Mortal Stakes

Book Description

Everybody loves a winner, and the Rabbs are major league. Marty is the Red Sox star pitcher, Linda the loving wife. She loves everyone except the blackmailer out to wreck her life.

Is Marty throwing fast balls or throwing games? It doesn't take long for Spenser to link Marty's performance with Linda's past...or to find himself trapped between a crazed racketeer and an enforcer toting an M-16.

America's favorite pastime has suddenly become a very dangerous sport, and one wrong move means strike three, with Spenser out for good!

Customer Reviews:

Great Early Spenser.......2007-08-23

MORTAL STAKES is the third Spenser novel, and is one of the best ones. The plot involves Spenser being hired by the Boston Red Sox to determine whether one of their pitchers is throwing games. Spenser's investigation leads him to look deep into the personal history of the pitcher's wife, which reveals quite a few skeletons.

I really enjoy reading Parker's prose. The writing in MORTAL STAKES is lean, funny, and always entertaining. His early Spenser books are the best, because the character is still young, fresh and unsure of himself. In the later books, he becomes a bit too much of a self-satisfied superhero for my tastes. My advice is to read the first ten Spenser novels first -- they are some of the best private eye fiction you will ever read.

In short, MORTAL STAKES is a classic novel by one of the most important American crime writers working today. If you've never read Parker, this novel is certainly worth your time, although you might want to read GOD SAVE THE CHILD first to get a bit more background on who Spenser is.

Spenser investigates an All-American pass-time.......2007-05-21

In the 3rd Spenser outing, he is hired to investigate the Boston Red Sox to see if one of the team is being paid to throw some of the games. His investigations take him to some strange places and he digs up some dirt he wasn't expecting - as well as some serious trouble for himself.

Oddly enough, this book left me a bit cold - I can't quite place my finger on why I didn't find this book as enjoyable as the first two. Perhaps it is due to the many places where Spenser waxes philosophical for no particular reason. Perhaps it is the way that clues seem to just fall into his lap. Maybe it is just because I'm reading it at work and work leaves me in a foul mood. Whatever the reason, don't let me cause you to pass up this book; Spenser fans will want to read it so they don't miss out on a minute of this series.

Batter's Up! Pitcher Pauses. Crack that Ball! Spenser's Heaven Visits Hell........2006-04-23

Loved the reality/fiction twist of Spenser going undercover as a writer to get into baseball back rooms and detect from inside the game. The poem introducing this heavenly concept of work overlapping play was a perfect preface. Of course the meaning in those lines from Robert Frost descend into deadly seriousness, beyond a person's job taking him into his most passionate pastime.

It appears that, for Robert B. Parker, the heart of Boston's commerce and culture is baseball at Fenway Park. That is where this author appears to live. And where Spenser opens gateways for Parker's dreams... and nightmares.

To me, Parker seemed happy to be writing this book within this setting with mirrors reflecting mirrors of "plays" within plays that Spenser's opening interviews didn't feature suspects/clients offering delicatessen varieties of The Limburger Reek. The beauty of the baseball scene was captured perfectly, from the spectators in the stands, to the clean locker room banter, to the management organizational structure and press picture, to the sharks feeding among the sacred roots of the game. Even though I'm not into baseball, by page 4 Parker had me hooked into his ambiance. I felt the realism in the levels of the game, felt Spenser's joy (at the outset) to be doing this case.

It seemed to me as if, by this third Spenser novel, copyright 1975, Parker was feeling his oats as an author, had established his commercial appeal, and was really stepping out to write what and how he'd always wanted: Baseball, within the classic framework of detective fiction.

Loved the joked-up titles for his fictional book, off-colored ditties which lead to an appropriate one. I was curious what Spenser would come up with, contrasted to his hokey (as he meant them to be) jokes, and he dropped the head-liner at the precise time and place for effect.

It was nice, as a change of pace, to see Spenser as slightly less of a wise guy and more of a vulnerably happy man eating up the perks of his profession (though his artfully acerbic wit, which I relish, certainly wasn't lacking).

I'm happy to report that this third novel was written in the meaty narrative style of the prior two novels, rather than in the pared down dialogue dance of his later works, though I do not mean to disparage the honed beauty of his later work. Just wanted to enjoy his early, classic P.I. style (with its sensual gourmet touches), wanted to stretch out for a while prior to the sophisticated-dialogue-rap condensing narrative complexity into Parker's signature syntax dance.

I wonder how many novels Parker wrote with the setting and location detail riding equal to or above the dialogue and interview process. I'm going to enjoy the heck out of finding out where/how his style evolved. Would like to also unearth the whys, but I'd have to interview the man to get to that groundwork.

