The Happy Vegan: A Guide to Living a Long, Healthy, and Successful Life by Chris Morrow, Russell Simmons

Living a vegan lifestyle can be a daunting task for some, but not for Chris Morrow. In his book “The Happy Vegan: A Guide to Living a Long, Healthy, and Successful Life”, Morrow offers a comprehensive and warmhearted guide that captures the joy and benefits of veganism. Through his experienced knowledge, broken into five easily accessible sections, Morrow assures you that the vegan lifestyle is not only the healthiest, but the most successful path to follow.

Morrow starts off his book encouraging readers to make a lifelong commitment to living the vegan lifestyle in a “happy and healthy way”. He emphasizes that veganism, instead of being a restrictive lifestyle, is actually a liberating journey. He provides unique insight by comparing veganism to other sources of moral and religious advice on how to live. He separates veganism from the traditional constraints of most lifestyles by suggesting that we “take responsibility for our lives and bodies” and not only “maintain our physical health, but [also] pursue our spiritual growth”. He assures readers that a vegan lifestyle can allow you to have the best of both worlds.

In the next section, Morrow moves into the logistics of leading a vegan life. He explains that veganism can require “a bit of effort, but only a small amount of knowledge”. He breaks down veganism into what he calls the “five pillars of healthy veganism”. These include physical health (eating the right foods, avoiding junk foods and artificial sweeteners), emotional health (building relationships with supportive people, practicing self-love and gratitude), mental health (reading, meditating and engaging in enjoyable activities), financial health (building a good financial foundation, sticking to a budget), and spiritual health (engaging in meaningful connections and activities with family, friends, and the world). He asserts that these pillars are key to “being the healthiest, happiest, and most successful vegan you can be”.

The third section of the book focuses on practical ideas for how to make veganism enjoyable, easy and fulfilling. Morrow offers advice such as looking for recipes in vegan cooking blogs, talking to other vegans, joining clubs, and asking questions of expert vegan lifestyle coaches. He also emphasizes veganism does not have to be meaningful or solely about health, it can also be about showing kindness, respect, and compassion for all living creatures.

In the fourth section of the book, Morrow dives deeper into the emotional aspects of veganism. He covers topics such as overcoming the worries of not fitting in, handling nonvegans’ reactions, and how to be confident in your veganism. He explains that embracing a vegan lifestyle entails more than just changing your diet; it is a lifestyle commitment of “compassion and respect for yourself, others, and the planet”.

The last section of the book is all about living a successful vegan life. In this section, Morrow covers the benefits of being a vegan and how being a vegan can help you reach your long-term goals. He outlines four key steps to help readers live a vegan lifestyle with intrinsic motivation and lasting success: have a plan, practice self-care, find and nurture supportive relationships, and make yourself accountable. Morrow stresses that what separates vegans from other dietary lifestyles is the long-term commitment to living a life of purpose and humility.

Morrow’s book “The Happy Vegan: A Guide to Living a Long, Healthy, and Successful Life” is an inspirational and detailed guide no matter what your path to veganism is. Through it, readers get the assurance that they can have a happy and healthy vegan lifestyle while making a difference in the world. Morrow’s guide encourages readers to maintain a holistic approach to living a successful life without having to sacrifice the vegan ideals.