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Fat Gay Vegan: Eat, Drink and Live Like You Give a Sh*t
Follow the journey from A to Vegan of one of the world’s biggest(!) vegan bloggers and learn what the V-word really means – and why it matters.
Fat Gay Vegan is exactly what he says in the name – he’s fat, he’s gay and he’s vegan. But for a word that's grown so popular, what does being vegan actually mean?
Veganism has grown hugely in the last decade, but is surrounded by questions of ethics, of community, of celebrity food fads and spurious health claims. For the last seven years, Fat Gay Vegan has been a voice that cuts through the fuss and the fads. Now, he brings together his story with those of others to answer to the questions both vegans and non-vegans alike might have:
• Why should I be vegan in the first place?
• Does not being vegan mean I'm a bad person?
• What should my friends and family do... and are they bad people?
• Do I need to be a gym bunny to be worthy of veganism? (answer: no)
• Can I still eat junk food if I’m vegan? (answer: definitely yes!)
In Sean’s own words: When a wave of realisation swamps you and you come to learn how incredibly simple and sensible choosing veganism is, you’ll have me sitting up there in your head like a friendly, fat uncle whispering, “I knew you could do it.” The day will arrive when you proclaim, “Hey, if that fat gay guy can do it, so can I!”
Packed with personal stories and non-preachy advice, this is a compassionate, no-nonsense guide to veganism from one of the community's biggest celebrities.
Fat Gay Vegan is exactly what he says in the name – he’s fat, he’s gay and he’s vegan. But for a word that's grown so popular, what does being vegan actually mean?
Veganism has grown hugely in the last decade, but is surrounded by questions of ethics, of community, of celebrity food fads and spurious health claims. For the last seven years, Fat Gay Vegan has been a voice that cuts through the fuss and the fads. Now, he brings together his story with those of others to answer to the questions both vegans and non-vegans alike might have:
• Why should I be vegan in the first place?
• Does not being vegan mean I'm a bad person?
• What should my friends and family do... and are they bad people?
• Do I need to be a gym bunny to be worthy of veganism? (answer: no)
• Can I still eat junk food if I’m vegan? (answer: definitely yes!)
In Sean’s own words: When a wave of realisation swamps you and you come to learn how incredibly simple and sensible choosing veganism is, you’ll have me sitting up there in your head like a friendly, fat uncle whispering, “I knew you could do it.” The day will arrive when you proclaim, “Hey, if that fat gay guy can do it, so can I!”
Packed with personal stories and non-preachy advice, this is a compassionate, no-nonsense guide to veganism from one of the community's biggest celebrities.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 9, 2018
13 people are currently reading
384 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 12, 2018
I would characterize Fat Gay Vegan as a self help book and tutorial that is written mostly for new vegans, single-issue vegans (meaning vegans focused solely on animal rights who haven't branched out to supporting other social justice issues,) or the veg-curious out there. I've been vegan over 12 years myself so I know going into reading books like this that there may not be much new information for me. However, I always like to keep an eye out for those working in the intersections between animal rights and other struggles for justice. I also just like to be open to books I may have as an option to pass on to a new vegan. This book fit both of those bills well.
One of Sean O'Callaghan's strengths in writing this book is something I would call a genuine and gentle preachiness. He offers the firm grasp of the importance of animals' lives that I want from a book on veganism, but he is kind and understanding of his audience. While the book is indeed trying to sway the reader towards intersectionality-based veganism, it also is light-hearted at times and holds the reader's hand throughout.
O'Callaghan shares about his personal life and journey which was a great way to put the reader at ease. Very few of us are raised vegan and I think it helps people to remember that. Hearing O'Callaghan's history as a once working class, gay, fat person also dispells a lot of the myths that all vegans are one type of person (usually pictured as thin, abled, upper middle class or wealthy, straight, and otherwise normative.)
O'Callaghan also did well to include brief interludes of voices from other perspectives in veganism so he was not just, "a white man telling you why you shouldn't be sexist, racist, ableist, and transphobic." It was clear that he analyzed extensively his place in the world, where he was coming from, and how that affected his ability to process things. Since I am coming at this book with over a decade of experience with making (and hopefully learning from) mistakes, reading books, and doing my best to practice intersectional vegan feminism, I cannot say for sure how a brand new vegan or veg-curious person reading this book would process it. But, I did find the way that O'Callaghan eased the reader into these complex ideas of oppression, and why they were critical to abolish along with animal expoitation, to be accessible to a wider audience than many such discussions.
O'Callaghan includes a section on vegan travel. He both understands how class plays into travel's inaccessibility and also offers tips on making travel more affordable and vegan travel easier. There are some opinions O'Callaghan has that differ amongst some vegans (what counts as vegan, consumer activism, etc) but he offers well reasoned arguments for his. He finally ends each chapter with a little recipe that he sees as a staple of his own vegan diet which is a really nice touch. I haven't made the raw vegan ceviche yet but it's definitely bookmarked for my next grocery store trip.
