What first inspired you to explore veganism?
For some, all it takes is one eye awakening documentary and they make the switch overnight. Whilst others need more time to break old habits and gradually reduce their intake of animal products.
The main thing is to not be too hard on yourself and to just keep working towards the goal of minimising your impact on our environment and living a cruelty-free lifestyle.
Whether you’re vegan for ethical reasons, environmental reasons or health reasons it always helps to see the benefits of the vegan lifestyle from every angle. Continuing to educate yourself about the benefits is a great way to keep on track and also to be able to influence others into exploring it for themselves.
For that reason, we’ve put together our top 23 vegan lifestyle books that you should have on your bookshelf. This list covers everything from transitioning to activism.
If your new to veganism definitely check out “Comfortably Unaware” to get inspired to make the switch. If you are a vegan veteran you might be more interested in “Change of Heart” which discusses how we can go further to initiate social change.
Top 23 Vegan Books: From Transitioning to Activism
Check out the full list below, simply click on the titles for pricing and customer reviews.
1. Food Choice and Sustainability: Why Buying Local, Eating Less Meat, and Taking Baby Steps Won’t Work
This groundbreaking book by Dr. Richard Oppenlander addresses the issue of pseudo sustainability in today's society and how what we choose to eat is killing our planet.
2. Comfortably Unaware: What We Choose to Eat Is Killing Us and Our Planet
In Comfortably Unaware, Dr. Richard Oppenlander opens our eyes to the reality and consequences of our diet. The perfect book for anyone looking for inspiration to go vegan.
3. The Forks Over Knives Plan: How to Transition to the Life-Saving, Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet
If you haven't already seen the film Forks Over Knives then it's a must watch. It will open your eyes to the health benefits of a vegan diet. This bestselling diet plan is a follow on from the film that will help you practice the vegan lifestyle. With an easy-to-follow, meal-by-meal makeover.
4. The Plant-Based Journey: A Step-by-Step Guide for Transitioning to a Healthy Lifestyle and Achieving Your Ideal Weight by BenBella Books
The Plant-Based Journey is the perfect guide for anyone transitioning to veganism. This 5 step guide will give you the support you need to live a healthier plant-based lifestyle.
5. Becoming Vegan: The Complete Reference to Plant-Based Nutrition
"Becoming Vegan" is the perfect book for anyone with a deep interest in nutrition. Internationally acclaimed dietitians Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina give an in-depth explanation of the health benefits of a vegan diet.
6. Eating Animals
Jonathan Foer explores the reasoning behind why we traditionally eat some animals and not others. This powerful investigative report really makes you question why we eat meat.
7. Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism
Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows will open your eyes to how strange a concept carnism really is.
8. Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement
Animal Liberation is an animal rights classic, first published in 1975. It's exposed the realities of factory farms and product testing on animals and awakened millions to the idea of speciesism.
9. The Mindful Vegan: A 30-Day Plan for Finding Health, Balance, Peace, and Happiness
Lani Muelrath is a certified mindfulness meditation facilitator as well as a long term vegan advocate. In The Mindful Vegan, she combines the two, teaching how to live and eat mindfully.
10. Never Too Late to Go Vegan: The Over-50 Guide to Adopting and Thriving on a Plant-Based Diet
Never Too Late To Go Vegan is the perfect all in one resource for anyone over 50 looking to switch to a vegan lifestyle. This step by step guide covers everything from your nutritional needs to veganizing your favorite recipes.
11. Vegan for Life: Everything You Need to Know to Be Healthy and Fit on a Plant-Based Diet
Jack Norris and Virginia Messina provide everything you need to know about going vegan. Explaining exactly how to meet your calorie and nutrient needs.
12. How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease
In How Not To Die, Dr. Michael Greger examines the fifteen top causes of premature death in America and how a healthier lifestyle can help you to avoid chronic diseases.
13. Proteinaholic: How Our Obsession with Meat Is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It
Dr. Davis, an acclaimed surgeon who specializes in weight loss argues that too much protein is actually making us sick, fat and tired. He explores the dangers of protein and provides a proven approach to weight loss, health, and longevity.
14. The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-Term Health
Nutrition researcher T. Colin Campbell dispels a multitude of health myths and argues that you can dramatically reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes just by changing your diet.
15. The Healthiest Diet on the Planet: Why the Foods You Love – Pizza, Pancakes, Potatoes, Pasta, and More – Are the Solution to Preventing Disease and Looking and Feeling Your Best
The Healthiest Diet On The Planet provides mouth-watering, healthy vegan recipes for the meals that you love including pancakes, tortillas, pizza, lasagna and much more.
16. Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, argues that a plant-based, oil-free diet can not only prevent and stop the progression of heart disease but also reverse its effects!
17. Eat to Live: The Amazing Nutrient-Rich Program for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss, Revised Edition
Eat To Live provides a revolutionary six-week plan designed to help you live longer, reduce your need for medications and improve your health dramatically.
18. Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition
Whole is T. Colin Campbell's follow-on book from The China Study. After providing evidence that a whole food plant-based diet is the healthiest option he goes one step further and expalins the science behind the evidence.
19. The Cheese Trap: How Breaking a Surprising Addiction Will Help You Lose Weight, Gain Energy, and Get Healthy
In The Cheese Trap, Dr. Neal Barnard provides an easy-to-follow diet that helps you resist the toughest cheese cravings from pizza to lasagna.
20. Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes without Drugs
Dr. Barnard has shown that it is possible to repair insulin function and reverse type 2 diabetes by following his scientifically proven, life-changing program. A must-read for health professionals and any diabetic or potentially diabetic patients.
21. Millennial Vegan: Tips for Navigating Relationships, Wellness, and Everyday Life as a Young Animal Advocate
Nearly half of the current vegan population are Millenials (aged 15 - 34). Millenial Vegan provides advice on how to maintain personal well-being. Covering everything from spreading the word to dating to dealing with bullying. A great read for becoming the best vegan advocate you can be.
22. Change of Heart: What Psychology Can Teach Us About Spreading Social Change
A must-read for activists! Change of Heart is a necessity for anyone wanting to spread progressive social change. It applies scientific research from social psychology, communication studies, diffusion studies, network systems and social marketing to help you make science-driven decisions in your advocacy work.
23. Vegan for Her: The Woman’s Guide to Being Healthy and Fit on a Plant-Based Diet
Vegan for Her is the ultimate women's vegan lifestyle blueprint. It covers everything from transitioning to optimizing your health as a vegan woman.