Customer Reviews (1)

The next level...
After you've read John Robbins' "Diet for a New America", and digested it (pun intended) for a few months/years, it's time to read "Radical Vegetarianism".Mr. Braunstein will take your thinkingand mentality about food, nutrition, and health to the next level. Sometimes caustic, often funny, and always intelligent andthought-provoking, this book is a great read and very inspiring. ... Read more

Book Description
1912. Social Considerations; Lectures on Pure Diet; A Lecture on Food; The Best Food for Man; The Physiology of Vegetarianism; Historical Aspects of Food Reform; Addresses to Vegetarians; Evolution and Flesh Eating; Extracts from England and Islam; Vegetarianism in its Higher Aspects; Man's Best Food; Vegetarianism and Antiquity; Vegetarianism and the Bible; Index. ... Read more

Book Description
In this fascinating book, learn the spiritual properties of different food and beverage groups so that you can make informed decisions about what to eat and drink. You'll begin to feel a lightness of being, enhanced peace of mind, and inner fulfillment, in addition to maintaining your ideal weight and emanating radiant health. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

No Soapbox
Bought the book with trepidation, because my experience with most veggie authors has been preachy.This was refreshing in that it allows folks to be where they are . . and make gradual choices.Even one story where relationship and connecting at a friends meal was more important than being a purist vegetarian.Refreshing, well written and a great primer for those wanting to know how to eat correctly making the switch.

Little Gem
This is a short little book I bought because I was contemplating becoming a vegetarian for spiritual reasons. Eating In The Light spells out the different kinds of vegetarians and gives some general recommendations regarding nutrition and making the transition to vegetarianism all from a spiritual standpoint. If you already know about vegetarianism this may be too basic for you, but for the individual just beginning to contemplate the path, I think it's very helpful.

Gives permission for all the types of vegetarians
I found this book pretty helpful.I especially liked the fact that they're not pushing strict anti-carnivourism as the only way.I also liked the fact that it is a smaller pocket size.I can take it when I go shopping and refer to it.

Do another seach, there is a better book for you out there
I read others' reviews before I bought this book and I have to say that I am very surprised that no one mentions that it is only a 4x6 inch, slim, pocket book!As you can imagine, it contains very little information.It will take you about half an hour to read, maybe an hour if you read slowly.If you are already a vegaterian, then you don't need to buy this - I promise you there is nothing that you don't already know in this book.If you are not a vegetarian, then you are better off buying a more comprehensive book on the subject...

Learning about Vegetarianism & Spirituality
This is a wonderful book for anyone who has questions about becoming a vegetarian, or for people who already are vegetarian. It helps one to make informed decisions on the very personal choice of whether to eat meat and animal products. I became a vegetarian over two years ago after reading Dr. Virtue's book Divine Guidance, where she states that she was informed during meditation that her clairvoyance was being inhibited by eating meat and ingesting the pain from the animal flesh.

I highly recommend this book. I love the practical, how-to information included on how to shop for and prepare vegetarian food, as well as tips on how to order vegan and vegetarian meals in restaurants, and how to handle situations like eating meals with family and friends who do not follow a vegetarian lifestyle. The book is sized small enough so you can even take it with you in your purse or pocket to restaurants and health food stores for easy reference. It is a highly educational companion for anyone on a spiritual path, or anyone simply looking to make more healthful choices in their life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A 'cookbook' for the inquisitive mind!


This book is a remarkable insight into dietary religious morals and philosophy.....it's a 'cookbook' for the inquisitive mind.

If you are a person of faith, this book gives an easy to understand history of how the history of your particular religious faith has been impacted by diet and moral choices of eating habits throughout the ages. Every person of faith restles with matters of principles and moral philosophy....that's why this book is important for you.

If you are not a person of faith but you are intrigued by the issue of a vegan / vegetarian diet and an ethically compassionate life and how this may effect others around you who do follow a religious lifestyle / belief, then it is a very worthwhile book to read and get familiar with. I constantly use this book as a resource in my writing.

Really Good!!!
How much do you know about world religions and veganism? How much do you know about your OWN religion and love of animals? This book will educate you quickly about most religions and the basic tenet of all which is to treat all life as sacred. Quite an interesting read...

