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How to Vegan: An Illustrated Guide
How to Vegan is the hilarious new book from the infographic genius Stephen Wildish, author of How to Swear and How to Adult.
Have I told you I'm vegan yet?
Who is this book for?
It’s for vegans, people who want to know about vegans, vegetarians who dabble in the dark arts of soya milk, meat-reducers and full carnivores looking to take the piss out of vegans.
What's in this book?
Answers to questions like: "What is a vegan, wait, I don't eat gluten, am I a vegan?!"; pie charts to show how much conversation time with non-vegans will focus on whether you're ingesting enough protein; useful recipes and advice (such as how to work on your smugface); inspirational(ish) quotes and much more.
What isn’t in this book?
Arguments for or against veganism; it’s obvious that you should be vegan and here is how to do it.
Have I told you I'm vegan yet?
Who is this book for?
It’s for vegans, people who want to know about vegans, vegetarians who dabble in the dark arts of soya milk, meat-reducers and full carnivores looking to take the piss out of vegans.
What's in this book?
Answers to questions like: "What is a vegan, wait, I don't eat gluten, am I a vegan?!"; pie charts to show how much conversation time with non-vegans will focus on whether you're ingesting enough protein; useful recipes and advice (such as how to work on your smugface); inspirational(ish) quotes and much more.
What isn’t in this book?
Arguments for or against veganism; it’s obvious that you should be vegan and here is how to do it.
- GenresNonfictionHumor
128 pages, Hardcover
Published January 2, 2020
3 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 14, 2020
Sarcastic, realistic, infographic-heavy, and only slightly smug, this primer on becoming a vegan was a lot of fun. Clever use of old Linotype illustrations, cultural stereotypes of vegans, and Venn diagrams combine with very practical advice on lifestyle changes, recipes, and how to deal with dinner parties.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for a review.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for a review.
August 2, 2020
How to Vegan by Stephen Wildish is a fast, humorous, informational read about what being vegan entails. It's less persuasive writing than the title might suggest--the author starts from the viewpoint that being vegan is a preferable lifestyle, and uses that as a jumping off point to explain what the lifestyle entails and how to achieve it. There's a bit of information given to support that thesis, but mostly Wildish is reaching out to those already convinced or at least open to trying a vegan lifestyle. (Or, to quote the back cover directly, this book is for "vegans, people who want to know about vegans, vegetarians who dabble in the dark arts of soy milk, flexitarians, and full carnivores looking to poke fun at vegans" and does not include "arguments for or against veganism. It's obvious that you should be vegan, and here is how to do it.").
The text is eminently readable, with a bright, easy to read layout full of useful and often humorous mostly black and white diagrams, illustrations, and graphics. I especially loved the flow chart layout of the recipes Wildish shared, and have bookmarked several for myself to try, from aquafaba meringue to easy dhal to easy rice pudding to easy pancakes. The recipes mostly seem easy to adjust to gluten free specifications (which is why I bookmarked them.). The accents of the bright green from the cover art add a bright note to the text, and the above-mentioned flow chart format is useful for facts and advice as well as recipe layout.
The humorous tone is fun and light-hearted, but there's useful and inspiring information included, from the history of veganism (Did you know Pythagorus was one early recorded vegan of note, and that the vegan diet was called the Pythagorean diet until the modern vegetarian movement's beginnings in the mid 1880s? I didn't.) to the calculated daily benefit of a vegan diet (1 animal's life, 44 lbs of grain, 1100 gallons of water, and 22 lbs of CO2. Go vegans!) to a super helpful chart of non-vegan terms to avoid when buying products, from cochineal color (made from beetles. gross) to isinglass (fish bladders used in wine making. also gross) to lutein (yellow coloring derived from egg yolks. less gross). Wildish also points out that nobody wins when arguing with others about going vegan, and that the best strategy is to offer simple facts when asked and then to demonstrate by living the vegan lifestyle that it is easy, possible, and mostly normal, and that no one is perfect, so if you are trying to be vegan and make a mistake? Shake it off and keep on trying.
Overall just a fun, practical, accessible guide to what being a vegan entails. I read this in one delightful, delighted sitting, stifling laughs so as not to wake my spouse. I think this would be a fun coffee table book for vegans in your life, a useful light reference book for public or private libraries, or simply a fun and informative read for interested readers. I highly recommend How to Vegan and will probably be buying a copy for my own library.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Andrews McMeel for letting me read this free digital #advancedcopy of #HowToVegan . This is my honest opinion.
