I just finished a wonderful book called Vegan Minded. It’s part memoir and part overview of many things vegan. I loved so much about it. Here’s a taste of what I loved:
First of all, the author, Christine Cook Mania wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s real and vulnerable which is a breath of fresh air.
She’s vulnerable about her social qualms specifically when she was a new vegan not wanting to be different. She’s vulnerable about her romantic relationships. She’s vulnerable about her concerns about climate change… and more.
Second, while the book is informative about all things vegan, it’s a personal book. I’ve read many wonderful books about plant-based eating, health, and veganism. Though many are excellent, they can be dense. Vegan Minded, however, is a quick read. Yes, some of the information is heavy. But it’s important for context and impact and it’s not belabored.
Third, Ms. Mania offers tons of tips not only about being vegan, but also about being a good steward of our planet, people and the animals. She touches on subjects that you’ve probably heard about as well as some more tangential subjects that might be new to you. You will finish the book with actionable items too.
Fourth, Ms. Mania is originally (and currently) a Midwesterner and refers to herself as the Vegan Girl Next Door. The Midwest isn’t known as a mecca for vegans. Yet, she managed to figure it out. I can relate too. Even though I’m in California which is more vegan-friendly, I am still a lone vegan in most of my social circles. If Ms. Mania can figure it out, it’s figureoutable by just about anyone.
I can also relate to “figuring it out” because as a home cook, I figured out how to cook basic vegan meals. Just like Ms. Mania didn’t have to live in a vegan mecca to be vegan, she made it work. And just like you don’t have to have formal cooking skills you can still cook (or at least cobble together) healthy, delicious vegan meals. What one needs is a yearning to make a difference in one’s life and the life of animals and to our beautiful planet. She embodies that yearning and shares it with her readers.
Fifth, while reading Vegan Minded, I often thought: Wow, we’re so much alike about some of these issues. (And of course, there are many ways in which we differ which is what makes the world go round too!) It felt like I was making a new friend while reading the book.
Lastly, while we are alike in many ways, Ms. Mania has a unique perspective and a host of different experiences from me. It’s wonderful to be able to learn new ideas or at least hear them explained in a new light.
As a bonus, Ms. Mania, or Christine as I know her (we were in the same Main Street Vegan Lifestyle Coaching program cohort) is a yoga instructor. I’ve been taking her classes online and she’s a wonderful teacher and human. I’ve been a yogi for 30 years and had some terrific teachers over the years. Christine is one of them. We even left yoga class on Sunday with empowering actions we can take off the mat.
If you are curious about what being Vegan Minded could mean to you, pick up a copy of the book. If your local bookseller does not yet have it, ask them to order it. Or, as Christine likes to do, ask your library!
And if you are curious about yoga with a wonderful teacher, check out Christine’s yoga class. She teaches classes in her local studio, and one class weekly online so anyone can attend. (And her class is structured for most beginner and intermediate levels and for many bodies.) You can find more about Christine, her book and classes on her website.