The Gist: Hello VegNews Book Clubbers! It's good to be back at the VNHQ after a week off in the Midwest. It is the final week of the first month of the VegNews Book Club, and we will be discussing the last two chapters of Mad Cowboy. I can't believe how fast this month has flown by! I hope you're as excited as I am to discuss the book's conclusion, as well as to start reading next month's book, Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin.The last two chapters were definitely not as heavy as the previous chapters. In chapter 8, "Skip the Miracles and Eat Well," Lyman brings up the health benefits of adopting a vegan lifestyle, and also discusses how fad diets—particularly the "Zone" diet—just don't work and are very unhealthy, to say the least. In the shorter final chapter, "Going Home," he discusses his experience of going back home to Montana after several years away, and how all the family farms were gone. He ends the book with some final questions about what we as a generation will leave behind for future generations.
The Discussion: I'm going to leave you with two discussion points, which will conclude our conversation of Mad Cowboy. I look forward to reading your thought-provoking answers and comments!
1. (Chapter 8) Lyman talks about fad diets and how they can be very unhealthy. Unfortunately, some may view the vegan lifestyle as a fad diet, or see it as very restrictive. How do you break these stereotypes?
2. (Chapter 9) I think that Lyman asks some very good questions in the final chapter. What positive changes would you like to see by 2050—covering all aspects of society, including environmental, technological, social, etc.?
The Assignment: We will be discussing Skinny Bitch next week! Please read chapters 1 to 4 for our first discussion on Monday, August 2.
~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig
Chapter 8: Unlike fad diets, veganism is a lifestyle choice. A person can live a wonderful, strong and healthy life being vegan. This is not possible with fad diets out there. Like Lyman says, when the diet is over people gain back the weight plus some b/c living that way forever is simply not physically possible. I think a great way to show people that being vegan is not extreme or restrictive is to live by example. Eat well. Cook amazing foods and experiment! People will see the joy in your face (and the results in your body).
ReplyDeleteChapter 9: The main change I would like to see by 2050 is NO MORE FACTORY FARMS!! Also more people going veggie would be awesome. I think a change to a vegan lifestyle would also handle alot of the environmental and social problems that we, as a planet, are facing right now too. Simple choice. Go vegan, change the world :)
ReplyDeleteAnonymous is actually me, Susan Bran. I'm not very computer savvy and can't figure out how to post my comments under my name. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteI think part of the vegan-as-a-fad stereotype comes from the fact that so much Western food centers around meat and/or dairy. By introducing people to cuisine that doesn't demand constant substitutions, but is designed to be veg*n in the first place, it might help people realize that there are entire cultures out there who live like this.
ReplyDeleteHi there! Thanks for the comments. I find Bitscomic's answer to the first question interesting. I agree that cuisine without the substitutions are delicious. Though unfortunately, the majority of the meat eaters that I have met aren't interested in trying purely vegetable, bean, and grain dishes. And I have found that making more "Traditional" dishes with substitutions have been more successful with this group of people. Any thoughts?
ReplyDelete