The text is eminently readable, with a bright, easy to read layout full of useful and often humorous mostly black and white diagrams, illustrations, and graphics. I especially loved the flow chart layout of the recipes Wildish shared, and have bookmarked several for myself to try, from aquafaba meringue to easy dhal to easy rice pudding to easy pancakes. The recipes mostly seem easy to adjust to gluten free specifications (which is why I bookmarked them.). The accents of the bright green from the cover art add a bright note to the text, and the above-mentioned flow chart format is useful for facts and advice as well as recipe layout.
The humorous tone is fun and light-hearted, but there's useful and inspiring information included, from the history of veganism (Did you know Pythagorus was one early recorded vegan of note, and that the vegan diet was called the Pythagorean diet until the modern vegetarian movement's beginnings in the mid 1880s? I didn't.) to the calculated daily benefit of a vegan diet (1 animal's life, 44 lbs of grain, 1100 gallons of water, and 22 lbs of CO2. Go vegans!) to a super helpful chart of non-vegan terms to avoid when buying products, from cochineal color (made from beetles. gross) to isinglass (fish bladders used in wine making. also gross) to lutein (yellow coloring derived from egg yolks. less gross). Wildish also points out that nobody wins when arguing with others about going vegan, and that the best strategy is to offer simple facts when asked and then to demonstrate by living the vegan lifestyle that it is easy, possible, and mostly normal, and that no one is perfect, so if you are trying to be vegan and make a mistake? Shake it off and keep on trying.
Overall just a fun, practical, accessible guide to what being a vegan entails. I read this in one delightful, delighted sitting, stifling laughs so as not to wake my spouse. I think this would be a fun coffee table book for vegans in your life, a useful light reference book for public or private libraries, or simply a fun and informative read for interested readers. I highly recommend How to Vegan and will probably be buying a copy for my own library.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Andrews McMeel for letting me read this free digital #advancedcopy of #HowToVegan . This is my honest opinion.
July 28, 2020
Such a fun and informative book. A really quick read covering most topics on veganism–from social and environmental impact to a few recipes. I don’t think I’d ever laughed out loud reading about veganism before. The author’s sense of humor is really on point and completely balanced with the information.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for granting me a copy in exchange of an honest review!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for granting me a copy in exchange of an honest review!
July 24, 2020
First off, let me start by saying I’m pescatarian. I do love fish but I have slowly been working my way to giving up the dairy portion of things. This book was quirky, cute, but informative. A quick read but I loved it!
January 20, 2021
While as a long time vegan there wasn't too much in the book I didn't already know, I loved the humour: the author's sarcastic, silly, absurd, dry, Venn diagramy comedy had me laughing out loud pretty much every page.
Pick this up if you're a newbie vegan, especially if you're in the UK - as many of the product names mentioned are unfamiliar to me and presumably British, or if you're a curious vegetarian on the verge of upgrading, but wondering about the practicalities, or if you're neither and ready for a self-deprecating peek into the vegan life.
Pick this up if you're a newbie vegan, especially if you're in the UK - as many of the product names mentioned are unfamiliar to me and presumably British, or if you're a curious vegetarian on the verge of upgrading, but wondering about the practicalities, or if you're neither and ready for a self-deprecating peek into the vegan life.
January 18, 2025
A follower of mine send it to me, and I felt like reading it. This is filled with memes, oversimplified information, and it has a lot of missing gaps for someone to get fully informed. But this is needed, and vegan humor is needed, we also need simple vegan books. If humanity only printed books like this it would be in a better place. So grateful for whoever set the intention to write this book, and to publish it. I really appreaciate the efforts, and this is a step in the right direction.