A New Look at History
Rynn Berry's Food for the Gods does a remarkable job of tracing the vegetarian link in the major religions of Hindiusm, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam, and Catholicism, but also to the relatively small but intriguingnon-violent religions of India's Jainism and the British Order of theCross.The history of religion will never look the same after reading thisbook. ... Read more

Book Description
A moral argument based on animal rights, health, global ecology, and world hunger. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Chapter 4: The Argument for Global Ecology
Though I've only read Chapter 4, "The Argument for Global Ecology," for an ecology class, I found it to be very eye-opening. It, and a supportive and like-minded friend, have convinced me to go mostly vegetarian. Hill uses clear writing, sobering facts, and a balanced perspective to make his case for environmental vegetarianism. The reason I gave it only 4 stars is because, while I haven't read the other chapters, I'm not generally convinced by animal rights or health reasons for vegetarianism. However, Chapter 4 alone changed my life.

Life-changing book
This is the book that convinced me to become a vegetarian.The arguments are well-presented and the author addresses many important issues such as myths about vegetarianism.

Well Intentioned But Poorly Executed
I am a vegetarian.I've read the book and found numerous errors.Some are little, some medium, some of the worst are omissions.I have read two reviews of this book that pan it.One in Environmental Ethics, the otherin Ethics.I respect the author's intentions and respect him for them.

an accessible vegetarian defense manual
Mr Hill has written a very accessible and easily read case for vegetarianism. Vegetarians defend those who cannot defend themselves. However, sometimes vegetarians themselves are incapable of defense against carnivores. They should read this book and never be afraid again to debate with carnivoracious opponents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A vegetarian with an emotional appeal
The author uses a lot of exclamation points at the end of sentences to get across how strongly he feels, which is the mark of an amateur writer, and this book certainly has unprofessional touches throughout. For instance, the footnoting that the author did is the oddest I've ever come across, and I'm an avid, broad reader. He has the requisite subscripted numbers to indicate where he is making reference to another work, but when I turned to the back of the book to get the title and author of said work, the bibliography doesn't jibe with the numeric cross-referencing. Before the bibliography page there is something the author calls "Reference Notes*" and following the asterisk to the bottom of the page I read the author's awkward explanation, "The number in parentheses refer to the numbers which appear before the books listed in the Bibliography, in other words, to the reference sources." When an author has to write, "in other words," it means he didn't choose the best words to begin with, which in this instance is no surprise for the reader who got past page one of the book as the author often chooses the not best words to make his point. But worse for the reader looking to match up references with authors, Mr. Gregerson didn't bother to learn how to footnote properly and chose an idiosyncratic and not effective 'alternate' method. This book reads like a college term paper written by a student who feels strongly about his subject but lacks the technical skill with which to do the subject justice.

Vegetarism, A History by Colin Spencer (perhaps to stand apart from this book which shares the title, it is also called, "The Heretic's Feast, A History of Vegetarianism") gives vegetarianism and its history broader and more thorough treatment--from our primate beginnings to our current ecological concerns, and his writing style is clean and interesting. I recommend that potential readers buy Mr. Spencer's book and skip Mr. Gregerson's. ... Read more

Book Description
In her beautifully composed and thoughtful new book, author and activist Carol Adams explores the inner life of spiritual growth with the outer life of practical compassion.She shows how the reasons for becoming a vegetarian (to promote health, care for other animals, and express concern for the environment) are deeply wedded to spiritual practice.

Adams reveals how the practice of creating mindfulness and disciplining the midn meshes with becoming an activist for nonviolence, and shows how in our busy and stressed-out world it is essential to sustain and replenish the soul through spiritual discipline.Adams discusses breath awareness, meditation, yoga, journaling, and dreamwork as examples of how to keep true to yourself and your beliefs, maintain your mental equilibrium, and prepare truly delicious meals with thoughfulness and care.This is an essential book for all those who wish to have their soul nourished and follow the spiritual path of vegetarianism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Easy to read and implement
After reading "The Sexual Politics of Meat" and enjoying Adams' writing, I picked up this book. Her suggestions for incorporating vegetarianism as a spiritual endeavor are inspiring and I have incorporated many of them into my life. If you are able to obtain a copy, there is a companion workbook to this which allows you to do more written exploration of the issues raised in the book. There is also a Meditations book with daily actions and thoughts which is very good.

