The Vegan Bookstore

Veganism/animals/environment

'The Animal Free Shopper' - new, 6th edition, published October 2002. The Vegan Society's indispensable guide to food, drink, clothes, household goods, cosmetics etc. which are suitable for vegans in the UK.

'Plant Based Nutrition and Health' by Stephen Walsh PhD- the latest vegan nutrition book from the UK Vegan Society - published September 15th 2003. All the latest findings from human studies and details of how to eat really well on a vegan diet.

'Becoming Vegan - the complete guide to adopting a healthy, plant based diet' by registered dieticians, Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina. A very detailed American book focussing on the health benefits of the vegan diet - lots of specialised dietary information for people in different circumstances such as - pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, overweight, underweight and athletes.

'Vegan Stories: Vegans from Around the World, Aged 2 to 92 Tell Their True-life Stories' edited by Julie Rosenfield. Lots of tales of everyday and not so everyday vegan living - from vegans famous and unknown.

'The Silent Ark' - author Juliet Gellatley is the founder of VIVA (Vegetarians' International Voice for Animals). Here she tells her personal story of veganism and campaigning for animals. She pulls no punches when it comes to describing the way in which animals are reared and slaughtered. The book has excellent sections on health and the environment too. Published April 1996.

'Vegan Passport' by George D. Rodger - this tiny book explains what veganism is, what vegans do and don't eat in almost 40 languages from Arabic to Urdu. Invaluable for travelling vegans, it even has pictures if all else fails!

'Milk - The Deadly Poison' - Want to know what's really in that white stuff? Robert Cohen tells it to you straight - you'll never want to drink it again!

Parenting

Compassionate souls - raising the next generation to change the world. Vegan mother JoAnn Farb offers advice and information on raising compassionate, ethical children in a world that does not always reflect those values. Subjects covered include veganism, conscious pregnancy, minimising medical intervention in birth, breast feeding, vaccination and home education - a wonderful book!

'The Care and Feeding of Indigo Children' by Doreen Virtue Ph.D. A wonderful follow on from the previous books about the new children - though the spirituality is so central to the book that it would be hard to ignore if that were your wish! The author covers ADHD and ritalin, Angel therapy for Indigos, natural foods, creative outlets for the children, astrology and unconditional love - there is also much input from Indigos themselves - highly recommended.

The guide to breast-feeding your baby from La Leche League. This has to be one of the most comprehensive and supportive books ever written on this subject.

That most famous of child rearing gurus, Dr. Benjamin Spock advocates veganism for children in his last edition of Baby and Child Care. He gives much practical advice on feeding children. While we disagree with many of Spock's orthodox medical ideas, this book is a great reference tool for emergencies or diagnosis.

'How to Raise a Healthy Child in spite of your doctor' - a great book by a paediatrician - Robert Mendelsohn - on raising healthy kids. This book is not written from a vegan point of view, in fact it has very little about diet included. The information on medicine and disease are valuable - a very informative chapter on vaccines also.

'Festivals, Family and Food' - a wonderful book which looks at many ancient and current festivals throughout the year with suggestions for activities with children. Many songs, games and crafts are listed along with traditional recipes (not all of them vegan but mostly veganisable!!). A very enriching book for anyone with children or who wants to celebrate!

Neil Z. Miller's U.S. guide to vaccination. An excellent resource for anyone making a vaccine decision.

Cookery

'Vegan Planet - 400 Irresistible Recipes with Fantastic Flavors from Home and Around the World' by Robin Robertson. With a forward by Neal Barnard of PCRM this newly published (February 2003) cookbook is like several books rolled into one. If you only want to buy one vegan cookbook maybe this should be the one - with recipes for breakfasts, sandwiches, sauces, mains, burgers, puds and lots more, a large diversity of cuisine styles and additional facts on the sidebars this is a jewel of a book!

'Cooking by the Seasons - simple vegetarian feasts' - a beautiful collection of recipes divided into the four main seasons. Not entirely vegan but the author does suggest vegan alternatives and most recipes are either vegan or very easily veganised - there is even a tofu salad especially for vegan goddesses! Information is given on the eight major sabbats (summer solstice, Yule etc.) along with suggested menus - recipes include storm moon minestrone, orange sherbert with chocolate chips, green goddess guacamole, corn pancakes with black bean salsa and many, many ideas for everyday feasts. There is a really good vegan version of macaroni cheese - baked shells with brocolli and tomato. Yum yum yum.

'Veggie Food for Kids' by Sara Lewis. A very useful cookbook with lots of ideas for tempting little ones to eat from stripy macaroni to vegetable wigwams! There are good suggestions for first foods right through to interesting lunch box ideas for older children. Not all the recipes are vegan but the author usually includes a vegan variation or alternative. She also has useful information on nutrition for children including the fact that you may be able to get your GP to prescribe soya formula for free should you wish to use it.

