example, and hopefully may come to see foie gras the same way. When reading both of these books, I at times felt numbed by the large number of statistics, detailing the harmfulness of animal products in the diet, the destruction of the environment caused by factory farming, and the potential dangers of genetically-modified foods. In some ways this was preaching to the choir for me, as I'd been vegetarian and already trying to go vegan for years. But beyond all of the statistics and doom-and-gloom predictions, there was a stronger message: of compassion. Robbins is one of the very, very few authors who has moved me to tears. I'm hardly a person who never cries, but when I do it's usually because of some petty personal reason (relationship troubles, etc.). But reading his books has showed me not only how wonderful and precious our animal friends are, but how opening up and truly listening to people you may not agree with can be transforming. I hope more people read his books. Robbins really does cover pretty much all of the reasons why I am a mostly-vegan vegetarian: health, ethical, and environmental, and has plenty of footnote references for validation and further information. Yet despite what he's written, Robbins himself doesn't say that everyone should become a vegan; he states "I don't care whether you call yourself a vegan, a vegetarian, or an asparagus". He just wants to inform people of the issues involved, and hopes that if enough people are convinced, the world (America in particular) will move toward a more plant-centered diet.
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Summary: PLEASE buy this book! Every person should know...
Review: ...how great a toll our dietary habbits are taking on not only our health, but more importantly, our planet.
Did you know it takes less than 50 gallons of water to yield a pound of apples or potatoes, but over 5,000 gallons (of tax payer subsidized water) to yield a single pound of beef? Ouch!
This book is filled with facts and figures, and they are all substantiated with a very thorough footnotes section.
John Robbins- Thank you! You are making a difference.
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Summary: Especially the section on genetically modified foods
Review: This is a very comprehensive book that really caused me to reconsider the food I eat and why.
The section I found most helpful, personally, was the section on genetically modified foods. Despite the fact that my career is in the area of science, I was not aware of the dangers of GMOs. It's pretty clear to me that the right-wing biased media suppresses these issues and I am thoroughly grateful that I read this book.
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Summary: Great Book
Review: In regards the review from the person from Stillwater, please don't write book reviews if you have the mentality and maturity of a child. We already know that people have the choice to eat what they want, that's not even what the book's about. You can't generalize a whole group of people (vegetarians), because you know of some who smoke. That has nothing to do with this book. This is a great book whether you're already vegetarian/vegan, or you're just considering it. It really makes you think about what's going on in this world.
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Summary: Must Read!!!
Review: This is a fabulous book. It contains an enormous amount of information about how our diet affects the planet. If you enjoy reading about animal welfare, environmental causes, nutrition, and vegetarianism, I think you will love this book. Robbins presents a ton of data and facts, but he wrote the book in such a way that you will never be bored. He does a great job of connecting some major themes: animals, our diet, and the environment. You will not only know much more about these topics individually, but you will also develop a great understanding of the "big picture." Highly recommended!!!
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Summary: The best book I have ever read
Review: To me, John Robbins has written a book that is one of the most important and enlightening books to ever be published. I believe this with all my heart. This book will expose you to what's really going on in the meat industry as well as their board room conversations, shed light on genetically engineered foods that have saturated our supermarket chains (without our consent) and without being labeled and actually shows us how we can take simple steps to reverse world hunger NOW, not twenty years from now. If you're still not motivated to buy this book, let me pose a question to you. Do you like being lied to and treated as a dummy? I don't. Would you want to know the truth if it meant you would have to question your own beliefs? I would. Especially if remaining ignorant was not a conscious choice but an intended manipulation by giant food corporations directly responsible for contributing to the suffering of our fellow human beings, our animals and our planet. For people who think this may just be another health book, your in for a big surprise. This is not some monetarily motivated, non-factual, fluff piece. In fact, it's quite the opposite. In The Food Revoution, John has meticulously detailed every fact in his book and dillineates where every source of information/peer reviewed study is derived from. It's amazing. I sometimes say to myself while reading it, I can't believe how much of his soul this man put into writing this book. I have been reading it every day (for about 15-20 minutes at a time) and each time I read thru another chapter I get choked up with emotion. It's so beautiful, so real and so honestly refreshing that I had to personally write the author to tell him how much his book has meant to me. Surprisingly, he personally wrote me back and thanked me. Funny story, I actually convinced my brother in law to get everybody in his office a copy as a Christmas present. He wound up ordering 18 copies! I feel great about it because I know this is the greatest gift anyone can receive. I believe in this book that much.
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Summary: A magnificent work!
Review: Within a week of its arrival, my copy of 'The Food Revolution' was dogeared and coffee-stained. Such is the fate of a book kept at hand and read and re-read. I pick it up often, opening it to random pages, and find myself instantly absorbed in the powerful telling of how we can save ourselves and our planet by making saner choices at the supermarket. As in his earlier bestseller, 'Diet For a New America,' the facts are meticulously researched and the conclusions are undeniable - the way we eat can either save or destroy our own lives and the world we live in. But 'The Food Revolution' is no dry, scolding compendium of facts. It's an immensely readable book that leaves the reader both sobered and inspired. Robbins empowers us to take control of our lives and our health and our environment. Heady stuff, indeed.
This is a really interesting book about how eating affects our health. There is a lot of useful information in here to provide much thought about what to eat. There are also interesting references for wellness products. The author does suggest you go off coffee slowly before you start the plan. This would minimize headaches during detox. I couldn't wait to get started so, of course, did it all at once and had the most horrible awful headache for 4 straight days. I finally broke down and had a 1/2 cup coffee one day instead of taking aspirin and that did the trick...for the moment. Now I'm completely caffeine-free and don't miss it at all. My doctor prescribed a wonderful replacement for coffee made from soya beans called "soyffee". I bought it online at www. S o y c o f f e e.com and cannot believe how good is the taste.
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Summary: Revolutionary thinking!
Review: John Robbins is a revolutionary thinker and writer. I read DIET FOR A NEW AMERICA but learned even more from FOOD REVOLUTION. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about their health, what we are doing to the planet, and their food choices. Each food decision that we make truly has larger implications that what it tastes like. Read the FOOD REVOLUTION and find out!
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