Diet for a New America

by John Robbins

Book Overview

From John Robbins, a new edition of the classic that awakened the conscience of a nation. Since the 1987 publication of Diet for a New America, beef consumption in the United States has fallen a remarkable 19%. While many forces are contributing to this dramatic shift in our habits, Diet for a New America is considered to be one of the most important. Diet for a New America is a startling examination of the food we currently buy and eat in the United States, and the astounding moral, economic, and emotional price we pay for it. In Section I, John Robbins takes an extraordinary look at our dependence on animals for food and the inhumane conditions under which these animals are raised. It becomes clear that the price we pay for our eating habits is measured in the suffering of animals, a suffering so extreme and needless that it disrupts our very place in the web of life. Section II challenges the belief that consuming meat is a requirement for health by pointing our the vastly increased rate of disease caused by pesticides, hormones, additives, and other chemicals now a routine part of our food production. The author shows us that the high health risk is unnecessary, and that the production, preparation, and consumption of food can once again be a healthy process. In Section III, Robbins looks at the global implications of a meat-based diet and concludes that the consumption of the resources necessary to produce meat is a major factor in our ecological crisis. Diet for a New America is the single most eloquent argument for a vegetarian lifestyle ever published. Eloquently, evocatively, and entertainingly written, it is a cant put down book guaranteed to amaze, infuriate, but ultimately educate and empower the reader. A pivotal book nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Non-Fiction in 1987.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0915811812
• ISBN13: 9780915811816
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Hj Kramer
• Length: 423 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Powerful book about how our food choices affect the planet

During this time of the "War on Terror," we all may feel helpless in feeling like we can affect change in the world. Reading this book made it clear to me that nothing could be further from the truth. Nothing speaks more powerfully in this nation than where we spend our money. We all have to eat, and every day, we can all vote three times per day - at every meal. Although this book was written in 1987, almost all of the information is still pertinent (though if you want to know more about "organic" farming, I would look to another book for more up to date material). Robbins discusses in depth: Pesticides and pollutants - how they affect our health and our planet; the energy needed to raise livestock (water, energy, and fossil fuel consumption and waste), life-threatening diseases caused by ingesting animal products. Robbins also addresses the ethical question about the conditions in which we keep our livestock, and how we kill the animals.By reducing, or preferably, eliminating, our consumption of animal products, we can: Reduce dependency on foreign oil; conserve energy and water; and reduce our chances of getting a degenerative disease such as heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and arthritis, just to name a few. Even if you simply reduce your consumption of animal products, you will make a difference. This is one of the most important books of our time, and I encourage everyone to read it - and share it with as many people as possible.

a vegan's defense bible! honest,passionate,intelligent.

This book really made sense to me. In Diet for a New America, John Robbins discusses the most important reason why anyone should choose to be a vegan. The reason is life! I have passed it onto so many of my friends and relatives. All of whom pass it back to me with the same basic reaction, "I had no idea". This book is a great representation of how i have always felt and it reaffirms my belief in kindness over killing. Robbins is complete and factual. He doesn't leave out any detail concerning the cruel industry that breeds, exploits and murders millions of innocent victims each year. A simple Happy Meal just won't seem so happy anymore. This man is extremely intelligent and compassionate and it is made evident throughout this book. Someday when I have children and they ask me why I raised them to be vegans I will have them read Diet for a New America. Then they will also realize that there is no other choice.

An eye opening explaination of excess protein .

When I saw this video it confimed that I had made the right choice in becoming a vegan. This video is a graphic explaination of what we are doing to our bodies and environment by eating excessive animal protein. It also explains how the USDA set up the food pyramid to help the dairy, beef, poultry and pork industries. Plus, an explaination of what and why these products cause coronary problems.

Never look at food production the same again!

This book is one not to be missed! It took me three weeks to read it: I will be absorbing it for the rest of my life. If you are questioning the quality of your food, feeling unbalanced or heavy, this book will explain why. Even if you are not an adamant animal rights activist, there are clearly other reasons eating meat can be bad for you. Robbins backs all his arguments with extensive research. He also shows us that there is not a great big friendly father figure looking out for our food supply! This is not a book that is going to tell you how to be a good vegetarian, but it will get you started on the path. Robbins dispells many of the arguments against vegetarianism (not enough protien, iron deficiency, etc.) and explains why the closer your food is to its original form, the better off you will be. He also reiterates the need to reevaluate our meat-based system to accomodate the global community that we share.

I'm so glad I read this book!

Reading this book has changed my life. Already a lacto-ovo vegetarian for 6 years, after reading only a bit of this book and a few sleepless nights I decided I had no choice but to stop eating dairy and eggs as well. Did you know that everyday over half a million baby chicks are literally thrown away in the egg industry? John Robbins uses his caring voice to clearly explain all of the benefits of a vegan diet. He gives overwhelming medical and historical evidence to shatter nutritional myths, ie: vegans can't get enough protein. If you're looking for evidence to back up your diet choices to skeptics, read this book and take notes! I highly recommend it.