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Meat Is for Pussies: A How-To Guide for Dudes Who Want to Get Fit, Kick Ass, and Take Names
“[Joseph’s] advice The benefits of a plant based diet can be profound.” —Robert Ostfeld, MD, Director of the Cardiac Wellness Program, Montefiore Hospital and Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Albert Einstein College of MedicineJohn Joseph wants men to know, in no uncertain terms, that they don’t need to eat steak, burgers, wings, or any other animal product to be strong—in fact, he would argue, eating animals is for the weak.In Meat is for Pussies, Joseph offers both personal and scientific evidence that a plant-based diet offers the best path to athleticism, endurance, strength, and overall health. In addition to dispelling the myths surrounding meat, Joseph offers workout advice, a meal plan, and recipes that make going plant-based easy. Flavor and vitamin-packed options like the Working Man Stew and Veggie Chili with Cornbread will keep men’s (and women’s) bodies healthy and energized, while workouts that emphasize cardio and strength training build endurance and stamina and prove that you don’t need meat to build muscle.As an Ironman Triathlete in his fifties who is still rocking out as the frontman for his legendary band the Cro-Mags, Joseph is living proof that living a plant-based lifestyle is badass. At the end of the day, he wants readers to live a long, healthy, happy life . . . and he won’t take no for an answer.“John has written the quintessential pussy-transformation guide.” —Brendan Brazier, author of The Vegan Nutrition Guide To Optimal Performance in Sports and Life“John’s book proves you don’t need meat to be strong, kick ass and be athletically competitive.” —Jake Shields, MMA Champion Fighter
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
160 people are currently reading
1290 people want to read
About the author
John Joseph
2 books68 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
John Joseph McGowan (a.k.a. John Joseph) is a punk rock singer from New York City, most famous for his work with the Cro-Mags in the 1980s.
Joseph was raised in foster care and grew up on the streets of New York. He was the lead singer for the New York hardcore punk band Cro-Mags from 1984 until 1987, though he departed and rejoined the band sporadically.
Before, during, and after his time in the Cro-Mags, Joseph served as an occasional roadie for Bad Brains, and he sang background vocals on Antidote's Thou Shalt Not Kill EP. He returned to the Cro-Mags briefly in the early to mid-1990s.
Joseph sometimes goes by the nickname Bloodclot, as when performing with his band of the same name. He has also sung for the bands Mode of Ignorance, Both Worlds, and Fearless Vampire Killers.
His autobiography, The Evolution of a Cro-Magnon , published in 2007, details the major events in his life, including his extensive involvement with the Hare Krishnas, as well his experiences with the Cro-Mags.
Joseph is also the author of the book Meat is for Pussies , released in the Spring of 2010 on vegan nutrition, training, and the healthy lifestyle. Joseph is a vegan and was a vegetarian prior to becoming vegan.
John Joseph McGowan (a.k.a. John Joseph) is a punk rock singer from New York City, most famous for his work with the Cro-Mags in the 1980s.
Joseph was raised in foster care and grew up on the streets of New York. He was the lead singer for the New York hardcore punk band Cro-Mags from 1984 until 1987, though he departed and rejoined the band sporadically.
Before, during, and after his time in the Cro-Mags, Joseph served as an occasional roadie for Bad Brains, and he sang background vocals on Antidote's Thou Shalt Not Kill EP. He returned to the Cro-Mags briefly in the early to mid-1990s.
Joseph sometimes goes by the nickname Bloodclot, as when performing with his band of the same name. He has also sung for the bands Mode of Ignorance, Both Worlds, and Fearless Vampire Killers.
His autobiography, The Evolution of a Cro-Magnon , published in 2007, details the major events in his life, including his extensive involvement with the Hare Krishnas, as well his experiences with the Cro-Mags.
Joseph is also the author of the book Meat is for Pussies , released in the Spring of 2010 on vegan nutrition, training, and the healthy lifestyle. Joseph is a vegan and was a vegetarian prior to becoming vegan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
January 9, 2011
"Tell that hot girl in your yoga class that you're making sweet and sour tofu balls over quinoa (the recipe is later in the book). She'll be doing some downward dog for ya later that night, homie" (p 199).
