Book review: Vegan For Life by Virginia Messina and Jack Norris

 I recently bought Vegan for Life by vegan nutritionists Jack Norris and Virginia Messina to have as an up-to-date reference guide for vegan nutrition. This book isn't a book to read cover-to-cover, the nutritional information is necessarily cautionary and dense, with the only light reading section being the vegan food guide chapter, which lists some high-profile vegans' favourite recipes and info on potential cupboard staples.

The book is divided up by nutrients and specific health concerns with chapters concerning children, athletes, people over 50 and weight management, as well as dealing with vegan myths and the soya debate.

The sole gripe I have with this book is that it quotes Peter Singer and Ingrid Newkirk but doesn't mention any abolitionist vegans or organisations. I was extremely surprised not to find anything by Gary Francione in the resources list, but PeTA is well represented. However, the book serves perfectly well as a comprehensive, approachable guide to vegan nutrition and living, and the seemingly welfarist leanings of the authors does not detract from its well-researched content.