Overall, this book would be a great primer for some people who are newer to veganism and social justice or for seasoned vegans who want to read an under-represented voice. It is firm but kind, direct but understanding. It is definitely one I would hand to a variety of people on a variety of journeys.
One of Sean O'Callaghan's strengths in writing this book is something I would call a genuine and gentle preachiness. He offers the firm grasp of the importance of animals' lives that I want from a book on veganism, but he is kind and understanding of his audience. While the book is indeed trying to sway the reader towards intersectionality-based veganism, it also is light-hearted at times and holds the reader's hand throughout.
O'Callaghan shares about his personal life and journey which was a great way to put the reader at ease. Very few of us are raised vegan and I think it helps people to remember that. Hearing O'Callaghan's history as a once working class, gay, fat person also dispells a lot of the myths that all vegans are one type of person (usually pictured as thin, abled, upper middle class or wealthy, straight, and otherwise normative.)
O'Callaghan also did well to include brief interludes of voices from other perspectives in veganism so he was not just, "a white man telling you why you shouldn't be sexist, racist, ableist, and transphobic." It was clear that he analyzed extensively his place in the world, where he was coming from, and how that affected his ability to process things. Since I am coming at this book with over a decade of experience with making (and hopefully learning from) mistakes, reading books, and doing my best to practice intersectional vegan feminism, I cannot say for sure how a brand new vegan or veg-curious person reading this book would process it. But, I did find the way that O'Callaghan eased the reader into these complex ideas of oppression, and why they were critical to abolish along with animal expoitation, to be accessible to a wider audience than many such discussions.
O'Callaghan includes a section on vegan travel. He both understands how class plays into travel's inaccessibility and also offers tips on making travel more affordable and vegan travel easier. There are some opinions O'Callaghan has that differ amongst some vegans (what counts as vegan, consumer activism, etc) but he offers well reasoned arguments for his. He finally ends each chapter with a little recipe that he sees as a staple of his own vegan diet which is a really nice touch. I haven't made the raw vegan ceviche yet but it's definitely bookmarked for my next grocery store trip.
Overall, this book would be a great primer for some people who are newer to veganism and social justice or for seasoned vegans who want to read an under-represented voice. It is firm but kind, direct but understanding. It is definitely one I would hand to a variety of people on a variety of journeys.
May 31, 2018
Shame he dies in the end.
Read
July 3, 2018Pg 28 It takes knowing the facts, knowing your part and feeling it is the right thing to do in your heart. Once the pieces fall into place and you have a clear understanding of your role in reducing animal suffering, choosing vegan becomes an epiphany.
An eye-opening and inspirational book that gives sound knowledge about what veganism is about.
One of my favorite parts was the one were different people gave their own insight about what veganism means to them. In the end, I agree with everything and everyone and I really, really appreciate these voices that gave me strenght to move a step forward to sediment my vegan lifestyle.
Pg 33 The awareness of how the world is and how determined people are to hold onto old ways is tough to accept.
Personally, I viewed my vegan friend in a lot of what was written in here. In the way she never said nothing about me eating animals, how she never tried to convert me to veganism, how she was just there being her vegan self and how it was enough to make me question things.
Pg 40 ... a vegan works hard to avoid buying, eating, wearing, or exploiting animals to the best of their ability ...
I'm still just starting my journey into veganism but I'm sure that I don't want to contribute anymore for the suffering of animals. I don't want to eat them, I dont' want to wear them, I don't want to steal their freedom. I don't want to support this system , this "norm" anymore, and so here I am, reading "Fat, Gay Vegan", learning, and going a step forward on this journey.
Thank you for the pat on the back Sean :')
An eye-opening and inspirational book that gives sound knowledge about what veganism is about.
One of my favorite parts was the one were different people gave their own insight about what veganism means to them. In the end, I agree with everything and everyone and I really, really appreciate these voices that gave me strenght to move a step forward to sediment my vegan lifestyle.
Pg 33 The awareness of how the world is and how determined people are to hold onto old ways is tough to accept.
Personally, I viewed my vegan friend in a lot of what was written in here. In the way she never said nothing about me eating animals, how she never tried to convert me to veganism, how she was just there being her vegan self and how it was enough to make me question things.
Pg 40 ... a vegan works hard to avoid buying, eating, wearing, or exploiting animals to the best of their ability ...
I'm still just starting my journey into veganism but I'm sure that I don't want to contribute anymore for the suffering of animals. I don't want to eat them, I dont' want to wear them, I don't want to steal their freedom. I don't want to support this system , this "norm" anymore, and so here I am, reading "Fat, Gay Vegan", learning, and going a step forward on this journey.