March 3, 2021
This was incredibly funny lol
While the author most definitely is not trying to take the piss out of vegans, i feel like he uses a lot of humor in order to anticipate the usual statements and jokes made towards vegan. this was a lot of fun and the few recipes that are shared in this book sound rather delicious
While the author most definitely is not trying to take the piss out of vegans, i feel like he uses a lot of humor in order to anticipate the usual statements and jokes made towards vegan. this was a lot of fun and the few recipes that are shared in this book sound rather delicious
August 7, 2020
3.5 rounded to 4
Fun approach to veganism. I really learned a lot and hope to add some of these tips to my meatless Monndays
Fun approach to veganism. I really learned a lot and hope to add some of these tips to my meatless Monndays
September 16, 2020
Delicious Vegan Fun
Tired of stuffy or preachy vegan books? This is your antidote! I'm not quite sure what I was expecting when I saw this on one of my favorite book review sites, but this was certainly not it. But in a good way. I think this book would be ideal for people who are considering veganism, even if part-time. It's a gentle and fun introduction, written almost like a joke book with a light and breezy attitude (with an occasional swear word). You won't find many paragraphs here, but there are lots of diagrams, old-timey illustrations, and charts. As a longtime part-time vegan (cheese beckons on occasion), many parts made me laugh out loud. I loved the charts and diagrams about non-vegans being concerned about your protein eating! Along with the humor, the author includes some helpful tidbits of information and even recipes. I've read a gazillion cookbooks and even written four, and I've never seen recipes written as diagrams like this. I did think that some key details were missing from the recipes, like how long to cook something on the stovetop, so beware if you want to attempt any. I suggest you check out the Look Inside preview at Amazon or sample at other booksellers to see if this is a book for you. I found it fun, funny, and charming.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
Tired of stuffy or preachy vegan books? This is your antidote! I'm not quite sure what I was expecting when I saw this on one of my favorite book review sites, but this was certainly not it. But in a good way. I think this book would be ideal for people who are considering veganism, even if part-time. It's a gentle and fun introduction, written almost like a joke book with a light and breezy attitude (with an occasional swear word). You won't find many paragraphs here, but there are lots of diagrams, old-timey illustrations, and charts. As a longtime part-time vegan (cheese beckons on occasion), many parts made me laugh out loud. I loved the charts and diagrams about non-vegans being concerned about your protein eating! Along with the humor, the author includes some helpful tidbits of information and even recipes. I've read a gazillion cookbooks and even written four, and I've never seen recipes written as diagrams like this. I did think that some key details were missing from the recipes, like how long to cook something on the stovetop, so beware if you want to attempt any. I suggest you check out the Look Inside preview at Amazon or sample at other booksellers to see if this is a book for you. I found it fun, funny, and charming.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
August 5, 2020
Such a cute book! This is an excellent introduction to veganism, especially if you want it explained fast, simple, with fact and figures. It is an easy read, with a powerful message, but definitely not preachy. If you want to know what veganism is, your child/friend/someone you know has become a vegan, or you are a new vegan, I would encourage you to read this book!
Veganism, how it works, what it is all about, how to do it, and how it is actually nothing radical, not even expensive or hard to do, explained understandably, lightened up with infographics and humor. It has some simple recipes, explanations how to do and what to do, and how a vegan can answer the most common questions about being a vegan. It is also a good, quick reference book about veganism.
Thank you NetGalley and Stephen Wildish for the free ARC I got in exchange for an honest review.
Veganism, how it works, what it is all about, how to do it, and how it is actually nothing radical, not even expensive or hard to do, explained understandably, lightened up with infographics and humor. It has some simple recipes, explanations how to do and what to do, and how a vegan can answer the most common questions about being a vegan. It is also a good, quick reference book about veganism.
Thank you NetGalley and Stephen Wildish for the free ARC I got in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange of an honest review.
2nd disclaimer - I am not vegan. I do understand the benefits of veganism for our environment, but at the same time I believe the world is more complex than that and usually veganism applies to mostly white western countries.
3rd disclaimer - it's more like 2.5 stars
Overall, this is a comical and sarcastic book. It is quite fun, very easy to read, the recipes represented with pictograms was awesome. However... The book is funny, but it also depends on your type of humour. Some parts of it were expected to be funny, but they just weren't for me.
And secondly, although I appreciate humour and how easy to read this book was... There isn't much scientific evidence presented.
But overall, a funny book - again, focused on a western culture as always.
2nd disclaimer - I am not vegan. I do understand the benefits of veganism for our environment, but at the same time I believe the world is more complex than that and usually veganism applies to mostly white western countries.
3rd disclaimer - it's more like 2.5 stars
Overall, this is a comical and sarcastic book. It is quite fun, very easy to read, the recipes represented with pictograms was awesome. However... The book is funny, but it also depends on your type of humour. Some parts of it were expected to be funny, but they just weren't for me.
And secondly, although I appreciate humour and how easy to read this book was... There isn't much scientific evidence presented.
But overall, a funny book - again, focused on a western culture as always.
