Book Review: Vegan As F**k – And An Offer
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I received a free review copy of Vegan As Fuck, edited by Debbie Deboo, from the editor. The first question I had this little book was “what does the title mean?”. Fortunately, the introduction (by Deboo’s husband Richard Deboo) explains it. In the 1980s there was a popular band that promoted a T-shirt that said “Cool as f**k”. Apparently the shirt was a hit, and it stuck in Deboo’s mind.
Vegan as Fuck, then, means as vegan as you can get, an unapologetic position. Meant to be provocative. I suspect that part of the motivation behind this stance was the typical criticism of vegans, the mainstream marginalization of veganism. Every day vegans meet otherwise compassionate persons who will go out of their way to save a whale or a puppy but who refuse to put their compassion for animals to the literal taste test. It is a mystery to many of us, a puzzle, and I know I am not the only one who sometimes wants to shake people and scream, “Don’t you get it??”.
Clearly Debbie Deboo frequently has this desire. Her offerings in this book are primarily poems that ask why why why and that chastise those who cannot see farmed animals as worth their attention. Her poetry is joined by the work of 29 other vegans. Some offer poetry, some their stories (how they became vegan), some their recipes. The 30 writers come from North America and the United Kingdom, primarily, and engage in a variety of professions, from acting to blog-writing to cooking.
I for one always am interested in how people went vegan. What was the trigger? Here are about fifteen individual stories, each told in a different voice, each different from the last, but all having compassion for animals at the core.
There is no doubt about the sincerity and passion each of the contributors offers here. Being vegan for the animals is the primary focus of them all. It is unfortunate, then, that the writing is not of top quality. Some of it, like the piece written by Andy Johnson, resonates with earthy idioms, and we can enjoy the lilt of his Northern England speech. Others are infused with careless mistakes that I’d think Deboo as editor would have caught. But perhaps she did not see her job as including copy editing. In general, the writing is casual, more appropriate to a blog than a book.
The book includes little drawings of animals throughout, happy animals who celebrate what vegans mean to them. For example, a fluffy sheep says, “You don’t turn my fleece into clothes”.
Who is it written for? I don’t think nonvegans would pick it up, unless they were curious or offended by the title and wanted to know WTF. It seems to be slanted more toward vegans, to help offer a sense of place, some support for what is often a lonely and difficult position. And for wannabe vegans, who are hungry for knowledge and support. I think it might be of some benefit to this group because it might help them hold their heads up high, to realize there are many of us and we all raise the bar on what it means to love animals. Oh, and the recipes look great! I will be trying some of them soon.
Special deal : I will choose one commenter after one week to receive this book. So be sure to comment!
[edited 5/30/2012 to prevent possible filter blocks (title) and to clarify where the book came from]
I was somewhat taken aback when I first read the title of this book. Now that I’ve read your take on it, I want to check it out for myself. Thanks for your review.
I love reading stories of why people became vegan. Everyone has their own story and they are all valid. It doesn’t matter what brought you in, it matters that you’re here!
I’m a new vegan and no, I will not buy this book for shock value. It’s bad enough that non vegans think we are nuts giving up meat dairy, eggs, etc. Then there’s vegans that are sometimes turn violent to get their voices heard. I’m more for a peaceful and not “in your face” approach. Just saying…
HC, I am sorry if I gave the impression that there is anything violent about this book. There isn’t. The main thrust of the title is to say “we’re proud of being vegan and we’re not going to hide it anymore”. Something like raising the vegan flag.
I honestly do not know of any vegans who turn violent to get their voices heard. I’d be interested to hear more about that. Certainly I would not support that kind of action either.
I happen to be a member on Facebook of the vegan group that spawned this book. Debbie and Richard Deboo are two of the most passionate, sincere and genuine people I know. They are resolutely proud of their beliefs and do a lot of work towards getting out the vegan message, including this book.
The title of the book may be somewhat contentious, but that’s the point. It’s time to awaken the sleeping masses and make them see what we already see so clearly.
Thanks so much for reviewing my book. I do agree the editing wasn’t the best and I probably wasn’t the best person to be doing the editing as I suffer from cognitive dysfunction due to having ME. However, it was a labour of love more than anything else. I didn’t judge any piece on the quality of its writing, if it came from the heart then it went in the book, everything in that book comes from a passionate, compassionate vegan heart.
I hear you though and I think it is a fair review. Thank you <3
Oh and all the proceeds (after publishers cut) goes to helping animals.
Rather than suggesting violence, I think the title of this book suggests fun and passion and it would certainly attract me to take a closer look. Whether your approach to veganism is ‘peaceful’ or ‘in your face’, do we not want to enrol other people into this way of life which is healthy, compassionate and ultimately eco-friendly?. When I was a vegetarian, I used to think vegans were wierdo’s, now, I simply cannot understand why vegetarian’s don’t ‘get it’, the ‘it’ being that milk involves more cruelty than meat and eggs are the waste product of menstruation. Peaceful or ‘in your face’, the focus for me is ‘enrollment’ rather than alienation. I know many vegans who take many different approaches, and I have to say that I am drawn to the outright passion and confidence of some, because ultimately, non-veganism doesn’t make sense from any point of view other than profit, industry and ignorance. Vegan as F*ck is a book that I would like to look into further.
I’d love to have this book. I love to find out what other vegans are thinking, and I love the mental companionship knowing others care about animals as much as I do. I’m still hurting from coming back from the bookstore at lunchtime, where I found a book called “The Vegetarian Myth”, written with such angry words against people like us. The author is an angry ex-veg. So, I need this book to calm me down and make me feel happy. I want to see the pictures of animals. And maybe doodle some of my own pictures in the margins. Even though I can’t draw.
there was a time when i thought Skinny Bitch was over the top. until i read it, totally excellent.
and seriously if you think that title is racy, then may i politely remind you that the medium is the message.
People may be vegans for different reasons and it’s good to read good books to better understand other people’s reason. More importantly non-vegan should also read these kinds of books not to become vegan but to better understand vegans.
Excellent! The more times we hear how others came to veganism the better we can plot out our strategy on how to outreach more effectively. I’m certain it also shows us to have a bit of patience as most people take a bit of meandering before they take the plunge.
Finally, hearing the stories of others helps us feel not quite so alone. I loved the book The Missing Peace for that reason. It’s a great collection of personal accounts. They all inspire and encourage us to keep getting the message out there. There are many listening and learning!
Hey, thanks for your review!
Yeah, when I first saw the post title, I was like WHAT?! But I get it now, and I think the whole idea behind the book is pretty cool. It sounds very inspiring.
i don’t believe that the title of a book should make any difference, not in the real world, not of the content contained within. that kind of linear thinking seems to go nowhere, if you would be so kind.
“Every day vegans meet otherwise compassionate persons who will go out of their way to save a whale or a puppy but who refuse to put their compassion for animals to the literal taste test. It is a mystery to many of us, a puzzle, and I know I am not the only one who sometimes wants to shake people and scream, “Don’t you get it??”.” wow that is so true. makes me wanna read the book wish i could aford the book