Hysterical, straightforward, factual, and oh so true, this book is a true gem! Written for dudes for sure, this guide to vegan living delivers a swift kick in the butt to men who think eating vegan is for pussies. His whole point is that polluting the environment, eating an innocent animal that has gone through hell, and paying no attention to your health isn't manly (and frankly having love handles sucks).
Meat is for Pussies is basically the male equivalent of Skinny Bitch, actually. With titles like, "Get Your Shit Together," "Diets are for Jerk-offs," and "Meat and Your Meat," the message is the same--what you put in your mouth affects your body, the environment, and um...your performance. Have better Karma, treat the earth better, lay off the meat and you'll feel better, reduce your dependence on pharmaceuticals, and apparently get laid a lot more too. It demonstrates more strength to NOT eat meat than to think about what you are eating. Listen to John Joseph and you'll get fit and be the coolest dude around.
Hysterical, straightforward, factual, and oh so true, this book is a true gem! Written for dudes for sure, this guide to vegan living delivers a swift kick in the butt to men who think eating vegan is for pussies. His whole point is that polluting the environment, eating an innocent animal that has gone through hell, and paying no attention to your health isn't manly (and frankly having love handles sucks).
Meat is for Pussies is basically the male equivalent of Skinny Bitch, actually. With titles like, "Get Your Shit Together," "Diets are for Jerk-offs," and "Meat and Your Meat," the message is the same--what you put in your mouth affects your body, the environment, and um...your performance. Have better Karma, treat the earth better, lay off the meat and you'll feel better, reduce your dependence on pharmaceuticals, and apparently get laid a lot more too. It demonstrates more strength to NOT eat meat than to think about what you are eating. Listen to John Joseph and you'll get fit and be the coolest dude around.
November 4, 2015
Eh. As a vegeterian, I'm not his audience. I already agreed with him before I read a page; I wanted to see his take on fitness, though. As a woman, the mysogyny got old fast. I lost count of the "chicks dig it" and the "stop acting like a little girl" type of comments. I think I pulled a muscle in my lady eyeball, from all the eye-rolling I did while reading. But if you're an ignorant bro-jock who thinks vegetarians are all assholes, this book will be helpful to you. (John Joseph is clearly not an ignorant bro-jock. He has steeped his life in this topic but unfortunately that's not the tone of the book.) Alternate title suggestion: Meat Is for Assholes. I think he'd still be able to make all the points he needs...without sounding like a dick.
March 20, 2013
"Meat is for Pussies" is John Joseph of the Cro-Mags' take on the merits of vegetarianism. After reading his autobiography and learning all of the crazy and powerful stories of his life, I felt like I knew another book from him would be, at the very least, entertaining.
One thing confused me about this book - I had a really hard time figuring out who exactly his intended audience was when he wrote this - and more often than not I thought to myself "I really hope it isn't me!"
I am already a vegetarian and an athlete, but I also consider myself a feminist, so the title definitely drew a "shake my head" reaction. If you can past the hundreds of times he refers to meat eaters, government officials, and big-meat CEOs as pussies, the content of the book is really solid. While his intended audience is seemingly chauvinist, male, jock stereotypes, even a feminist vegetarian lefty can build some new knowledge and help re-affirm ideals of vegetarianism/veganism. Joseph is brash and harsh (to be expected) but also thoughtful and caring as he breaks down the various problems of including meat in your diet and highlights the ways that the meat industry fucks up our lives and makes us into giant pussies.
I think that in order to read this, you need to accept "pussy" as a word by Joseph's definition, rather than as a sexist slur (even if, like me, you disagree).
A pussy is someone who puts profits over people, the environment, and the well being of earth and all living things. A pussy is someone who is not genuine, is hypocritical, a cheat, a liar, and someone who takes the easy way out, wants immediate gratification, and is thereby "less of a man."
I recommend this book and I think you'll learn a lot, but as I reader, I often had to try to convince myself that it is okay to read something, even if you disagree with certain aspects of it.
This book may be inherently offensive, but it is entertaining in its ridiculousness and informative in its content.
One thing confused me about this book - I had a really hard time figuring out who exactly his intended audience was when he wrote this - and more often than not I thought to myself "I really hope it isn't me!"