I didn't give this book five stars because I wish it had ways of incorporating an existing spiritual life (i.e., other religious paths) into this process. But I imagine that is due to Adams' own perspectives and I guess I will have to keep looking! Still, very good.

Carol Adams' writing is very personable and I would love to see her lecture in person some time in the future.

More than just a veg book
I'm really not given to new-age books, so I started reading this one without much enthusiasm -- was I ever won over!I admire Carol Adams so much after reading this.She has struggled with living in a fully conscious way that overcomes mental and emotional obstacles and opens the way for both productivity and inner peace, and her story is inspiring and instructive.I just bought the companion Meditations book and am now working my way through it.I really can't say enough about this book.It's truly fortifying and worth a read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Really needs to be taken seriously
I doubt many of the other reviewers here who gave this book 1 star actually read the whole book. Kathryn Paxton George realizes that humans and esspecially women lose when a pro-animal rights agenda is forced on them. She picks up on the conflict between animal rights and humanist feminism. Veganism is ideal for a healthy adult male, but is difficult in practice for women and child, esspecially in the third world. Veganism requires a complex and well planned diet to work. Unfortunately many don't have access to these resources. Read the book, she presents actual science. Kathryn Paxton George understands veganism is healthy and that animal products are not environmentally sound, but opposes the tying of the feminist agenda with the vegan agenda. Feminism is an easier goal than worldwide veganism and should be applied before we even think of such. You can support both agendas and agree they should not be wedded.

great overview of vegetarian philosophy w/great critique
I bought this book because I have a passionately vegetarian friend who is constantly shaming me because I eat meat. She claimed I was ignorant and if I only knew what she did then I would change my mind. She even told me she was a fundamentally better person than I was because of her vegetarianism. I bought this book in self defense. It is hard to find a book that argues the real IMPLICATIONS both philsophical and practical of vegetarianism. I find that those vegetarians who are constantly imposing their views upon others really don't understand the issues very well, meaning that they are making moral arguments without understanding what it means to make a moral argument. George talks about how moral vegetarianism smacks of sexism, racism, and classism. I think she makes very cogent arguments on all of those points. She IS very intelligent and a professor of this stuff, so attempts to dismiss her arguments should be strongly scrutinized! This doesn't mean that vegetarians ARE bad people. IT means that when we actually think about the implications of a seemingly unassailable idea that one shouldn't eat animals, it turns out that there are many ideological inconsistencies. But this book also has good pratical application--it's not too tangled in abstract philosophy. IN the end George comes up with a good compromise that respects the dignity and needs of *all* living creatures, human and animal alike. See vegetarians and carnivores CAN get along...

Puh-LEASE help Kathryn George see the light!
This book is utter hogwash. George irrationally attempts to a imply that you are either feminist OR you eat meat. Unfortunately for her, eating meat and feminism (as well as civil rights, etc) fall under the same holistic philsophy that life is either respectable and that all beings should be free to walk their own path. I repeat, other species, colors, genders, nationalities, etc, are NOT here for the misuse and abuse of an elite few or collective many. She is no better than the bureaucracy that shamefully denied women (and blacks) rights when insinuating that women are "above" other sentient beings. I got news for George: she's an animal, too! And anyone with a clue about nutrition knows that meat and dairy products are abominable, causing disease and stress on the human body, ESPECIALLY the pregnant woman. Check out the health statistics and reports at any medical school library, in any compendium of studies - there is not one shred of evidence that dairy is or has ever been helpful! In fact, there are pages illustrating the heinous damage it wreaks on the human system. Why? Because no other animal nurses off another animal, that's absurd! And no other animal ingests milk after weening....Unfortunately once again for George, it is hard to take a feminist seriously if she can turn around and repeat the same horrors inflicted against female human animals on other animals in the animal kingdom. What a joke. Save your money and buy some Carol Adams or somebody reputable.....

Where's the logic ?
This is a poorly constructed thesis and serves only to display the typical weak minded headonism of carnivores.Perhaps a person so simple could only serve one cause.I would also recommend ignoring the false information provided regarding health issues of veganism.

An absolutely absurd thesis
There are some ethicists who seem to operate on a crude hydraulic model of ethical concern, which has as its primary assumption the belief that you can't be concerned with more than one kind of injustice without dissipating valuable energy.This is the underlying presumption behind George's "Animal, Vegetable, or Woman."She claims that to be concerned with giving animals moral concern takes away moral concern for women--as if the two are mutually exclusive.She ridiculously claims that pregnant women need to eat meat or consume dairy products to ensure the health of their fetuses (jeez, where does she get this nonsense from!?) and that consequently moral defences of vegetarianism are anti-woman.Never mind that Peter Singer has made a career from comparing speciesism to sexism, or that careful and profoundly feminist vegetarians such as Carol Adams or Deane Curtin think otherwise.It's difficult to figure out if George's primary motive is to trash vegetarianism or defend a strangely unfeminist woman-uber-alles kind of position.A shameful book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Comprehensive study of Judaism and Vegetarianism
While I read this book many years ago, I still keep it on my shelf for reference. It is easy reading and comprehensive, even including a chapter with some quick recipes and advice for changing your diet. It includes adiscussion of the roots of Vegetarianism in Judaism.

I recommend thisbook for anyone who is Jewish and vegetarian or considering vegetarianism. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Food & Drink Weekly, published by Informa Economics, Inc. on June 7, 1999. The length of the article is 389 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Latest Food Safety Scare May Boost Organic Industry and Vegetarianism.
Publication: Food & Drink Weekly (Newsletter)
Date: June 7, 1999
Publisher: Informa Economics, Inc.
Volume: 5Issue: 22Page: 1

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
Second U.S. edition of a highly acclaimed, simple introduction to Jainism, an ancient (more than 2600 years old) but currently relevant religion from India. Written in a clear and friendly style, full of explanations, and a gradual, stepwise presentation of its fundamental principles. For personal or classroom study. Equally interesting for non-Jains of either Indian, non-Indian, or Western origin, and for students and scholars of non-violence, vegetarianism, and ecology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An Introduction to Jainism by Dr. Bharat S. Shah
This is an excellent and practical introduction to Jainism especially for young Jains born in the countries other than India. Dr. Shah has emphasized the practice part of Jainism rather than theories. He has covered all the major practices practiced by lay Jains today in India in their daily life. He has kept the discussion at the level that is logically acceptable by a lay person or the one who has no roots in Jainism.

Informative and interesting
Having been reluctant to learn about Jainism my entire life, this book showed me that a book does not have to be boring just because it's about religion. I really like the author's writing style and his simple approach to explaining what I always thought were complicated tenets. I highly recommend this book.

This book is really worth your while
This book is very unique in the world of books on Jainism.My experience has been that most books presume you already have a great deal of understanding of Jainism before you start reading them or that you are veryreligious.While this book ismost likelyinformative for those readers, I do not fall under those categories.This book taught me what Jainismis about without telling me what rituals I must follow and withoutpreaching to me about my shortcomings as a Jain.it is very simply writtenand really teaches the reader about all aspects of the religion, includinginteresting stories about its development.I highly recommend this book toanyone who wants to learn about Jainism. ... Read more

Book Description
Stretching back more than two thousand years and spanning diversetraditions, religious vegetarianism has an ancient and rich history. In this book, Kerry S.Walters and Lisa Portmess gather writings that reflect devotional as well as moreanalytical responses to age-old questions of animal suffering, dietary practice, and humanresponsibility. These include writings from ancient Orphic and Pythagorean authors,writings that span centuries of Indian and Buddhist thought, and writings from the Judaic,Christian, and Islamic traditions. Interesting both to those well-versed in the literature ofvegetarianism as well as to others encountering it for the first time, are tensions withintraditions over the use of animals for food--whether such use is consonant withfundamental values of the faith, whether religious law or tradition requires vegetarianpractice, and what place animals are thought to hold in the order of nature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A badly-needed break
This book is a breath of fresh air.All we hear about today when it comes to religions is how they breed intolerance and violence.That may be so for the most part, but Religious Vegetarianism shows the other side.All the major world traditions also have a core of peacefulness and love that extends to humans, animals, and the earth itself.This book shows one way that this core works itself out in practical terms--through what the authors call religious vegetarianism.I give it four starts instead of five because it doesn't discuss paganism, which is the most eco-sensitive of all the world's religions.But it's still a very good read.

