Praise for Diet for a New America by John Robbins “Diet for a New America…is the most important book of our generation.” —Dan Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior “A most extraordinary [and] compelling book, one bound to shake our innermost core. Diet for a New America is a must for anyone concerned about ecology, health, and life.” —The Las Vegas Sun “Diet for a New America is a powerful tool on the journey towards consciousness and compassion. I recommend it without reservation, and hope that many, many people will read it.” —Gary Zukav, author of The Seat of the Soul “Diet for a New America will vitalize the awakening of America. This easy-to- read yet mind-boggling book has its place in the kitchen and in the doctor’s office, in every classroom, from preschool to university. For those involved in ecological and political issues, this book is a must; so it is for all of us who long for a practical economical way to foster a more sane, ethical, and loving world.” —Laura Huxley, author of This Timeless Moment “Diet for a New America is a powerful indictment of our dietary practices that should be read by everyone interested in healthy living. It is a well-researched, well-documented, and eye-opening account of the myths and truths about meat, milk, fat, and protein. I will recommend this book to patients, friends, and relatives.” —Andrew Weil, MD, author of Spontaneous Healing “From the outset of reading this volume I was enthralled. The book is a pleasure to read, as engrossing as the most exciting novel. Yet this is no novel—it deals directly with the most important personal issues and decisions of our lives. When I finished reading Diet for a New America, I knew that in my hands lay one of the most profound studies ever written of how our eating habits affect our lives, and indeed all of life on our planet…If you read only one book this year, let it be this one.” —Vegetarian Times “In a tender, not strident, voice, Robbins shows us why a humane society cannot be built upon an inhumane system of food production. Robbins does not play on our guilt, but shows us how our own well-being is linked to the development of radically new sensibilities to nonhuman life. I promise you what you perceive behind the supermarket meat counter will never be the same after reading Diet for a New America.” —Frances Moore Lappé, author of Diet for a Small Planet “Diet for a New America is excellent! I can’t speak highly enough of it. This book is a breakthrough in the science of health and a joy to read. No one who suffers (or whose loved ones suffer) from the diseases of our time can afford to ignore this potent message. In his captivating style, John Robbins shows us how to create health for ourselves, our children, and the world we live in.” —Dr. John McDougall, author of The McDougall Plan “Every so often a book comes along which has the capacity to awaken the conscience of a nation. Silent Spring was one such book. I believe John Robbins’s volume is destined to be another. With consummate intelligence, thoroughness, and skill, Robbins takes us on a multifaceted journey which should cause all sensitive people to question their eating habits most searchingly. I couldn’t put it down.” —Cleveland Amory, president of the Fund for Animals and author of The Cat Who Came for Christmas DIET FOR A NEW AMERICA Also by John Robbins No Happy Cows: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Food Revolution The New Good Life: Living Better Than Ever in an Age of Less Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World’s Healthiest and Longest-Lived Peoples The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World May All Be Fed: A Diet for a New World (including recipes by Jia Patton and friends) Reclaiming Our Health: Exploding the Medical Myth and Embracing the Sources of True Healing The Awakened Heart: Meditations on Finding Harmony in a Changing World H J Kramer published in a joint venture with New World Library Editorial office: Administrative office: H J Kramer New World Library P.O. Box 1082 14 Pamaron Way Tiburon, California 94920 Novato, California 94949 Copyright © 1987 by John Robbins Epilogue copyright © 2012 by John Robbins Publisher’s preface copyright © 2012 by H J Kramer Originally published in 1987 by Stillpoint Publishing All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, or other—without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Graphics by Deo Robbins Text design by Tona Pearce Myers Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available. First printing of 25th anniversary edition, November 2012 ISBN 978-1-932073-54-6 Printed in Canada on 100% postconsumer-waste recycled paper New World Library is proud to be a Gold Certified Environmentally Responsible Publisher. Publisher certification awarded by Green Press Initiative. www.greenpressinitiative.org 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 CONTENTS Acknowledgments Publisher’s Prologue to the 25th Anniversary Edition Foreword by Joanna Macy Introduction Part One 1. All God’s Critters Have a Place in the Choir 2. Brave New Chicken 3. The Most Unjustly Maligned of All Animals 4. Holy Cow 5. Any Way You Slice It, It’s Still Bologna Part Two 6. Different Strokes for Different Folks 7. The Rise and Fall of the Protein Empire 8. Food for the Caring Heart 9. Losing a War We Could Prevent 10. An Ounce of Prevention Part Three 11. America the Poisoned 12. All Things Are Connected Epilogue to the 25th Anniversary Edition Endnotes Index About the Author