I am already a vegetarian and an athlete, but I also consider myself a feminist, so the title definitely drew a "shake my head" reaction. If you can past the hundreds of times he refers to meat eaters, government officials, and big-meat CEOs as pussies, the content of the book is really solid. While his intended audience is seemingly chauvinist, male, jock stereotypes, even a feminist vegetarian lefty can build some new knowledge and help re-affirm ideals of vegetarianism/veganism. Joseph is brash and harsh (to be expected) but also thoughtful and caring as he breaks down the various problems of including meat in your diet and highlights the ways that the meat industry fucks up our lives and makes us into giant pussies.
I think that in order to read this, you need to accept "pussy" as a word by Joseph's definition, rather than as a sexist slur (even if, like me, you disagree).
A pussy is someone who puts profits over people, the environment, and the well being of earth and all living things. A pussy is someone who is not genuine, is hypocritical, a cheat, a liar, and someone who takes the easy way out, wants immediate gratification, and is thereby "less of a man."
I recommend this book and I think you'll learn a lot, but as I reader, I often had to try to convince myself that it is okay to read something, even if you disagree with certain aspects of it.
This book may be inherently offensive, but it is entertaining in its ridiculousness and informative in its content.
May 3, 2016
Highly under researched and borders on bro-science. I appreciate the brazen punk attitude and understand John J. is trying to reach a particular audience. But it's hard to believe a guy that blasts dudes for eating too much processed crap only to have Tofutti, Stevia, and Earth Balance butter replacement processed food all over the recipes in the end of the book. A little rambling. Cover is beautiful. Much more scientifically sound, well thought out argument books available, like Rich Roll's books.
December 11, 2014
John is a rock star! Literally speaking he is the lead singer of the Cro-Mags. This book is an eye opener and frankly the best vegan book on the market. It's one of those books you wish you didn't read so you can read for the first time. Loved it.
January 3, 2023
I read this book pretty much exclusively because the title was interesting, and I guess I got exactly what the title insinuated the book would be like. I'm not a fan at all of the tough-guy-constantly-swearing writing style, and there is so much fad veganism pseudoscience here.
The author doesn't like using the word "vegan" because of the negative connotations associated with it, but he falls for the same old pitfalls of hyperbolic fear mongering and disgusting descriptions of normal food to scare people into a plant based diet. This just doesn't work, at least for me.
He talks about eating less processed food, and yet a surprising amount of his recipes in the book include processed fake meats. I have a hard time really believing that fake chicken is healthier than real chicken. That leads to another problem, he doesn't actually give real arguments against animal protein or for plant protein, he just kinda says that rotting flesh is gross and that plants are great.
I've been vegetarian for five and a half years and was vegan for part of it, and felt super healthy while vegan. I super believe that whole fruits, vegetables, and grains are the foundation of a healthy diet, and I super believe in not eating animals (at least for me personally), yet this book still managed to lose me.
The author doesn't like using the word "vegan" because of the negative connotations associated with it, but he falls for the same old pitfalls of hyperbolic fear mongering and disgusting descriptions of normal food to scare people into a plant based diet. This just doesn't work, at least for me.
He talks about eating less processed food, and yet a surprising amount of his recipes in the book include processed fake meats. I have a hard time really believing that fake chicken is healthier than real chicken. That leads to another problem, he doesn't actually give real arguments against animal protein or for plant protein, he just kinda says that rotting flesh is gross and that plants are great.
I've been vegetarian for five and a half years and was vegan for part of it, and felt super healthy while vegan. I super believe that whole fruits, vegetables, and grains are the foundation of a healthy diet, and I super believe in not eating animals (at least for me personally), yet this book still managed to lose me.
March 27, 2015
Unapologetic, provoking, and absolutely essential. John Joseph delivers his views of nutrition, the food industry/Western diet and its failing, along with an undisguised challenge to any who accept: try natural, organic foods (without meat, of course) and see how you feel. Watch your life rebound, energy explode, and existing ailments balance or altogether fade away.
Also contained herein is a fitness plan, complete set of recipes, as well as a ton of inspirational (sound cheap, more like profound) advice as to how the prospective non-meat eater can adapt and overcome.
If someone would have suggested or even joked that I would read this book at some point in my life I would have laughed. Instead I paid full retail price and admit this book is revolutionary, important, and unforgettable. For anyone who desires nutritional/health advice without cliched, cutesy language...please read. John Joseph; thank you for this book.
