The Happy Vegan: A Guide to Living a Long, Healthy, and Successful Life

I've been trying to live a plant based diet on and off for about a year now. It was working amazingly until I fell off while staying in the hospital with my mom as she died of cancer. I didn't have the discipline, or the composure, to stay off meat and dairy while I was so worried about her. I read Russell's book after listening to a preview on Audible. The part about his mom passing really hit me, having just gone through that. Everything he mentions in the book is right on. My skin was shinier, I had lost 65 pounds(!!), I didn't crave garbage food any more, I had way more energy than I've had in a long time, and all my ailments, including acid reflux, were gone. Now that I'm getting back into it after such a long lapse, I wanted something that inspired me like I had been when I first switched to a plant based diet. This definitely did it. He talks about the studies done overseas, away from the lobbying groups, that prove a dairy and meat heavy diet leads to cancer. He mentions the fact that a plant based diet can, just like it did for me, not only prevent but reverse bodily ailments. I like the fact that he goes over how to stay vegan while eating at normal restaurants like Burger King, answering objections or stereotypes that people may throw your way, and how to get going and start off easily down the road to plant based living. It was right up my alley and it's got me started back on a vegan lifestyle once again. I'm glad I picked this one up.

I love this book. I almost didn't purchase this based on some of the reviews, but I'm glad I did. I can really relate to this book, probably better than some others. It made me really think about my food choices going further. There are also some great references in the book if you want to research further, which I am in the process of doing now. I have not completely stopped eating animal products, but find myself repulsed at the sight or smell of meat these days. A good read for the uninformed. I have already recommended it to others and they have also purchased. I believe Russell Simmons is a good person to put this information out to a demographic that may not see the value (or the inclination) to eat a plant based diet.

I enjoyed reading the Happy Vegan. It was an easy read, very informative. I started out not eating meat for 2 months then made a commitment to take diary out my diet. No on a plant base diet only and I feel GREAT. I am learning how to prepare some pretty delicious meals for myself and they have been full filling too. Thank you Russell Simmons and also after watching “What the Health” on Netflix I will continue following a vegan diet. I know it gets rather expensive; however you can pay now or pay later with your health! I highly recommend reading this book and watching the program on Netflix.

I struggled with giving up meat since everyone that I am around are meat eaters. This book gave me the strength to focus on my health and happiness rather than everyone else. To read about the abuse and Inhumane treatment of animals was also an incentive to stop encouraging the mistreatment of animals as well as, poisoning my own body with hate and toxicity that are forced upon animals as I was ingesting the meat. If you truly want to be healthy and feel good about yourself, read this book and slowly make changes. I did. I feel great in comparison to how I felt before the read.

As a black woman who is vegan, I've read a ton of vegan books, and don't get me some were good and some not so good, but one thing they were NOT was relatable to me. Even though you know Russell Simmons is a millionaire the stuff he talks about in his book, in regards to his childhood and the foods he grew up on, it's soooo relatable. You just get him. I also love that as you read the book you don't feel like he has a hidden agenda to sell you vegan products or push some vegan diet plan. You feel like he honestly just cares about getting the message out about health and compassion. I will most definitely recommend this book to everyone I know.

I love the honest and passionate message in this book. I have given up red meat but I was not sure how to transition further. This book gave me the information I needed to move forward. I highly recommend this book.

I have read several books promoting a vegan lifestyle, but this has been my favorite. I like the way Russell addresses health, animal cruelty and the environment- three totally different reasons to adopt the lifestyle. I like the way he explains the realities of how we get beef, pork, chicken and fish--so we can see the actual savagery. I love the information about yoga and meditation. I appreciate the anecdotes and struggles he included from his own life. Surprisingly, my favorite thing about this book is his voice. I mean his style, word choice and overall attitude...feels real...like I would hang out with this guy, so I want to consider these words. When I finished the book I didn't feel enraged or overly passionate, I just felt very calm.

Excellent, reaffirming, and enlightening! Russell did a great job of breaking it down and keeping it real! I'll likely read it again!

Interesting read

Book contained details of animal mistreatment.

Very thorough book on becoming vegan. Horrific chapter on meat production though.

Happy with it thanks

Excellent read!!