Voices from the Garden: Stories of Becoming a Vegetarian - Book Reviews

Edited by Sharon and Daniel Towns Lantern Books (paperback 2001), 176 pages, $18.00.

A commonly held stereotype of a vegetarian is that of a tree-hugging hippie wearing a tie dyed shirt and Birkenstocks while eating granola. As is true with most sweeping generalizations, this picture is far from the truth for most vegetarians. Our community is as diverse as any other, and represents many faiths, nationalities, political beliefs, and philosophies. This diversity is clearly reflected in Voices from the Garden.

Voices is a collection of essays from famous, not-so-famous, and never-heard-of vegetarians describing their transitions to plant-based diets. Every kind of vegetarian is represented in this book. Some of the contributors have been at it for sixty years; some are still in the infancy of their explorations. They represent the ecological, religious, and ethical philosophies for choosing a plant-based diet. It is difficult not to find an example of oneself in this hook, and it is easy to feel a sense of community while reading the essays.

This isn't a riveting book, but it is, at times, moving, funny, serious, and informative. Voices is an easy read that leaves you with a better sense of the diverse vegetarian community and a feeling of camaraderie within it.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Vegetarian Baby and Child
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group