Thank you for the pat on the back Sean :')
March 29, 2018
I know the author personally, and I know he writes from the heart. He's a mover and shaker in the vegan world, especially but not exclusively in the UK. The book is no-nonsense, easy-to-read and full of practical information about not just veganism and the reasons for adopting this lifestyle but also speciesism and other unfortunate -isms in our world today. Mr. O'Callaghan and his partner walk the talk, and I recommend this book to everyone - vegan, vegan-aspiring or not. It will widen your perspective.
March 7, 2019
Gave me clear idea about what being vegan really is. It's not about health, trend, or other social issues, but rather the rights of non-human animals are at the center of this movement. Best for people exploring their way into veganism and a living a compassionate life with the least harm on all those around us.
October 19, 2018
An accessible guide to veganism with all the bad stuff (fat shaming, racism, misogyny) left out. The author is at pains not to be preachy and judgemental, acknowledge his own privileges and to hand over to other voices when appropriate.
February 27, 2024
There is some wrong information on dogs. He talks about being ethical nonstop but then says not to buy a dog from a breeder, buying dogs from reputable ethical breeders is MUCH better for dogs in regards to their health and wellness and keeps shelter population down.
The same goes for greyhound racing, he daid they are forced to run when this is not the case. They actually want to run. Their genetics make them that way. They're bred for it, not forced. If you want to argue that maybe they shouldn't be bred, then fine do that. But don't say they're forced when they are not. There are obviously bad breeders and greyhound racers in the industry, but it is incredibly unfair to forget all the incredible breeders and racers who genuinely want the best for the animals.
The same goes for greyhound racing, he daid they are forced to run when this is not the case. They actually want to run. Their genetics make them that way. They're bred for it, not forced. If you want to argue that maybe they shouldn't be bred, then fine do that. But don't say they're forced when they are not. There are obviously bad breeders and greyhound racers in the industry, but it is incredibly unfair to forget all the incredible breeders and racers who genuinely want the best for the animals.
August 30, 2022
I was a bit torn about how to rate this book. I really like his blog and his posts, I think the content in the book is very important to get out there. I would like to preface this by saying that I am not a vegan yet, but I have looked into veganism and vegetarianism for a very long time and wanted to reduce my overall animal consumption. It is a very introductory guide to veganism which is appreciated. It is primarily Euro focused which is okay (just means some of the brands/stores are unfamiliar), but he goes out of his way to mention things available in other countries which is really great. One thing that impacted my rating just a little bit, is I wanted a lot more about his life and his journey. And while that is in there, most of what this book is about is why "you" should become a vegan.
I appreciated a lot of the no nonsense approaches and statements, but I also found myself struggling with his "I'm not being preachy" statements in the book jacket with the obvious (and maybe unavoidable) preaching that just naturally comes when you are speaking about animals rights. For example, they address people who are "only vegetarians" or only reducing their meat intake as an important step some folks go through to get to full veganism...and then immediately go into how that will never be enough and when you eventually become a full vegan you will be ashamed of your reasons for not doing it sooner. This happens a lot in this book, which for someone on the fence or wanting to reduce their consumption and work towards eliminating all animal products, it made me think of that statement "perfection is the enemy of the good". A common theme is "yes reduction is good ...but if you arnt fully vegan you are a hypocrite and will be ashamed of how you are acting later on."
Overall it's a good book. I appreciated his candor and his humor and I learned a lot. I hope other people who read it will be inspired to reduce their animal product consumption. Just know if the reason you are doing it is for any other than animal welfare, he clearly states you shouldn't call it veganism. In a way, it helped me come to terms with that not being a label I'd assume or want in the future even if I eliminated all animal products. A theme is "if you aren't doing it for the right reasons, you don't get to call yourself x" which is okay. Just maybe not my cup of tea.
I appreciated a lot of the no nonsense approaches and statements, but I also found myself struggling with his "I'm not being preachy" statements in the book jacket with the obvious (and maybe unavoidable) preaching that just naturally comes when you are speaking about animals rights. For example, they address people who are "only vegetarians" or only reducing their meat intake as an important step some folks go through to get to full veganism...and then immediately go into how that will never be enough and when you eventually become a full vegan you will be ashamed of your reasons for not doing it sooner. This happens a lot in this book, which for someone on the fence or wanting to reduce their consumption and work towards eliminating all animal products, it made me think of that statement "perfection is the enemy of the good". A common theme is "yes reduction is good ...but if you arnt fully vegan you are a hypocrite and will be ashamed of how you are acting later on."
Overall it's a good book. I appreciated his candor and his humor and I learned a lot. I hope other people who read it will be inspired to reduce their animal product consumption. Just know if the reason you are doing it is for any other than animal welfare, he clearly states you shouldn't call it veganism. In a way, it helped me come to terms with that not being a label I'd assume or want in the future even if I eliminated all animal products. A theme is "if you aren't doing it for the right reasons, you don't get to call yourself x" which is okay. Just maybe not my cup of tea.