February 13, 2021
I am trying to know about veganIsm, even though I am already vegan I do not know much about. I do it because it feels right and I feel better.The author seems to have knowledge about vegan food but in my opinion he lacks in other fields. First, to convince people to become vegan! Waste of time! I do not want people to convince me to go back to animal products. I think by doing my part, people will follow when they are ready. Second, How can you be vegan by wearing synthetic materials? PVC is proven to be carcinogenic. Really? are we saving ourselves and the animals contaminating the earth with synthetic materials? It is hard to be vegan but changing habits might take an eternity. I am trying to do my part and questioning my self about the right thing to do! That is personal. And please, excuse my English and writing
August 25, 2020
‘There is life after cheese.’
To be honest, I requested this book by accident. But I thought I should give it a try anyway, and I’m so glad I did it. This short read was so much fun, I laughed from the first pages to the last one. There are also some serious tipps, very easy, funny recipes and many hilarious charts.
This book is for everyone, for vegans, people that want to be vegans and meat eaters. It is not a book about why you should go vegan, because it is obvious why.
Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest, I requested this book by accident. But I thought I should give it a try anyway, and I’m so glad I did it. This short read was so much fun, I laughed from the first pages to the last one. There are also some serious tipps, very easy, funny recipes and many hilarious charts.
This book is for everyone, for vegans, people that want to be vegans and meat eaters. It is not a book about why you should go vegan, because it is obvious why.
Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2020
How to Vegan is a fast-read guide for what veganism is.
While quite informative, the book is really easy to read, well structured with a lot of pictures (should I say memes even?), and some very easy and delicious-sounding recipes.
I'd like to note that I found some of the language sounding a bit too preachy, given that the book seems to be targeted at people that are yet to find out about veganism and how it works.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.*
While quite informative, the book is really easy to read, well structured with a lot of pictures (should I say memes even?), and some very easy and delicious-sounding recipes.
I'd like to note that I found some of the language sounding a bit too preachy, given that the book seems to be targeted at people that are yet to find out about veganism and how it works.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.*
August 11, 2020
*- Where do I get my protein?
-Bitch, peas!*
I really enjoyed this! After having read some non-fiction ehavily fact based books on veganism, which don't get me wrong, i still love and will continue reading, I do enjoy that this books will soon be out there for everyone to enjoy! It's lighthearted without dumbing it done, it is funny without offending anyone and speaks truths through simplicity and funny diagrams, memes and puns!
Loved it! Would recommend for vegans and non-vegans alike! :D
Thank you Netgalley for the free e.ARC in exchange for my honest review.
-Bitch, peas!*
I really enjoyed this! After having read some non-fiction ehavily fact based books on veganism, which don't get me wrong, i still love and will continue reading, I do enjoy that this books will soon be out there for everyone to enjoy! It's lighthearted without dumbing it done, it is funny without offending anyone and speaks truths through simplicity and funny diagrams, memes and puns!
Loved it! Would recommend for vegans and non-vegans alike! :D
Thank you Netgalley for the free e.ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 17, 2020
I received an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Disclaimer - I am not a vegan, nor do I have solid plans to become one any time soon. I am however trying to be more conscious about reducing my meat consumption. I found this book to be insightful and hilarious. It joked about the preachiness of some vegans and was filled with puns and comics. Though it is at its core a reference. book, it was highly entertaining. I am excited to try some of the recipes and food swaps!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me access to this eARC!
Disclaimer - I am not a vegan, nor do I have solid plans to become one any time soon. I am however trying to be more conscious about reducing my meat consumption. I found this book to be insightful and hilarious. It joked about the preachiness of some vegans and was filled with puns and comics. Though it is at its core a reference. book, it was highly entertaining. I am excited to try some of the recipes and food swaps!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me access to this eARC!
August 26, 2020
**I received an e-ARC from NetGalley for an honest review**
The description of the book says "Who is this book for? It’s for vegans, people who want to know about vegans, vegetarians who dabble in the dark arts of soya milk, meat-reducers and full carnivores looking to take the piss out of vegans."
In the end, the book feels unfocused. I had hoped for more recipes for someone who seems committed to a vegan lifestyle and hoping others will do the same. I understand the author was trying to be humorous a lot of the time, but overall it fell flat for me.
The description of the book says "Who is this book for? It’s for vegans, people who want to know about vegans, vegetarians who dabble in the dark arts of soya milk, meat-reducers and full carnivores looking to take the piss out of vegans."
In the end, the book feels unfocused. I had hoped for more recipes for someone who seems committed to a vegan lifestyle and hoping others will do the same. I understand the author was trying to be humorous a lot of the time, but overall it fell flat for me.
