Naturally Lindsay

Melisser Elliott is the author of the upcoming book “The Vegan Girl’s Guide to Life”, as well as the blogger behind award-winning blog, The Urban Housewife, beauty blog Cruelty Free Face, and the founder of Sugar Beat Sweets bakery in San Francisco, CA. When not at the keyboard, she participates in animal activism, vegan outreach, &
spends time with her husband Ryan, & rescued friends Strummer, Beamish, & Scurvy. She currently resides in Vienna, Austria.

Inspiration behind the book:
I wanted to write a vegan lifestyle book from a female vegan’s
perspective, although it’s certainly not only for a book for women. The book includes not just about the food we eat, but the other things people forget about or may not know about veganism. I wanted to reduce the learning curve for new vegans by showing them how easy it can be, while appealing to current vegans with new recipes and fun crafts. It’s an easy read, but informative, nonetheless.

Q: Who is your target audience? I know that it is the “vegan girls guide” but do you think it applies to men as well?

Melisser: I consider it a lifestyle guide for the vegan curious, as well as current vegans. The book was written from a female’s perspective, but men can utilize it as well. They may find the beauty section less useful though!

In your book you ask many of your featured bloggers questions such as:

Q: What is your funniest vegan moment?

Melisser: It’s hard to pinpoint one, there’s been lots of silly misunderstandings and unbelievable questions I’ve been asked!

Q: What is your favorite accidental vegan food?

Melisser: Hungarian Baumkuchen from Naschmarkt in Vienna!

Q: What do you say to vegan haters?

Melisser: It depends on the situation, but I love to throw out facts to prove them wrong or make them think. Sometimes it’s better to just make a joke back to them, being a hater back is rarely effective.

Q: What is the one thing that you want you readers to get out of this book?

Melisser: Anyone can be vegan, it’s not a lifestyle for a certain type of person, gender, race, or orientation. With a bit of research and strong convictions, you can make the important decision to lead a vegan lifestyle.

Q:I know you are on a big book tour right now where else will you be stopping?

Melisser: I’m in the UK now doing talks in London, but in January I’ll be in San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland- dates coming soon!

My Take: I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I received this book for review all I knew was that it as written by Melisser Elliot a very well known blogger (and blog I follow) and had something to do with being vegan (obviously). I finally sat down and started into the book and this is what I came to find:

• I found a lot of information that I already knew– being a 4 year vegan and a holistic health counselor and a lot of the information regarding food and nutrition I already knew. The information regarding animal welfare, factory farming, ect was all information I am already very informed about.
• Interviews: There were interviews with bloggers and vegan company owners.  I really loved these because it gave me an opportunity to learn more about the bloggers behind the blogs I read and about the business entrepreneurs of stores that I already shop from, as well as about new bloggers and new places to shop.
• Besides the beauty info this book is not just for girls. Yes this is The Vegan Girls Guide to Life and is written through the perspective of a girl but the information is really good for anyone male or female- however some men may find that the information about beauty supplies does not apply to them; however if you are like my husband you might take interest anyway.
• A few recipes. This book was not meant to be a recipe book and you can tell by the lack of vegan recipes, however there are a few and they all sound really yummy.

Overall I think that this is a very well done book and is perfect for those who are vegan curious or  a new vegan.  If you have been around the vegan block a few times on a whole this book probably won’t hold your interest for very long; however don’t be too quick to dismiss it because the recipes, blogger features and vegan store/shopping info is worth reading.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free copy of this book for  review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway or add this to my OpenSky shop in return for a discount on this product.