Also contained herein is a fitness plan, complete set of recipes, as well as a ton of inspirational (sound cheap, more like profound) advice as to how the prospective non-meat eater can adapt and overcome.
If someone would have suggested or even joked that I would read this book at some point in my life I would have laughed. Instead I paid full retail price and admit this book is revolutionary, important, and unforgettable. For anyone who desires nutritional/health advice without cliched, cutesy language...please read. John Joseph; thank you for this book.
February 7, 2018
This book is for people who want to start learning about what they are eating, what they are taking as prescription meds and how to start really living. I'm not going full vegetarian, BUT I have cut my animal protein intake down by 2/3rds and I DO NOT REGRET it.
If you want real no BS information on how our world has been fooled into believing everything the "experts" have told us; then read this book. If you want to continue eating fake, empty food and medicating yourself to an early grave that's your choice too...But at least this man has the courage to get some real information that is helpful for improving your quality of life. Yes you can!-) :-0
If you want real no BS information on how our world has been fooled into believing everything the "experts" have told us; then read this book. If you want to continue eating fake, empty food and medicating yourself to an early grave that's your choice too...But at least this man has the courage to get some real information that is helpful for improving your quality of life. Yes you can!-) :-0
January 4, 2016
Pretty decent book, written just like the title indicates it might be. Not a ton of new information for me personally, but it's good to know a book like this exists to teach people. I look forward to trying some of the recipes he includes in the back, and will definitely try to read his memoir in the future.
June 3, 2021
This was a fairly engaging read due to Joseph's in-your-face writing style, which is basically the same as how he speaks. I quite liked that aspect of the book. However, I would have greatly appreciated if there were more scientific citations for Joseph's claims, particularly the ones that are more radical (e.g. organic foods are much healthier than non-organic, GMOs are bad). Still, I like Joseph's attitude and how motivating it is (at least to me).
January 2, 2020
Major disappointment
I read this book after seeing The Game Changers documentary and wanting to learn more about veganism and a plant-based diet. I had heard great things about this book and thought that the non-PC
style of writing would make this a fun read. I was already sold on the benefits of going plant based, but wanted to learn more on the “how” as well as the process of transitioning (for example, if you have to cheat, eggs>fish>bacon or something along those lines).
The book did a great job selling people on the idea that you can get proper nutrition with a plant-based diet, but failed and almost all other areas.
I found the scientific evidence put forward in the book to be quite minimal, especially with regards to things like GMOs, food pH, the safety of eating fish, rBST, eggs, etc. The author simply says how ARTIFICIAL all these chemicals/processes are, almost always without a scientific link quantifying how “bad” they are. There isn’t much nuance. (Let me be clear, I don’t work for any of these industries, I’m just a health oriented banker and ex DI rower in my mid twenties). Also, I took a ton of chem classes in college and I feel like the whole pH topic was a bunch of hippy bull crap with no scientific backing. Explain to me that people that eat x vs. y see 10% higher heart disease rates, but don’t take the intellectually lazy route of just implying that something is bad because it’s scientifically complex.
Because of this, I felt like much of the what the author was saying was discredited, because he didn’t really bring much else to the table besides the promise that he “has talked with some top scientists/trainers”. He didn’t seem like had ever had much balance in his life, and I began to question why the fuck I was listening to a guy who either had to be coked out of his mind in New York or running iron mans every month and drinking 4 green kale shakes a day.
I’m sum, I think the author goes far beyond the scientific evidence with most of his advice, and I would have appreciated if he had worked more closely with professional nutritionists and doctors to back up his recommendations, which I feel like I can’t trust without much more research.
This book felt like a big disappointment, and a huge waste of time.
I read this book after seeing The Game Changers documentary and wanting to learn more about veganism and a plant-based diet. I had heard great things about this book and thought that the non-PC
style of writing would make this a fun read. I was already sold on the benefits of going plant based, but wanted to learn more on the “how” as well as the process of transitioning (for example, if you have to cheat, eggs>fish>bacon or something along those lines).
The book did a great job selling people on the idea that you can get proper nutrition with a plant-based diet, but failed and almost all other areas.
