A Vegetarian Sourcebook:  

The Nutrition, Ecology, and Ethics of a Natural Foods Diet 

(Denver: Vegetarian Press, 1993)

Here is the indispensable guide to the "why" of a vegetarian diet -- the nutrition, ecology, and ethics of a natural foods diet.  Now completely revised and updated, this book explains the vegetarian diet from the point of view of science, medicine, ecology, world hunger, compassion, and religion.  It is an essential volume for everyone concerned about health and longevity, the fate of the earth, and the well-being of our fellow creatures.  

It's been a long time since I revised the book in 1993.  I won't be publishing any further revisions, but if I were, here's how I would revise the book:

Revisions to "Vegetarian Nutrition"
Revisions to "Vegetarian Ecology"
Revisions to "Vegetarian Ethics"

Read comments on A Vegetarian Sourcebook

Read excerpts from the Preface to this book

Table of Contents

About the book:

This book is oriented toward issues surrounding the vegetarian diet.  Thus, it covers problems, questions, and concerns about the reasons for becoming a vegetarian.  Veganism is also covered, since -- as the author points out -- most of the reasons for being a vegetarian are also applicable to being a vegan.  

There are three broad sections in the book: Vegetarian Nutrition, Vegetarian Ecology, and Vegetarian Ethics.  The section on vegetarian nutrition considers both how vegetarian diets "get the good things" (protein, vitamin B-12, other nutrients) and avoids the bad things (heart disease, cancer, other diseases).  The section on vegetarian ecology considers various agricultural resources and issues, such as land, water, forests, energy, soil erosion, world history, and social and political issues.  Finally, the section on vegetarian ethics considers both the broad issues concerning the treatment of animals, and the major philosophical and religious systems which deal with vegetarianism: Plato and ancient Philosophy, modern philosophy, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, as well as the history of the vegetarian movement itself.  

A Vegetarian Sourcebook was the first book to point out and give emphasis to all three major areas of concern for the modern vegetarian movement, and the first book to give any substantial emphasis to environmental issues.  It still stands as a benchmark for books on vegetarianism because of the breadth and depth of its treatment of fundamental vegetarian issues.