You Dont Have to Be a Treehugger to Be a Vegan: Eating Healthy Is for Everyone

by Dan Vishny

You Don't Have To Be a Treehugger To Be a Vegan is not a diet book, but you will lose weight. It is not a health book, but you will be healthier. This book reveals the reasons why some people advocate... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0977249301
• ISBN13: 9780977249305
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Veganquest
• Length: 136 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A funny, lighthearted look at veganism!

In the genre of unapologetic, self-deprecating, very humorous books about veganism, You Don't Have To Be a Treehugger To Be a Vegan stands out at the top. The reputation vegans have for being radical and humorless is dashed by this book, since it's a guaranteed laugh. This is the vegan advocacy book to give your friend who thinks we're all a bunch of strange, boring, modern hippies. This book answers all vegan questions and then some, with great statistics, fun chapter headings ("What About Happy Hour?" "Fruit Loops® Don't Grow on Trees"), and even perspectives from the non-vegan industries. For example, he includes whymilk.com's list of supposed benefits of milk for athletic performance, seemingly to create a balance of information. (He makes it obvious that the milk industry is dead wrong about their findings.) The book's 30 Days to Leave Your Blubber™ Program takes the shift to veganism slowly and is a well-thought-out plan to cut out animal products. Vishny introduces his plan with sound advice: watch your body change, listen to your body, eat less processed foods, and drink water. The book's humor reminds readers that while there is so much in this world to be depressed about, no one relates to an angry, resentful vegan. Even though most of us immerse ourselves in information about poor health, horrendous animal welfare conditions, and environmental issues (enough to depress anyone), we have a job to express ourselves as exuberantly happy. As Julia Butterfly Hill said in a recent speech, "I'm not just vegan. I am a joyous vegan!" You Don't Have To Be a Treehugger To Be a Vegan is not formal dining instruction, but he provides some great basics for vegan food preparation. For example, for the soup base recipe, Vishny instructs us to "chop the daylights out of the above ingredients and place in a soup pot." Now that's the kind of cooking class for vegans without attitude! Vishny sprinkles factoids, unique cartoons and quotes throughout. ("Did you know salmon contains more cholesterol than a double cheeseburger?" and my personal favorite: "There are over 4,500 species of mammals in the world and only one species consumes milk after weaning.") Usually the ubiquitous quote prefacing each chapter of a book is distracting, but Vishny's use of quotes is perfectly humorous and informational. One sidebar also dispels common myths about veganism. "Myth 3: I'm going to starve on a vegan diet. This isn't Jenny Vegan Craig. You can eat as much and as often as you want." Vishny doesn't really prove he's not a so-called treehugger as much as he proves he's not in it for animal rights. Like Howard Lyman's book No More Bull, You Don't Have To Be a Treehugger To Be Vegan is not for those with a sensitivity toward animals, though it might just touch their funnybone enough to distract them from the atrocities that animals experience, if even for a moment. --Caity McCardell

A Vegan Book for Non-Vegans

Mr. Vishny seems to me to be the type who would be comfortable writing on just about any subject, but it is obvious that he is passionate about health. But what is unique about this book is that his passion does not translate into diatribe. It is very focused on your choices, your decisions, on your way of life. This was about the most useful book I have read around building a healthy eating lifestyle.

Must read this even if you are just curious

I had always thought about how great it would be to become either vegetarian or vegan. But when a dripping slab of meat was put in front of me, I thought "I could never really do that"...then I ate the entire thing. At the end of the meal, it was back to, "you know, I should really go vegan". So the title of this book got me curious and I picked up a copy. I was sucked in from the first chapter. I learned as much as I was entertained. Now, I am a vegan. I feel better, I look better, and most important, I wasn't badgered into it. This book helped me make the decision myself. I hope this is not the last we hear from Dan Vishny.

A great guide to improve your health and lose weight

The book has an easy to follow core message that gets delivered without preaching. I especially enjoyed the humor and interesting facts sprinkled throughout. I changed my diet so I eat vegan 5 out of every 6 meals. I've lost weight, but more importantly I feel great. I can't wait to get my next soy latte.

Read this even if you are not a vegan

If you're vegan, or thinking about becoming one, this is your most valuable resource! Dan Vishny has taken a terrifically light-hearted and to-the-point approach to showing the way to better nutrition. He doesn't waste time sermonizing, building arguments, or utilizing fads. On the contrary, this is the most practical and concise guide that vegans need to help build a well-balanced lifestyle. The style is so approachable that you would think that it was your buddy coaching you along the path to good health. It's worth its weight in tofu.