I found the scientific evidence put forward in the book to be quite minimal, especially with regards to things like GMOs, food pH, the safety of eating fish, rBST, eggs, etc. The author simply says how ARTIFICIAL all these chemicals/processes are, almost always without a scientific link quantifying how “bad” they are. There isn’t much nuance. (Let me be clear, I don’t work for any of these industries, I’m just a health oriented banker and ex DI rower in my mid twenties). Also, I took a ton of chem classes in college and I feel like the whole pH topic was a bunch of hippy bull crap with no scientific backing. Explain to me that people that eat x vs. y see 10% higher heart disease rates, but don’t take the intellectually lazy route of just implying that something is bad because it’s scientifically complex.
Because of this, I felt like much of the what the author was saying was discredited, because he didn’t really bring much else to the table besides the promise that he “has talked with some top scientists/trainers”. He didn’t seem like had ever had much balance in his life, and I began to question why the fuck I was listening to a guy who either had to be coked out of his mind in New York or running iron mans every month and drinking 4 green kale shakes a day.
I’m sum, I think the author goes far beyond the scientific evidence with most of his advice, and I would have appreciated if he had worked more closely with professional nutritionists and doctors to back up his recommendations, which I feel like I can’t trust without much more research.
This book felt like a big disappointment, and a huge waste of time.
July 11, 2018
Worth reading if you are invested in health & well being!
Worth reading if you are invested in your health and well being. Even if you are not ready to go “no meat”, it will get you thinking. I was skeptical until my husband stuck with the plant based diet yet his health improved dramatically. He was a hunter and we raised our own meat. We have changed our way for the better.
Worth reading if you are invested in your health and well being. Even if you are not ready to go “no meat”, it will get you thinking. I was skeptical until my husband stuck with the plant based diet yet his health improved dramatically. He was a hunter and we raised our own meat. We have changed our way for the better.
September 18, 2013
I highly recommend this book to anyone that cares what they put in their body. John Joseph is spot on, love him. I know some guys that think its manly to eat meat and they do it almost because of peer pressure. That's ridiculous. They all need to read this book and tough up.
January 17, 2021
Alternative view looking at veganism. John Joseph is a true og.
October 21, 2020
Really enjoyed reading this. Great wisdom across the chapters and layout for it, no bullshit, straight to the point. No HOLDS barred from John Joseph as he demystifies the common plant based myths, benefits for the lifestyle and how to become healthier in the mind body and spirit. All through the use of science, his experiences, athletes/nutritionists and many others. 4 Stars
March 7, 2016
There are many books out there talking about having a plant-based diet and what that means for your body, health, and the environment. To me, this one stands above the others. I heard the author talk about this book on NPR one day. They of course would not say the title of the book. I must admit, I didn't think much of the book initially when I saw the title of the book. But hearing John Joseph talk about the book, hearing the passion that he has in delivering this message, and hearing about his past....I was sold. I immediately grabbed this book and read it very quickly. I've read a lot of books on this subject and many just throw out stats to us (how many people are obese, how many die of heart attacks, and so on). They all sound the same. Many times, its like the authors are just writing these books, but don't really believe in their message. Yeah, there were some stats in this book also, but it has so much more. John Joseph doesn't hold back the punches. He tells it like it is. And frankly, sometimes I think a person needs that punch in the gut to make them understand what most people eat is killing them. I am on a plant-based diet and have been for a long time. When people ask me about how and why I eat the way I do, now, I'll just point them to this book. At times it was sad, funny, intelligent, and overall a great read.
February 20, 2017
When I first heard about this book this title kept me from reading it. After hearing John Joseph interviewed on the Rich Roll Podcast about the release of this book I decided I needed to get over myself and buy the book. It had been an Excellent Read. He will connect with Guys as a Guy. I like his part about being a VEGAN and how he hates the word. I found myself laughing out loud a lot while reading this book.
October 3, 2019
Nothing new here. Mr. Joseph provides light detail about his own experience getting healthy. I suspect getting off of drugs might have been more impactful than a plan based diet, but he blows right by that. The tone of the writing is consistently combative, appropriate for Mr. Joseph's role, but tiresome to this reader.
March 9, 2018
An awesome and direct way of saying the truth. I originally bought this book for my husband who is vegan but wants to get fit. I started reading out of curiosity and loved it. I don't understand how anyone who read this doesn't feel inspired to change their lives.
July 5, 2012
Great book by the frontman from Cro-Mags, and there is a lot more info in here than just why you shouln't be eating meat. A good read for men and women.
