Here, the man who started the "food revolution" with the million-plus-selling Diet for a New America, boldly posits that, collectively, our personal diet can save ourselves and the world. If, according to chaos theory, the beating of a butterfly's wing can cause a hurricane in another part of the world, try this out for chaotic cause and effect: monarch butterflies are dying in droves due to genetically-engineered corn growing in the Midwest. There is also a direct correlation between the Big Mac in your hand and the mile-wide river now running across the North Pole. Learn the truth about foods we are eating that are, in Robbins' words, "unsafe on any plate."
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
What can we do to help stop global warming, feed the hungry, prevent cruelty to animals, avoid genetically modified foods, be healthier and live longer? Eat vegetarian, Robbins (Diet for a New America) argues. Noting the massive changes in the environment, food-production methods, and technology over the last two decades, he lambastes (in a manner less tough-mindedly restrained than Frances Moore Lapp‚'s classic Diet for a Small Planet) contemporary factory-farming methods and demonstrates that individual dietary choices can be both empowering and have a broader impact. Robbins, heir to the Baskin-Robbins ice-cream empire (he rejected it to live according to his values), takes on fad diets, the meat industry, food irradiation, hormone and antibiotic use in animals, cruel animal husbandry practices, the economics of meat consumption, biotechnology and the prevalence of salmonella and E. Coli. Some details are downright revolting (euthanized dogs and cats often are made into cattle feed), horrific (some 90% of cows, pigs and poultry are still conscious when butchered) and mind-boggling (it takes 5,214 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef). Despite all this and more distressing information, Robbins ends on a hopeful note, detailing growth in organic farming, public awareness and consumer activism worldwide, as well as policy changes, especially in Europe. Well researched and lucidly written, if sometimes overly sentimental and burdened by clich‚d rhetoric, this book is sure to spark discussion and incite readers to examine their food choices. (July 2)Forecast: Diet for a New America was both controversial and influential; Robbins's name (and that of Dr. Dean Ornish, who provides a foreword) should draw readers, particularly to the author's six-city western U.S. tour. Global warming, animal rights, meat safety and genetically modified food are being recognized as important issues, but the kind of sea change the book calls for is unlikely to find a mass audience.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Robbins, author of the classic Diet for a New America, believes that plant-based nutrition and particularly vegan diets (free of meat, milk, and eggs) lead to long life and good health. Citing statistics, research studies, and selected quotes that extol the benefits of such diets, he also argues that animal products are responsible for such diseases as obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and cancer. Robbins deplores the inadequate sanitation and inspection in meat-processing plants and argues that many of the illnesses and stomach ailments that people complain about result from animal agriculture and the pathogens it introduces into our bodies. He also raises concerns about the dangers of fad diets that advocate high carbohydrates, high protein, or high fat. Robbins's zealous advocacy of plant-based nutrition and his refusal to consider the need for animal products in human nutrition throws his book off balance. Nevertheless, those who want to know more about vegan diets will gain many insights from his provocative book. Recommended for large nutrition collections with a diversity of viewpoints. [For more diet and nutrition books, see Anne Tomlin's "A Balanced Diet of Nutrition Resources" in LJ's May 1 consumer health supplement. Ed.] Irwin Weintraub, Brooklyn College Lib., New Yor.
- Irwin Weintraub, Brooklyn College Lib., New York
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
- Irwin Weintraub, Brooklyn College Lib., New York
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
167 of 173 people found the following review helpful
This is the most important book about food to date. That said, it is not a detailed dietary plan. It is an environmental manifesto, a factory farm expose, and the most up-to-date and scientifically sound presentation of:
1) the health benefits of a plant-based diet;
2) the pitfalls of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food and the biotech industry in general;
3) the underlying dietary and environmental causes of cancer;
4) the threat of food-borne illness and how it can be avoided;
5) the most humane solution to world hunger;
6) and the billions of dollars worth of PR lies the public is fed to counter the truth that might set us free.
This book absolutely blew me away. Critically acclaimed author John Robbins earns full marks in terms of his passion to social justice, his unbridled commitment to quality scientific evidence, and highly-readable, compassionate, and straight-forward writing style. In every sense of the term, he has earned the title of "food prophet".
For those of you who read and loved "The Food Revolution" I also recommend Frances Lappe's "Hope's Edge" and Erik Marcus's "Vegan" and "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Polen.
Imperative reading.
j.w.k.
1) the health benefits of a plant-based diet;
2) the pitfalls of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food and the biotech industry in general;
3) the underlying dietary and environmental causes of cancer;
4) the threat of food-borne illness and how it can be avoided;
5) the most humane solution to world hunger;
6) and the billions of dollars worth of PR lies the public is fed to counter the truth that might set us free.
This book absolutely blew me away. Critically acclaimed author John Robbins earns full marks in terms of his passion to social justice, his unbridled commitment to quality scientific evidence, and highly-readable, compassionate, and straight-forward writing style. In every sense of the term, he has earned the title of "food prophet".
For those of you who read and loved "The Food Revolution" I also recommend Frances Lappe's "Hope's Edge" and Erik Marcus's "Vegan" and "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Polen.
Imperative reading.
j.w.k.
137 of 142 people found the following review helpful
Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines revolution as a fundamental change in the way of thinking about something. The title for John Robbins new book is very aptly named. This book will change not only the way you think about food -- it will change the way you eat.
Twenty chapters, with over nine-hundred footnotes, track the studies and statements of top researchers from around the world as they respond to the public relation claims of the meat and dairy industry. When we see the industry claims refuted, time and again by the best minds in the diet and environmental community, we start to see why there is a revolution going on.
I cannot count the number of times I have been asked to provide the study that supports the facts I use. The Food Revolution provides a convenient method of proving issues that the majority of Americans have never realized to be true. It is not what we know that is the problem; it is what we know that isn't so, that is the problem.
The Food Revolution will shine light on those "facts" that industry hopes you won't believe. Interesting facts such as: half of all the fish caught in the world are fed to livestock or that 2.5 acres of crop land can produce enough vegetables for twenty people, enough grain for fifteen people, enough chicken for two people or enough beef for one. These revelations really make you stop and think about how we are using our resources.
Dr. Patricia Griffin, a government official, from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states, "It is reasonable that if a consumer undercooks a hamburger that their three-year-old dies?"
Placing the total responsibility on the shoulders of the consumers for food safety explains why USDA would accept test results indicating that 89% of hamburger tested containing E.coli 0157:H7 to be accepted as normal. This bacterium is known to kill young children.
If your main interest is the environment, The Food Revolution has something for you. For instance cattlemen claim that global warming evidence is inconclusive while at the same time forty -nine Nobel Prize winners, in a letter to the President, stated that it is the most serious environmental threat of the 21st century. We must educate ourselves and as the Prizewinners state, " Only by taking action now can we insure that future generations will not be put at risk."
John's first book, Diet for A New America, changed the way many folks were eating. The Food Revolution will give those who are still eating the standard American diet documented facts about their junk food addiction while there is time for a change.
John Robbins has written a book that can save more people from an early death than were saved by the use of penicillin. Do yourself a favor and read, The Food Revolution and pass it on to someone you love before it's too late.
102 of 107 people found the following review helpful
I read Robbins' Diet For A New America some years ago. Over the years since then, I've wondered what he would have to say about current issues such as genetic engineering, mad cow disease, and the many dietary approaches that have become popular in recent years (Sears, Atkins, D'Adamo, etc.). Well, The Food Revolution certainly answers such questions, and much much more. It really put a lot of things together for me, and without being for a second preachy or fanatical, both informed and inspired me. In my opinion, this is a truly life-giving book. I felt so whole in my heart and soul after I finished it. I believe that this book will be immensely helpful to anyone wanting to live a healthier life. There are a lot of things that make this book special. I can't get over how beautifully Robbins writes, and what a fine human being he is. There is so much human depth and understanding, as well as important information, on every page. His many stories about his life and learnings are marvelous. Reading The Food Revolution is a way of being in the presence of a wonderfully compassionate and loving person. Some people who know a lot transmit their knowledge, and somehow I feel burdened or cluttered by it. Robbins has a way of putting things in context so that he imparts important information in a way that makes you feel uplifted and strengthened. To say The Food Revolution is motivating would be a total understatement. It is incredibly compelling. Once I started reading it, I was completely enthralled. I've read many many books over the years (I'm in my sixties, and I read a lot), and I have enjoyed and benefitted from many of them. But I am delighted to say that The Food Revolution is the best book I've ever read in my entire life. I wish I could tell you how much value I have gotten from the experience that I had reading this book. I wish I had words to express it. Robbins is a national treasure, with extraordinary integrity, who walked away from the Baskin Robbins fortune. With The Food Revolution, he has given us a truly fabulous gift. If you want to do something good for your body, heart and soul, read The Food Revolution. And then share it with as many people as you can.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Mixing genes from humans with fish!!!
What has happened to the USA?
As a none U.S. citizen I can't understand how the Government there has became so influenced by big business. Read more
As a none U.S. citizen I can't understand how the Government there has became so influenced by big business. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Paul Boyle
Eye opening!
I thought I knew a lot about where our food comes from... Aparently I didn't know the half of it! This book is absolutely amazing! Read more
Published 7 months ago by Smith Family
I'm a convert!
Though I'd seen documentaries like "Food, Inc.", and read books like T. Colin Campbell's "The China Study", Dr. Read more
Published 11 months ago by MyRedSandals
A must read for people considering to become vegetarian
This book was an amazing book to read and it revealed the awful truth about farm factories. 10 million animals are being slaughtered each year! Read more
Published 13 months ago by Sara
Eye Opener
This book offers a wealth of information that is a must read. It's a 'well who knew' and 'ah ha' type of book...my husband and I both read it and we are both now vegans. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Kendal
The Food Revolution, by John Robbins
I found this book packed with the best and most up-to-date information about America's food sources, specifically the animal food industry in this country. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Judy
Food and me and us
I love this book. In this book, Mr. John Robbins provides his insight about our plates and our health and our planet. Very insightful and inspirational!
Published on May 6, 2010 by Rui Wang
Exquisite work!
Let me start by saying that every human being on this planet should read this book. The words "life altering" come to mind. Read more
Published on March 13, 2010 by Avid Reader
Eyeopener
Great information presented in a very readable way. Lots of controversial topics addressed with documented resources and citations for the information. Read more
Published on March 3, 2010 by RMW
A GREAT read for ANYONE!
My neighbor has been a vegetarian. One day we were talking and he gave me his copy. I later bought my copy. Read more
Published on January 15, 2010 by Rad Dad
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Has anyone in your life ever had a heart attack or suffered from serious heart disease? Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
healthy heart, diet roller coaster, dairy bureau, global transgenic acreage, modern meat production, mustache ads, veal production, engineered soybeans, soy beverages Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, The Food Revolution, New America, Mad Cow, Roundup Ready, Once Upon, Los Angeles, European Union, Cattlemen's Beef, Unsafe On Any Plate, Preventing Cancer, Healthy Life, United Kingdom, Worldwatch Institute, New York Times, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Healthy Plant-Based Diet, Ram Dass, Reversing the Spread of Hunger, New Mexico, San Francisco, American Heart Association, Third World, David Suzuki, Animal Industry Foundation New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Has anyone in your life ever had a heart attack or suffered from serious heart disease? Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
healthy heart, diet roller coaster, dairy bureau, global transgenic acreage, modern meat production, mustache ads, veal production, engineered soybeans, soy beverages Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, The Food Revolution, New America, Mad Cow, Roundup Ready, Once Upon, Los Angeles, European Union, Cattlemen's Beef, Unsafe On Any Plate, Preventing Cancer, Healthy Life, United Kingdom, Worldwatch Institute, New York Times, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Healthy Plant-Based Diet, Ram Dass, Reversing the Spread of Hunger, New Mexico, San Francisco, American Heart Association, Third World, David Suzuki, Animal Industry Foundation New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 86
books:
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16
books
cite this book:
See all 16 books citing this book
- Diet for a New America by John Robbins on 11 pages
- Genetic engineering (Contemporary evangelical perspectives) by J. Kerby Anderson on 9 pages
- Vital Signs 2003-2004: The Trends That Are Shaping Our Future by Worldwatch Institute on 6 pages
- Genetic Engineering (Opposing Viewpoints) by Greenhaven Press on 6 pages
- Animal Science, 9th Edition by M. E. Ensminger on 5 pages
See all 86 books this book cites
- Jivamukti Yoga: Practices for Liberating Body and Soul by Sharon Gannon on page 257
- Having Twins And More: A Parent's Guide to Multiple Pregnancy, Birth, and Early Childhood by Elizabeth Noble in Back Matter
- The Last Salvation: How to Prepare for Judment Day And the Coming Wisdom Era by Marvin Q. Lam in Back Matter
- Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating by Jane Goodall in Back Matter
- The Power of Partnership: The Seven Relationships that Will Change Your Life by Riane Eisler in Back Matter
See all 16 books citing this book
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