The Best Vegan Books Out There

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Being vegan since 1994, I've reviewed many vegan books. These are my top picks for not only what I feel are the best vegan cookbooks and vegan nutrition books out there, but the best vegan diet books overall.

Be sure to check back occasionally -- I'm always reading and will consistently add more books to this page.

We each have our very own unique "Why I went Vegan..." story. Mine unfolded in a way that's probably similar to many others. And I thought it might be fun to share with you the best vegan books I have come across in my life as a Vegan.

My story begins with my husband, back before I even knew him! Jeff was a non-vegetarian at the time, but he suddenly became interested in nutrition, wanting to learn how he could lose the stubborn weight he'd been holding onto for years. He knew this would go hand in hand with an improvement to his health.

Best Vegan Books - Anthony Robbins Living Health

Living Health
Anthony Robbins

A friend of Jeff's thought he might enjoy a series of audios by Anthony Robbins (love him!!) called Living Health (no longer available, unfortunately). This series taught him how to immediately apply specific steps to dramatically increase energy levels – along with effective nutritional and psychological strategies to bolster the immune system and improve health.

It was in the midst of listening to these audios that Jeff realized switching to vegetarianism was probably a good move. However, he suspected that he might be asked many questions by friends and family about this choice, so he picked up a book recommended by Anthony Robbins called Diet For A New America. Interestingly, this book was authored by another Robbins: John Robbins...

Best Vegan Books - Diet For A New America

Diet for a New America: How Your Food Choices Affect Your Health, Happiness, and the Future of Life on Earth
John Robbins

This is where I came in. It was shortly after Jeff and I met that he decided to just drop meat, chicken and fish out of his diet completely. We had many long talks about this decision, which prompted me to read this book for myself to see what conclusion I might come to. (Rule Number 1 about Going Veg: Everyone must do it in their own time. Period. So get off your friends' backs and let them make their own choices!)

This was the very first book I read that had anything to do with vegetarianism (as I'm sure is the same for many, many Veggies out there.) It really opened my eyes to the impact our diets have on our bodies and the planet. Diet For A New America is considered to be one of the most important books to the vegetarian/vegan movement -- a must read!

What really struck me about this book was the descriptions of the horrendous, inhumane and unhealthy living conditions of the animals we raise for food. I remember being moved to tears! And it was then and there I decided to "Just Say No" to eating meat. At this point, skipping the eggs and dairy also was just a little too much for me to handle.

But within a few months, I found myself cutting out the eggs. That was fairly easy. The dairy was a little more difficult.

But what was insanely tough for me was cutting out the CHEESE! I grew up in an Italian household, and we loved us our cheese! I added cheese to just about everything I ate; salads, soups, sandwiches, even apple pie! In fact, I remember the day I decided to "quit cheese cold turkey" -- Jeff and I stood hovering over our kitchen garbage with cheese in hand and together we made it a grand affair: "Goodbye Cheese!"

Now, since I was a HORRENDOUS cook, and had absolutely no idea what I was doing in the kitchen, our diet consisted of mostly salads, pasta and sub sandwiches that were FILLED with raw veggies. This is when I discovered the power of vegan foods to lose weight. Within a very short time I shed 15-20 pounds! These pounds just melted off so quickly and easily, it was nearly miraculous.

One day, when perusing the books in our little organic co-op, I came across what turned out to be my very first vegan cookbook. And after not eating any cheese for months, it was SO refreshing to be able to create vegan cheeses, vegan cheese sauces and vegan cheesy meals without one single speck of animal products. Wow, what a gift to the world this book is! Thank you Joanne Stepaniak! You RAWK!!

This is one of the best vegan books if you'd like to learn to create your very own, unprocessed non-dairy cheese.

This book taught me how to make some of my favorite vegan "un-cheese" sauces that I play around with to this day, including:

** I should mention that after over 10 years of using this book, and after all my pages were tattered and torn and smeared with food drips, I finally broke down and purchased the 10th Anniversary Edition of The Uncheese Cookbook. Of course, the Anniversary Edition is a work of art too..

Best Vegan Books - The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook

The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook: Delicious Dairy-Free Cheeses and Classic "Uncheese" Dishes
Joanne Stepaniak

What makes this Anniversary Edition of her original Uncheese Cookbook so special is that Joanne has MANY options for making each recipe; these include flavoring options, gluten-free options, and handy little lists that tell you which of the more popular allergens are NOT contained within any specific recipe (i.e. Free Of: Gluten, Soy, Nuts, Corn).

Now that my veganism was underway, and since there weren't any restaurants in our area that catered to Vegans, I needed to learn how to cook. And FAST. So I went out and purchased as many vegan cookbooks as I could.

MANY of the recipes I created over the years were disgusting. I was VERY picky and gave a lot of books away as I tried to find those vegan cookbooks that catered to my taste buds -- wholesome, rich-tasting and guest-worthy. And over the years my vegan cookbook collection grew.

Best Vegan Books - Veggie Lovers Cookbook

Veggie Lovers Cookbook
Morty Star

This is one of my oldest and most favoritest vegan cookbooks. It's small, but it's packed with some of the best easy vegan recipes I've had the pleasure of making and which I still lovingly create.

This is one of the best vegan books if you'd like to learn some slightly basic yet completely tasty dishes, such as...

May All Be Fed: 'A Diet For A New World : Including Recipes By Jia Patton And Friends
John Robbins

Since John Robbins was basically my idol at this point, I purchased another book he authored. This book helped to shed light on how an animal-based diet contributes to the starvation of so many people around the world. Wow, what an eye-opener. But that's only 1/2 the book. The other half? RECIPES. Some of the most delectable recipes I had ever made at the time.

This is one of the best vegan books if you'd like to learn how flavorful vegan meals can be using almost ALL whole foods and nearly zero processed or packaged foods. Some of my standout faves include...

The Tempeh Cookbook
Dorothy R. Bates

I had been using a lot of tofu, and was having fun with it. But it was right around this time that I discovered Tempeh, and I'm so very happy I did. Tempeh has its own distinct, slightly-nutty flavor. It's PACKED with nutrients and is a fantastic source of protein in a vegan diet. Plus, since it's fermented it's healthier for you than plain ol' tofu. I've heard it could be an acquired taste, but Jeff and I latched onto it immediately. And luckily, I found a fabulous little book full of tasty tempeh recipes.

This is one of the best vegan books if you'd like to understand how many dishes tempeh can be used in, like some of my favorites...

Millennium Cookbook: Extraordinary Vegetarian Cuisine
Eric Tucker

It was around this time that we discovered the infamous 5-star Vegan Millennium Restaurant. If you've never had 5-star vegan food, this is the place to put on your list. Of course, it will take a little trip to San Francisco, California! But if you happen to be there, be sure to check it out. Here I discovered their cookbook which I couldn't wait to read from cover to cover, just like a novel. ;O)

These recipes aren't really for beginners, as there are many steps to each recipe (usually), but you can certainly dissect the recipes and create "just the sauce", for instance.

This is one of the best vegan books if you ever need a fancy shmancy vegan meal that will impress. Check out some of these delectable dishes I've created...

This is one of the best vegan books if you'd like to learn to create casual and homey-tasting yet completely flavorful dishes, with nice big portions. Here are some of my stand-out faves...

And what cookbook collection would be complete without DESSERTS? My all-time favorite pick EV-ER...

Best Vegan Books - Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World

Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World: 75 Dairy-Free Recipes for Cupcakes that Rule
Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero

Who doesn't LOOOOVE cupcakes? This is one of the best vegan books if you'd like to learn to create adorable and perfect little cupcakes for people big and small! Every single cupcake I've made from this book has been just amazing. Kudos to Isa and Terry for these delectable little creations. Imagine sinking your teeth into these delicious morsels...

Here's a photo of one of the Vegan Banana Split Cupcakes that I made. Isn't it pretty? And SOOOO delicious, with delectable buttercream frosting piled high.

The Raw Gourmet
Nomi Shannon

So, there we were. Jeff and I were vegan for just about 10 years. And as happens to many Vegans we became interested in RAW FOODS! This was the very first of the raw vegan cookbooks I ever picked up on the topic.

This is one of the best vegan books if you'd like to learn to make some of the more basic raw foods, like soups, dressings, sauces and salads. Most of the dishes feature a beautiful presentation. The majority of the recipes don't require a dehydrator, although you WILL need one for pizza and pie crusts, and to make burgers. Oh, and there's LOTS of pictures too!

Living Cuisine: The Art and Spirit of Raw Foods
Renee Underkoffler

I feel that I REALLY hit the jackpot when I discovered this fantastic book. The cover of the book says the recipes are irresistible, and I must agree! I have absolutely loved everything I've made out of this book!

There are 4 sections to this fabulous treat of a book. Part One talks about the basics of raw foods. Part Two helps you to stock your raw foods pantry. Part Three is all about raw foods prep and techniques. And Part Four contains some of the most scrumptious raw foods recipes I've had the pleasure of making.

This is one of the best vegan books if you're looking to go beyond the basics of raw foods to start creating slightly more complicated meals that you can feel comfortable serving to guests. Many of the recipes require soaking, sprouting and/or a dehydrator -- so they can be time consuming. But if you have the time, your taste buds will love you forevermore. I recommend this book for those who like raw foods AND cooked foods as some of her recipes require very light steaming.

Best Vegan Books - Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People

Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People

Although I'm not a diehard raw foodist (by any stretch of the imagination), I REALLY love raw foods in the warmer weather. One of my friends is a raw foods chef in Chicago (SomeLikeItRaw.net -- Hi Vanessa!) and one day I was picking her brain for some EASY raw foods recipes. This is the book she steered me towards.

This is one of the best vegan books if you want to learn how to make raw foods that take just a few minutes to prepare. Almost every recipe simply requires either a blender or a food processor. The recipes make just enough for -- as the title states -- 1 or 2 people, but the recipes can be doubled or tripled.

Raw Food/Real World: 100 Recipes to Get the Glow
Matthew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis

My friend Vanessa in Chicago also recommended this beautiful masterpiece to me. The recipes are usually time consuming and many times require expensive or hard-to-get ingredients. But the recipes are delicious, and are served at the authors' restaurant: Pure Food and Wine in New York City.

If I lived anywhere NEAR New York, I would simply visit the restaurant and let THEM do all the work, but alas I'm on the opposite side of the country! So to the kitchen I'll go. ;O)

This book is truly a work of art. The photos are magnificent (and there's LOTS of them), and the recipes are divine. This is one of the best vegan books if you want to create gourmet raw foods -- particularly for a dinner party.

But be warned -- NOT for beginners. You will need a lot of time, and many require a dehydrator to turn out right. Most of the entrees have 2-3 mini recipes within the whole, which is kind of nice because you can pull out just ONE of those mini recipes to use on its own or in a different dish. For example...

Next, I'd like to share with you some of the best vegan books that focus on vegan nutrition that I feel every Vegan (or Vegan wanna-be) might want to consider reading at some point.

Here are some of my favorite vegan nutrition books, in no particular order...

Becoming Vegan: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Plant-Based Diet
Brenda Davis, R.D. & Vesanto Melina, M.S., R.D.

I recently discovered this book, and I'm so happy I did. It's a great read. Jam packed with all the vital vegan nutrition information you need. And it's very easy to understand, so if you're not versed in all things nutrition, you'll still get a lot out of reading this fabulous book.

This is one of the best vegan books if you're looking for information about vegan protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins (including B12), and vegan nutrition for children, seniors, and vegan athletes. And so much more! Seek out a copy up today, for sures. ;O)

Best Vegan Books - The Optimum Nutrition Bible

The Optimum Nutrition Bible
Patrick Holford

I like what Patrick Holford has to say. He's one of Britain's leading nutritional authors and founded the Institute for Optimum Nutrition. He describes in easy-to-understand terms not only why a vegan diet is best, but he laser focuses on the various parts that make up the whole...

This is one of the best vegan books if you're looking for solid information about antioxidants, digestion, hormones, and the immune system, among other topics. Although he DOES focus a little too strongly on supplements for my tastes (I prefer to get my nutrition from whole food sources), it would be a shame for me to NOT recommend this book for only that reason. Especially since you should come to your own conclusion about supplements. ;O)

* p.s. Although I haven't had the time to review it just yet, there IS an updated version of this book available now called The New Optimum Nutrition Bible which covers the same ground with the addition of stimulants, water, eating right for your blood type, detox, homocysteine, and toxic minerals.

This is one of the best vegan books if you're looking for hard facts about why eating a vegan diet is one of the best things you can do to move yourself toward the healthiest person you can be.

The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World
John Robbins

The Food Revolution really opened my eyes to how food is produced in the U.S. and the impact it has on our environment. Due to the way meat is produced these days, the saturated fat and cholesterol contained therein is raised to never before seen heights. Not only that, but the simple raising of these animals for meat is using up our water supply -- water that is becoming more and more scarce every year. John also discusses the topics of antibiotics, insecticides, and the frightening side of genetic engineering (GMO's).

This is one of the best vegan books if you're eating food produced in the United States. Period.

Best Vegan Books - Breaking The Food Seduction

Breaking the Food Seduction: The Hidden Reasons Behind Food Cravings---And 7 Steps to End Them Naturally
Neal Barnard, M.D.

I've noticed an underlying malady among people today -- that of munching out on chips, cookies, cakes, candies and other sweet foods. I can understand this phenomenon because I used to do the same thing! I couldn't understand why I would get a craving for sweets at the same time every day (in the evening), so I picked up this book. I am so happy that I did!

This is one of the best vegan books if you'd like to learn more about why you crave sugar, and how to break the sweets cycle. For those who are non-Vegan, you'll learn why it seems nearly impossible to remove cheese from your diet -- it's not your fault! Whew! It's a matter of biochemistry, and Dr. Barnard will help you to understand what you can do to break this addiction. Non-vegetarians will discover that when you crave meat there's a very good reason!

And through it all you'll come out with 7 simple steps to break craving cycles and how to tame your appetite, including the importance of the glycemic index. Oh, and that back of the book is filled with more Joanne Stepaniak recipes! Whoo-hoo!!

My vegan book collection keeps growing. I can't stop reading! Here I will list more books I think you will enjoy, in no particular order...

World Peace Diet: Eating for Spiritual Health and Social Harmony
Will Tuttle, Ph.D.

The World Peace Diet is absolutely brilliant. I've read so many vegan books over the years -- too many to count, really. The way Dr. Will Tuttle approaches so many of the topics in this book made for an absolutely fascinating read.

This is one of the best vegan books to discover how -- through eating -- we contribute to our culture’s values and paradigms at the most primal levels.

It's been a very, very long time since a book captured my attention from the start, and nearly every single page had at least one sentence on it that blew me away. Each and every chapter was a compelling read.

Go Dairy Free is jam-packed to the brim with incredibly helpful tips about going completely dairy free. This, of course, includes removing casein, a milk protein, which happens to be in the ingredients of many so-called "vegan" products.

Alisa teaches you everything you could ever want to know about living dairy free, including information about where to get your calcium, dealing with dairy allergies, restaurant dining, shopping for and preparing dairy-free dishes, dairy substitutes, and of course recipes -- lots of them!

This is one of the best vegan books to read if you want to give up dairy -- hands down.

Please note: In very few recipes she gives some non-veg options for ingredients just in case you must give up dairy yet still choose to eat some animal products such as eggs and chicken broth. But these are so few and far between, such a teeny part of the book, and since she still gives vegan options along with those few non-veg options, it is still finding its place in my Best Vegan Books list.

Hope this list has been helpful for you. Going Vegan has been the biggest adventure of my life. I highly recommend it. :O)

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The Best Vegan BooksTo Keep Your Journey Easy and Fun

The Best Vegan Books
To Keep Your Journey
Easy and Fun