December 22, 2017
I won this book, I wish I hadn't not certain why it was listed under the cookbook section.
This book is a Intro to veganism, I've been a vegan for a long time and am just not intrigued by understanding another person's perspectives on veganism......
This book is a Intro to veganism, I've been a vegan for a long time and am just not intrigued by understanding another person's perspectives on veganism......
Read
August 1, 2024Not the greatest. Copied down a few phrases and sentiments I found useful (such as what being vegan means and how our consumer choices can be a form of activism) from the first half but found it very repetitive as it went on. Also disagreed about the rape/slavery comparisons and think he was totally dismissive about any merits, citing more than once than those arguments were only invoked to 'add drama' etc. Not giving a (low) rating because it's still a book promoting veganism!
September 1, 2018
So unbelievably preachy! Filled to the brim with boring anecdotes and very little in the way of practical advice. No real recipes to speak of either, I honestly have no idea what the point of this book is. It's certainly not inspirational or motivational in any way, and it almost feels like the reader is constantly being "told off" for not doing enough... Not exactly great for newcomers to veganism.
May 7, 2020
I had high hopes for this and I enjoyed the start, however it became very serious, very quickly. As a vegan, I know how serious the issues that led me to this choice ARE, but I can't help feeling the very full-on tone of this book would put people off considering it.
I do all I can to live a compassionate and thoughtful life, however this book has made me feel like my efforts aren't good enough.
I do all I can to live a compassionate and thoughtful life, however this book has made me feel like my efforts aren't good enough.
September 11, 2018
A light, easy, vegan introduction (or reaffirmation) that clearly contextualises ethical eating. Filled with easy sound bites that strives to advocate a vegan lifestyle without judgment + a slew of recipes & resources.
March 14, 2018
It was really good it’s a book for vegans and non-vegans alike definitely recommend it.
July 12, 2018
A good introduction for a hopeful vegan such as myself. Though preachy at times, O’Callaghan lays out the facts to readers to grapple with head on. As he often says, there’s no sugar-coating.
April 7, 2019
Seems like a really nice guy but I want my vegan life to be just a small part of who I am, not what defines me. This guy thinks differently. Each to their own.
July 29, 2019
A little bit too militant and preachy in places for me. However, did discover some good links to vegan sites and apps that have been really helpful for me
December 7, 2018
I guess I’m what they call vegan curious (is that right?) and what I liked about Fat Gay Vegan is that Sean O’Callaghan writes in a way that’s kind and gentle instead of critical and judgemental. There’s nothing worse than someone who knows or thinks they’re right that can’t even kind about it, which is an unfortunately common sentiment that people seem to have about vegans. I love that people like Sean are writing books that try to steer people in the “right” direction more gently. I also appreciate his efforts to be more intersectional. Even though this book is largely one issue, veganism, I got the sense that he’s probably active in other social welfare spheres. Through sharing his personal story, knowledge, and experience, Sean makes being vegan feel like it’s something approachable, like it opens a world rather than alienates, and more. I would definitely recommend it.
August 14, 2020
A bit of fun.👍
April 4, 2023
There really isn’t much of anything either fat or gay about the narration. The title is entirely the self assigned shtickish title the author assigned himself.
The content is entirely about the socio-economic, ethics of being vegan. I respect and concur this perspective yet am more invested in reading about the advantages, pitfalls, and repercussions of this lifestyle.
The content is entirely about the socio-economic, ethics of being vegan. I respect and concur this perspective yet am more invested in reading about the advantages, pitfalls, and repercussions of this lifestyle.
January 8, 2018
The title is the thing that drew me to this book. A book with a title like this was sure to be an interesting and funny read. And it was. I liked it, it did make me laugh a few times and it was certainly interesting enough to keep my reading on.
As a relatively new vegetarian I have thought about becoming vegan a few times, even trying out a solely plant based diet out every now and again. This book did help me to understand the reasons for choosing a vegan lifestyle and the ways in which to handle the change. It did however make me feel like a bad person for not being vegan, that my efforts as a vegetarian were not quite good enough.
That said it was a thought provoking book that explained veganism in detail and I'd recommend it to anyone thinking of making the change. I also made the pesto recipe which was delicious.
As a relatively new vegetarian I have thought about becoming vegan a few times, even trying out a solely plant based diet out every now and again. This book did help me to understand the reasons for choosing a vegan lifestyle and the ways in which to handle the change. It did however make me feel like a bad person for not being vegan, that my efforts as a vegetarian were not quite good enough.
That said it was a thought provoking book that explained veganism in detail and I'd recommend it to anyone thinking of making the change. I also made the pesto recipe which was delicious.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews