Books on Veganism that will change your perspective

A vegan is a person who does not eat meat or consume any animal products at all. It mostly refers to dietary habits though some vegans avoid leather and other animal products as well. Veganism is fast gaining popularity worldwide for various reasons, the most popular being that, it is better for the planet for the meat industry is quite polluting and according to many studies it's healthier for humans to be vegan and, of course, because people aren't comfortable with the idea of animals having to suffer and die for thier food/other products. If you're thinking of trying out the vegan lifestyle/diet, or simply want to understand it better, here are some books that should help:

This book was so popular, it inspired a documentary with the same name. The book is a philosphical one, questioning human food choices and habits, be they modern or traditional, from an ethical standpoint.

Photo: Back Bay Books

This book is the personal story of the author, Eric, who tells the tale of how he went vegan as well as a vegan guide. The author was quite a carnivore, he once ate sixty-eight chicken wings in a sitting. But he turned vegan overnight. The book is humourous, touching and very informative. He tells of how surprisingly easy the change was and gives a lot of useful advice on how to go vegan yourself.

Photo: Skyhorse

This book is a compilation of essays written by many different people on veganism. They were collected and compiled by the famous vegan musician Moby. For those who don't want to read a whole book with just one person's belief, this is the perfect tome as you get diverse opinions.

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The co authors Bruce Friedrich and Kathy Freston are also the co-founders of the Good Food Institute. In this book the authors tell us about how plant-based protein can improve one's health and is better for the planet. It has recipes and an eating guide to know what to eat when for optimal fitness.

Photo: Hachette Books

For those who lead very active lifestyles or are athletes, this book is imperitive to read. Written by two dietitians who have years of experience working with vegan athletes, this book teaches one how to get all their essential macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals from a plant based diet. With recipes crafted for training, rest and even days and even meal plans and tips for reaching particular goals, this book is written for athletes.

Photo: Human Kinetics Publishers

This is another memoir of a vegan. We follow Rich, who was overweight, unhealthy and about to turn fourty. He adopted a plant-based lifestyle and daily training and within months he transformed and now he's one of the fittest people alive. He participates in Ironman triathlons and is now one of the world’s most recognized advocates of plant-based living.

Photo: Harmony

This is a book on the philosophy behind food choices. While it doesn't tell anyone to be vegan, it helps one understand the true cost and value of food. It follows of three American families with very different eating habits and goes into how each ingredient reached them. Even if you aren't American it encourages you to think about where your food comes from and what goes into producing it.

Photo: Rodale Books

This book made many turn vegan. Over 30 years ago, the author, a nutrition researcher and his team at Cornell, in partnership with teams in China and England, started conducting the most comprehensive study ever undertaken of the relation between what one eats and the risk of developing a disease. Called The China Study, the results of it are published in this book.

Photo: Perseus