God & Food & Nonviolence
For those of us who think that killing animals for food is a violation of deep spiritual laws, this book is a Godsend.At this time, when war and destruction seems right around the corner, beginning to practice nonviolence in our daily lives seems like a good idea.This book helps us along the way.It's a very good partner to Portmess and Walter's earlier book, Ethical Vegetarianism.

Informative
This book is an eyeopener.For the vegetarian as well as the nonvegetarian.It gives a good account of how different religious faiths around the world and across time have preached a meatless diet.It's pretty well known that buddhists and hindus preach vegetarianism, but I was particularly interested to learn there is a strong tradition of vegetarianism in the Jewish and Christian traditions.

It was worth the wait!
I've been looking forward to the publication of this book ever since I heard it was in the works two years ago.It was worth every bit of the wait.It's an excellent companion to Walters and Portmess Ethical Vegetarianism, but it's also a fine book by itself.It discusses religious justifications of vegetarianism from a number of religious traditions.I was especially intrigued by the discussions of Xtian and Jewish vegetarianism.I always thought that there was no spiritual support in these two traditions for vegetarianism, but now I see that this is plain wrong.In fact, Both Xtianity and Judaism have a long tradition of compassion for animals.You just have to do a little reading between the lines.If you're looking for a spiritual grounding for your vegetarianism, get this book.It's great! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Unconventional View of the Origins of Christianity
For anyone wanting to know the real history of early Christianity, this book is both an essential and a "fun" read. First published in 1986 with the title "The Vegetarianism of Jesus Christ," this second edition has much additional material and substantial revisions which have made the book more interesting, more provocative, and more persuasive.

Vaclavik (pronounced "vah-SLAH-vik") does not mince words or conclusions. The current so-called Christianity is at best a pale imitation of the real views of Jesus, and at worst an outright betrayal of its leader. Jesus was interested in promoting pacifism (nonviolence towards enemies), communalism (sharing of possessions), and vegetarianism (nonviolence towards animals). Vaclavik's book is important and valuable: I have read his book and profited from it. Moreover, I believe that in his important conclusions, he is absolutely right: pacifism, communalism, and vegetarianism were important parts of the message of Jesus.

Vaclavik identifies three strains in early Christianity: Judaic Christianity, Gnostic Christianity, and Catholic Christianity. The Judaic Christians derived from Jesus himself and believed in the original tenets of Jesus: vegetarianism, pacifism, and communalism. But the origins of Jesus' ideas go back even further -- back, in fact, to Pythagoras, who held many of the same ideas. Pythagoras was thus, amazingly enough, a prophet of Christianity. The ancient Hebrews included both the priestly faction which advocated and practiced animal sacrifice, and the prophets who condemned animal sacrifice. The Judaic Christians rejected the priestly faction. They were called Nazarenes, an offshoot of the Essenes, and aligned themselves with the prophets and the Judaic Pythagoreans.

Gnostic Christianity got its start with Paul. Paul preached a diluted message that did not include vegetarianism to Pagan gnostics, who were converted to become Christian gnostics. Catholic Christianity is even more derivative: it is an offshoot of Gnostic Christianity, and is thus "a heresy of a heresy." Catholic Christianity originated not with Paul, nor even with Peter, but with John "the beloved disciple" who was a Judaic priest who converted to follow Jesus as a young man.

Vaclavik's book does not stick to the tried and true formulas. He is really heading off into uncharted territory, and his book is full of new and unconventional interpretations of the data. To cite just a few examples: the Nazarenes were an offshoot of the Essenes; Paul is the origin of Christian gnosticism; John the Priest (the "beloved disciple" of the gospel of John) originated the priesthood -- and with it, Catholic Christianity -- late in the first century; Jesus was probably born much earlier than usually thought, and was crucified in the year 36 at the age of 59, and may have survived his crucifixion by 18 months and met Paul personally and physically on the road to Damascus.

I am not sure that I agree with all of these ideas, but on the central questions of importance to his book -- pacifism, communalism, and vegetarianism -- Vaclavik is right. In engaging Vaclavik's ideas -- and his data, which I'm willing to bet most scholars are unfamiliar with -- you will be challenged to examine both your own ideas about the historical Jesus, and your own decision whether or not to follow the personal example of this great religious leader.

The future of Christianity rests on our ability to shake up traditional Christianity (and secular society too), and shake it at the foundations. Vaclavik's book is an important contribution to these tasks. ... Read more