'The PETA Celebrity Vegan Cookbook - Fun Food and Cruelty-Free Facts from Compassionate Celebrities' edited by Ingrid Newkirk. Lots of celebrities provide their favourite vegan recipes with quotes from each of them including William Shatner, Paul McCartney, Jackie Chan and Bridget Bardot. As usual PETA present lots of interesting uses for tofu and plenty 'naughty' recipes for chocolatey things and cakes!

'The Wild Vegetarian Cookbook' by "Wildman" Steve Brill. Despite the fact that this book contains over 500 spectacular vegan recipes it does not do it justice to describe it merely as a recipe book. The first section contains detailed information about wild foods and foraging, cooking methods and the health effects of diet. We then come to a short section on 'unwild' foods with many tofu cheese recipes. The book proceeds seasonally through the year describing hundreds of natural wild foods and providing lots of recipes for each plant. We shall be trying out the chickweed, nettle (there is a particularly intriguing Scottish nettle pud!) and dandelion sections first as these are abundant in our garden. Wherever you live this book is sure to entice you outdoors to seek healthy, organic, nourishing, free (well we are Scottish!!) food.

'Vegetarian Cooking Without' by Barbara Cousins. Recipes for soups, first courses, salads, main courses, desserts and baking (great looking tofu cheesecake) - all free from gluten, wheat, sugar, dairy, yeast, meat and fish. This book is designed to help people with allergies, weight problems, candida and chronic fatigue - but the recipes look good enough to please everyone!

'RAW - the Uncook Book' by Juliano Brotman and Erika Lenkert. The recipes here are diverse and many and all completely raw - smoothies, breads, soups, salads, stews, pizza and even puddings (including a choccie one!). There is also lots of information on preparing food and dehydrating.

'The Healing Foods Cookbook - the vegan way to health' by Jane Sen who is head chef at the Bristol Cancer Help Centre and also winner of the BBC Radio 4 Award for Outstanding Contribution to Healthy Eating! It doesn't come much healthier than this. All the recipes are easy to understand and absolutely delicious sounding - fantastic guide to eating well.

'The New Vegan Cookbook: Innovative Vegetarian Recipes Free of Dairy, Eggs and Cholesterol' by Lorna J. Sass. The author presents lots of exiting recipes introducing new ideas to those of us who get stuck in a rut with cooking - chocolate rice pud to stuffed aubergines (egg plants in the US)!! She also gives shopping and preparation tips for those new to vegan cooking - lovely colour photography throughout.

'The Uncheese Cookbook - Creating amazing dairy-free cheese substitutes' by Joanne Stepaniak - this book actually has vegan recipes for many different kinds of cheese as well as many cheesy dishes. Missing brie or macaroni cheese? This is the book for you!

'Great, Good Desserts - Naturally' by Fran Costigan - lots of totally vegan puddings such as chocolate cake, brownies, creams, sauces, frostings, pies.... All recipes free of animal products.

'The Voluptuous Vegan - more than 200 sinfully delicious recipes for meatless, eggless and dairy free meals' by Myra Kornfeld. The emphasise here is on taste - there is fat and salt here aplenty! Many of the recipes are quite elaborate but well worth the effort - true vegan, gourmet cooking.

'Easy Vegan Cooking' - well, the name says it all really - delicious, simple and quick vegan soups, meals, baking etc. from Leah Leneman - we all want that piece of cake now don't we?

'Vegan Feasts' - we have always loved Rose Elliot's cook books and here's the vegan one! The red wine and chestnut pate en croute is our favourite Christmas dinner - it's also quite simple to make. There is a recipe for a light sponge cake, which also comes highly recommended. Other recipes include carrot and ginger soup, easy bean and herb pate, quick mint and pea flan, mixed vegetable dal and boozy Christmas pudding ice cream!

'Foods that Fight Pain' - the second half of this book is a great selection of recipes. The first half contains valuable information on the effect food has on our health and wellbeing. Vegan doctor Neal Barnard shows how many chronic pain conditions can be helped by using/avoiding certain foods and herbs.

'Carol Vorderman's Summer Detox - the 14 day mini detox' - a shorter version of the plan suitable for trimming down for going on holiday. The recipes use lots of seasonal ingredients.

The video version includes the video diaries of three women who follow the plan. It is obviously a huge change as none of them have been vegetarian in the past - it's great to see them slimming down and looking healthier as they progress. They also dispel the myth of a plant-based diet being expensive as they saved money on their shopping bills and found the food easy to prepare.

'The Optimum Nutrition Bible' by Patrick Holford. This book really helps us understand just how much what we eat affects our health and how including or excluding certain foods can ease or cure many conditions. The author shows how eating right can prevent cancer and ageing - the curative properties of vitamins and minerals are discussed in depth - a great reference point. Veganism is promoted throughout though the content is not entirely vegan.

'Your Life in Your Hands - Understanding, Preventing and Overcoming Breast Cancer' by Professor Jane Plant. When Jane Plant's breast cancer returned a fourth time, having spread to the lymph system, she realised the only thing that could save her was the scientist in her. Her research led her to the conclusion that dairy products are to breast and prostrate cancer what smoking is to lung cancer. After five weeks on a vegan diet her cancer was gone. Here she presents her story and guidelines for following a dairy free eating plan.

'The New Holistic Herbal' - a beautiful herbal - we have used it often to treat minor ailments. Large sections on different patterns of disease and their treatment and an illustrated herbal glossary. Also advises on where to buy herbs and herbal products.

'Yoga - the Path to Holistic Health' by B.K.S. Iyengar. A very comprehensive book on yoga with detailed instructions for safe practice and a great deal of information on using yoga to treat certain maladies.

'The Green Witch Herbal - restoring nature's magic in home, health and beauty care' by Barbara Griggs. A wonderful collection of traditional 'wise woman's' remedies, both herbal and household. A very useful book to have on hand.

'Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants' - a comprehensive guide to this very healing system of medicine for children. We have used homeopathy with dramatic effects for our kids though we have found it a good idea to have a family homeopath. This book has all the major childhood illnesses covered and is great for home reference.

'Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child' - more than 300 natural, non-toxic, and fragrant essential oil blends for dealing with the problems of childhood. This book covers infancy and goes right through to the teenage years. We have also used essential oils for our children and ourselves when we get colds in the winter - and so far we have never had any infections! Of course many things come into that (diet?) but I'm sure the oils have helped us too.

'Crystal Power, Crystal healing - the Complete Handbook' by Michael Gienger. A comprehensive book offering both orthodox scientific information on the formation and structure of crystals and much practical advise on their healing , spiritual, mental and emotional uses and properties. The second half of the book has incredibly beautiful photos of each crystal alongside the text.

'Practical Reiki' by Mari Hall - one of the best books we have read on this ancient form of hands on energy healing. This book would make a good introduction to the subject but also contains much information of use to those already trained in Reiki.

Gardening and Nature

 

'Sprout Garden' by Mark M. Braunstein - gardening of an indoor, edible nature! This book explains how to sprout a large selection of different seeds from broccoli to sunflower.

'Tree Wisdom - the definitive guidebook to the myth, folklore and healing power of Trees' by Jacqueline Memory Paterson. The author is Archdruidess of Glastonbury and holds the Bardic Chair of Avebury. Here she concentrates on the indigenous trees of Great Britain, with a separate chapter for each tree. Each chapter includes detailed physical descriptions, legends, healing properties, practical uses and the inspirational and magic qualities of each tree.

'Food for Free' by Richard Mabey. This amazing little book details the edible wild plants, berries, fungus and seaweed of the British isles (be warned - the last chapter is shellfish!). Full colour pictures and intricate descriptions are mingled with notes on picking, recipes and serving ideas.

Spiritual/Earth

'Earth Angels - a pocket guide for incarnated angels, elementals, starpeople, walk-ins and wizards' by Doreen Virtue Ph.D. A fascinating book about certain lightworkers whose spiritual roots are not human. The book has detailed chapters on the five main types of Earth Angel - Wise Ones, Angels, Elementals, Walk-ins and those from other planets and a quiz to discover if you fit one of these! Also included is information on why these incarnations are needed at this time.

'The Art of Tarot' book and tarot deck by Liz Dean. A very easy to use and attractive set.

Another lovely deck with a very feminine/feminist lean to it is The Mini Motherpeace tarot deck:-

'The Modern Antiquarian' - Julian Cope (formerly of the Eighties band Teardrop Explodes) journeys around Great Britain visiting stone circles and sacred sites - he even visits our local stone circle! A huge book with loads of photos and directions for travelling to the sites.

'Many Lives, Many Masters' by Dr. Brian Weiss. Psychiatrist Brian Weiss was astonished and at first, sceptical when one of his patients started to recall past lives under hypnosis. The most fascinating part of the book is the information channelled from the 'between lives' state through spiritual masters.

'Manifest Your Destiny - the nine spiritual principles for getting everything you want' by Wayne W. Dyer - one of our favourite motivational, spiritual speakers and writers. We find this book very inspiring and positive and the meditations really have to be tried to be believed!

'The Spirit of Findhorn' - a brief telling of how Eileen Caddy gave up everything to follow her inner voice and ultimately co-found the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland - very inspiring.