The Ultimate Vegan Guide: Compassionate Living Without Sacrifice

by Erik Marcus

You could be the world's next vegan. It's easy if you know how, and this uniquely helpful book tells you everything you need to know. Every topic related to vegan living is covered including cooking, nutrition, food shopping, travel, dining out, and much more. You'll get clear and straightforward guidance from Erik Marcus, a vegan of thirty years and counting. Join the thousands of people who've used this book to easily and successfully transition to a vegan lifestyle. Erik Marcus is the publisher of Vegan.com website. He is the author The Ultimate Vegan Guide Self-Care for Activists A Vegan 1944-2010 Meat Animals, Ethics, & Money The New Ethics of Eating

Genres: Vegan, Nonfiction, Health, Cookbooks, Food, Cooking

172 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 18, 2008

Reviews

[Ginny Messina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new updated edition of The Ultimate Vegan Guide--and how great that the kindle version is only 99 cents! Author Erik Marcus has basically forfeited his royalties in order to make the information as accessible as possible. I bought the paperback edition to have at home and then spent that extra dollar to have it on the kindle ap on my iphone as well.

I'm also buying copies for friends who are kind of on-the-fence about vegan diet--wanting to experiment, but feeling unsure about whether they can do it. This book is reassuring and non-judgmental, and so packed with practical tips, that I think it will give people who are just thinking about eating a more plant-based diet the confidence they need to take that first step.

The Ultimate Vegan Guide delivers on its promise of “compassionate living without sacrifice” by providing realistic advice for a smooth and painless transition to a vegan diet. Highly recommended for seasoned vegans, newbies, and anyone who is just starting to think about going vegan.

[ِِAreej · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not convince yet about being a Vegan that's why I scored it 2 stars
May be this is not the first book you supposed to read if you are thinking to be a vegan
But to be honest I enjoyed it

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great beginner's guide to the vegan lifestyle. I recently transitioned from vegetarianism to veganism about a month ago and picked up a lot of good information and tips from this guide. The book starts with a good explanation of why people usually go vegan - for health and environmental/animal rights. The explanation on these topics is excellent, although I had read most of it before. Following these introductory chapters, the author provides recommendations for cookbooks, how to ensure you are getting enough nutrition (very important!), where to shop, how to eat out, equipment to outfit your kitchen with, how to talk about your transition with your friends and family, and advice for becoming an activist. Throughout the book are book suggestions and hyperlinks, so it is a great resource for learning more about the topic outside of vegan.com.

Marcus is the blogger at vegan.com, and he has an easy-to-read writing style, which is always appreciated. His advice is honest, well-researched, and concise. One thing that I liked was that there isn't too much harping on the horrors of the factory farming industry. There are some descriptions of it but the main focus of the book is on how to be a healthy and well-educated vegan, not on using scare tactics to make people change their minds. I'm not a big fan of scare/gross out tactics, as I think they are kind of a cheap shot and reflect poorly on the vegetarian/vegan community. I would recommend this book to everyone considering the transition to vegetarianism or veganism, and I will recommend specific chapters to family and friends.

[Rift Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book, actually! Short, easy to read, and practical.

I've been vegan for almost 8 years now, and I don't need a "vegan guide". I read it because it happened to be a 1$ Kindle book! But actually, it was a good reminder of the basics. And maybe I should be checking out a pressure cooker, and some other stuff!

The one and only thing that HIGHLY annoyed me, came towards the end of the book: Marcus says there should be a couple really good vegan blogs (his included of course) and everyone else should devote their time to other things, like handing out pamphlets at colleges, or something...

Yikes. Quite possibly, that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard, and I am so disappointed that it came out of a vegan book! Blogs are all about creativity, and why in the world would you want to put a damper on anyone's creativity?? Especially Vegan Creativity?? It makes no sense at all, and I'm thinking about writing a letter of protest!

Other than this one thing, this little book deserves all the stars. And you should definitely read it!

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book would be good for those who are just starting out. I have been vegan for about three months now, and I already knew quite a bit in this book - I would have found it more helpful earlier in my transition.

This book is very basic, and contains a lot of the author's opinions and recommendations. He also talks a lot about his own books, website, blogs, etc.

I would have probably ranked this book higher if not for the last chapter. It really turned me off to read some of the author's opinions about how to spread word of the vegan lifestyle, and on top of that, blatantly states that no vegan should do X, Y or Z, then states that he does it, but oh, it's okay that he does it because he's so great. It was quite a turn off. He also suggests that every vegan should be out on corners flyering, which I think is a huge turn off to people.

Overall, a great book for beginners, but kind of angry vegan/extreme at the end.

[Cori · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Luna Bars are made by the Clif Bar people and are marketed to women. Although it’s emasculating to purchase Luna Bars if you’re a guy, it’s worth the embarrassment because they’re really good."

Masculinity so fragile you can't buy a vegan candy bar for women.

Vegan =/ totally woke

If you're just starting out this is convenient. If you don't mind the author.

[Jon Allanson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was only an ok read. It has some good info, especially early in the book, but the author's personal asides are very off-putting.

[Leandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I am not a vegan or vegetarian but am seriously thinking about it.

I liked this book, it is definitely great for people who are interested in becoming Vegan, or just simply want to understand Veganism more. Maybe long time vegans wouldn't be impressed, but, as someone else commented, it was a good reminder and she did learn a couple new things. So I think even the seasoned vegan should read this, as it's quick, short, and he also includes a chapter on how to be vegan and explain it to friends and family which I found very worthwhile as he brings up interesting psychological techniques to best explain your choice to be vegan to people you care about.

Marcus explains things in an easily understandable way. What I really liked is that he actually gave tips on how to live and eat vegan, such as while shopping at a grocery store. He also brought something to light that always plagues non-vegans: what can I possibly eat if I go vegan? The possibilities are endless once you read Marcus' suggestions. He explained what he calls "core foods," which essentially are those go-to, everyday kind of foods. He lists the core foods as smoothies, sandwiches, stir-fries, salads that easy, quick, plus can be full of variety. You can have different smoothies everyday: change the fruits/vegetables. You can make all kinds of different sandwiches, with different fillings. Same thing with salads and so on.

I like that in the Kindle version, there are links directly to sites he suggests. I've never heard of the "Farm to Fridge" video, but my boyfriend and I only watched about 30 seconds of it and couldn't even continue. Just those 30 seconds made him change how he views eating meat.

I do agree with Marcus that it's everyone's responsibility to at least be exposed to what goes on in these slaughterhouses, so watching those videos should be done by everyone at some point.

Marcus also takes it a step further though and talks about advocating veganism and spreading the word. He even has an appendix about advanced ways to advocate and support veganism.

I also really liked that even he said no one can truly be 100% vegan. As he notes, the bike you bought while trying to be green and save gas, might have had the wheels made of vulcanized rubber with animal fat, or it may have had animal grease on the gears.

He also acknowledges even if you don't become completely vegan, you'll still be making an impact if you eat less than you usually do. He gives examples of someone he knew who ate vegan all week, but ate omnivorously when out once a week at dinner with friends.

Something I REALLY liked was how he explained of becoming vegan slowly. To start out with "I'm not yet ready to give up cheese." Instead of saying, "I could never live without cheese." Then you slowly start changing it to, "Well, I never liked brie anyway, I'm not yet ready to give up mozzarella cheese." Then, "I'm not yet ready to give up cheese on pizza." And so on and so forth. It makes someone on the fence about becoming vegan feel a lot more at ease.

In short: it's a quick, easy, entertaining, thought provoking book that encourages veganism without sounding pushy or "superior" and will surely at least have you eating less meat than you normally would and would still make you feel like you made an impact without becoming completely vegan.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to eat more plant-based? Want to become a herbivore? Then this book is perfect for you. I've been an "almost-vegetarian" for a long time but I haven't really committed myself to it. Now, I have had a lot of trouble with dyspepsia and I wanted to try out eating solely vegan food but I was a bit hesitant - isn't it awfully complicated? This book has the answer - it doesn't have to be!

I loved the tone of the book, the positiveness and the encouragement. It wasn't guilt-tripping me for not being able to commit to a full vegan lifestyle (yet!) and it encourages the reader to make the transition as easy as possible - otherwise you will never be able to sustain it. It is not about forbidding yourself to do something you want - it is about replacing old with new awesome food and habits.

The only thing I did miss was a more comprehensive part about dealing with your surroundings. In a world inhabited by only herbivore people I would go vegan without a blink of an eye, but to handle eating out, going to dinners and traveling - not so easy.

[Kezia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a vegan big brother, Erik Marcus guides any new vegan (or nearly vegan) with sensible and honest how-to advice - and only the occasional noogie. Marcus gives readers the tried and true, including shopping advice, basic nutrition, what to cook, dining out, and explaining your ethics to family and spouses.

It's written in a casual style so it's accessible and intentionally nonconfrontational; if you're looking for an ideology-laden book that helps justify your choices to someone else, keep looking. Meat-eaters will find little to offend them in this book, which is mercifully light on the grisly details of animal suffering (plenty of other books and films accomplish this well).

I do have some minor quibbles. Unfortunately there is too little discussion of avoiding animal products in clothing, which is a valid concern for new vegans, nor does he mention avoiding animal entertainment like circuses or sea life theme parks. It would have been nice to see some attention paid to these subjects and possibly some resources.

Nonetheless, it's hard to imagine a better jumping-off point for someone interested in investing themselves more deeply in a vegan lifestyle.

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

If your goal is to become a junk-food vegan, this book will absolutely help you on your way. The advice seems largely directed at people who currently eat all of their food out of vending machines or fast food restaurants, and don't want to have to change those habits to become a vegan. He recommends a wide variety of nutritionally questionable highly-processed foods. At least 2/3 of the book is advertising for vegan junk food. And, when he actually discusses doing something kind of like cooking in an actual kitchen he lists a George Foreman Grill as one of three mandatory kitchen items. A George Foreman Grill is not a "mandatory" item in any kitchen.

If the section on food was bad, the section on activism was worse. In it, the author chastises those who are--in his eyes--wasting their time writing posts for vegan blogs when they could instead be out leafleting...because everyone loves having promotional materials shoved in their faces. He then admits he blogs, but apparently that's different because he is a special snowflake.

I'm glad this book was only $0.99 for Kindle. But, I still feel like I overpaid.

[d4 · Rating 5 out of 5]

■99-cent Kindle edition: http://amzn.to/lh3yUx
■$8.95 Paperback: http://amzn.to/lAn3Rk


I read this in one sitting. It's an easy, straightforward read. I think this would be helpful for someone leaning towards the idea of being vegan, but still on the fence, held back by whatever doubts they may have about their own ability to "give up" dairy or eggs, or with any nutritional concerns. The author stresses that becoming vegan usually means expanding your diet and having more variety than the typical omnivore diet. It isn't about deprivation, and it isn't as difficult as one might think.

I'm giving this a high rating because I think it is an excellent, non-intimidating starting point. The tips on dining out with others are particularly useful so you aren't stuck eating iceberg lettuce while they have a three course meal. Because it's such a short book, it's a good resource to share with others who may have questions about veganism.

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly wanted to see if this is a good book to recommed to folks thinking about going vegan.I think it's a good starting point and an easy read, so the basic answer is "yes."

Marcus makes some good points about productive and unproductive ways to talk to people about veganism and to position your veganism, which I appreciate. It really is true that a few bad vegan apples spoil the whole concept for a lot of people.

His advice is mostly realistic too. As opposed to another vegan book I bought (to be named later) that has just annoyed this crap outta me. It's supposed to be about being vegan on the go...how to manage travel (which I confess is one of my biggest challenges.) And it makes this big huge leap that when I travel I might have the time an access to go grocery shopping and find somewhere to cook. Wha'? Truly an odd approach.

Marcus is much more sane ;)

[Yomna Asar · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute book! I've been entertaining ideas of becoming at least a part time vegan for quite some time now and Erik Marcus's book is really helping me plan the transition

You'll like this book if you enjoy advice that's straight, clean and to the point and there are plenty of good recommendations for other vegan sources. I feel like maybe I can wrap my head around becoming vegan now.

Also, the chapters are all fairly small and you can read them independently.

I like how emotional this book is because sometimes "guide" books can be rather cold and too "step by step", do this, do that..which I find intimidating and not helpful at all..

[Danni Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource if you are interested in veganism, or even just looking for suggestions on how to reduce your animal product consumption. This book is not geared to persuade you to become a vegan, but instead focuses on specific ways to make the transition more easily and effectively. I would highly recommend this for new vegans, non-vegans who are considering veganism or who are concerned about a friend or family member's veganism, and long-time vegans looking for some guidance on how to support new vegans.

[Katlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't really the "ultimate guide," and by the time I had picked it up I knew just about everything in the book. It is a nice, concise and easy-to-read starter, though, spanning a broad array of vegan arguments and concerns. I appreciated the resource lists, which provide avenues for gaining more information on subjects such as vegan nutrition and beer & wine.

[Erin Hearts · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm really glad I spent only $1.99 for this book. It glossed over veganism and gave some general facts, but his website is much more worthy of your time. I did very much enjoy his advice on how to branch out and spread the vegetarian/vegan message, and I will look into some outreach because of his guidance.

[Sabrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK book, but I'm glad I only paid 99 cents for it on amazon.com. It was an odd book, with LOTS of plugs for amazon.com and not a lot of helpful information. OK for 99 cents but if I had paid any more than that I would only give it 1 or 2 stars.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with information I'd read before, but it was a good book.

[Amanda]

First chapter is already awesome. "When the dairy and egg abstainers objected that this wonderful new word was being wrongfully diluted, they were told to pound sand."

[Manda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It really does make you think twice about what you eat and why... I have certainly changed some of my own habits after reading this book!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good beginning book!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another quick read. I learned a lot about the nutrional challenges vegans face. It has helped me be more cognizant of how I plan and prepare my meals.

[ette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm still trying to become more vegan. The chapters on how animals are treated are so sad. The parts on how to find good recipes were very helpful.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read and filled with several sources for further information. This book is also available to be read online.

[Jerrica Hoey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful tips for making the transition.

[Wannie Michelmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple book to guide wannabe vegans to start the journey. Easy to follow tips and good principles to follow.

[Jonele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't actually the Ultimate vegan guide, but it's a beginner's book for the basic idea about becoming vegan

[Shelley York · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I learned a lot of new things, plus now know books, blogs, and websites that will help me become even more knowledgable in veganism

[Kristina Flavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that he gives brief, yet informative overviews of all aspects of veganism.