Rating: 
Summary: somewhat helpful, BUT...
Review: In my opinion, this book focuses too much on people who are vegetarians because of their strong animal rights convictions. I became a vegetarian simply because I believe it is healthier, so a lot of the things in this book were not helpful to me.
I bought this book because I find myself being put on the defensive quite often when people learn I am a vegetarian, and was hoping it might contain insight as to how to avoid (or handle with grace) those types of situations. It helped a little, but not as much as I expected.
If I was a stronger advocate of animal rights, I would probably relate more to the attitudes and scenarios portrayed in this book. I am all for animal rights, but it has nothing to do with why I don't eat meat.
I disagree with the author's opinion that all meat-eaters are "blocked vegetarians". That, to me, seems like a self-righteous attitude.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Advice on Dealing with Meat Eaters
Review: Life as a vegetarian or vegan is not always simple or easy, especially when we have to deal with meat eaters in a primarily meat eating world. Millions of North Americans have turned to vegetarianism and embraced this healthy, compassionate diet, and our numbers are increasing. Unfortunately, we are still a minority, and problems or inconveniences with meat eating family members, relatives, friends, co-workers and others are commonplace. Our ethical diet draws a variety of responses, everything from kidding to anger. Using her own experiences and more than 200 surveys from vegetarians who live with meat eaters, Adams provides good advice on how to deal with the meat eaters in your life. Adams suggests that we consider meat eaters as "blocked vegetarians." In the chapter "Love at Work III: Living with Meat Eaters - Partners and Children" Adams discusses such topics as living with meat eating partners, raising children when only one parent is a vegetarian, raising vegetarian children and cooking with children. To complement the practical advice given to vegetarians, Adams has included more than 70 pages of vegetarian recipes. A section on "About Ingredients and Products" is also very informative describing items of interest to vegetarians and where and how they can be used. The appendices are also very useful and enhance an already insightful book. Appendix A, "Living Among Meat Eaters: Rules of Thumb," provides reminders of important points pertaining to living with meat eaters. Appendix B, "Letter to Parents of Vegetarians," contains wise advice for parents whose children have chosen vegetarianism. Appendix C is "The Vegetarian Patrons of Restaurants Card." The reader is encouraged to make copies of the card provided which can be filled in and left at restaurants so that the needs of vegetarians visiting the restaurant in the future can be better met. Appendix D is an "International Vegetarian Card" which says, "I am vegetarian. What do you recommend?" in 21 languages. Living Among Meat Eaters provides valuable information about how vegetarians can not only exist with meat eaters but thrive in their company to everyone's benefit! -Reviewed by N. Glenn Perrett
Rating:
Summary: a book we've needed for a long time!
Review: This is a book we vegetarians, especially
vegans, have needed for a long time! It helped
me enormously in talking with friends and
family around the dinner table (when all the
questions come up from non vegetarians). If you're tired of getting into arguments with
other people at the table, you've got to read
this book! I loved it!
Rating: 
Summary: Useless book
Review: This is a useless book. It tries to come up with rational responses to rational questions posed to vegetables by meat eaters ... while ignoring the fact that vegetarianism itself is irrational and unnatural. It's like having a book for alcoholics about how to live with people who are not drunks, and how to provide excuses/rationalizations about your alcoholic lifestyle to those who have not adopted it.
Rating: 
Summary: Practical and Precise
Review: This is an excellent book for anyone who is or knows a vegetarian. It is clearly written and gives specific and practical advice, accompanied by empathic anecdotes, and explorations of many vegetarian philosophies. The authoress has educated herself well on the perspectives of vegans, vegatarians, and meat eaters, and suggests that non-meateaters think of others as blocked vegetarians (people who know that a vegetable-based diet is healthier for their bodies) but treat people as potential vegetarians (with respect, no preaching, and a simply 'live as an example' approach). She tells us to remind meateaters that apologize for their diet that we are not their alter-egos, and if they feel guilt over their choices, they need to examine their own beliefs, and not project their conflicts onto us. She tells us how to "be prepared," not only to supply our own food at events or outings, but how to be mentally and philosophically prepared for attacks, by meateaters who find our diet threatening (as an attack AGAINST their own beliefs, rather than a statement FOR ours). She has suggestions for what to say, in response to some of the most common attacks, and explains how both vegetarians and meateaters see their diet as a statement FOR life (vegetarians don't eat meat because to them, meat is death, and meateaters eat meat because to them, it is life-giving). Essentially, she gives a balanced perspective, insight into the minds of all Westerners. The problems with this book: (1)the responses she provides for us sometimes have a stilted language style that could easily sound unnatural and therefore confusing, to those that know us well (2) the authoress is a vegan, and her frequent statements about the vegan diet (though true) may make vegetarians who eat dairy feel guilty and less socially responsible than their vegan counterparts.
Rating:
Summary: Give me a break...
Review: When I got this book I was expecting some good advice. But what I found was a bunch of ridiculous crap. She suggests that all meat eaters are "blocked vegetarians" ... they really want to be vegetarians but they have fears. Give me a break, she couldn't be more wrong. The book does not offer practical advice and just adds to the idea that vegetarians are weird people. Trying telling a meat eater you think they are a blocked vegetarian and see the roars that will get you. This author offers a fantasy world, it's not based on reality. Plus she starts the book out with bumper stickers and saying about vegetarians... like vegetarians don't also have bumper stickers and saying about meat eating? Please! She portrays us as victims of meat eaters, and misses the idea that groups like PETA are out there making vegetarians look like complete idiots. If you want to read this book I would suggest you get it used or at the library, it's not worth buying. It's good for a laugh only. "Blocked vegetarians"... LOL! Give me a break.
Rating:
Summary: Social advice for the committed vegetarian
Review: Written for people everywhere who have adopted a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, Living Among Meat Eaters: The Vegetarian's Survival Handbook by dedicated vegetarian Carol J. Adams is a very practical guide filled from cover to cover with thematically appropriate discussions of common issues facing vegetarians living in a meat-eating world. Ranging from fitting in during summer barbecues or Thanksgiving dinner; to living with non-vegetarian roommates, family, or significant others; to fifty delicious vegetarian recipes that broaden the vegetarian's palate selection, Living Among Meat Eaters is a superbly presented, down-to-earth, "user friendly", and thoroughly enjoyable compendium of tips, techniques and social advice for the committed vegetarian.
|