July 28, 2012
This book changed my life. I am so happy I read this book.
July 30, 2014
Quick and easy read. This is not for the easily offended. This is in your face as only John Joseph can. It is also packed with good information. Will certainly recommend this to others.
July 24, 2014
It's not nearly as amusing as I hoped it would be. I guess I was expecting a male version of "Skinny Bitch" with some cool punk attitude tossed in for good measure.
December 28, 2014
Step 1 - Read this book.
Step 2 - Save the world.
Step 2 - Save the world.
December 27, 2017
I bought this book because I wanted to spend money and I listened to a Cro-mags album a couple times this year.
John Joseph likes to commit. He's a man's man. A true legend of punk. He is also a vegan who wants to fight the stereotype that vegans are pussies [sic.]. This led to him writing a book that is a little bit more 9/11-was-an-inside-job than it is a-convincing-account-of-the-benefits-of-veganism. Look, eating more plants and organic food has got to be good for us. I'm a tradie who eats several sausage rolls and a steak-and-cheese pie every day. My body would love to get on that plant-powered train. But John isn't here to tell us that.
For Mr. Joseph, eating vegan is the source of his power. He has sex 10000 a day. Has more energy than the whole of Texas meat eating populace combined. Has more motivation in his daily kale than a Bernie Sanders support pre July 2017. Plants have unleashed his inner beast and you can feel exactly that same way as him if you put down the pig and pick up the plants.
I give it three stars because it's well written. He's engaging. He calls a spade a spade and draws a pretty clear line in the sand. I like that. But his conclusions are just absurd. It's hard to take someone seriously when they tell you that eating meat makes your colon fill up with rotting flesh which then affects your motivation for life. But I'm a simple man.
3/5 will eat more plants.
John Joseph likes to commit. He's a man's man. A true legend of punk. He is also a vegan who wants to fight the stereotype that vegans are pussies [sic.]. This led to him writing a book that is a little bit more 9/11-was-an-inside-job than it is a-convincing-account-of-the-benefits-of-veganism. Look, eating more plants and organic food has got to be good for us. I'm a tradie who eats several sausage rolls and a steak-and-cheese pie every day. My body would love to get on that plant-powered train. But John isn't here to tell us that.
For Mr. Joseph, eating vegan is the source of his power. He has sex 10000 a day. Has more energy than the whole of Texas meat eating populace combined. Has more motivation in his daily kale than a Bernie Sanders support pre July 2017. Plants have unleashed his inner beast and you can feel exactly that same way as him if you put down the pig and pick up the plants.
I give it three stars because it's well written. He's engaging. He calls a spade a spade and draws a pretty clear line in the sand. I like that. But his conclusions are just absurd. It's hard to take someone seriously when they tell you that eating meat makes your colon fill up with rotting flesh which then affects your motivation for life. But I'm a simple man.
3/5 will eat more plants.
January 5, 2019
John Joseph - the rockstar, iron man, plant based, survivor of drugs and alcohol - could give any boutique marketing agency on Madison Ave a run for their money. John’s ability to captivate readers, grab their attention, and LISTEN make this a quick exciting read.
John eats no products that come from animals. The book describes and breaks down myths concerning a Vegan diet, which John’s proclaims his hatred for in the book the evil “five letter word”. John has a way with readers discussing his Whole Food Plant Based Diet in an inviting way, something many plant based individuals could learn from. While inviting, John strays from the peace, love, hippie harmony that most plant based eaters are associated with. John’s book will kick you in the ass, and even if you are not compelled to go plant based after reading it, I would be shocked if you are not moved to cut some animal products from your diet.
His book is backed by facts, from legitimate organizations. The National Institute of Health, Johns Hopkins, the USDA (using their own reports to make a point). There isn’t a statistic in the book without a footnote that is sited, which coming from an ultra athlete rockstar, John should additionally coin himself a scholar.
A must read for anyone who cars an ounce about feeling better, having more energy, taking less medication, or just looking for a book that says “fuck” a LOT!