August 13, 2020
Five, yes, FIVE stars!
Even if you're not vegan, don't want to be vegan, or don't know what vegan is, you'll enjoy this book. Don't let the page count fool you. This is an extremely fast read because there are loads of illustrations that made me chuckle just as much as the prose did.
I even learned a few things and appreciate the super easy to follow recipes.
So happy the publisher and NetGalley hooked me up with a copy. Thank you!
Even if you're not vegan, don't want to be vegan, or don't know what vegan is, you'll enjoy this book. Don't let the page count fool you. This is an extremely fast read because there are loads of illustrations that made me chuckle just as much as the prose did.
I even learned a few things and appreciate the super easy to follow recipes.
So happy the publisher and NetGalley hooked me up with a copy. Thank you!
August 20, 2020
Hmm, so I have a bit of mixed feelings here. I think this is in part due to the fact that I just don't share the author's sense of humor. I wanted this to be funnier. The book is a quick read, directed at those already vegan or very open to it. At times, it felt mor like I was scrolling through someone's Instagram feed rather than reading a book. There are a lot of charts, graphs, venn diagrams and comics. The few included recipes are very basic, which is fine, just don't expect much. Comparisons are also vague - for example, protein content is given for multiple foods but with no reference to thre amount of each food. Is it half a cup of each food? A standard serving size for that food? By weight?? No clue. In the end, I just can't imagine buying this book for myself or anyone else. So yeah, I'd hoped for more here.
Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 28, 2024
3.5/5
Libretto che presenta con leggerezza ed ironia il veganismo e come essere vegani.
Una lettura veloce per chi si approccia per la prima volta alla dieta vegana, ma per chi vuole approfondire il tema consiglierei i libri di Safran Foer (ie. “Possiamo cambiare il mondo prima di cena” o “Se niente importa”), che hanno sicuramente più contenuto e bibliografia a supporto.
Le vignette illustrate mi hanno fatto molto ridere. :)
Libretto che presenta con leggerezza ed ironia il veganismo e come essere vegani.
Una lettura veloce per chi si approccia per la prima volta alla dieta vegana, ma per chi vuole approfondire il tema consiglierei i libri di Safran Foer (ie. “Possiamo cambiare il mondo prima di cena” o “Se niente importa”), che hanno sicuramente più contenuto e bibliografia a supporto.
Le vignette illustrate mi hanno fatto molto ridere. :)
August 10, 2020
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but was very pleasantly surprised. It's a humorous guide to turning vegan, or eating vegan food more of the time. It's full of jokes and humour and covers responses to "but bacon", the number of protein experts you can expect to meet after turning vegan, how many desert islands there are out there that you might mysteriously find yourself washed up on and the all important vegan super power of skim reading ingredients. It also has loads of quick and easy recipes.
This book would have been super helpful if it had existed when I first thought about turning vegan, but I also enjoyed reading it after 10 years of veganism.
[Free ARC from NetGalley]
This book would have been super helpful if it had existed when I first thought about turning vegan, but I also enjoyed reading it after 10 years of veganism.
[Free ARC from NetGalley]
September 11, 2021
I'm staying a vegetarian thank you very much. This book pretty much sealed that for me. The egg part got to me so I s'pose the book worked. But overall the tone was high and mighty, which I knew going in, because hello, vegan. But it did have some good tips. I don't think anyone is going vegan after reading this though. Like I said the tone is condescending and just... Not funny. Oh well!
November 22, 2020
Brilliantly written and illustrated by Stephen Wildish. For vegans, it is the “bible” of veganism that sit aptly in personal collection of libraries.
Being vegan, shopping and eating vegan have become mainstream with this guide. Love it!
Being vegan, shopping and eating vegan have become mainstream with this guide. Love it!
August 6, 2020
Great lighthearted look at being vegan. Full of funny illustrations and Venn diagrams. It has some practical information too. You can do it!
August 7, 2020
Fast and funny. Very down to earth.
August 14, 2020
Read this gem in an afternoon. As a fairly chilled vegan who prefers the “plant based” or “flex-i-vegan” it hit home with the humour. Great read!!
December 6, 2020
Nice, helpful combination of Information and humor. Bonus: You can read it in one sitting.
April 2, 2021
Hilarious!
April 25, 2021
A really fun read. Sarcastic but great.
January 20, 2022
Very funny and informative. As a vegan I recommend this entirely!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews