At first I didn't understand what Robbins goal was in writing Diet for a New America and I would not have recommended it until I was over half way through. Robbins begins with a deliberately emotional account of animal cruelty in the modern animal factories.
From some of the negative reviews I've read of this book, it seems this is where the reader stopped and didn't get the full picture. I was tempted of leaving off as it is difficult for me to process that amount of suffering and lack of compassion. Robbins also describes the forgiving and loving nature of animals whether they are chickens, pigs, dolphins, etc...
After completing this book I understand how everything ties into each other. Our current food processes is unhealthy for the animals, humans, and the planet. The standard practice of animal cruelty is appalling. Next, eating sick animals is not good for humans at all. And the majority of meat in the markets today comes from animals that were mildly to grossly ill at the time of slaughter. Our forests are being turned into animal factories. Our ground is being poisoned with pesticides. Robbins does do an excellent job of tying in each point into a thorough argument against meat, dairy, eggs, and pesticides.
The meat, egg, and dairy industries have taken a page out of the tobacco companies books and have learned how to mislead, lie, conceal, and manipulate the government and Americans into believing their propaganda. We take in the chemicals that are used in the animal industry and in farming via pesticides and we are a very sick population. Robbins points out the cost on our environments continuing in this manner. If we consumed far less meat or no meat at all, we could produce healthier foods for us and also have enough to assist in world hunger.
Robbins gives a lot of information and his footnotes are extensive. At the moment I am not consuming any animal products other than honey due to dietary choices. This gives me a bit of comfort, but I have to consider my family and the health cost for them now and in the future. I am toxic and am now digging myself out from under the years of harming my body and my environment with my choices. Am I creating the same legacy for my children?
I have to take Robbins with a grain of suspicion as he is clearly biased and even if half of his information is stretching, I don't know as I haven't done any studying his sources, I am stunned at how deceived I have been on nutrition.
Having looked into this book a bit further, most people are recommending reading John Robbins The Food Revolution. I haven't read it. It appears to be an updated version of Diet for a New America.
If I had known about The Food Revolution, I would have picked this up instead of Diet for a New America. I would recommend this book to anyone questioning the current nutritional "facts". I am unsure of my stand on meat vs. no meat for everyone, but I am sure that animal cruelty, sick animals, and deathly pesticides has no place in a conscientious diet.
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