John eats no products that come from animals. The book describes and breaks down myths concerning a Vegan diet, which John’s proclaims his hatred for in the book the evil “five letter word”. John has a way with readers discussing his Whole Food Plant Based Diet in an inviting way, something many plant based individuals could learn from. While inviting, John strays from the peace, love, hippie harmony that most plant based eaters are associated with. John’s book will kick you in the ass, and even if you are not compelled to go plant based after reading it, I would be shocked if you are not moved to cut some animal products from your diet.
His book is backed by facts, from legitimate organizations. The National Institute of Health, Johns Hopkins, the USDA (using their own reports to make a point). There isn’t a statistic in the book without a footnote that is sited, which coming from an ultra athlete rockstar, John should additionally coin himself a scholar.
A must read for anyone who cars an ounce about feeling better, having more energy, taking less medication, or just looking for a book that says “fuck” a LOT!
January 25, 2018
I picked it up due to the appeal of a very non-traditional voice advocating for a plant-based diet, and it certainly delivered on that front. While I found Joseph's voice a little crude and off-putting at times, I admire the way he strives to break down the fallacious stigma that eating meat is central to masculinity. As he puts it, "what's manly about eating an innocently killed animal?." In that regard I appreciated his work, and the sense of urgency that he gave to making a change to an animal based given the obesity crisis in this country, connection between diets high in animal protein and a host of diseases (the WHO doesn't classify processed meats as a class 1 carcinogen without reason), and the long term disease preventative benefits of eating plant based. For the right person, this in your face appeal, strongly rooted in exercise and physical ability, will definitely get your attention, but for me it was a lot of previously known information with a few too many f bombs. Whatever his style, I respect Joseph for advocating this diet from a punk rock view and for how far he came to discover that truth.
November 26, 2019
The aggressive and rather unfunny turns of phrase as a writing style got tiresome pretty quickly, but because of his lead man in seminal 80s punk band status I'll forgive all that. Overall however, I did find Joseph's backstory and transformation into solid competition triathlete inspiring.
I'm not sure who his audience is here, however. As a vegan myself, it did make me feel 100% good about my dietary choices, and after the horror show of facts and details about the meat and dairy industrial complex I felt that choice validated completely, but I likely wouldn't have picked this up if I wasn't. A little preaching to the choir syndrome happening perhaps. My guess is that his desire was to get the aging punk community on board the plant-based train, which likely has a lot of steaks, milkshakes and hamburgers in their sizable guts. I guess any message about the importance of a plant-based diet is a good message. So rock on, rocker.
P.S. Some really good recipes at the back, which will be my reason to keep this book right in the kitchen.
I'm not sure who his audience is here, however. As a vegan myself, it did make me feel 100% good about my dietary choices, and after the horror show of facts and details about the meat and dairy industrial complex I felt that choice validated completely, but I likely wouldn't have picked this up if I wasn't. A little preaching to the choir syndrome happening perhaps. My guess is that his desire was to get the aging punk community on board the plant-based train, which likely has a lot of steaks, milkshakes and hamburgers in their sizable guts. I guess any message about the importance of a plant-based diet is a good message. So rock on, rocker.
P.S. Some really good recipes at the back, which will be my reason to keep this book right in the kitchen.
April 16, 2024
This book had some good information in it, but it is very direct to the point of being incredibly fatphobic. I'm all for PMA, punk rock attitude & living a healthier lifestyle, and I'm definitely down for less consumption of toxic substances but I think this message wasn't for me as an audience. I don't think we need to put down other groups of people, to achieve our goals. I would have preferred (which is again completely on me being the wrong audience for this) more attainable every day information, more positive framed messaging, and less down talk of people who don't meet this lifestyle's expectations. Again, I'm probably the wrong audience for this book. I read it because I was interested in the authors perspective as I read his other books on PMA. The blatant misogynistic language is also, very much, not for me. This, for me, seems like it would turn off most vegan or vegetarian curious humans.
November 8, 2019
I've been picking at this book for a few years now. The information is solid, however this will be a one star or a 5 star book depending on the audience. If you are an open minded "bro" then you'll love it. If you don't like being called a F****ing Pussy all the time then maybe not so much. John Joeseph is a machine though. He's a triathlon competing vegan who was once a messed up, drug addicted kid who fought his way to a healthy existence. I have nothing but respect for him. Still the tone and language of this book really is for a certain type of audience and I don't think I am that audience. With that said, again, the information and experiences are sound and I strive to not be such a pussy going forward. Whatever that means.
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