Though writing fictional works is my favorite outlet for my talent (making work into play), when I've despaired of being published right in that venue, I've sometimes toyed with the idea of writing a novel based on facts featuring the development and expression of a talent like Parker's, a full, meaty story showing how his talent was guided and manipulated by whatever factors. Sidney Sheldon's memoirs, THE OTHER SIDE OF ME (See my review posted 1/14/06), does a great job of exposing how his expression was hammered by those jealous of ability expressed well, developed by ungodly hard work with good luck mixed into the bad, endured torture to arrive at a success few could fully comprehend, though his memoirs explain a lot.

Another amazing example of how life's events mold talent is Stephen King's ON WRITING (my review dated 10/13/06). Apparently King is frightening enough that many people seem to pause at least twice before tarnishing his talent in public venues which King might read.

But King and Sheldon's books (those mentioned above) are nonfiction. If I wanted to (or even could) take time away from writing pure fiction (I'm ambivalent about alternate routes for expression, because I'm better with fiction than with fact), I'd like to write factual information into novel form, with a focus on what manipulated an auspicious author's talent into the types of books published under his name, an author like Robert B. Parker.

And, I've wondered if the stalking incidents in HUSH MONEY and WALKING SHADOW (my reviews dated 4/11 & 13/06) were based on actual incidents in Parker's life. I've also wondered if his wife, Joan, is as feisty as Susan was in HUSH MONEY. In the real world, Joan probably wouldn't (for understandable reasons) act out the drama quite as Susan did. But, I'll bet RB and Joan enjoyed the heck out of Susan's scenes taking care of the "lady" stalker. Readers aren't the only ones who live vicariously in novels.

What's fiction for if not to write or read about what we'd love (and sometimes fear) to be able to do in life but, for various reasons of cowardliness, courage, or consequences, cannot.

Returning to the issues and joys of MORTAL STAKES, the above tangent subtly explains why I enjoyed so much reading about Parker (via Spenser) wallowing in his passion of Fenway Park baseball. The above tangent also backs up my reasons for appreciating Parker's inclusion of detail of Spenser's personal and professional daily routines. When an author writes when, how, and what his main character eats his daily bread, that author not only draws that character from its essence, the author draws the reader in from the seat of where we all live at base reality.

Spenser's daily routine actions spread like gourmet-peanut-butter and homemade jam over Parker's pages, following Spenser's exit from the ball park, through the following day. Those scenes were a premium use of narrative space lush with syntax ambiance, all of which effected a perfect set up for the riveting scene of mob-type intrusion into Parker's office by Frank Doerr and back up guy. This type of narrative contrast makes high art, the contrast between a heavy risk scene holding "mortal stakes," coming on after the reader has gotten comfortable wallowing in a character's simple, daily human machinations, a character running through "at home" routines, meandering through "at play" situations involving his greatest passions (especially when the pleasurable addictions overlap his livelihood necessities).

After that stirring of contrasting scenes, the comfy/schmoozing Vs. the risky/riveting elements had welded into a novel I wasn't wanting to end. And, in essence, it wouldn't end until I rolled through over 20 more Spenser novels after this one. Yeah!

(I wonder, how Parker felt chained to this venue for a lifetime. He did successfully manipulate it to express various angles of his literary creativity and ethics development process. Maybe he loved every day of his work as an author. Or did he sometimes want to pull his hair out, scream primal howls, to get out of the detective novel constraints? He did develop other series characters and accomplished those Spenser sidelines well.)

Who would have thought a reader like me, who has absolutely zilch natural interest in spectator sports, would have become cozily enchanted, actually entranced by a novel worked around and within baseball. To be able to accomplish this, heavy-duty talent is required to be firing on all cylinders.

V-rrrrooooooooommmmmmmm.

This is what happens when work is play for an author. Yet reading the Frost poetry more closely, it says, "when work is play for mortal stakes." This play is serious. The work of an author, no matter how glamorous or how fun it may seem, is serious. Should editors open the gateway, then get out of the way? (Until the creation is complete, then offer assistance if/as requested?) I don't know. I'm just a fool full of brain sparks. And, with second thoughts having fizzled, I realize Parker, like Sheldon and King, should write his own memoirs. I couldn't EVEN do justice to a biography on Parker's authorship evolution. I live so far into the ozone of fiction, I too often get my facts wrong.

But, a few questions remain.

How would Brenda and Susan contrast, in fitting into baseball and the P.I.'s life, into the life which is played with mortal stakes? The sparing scenes with each of these female sidekicks were beautifully, sensitively, and thougtfully drawn.

And what of the economic/cultural contrasts dramatized so crushingly clearly here, of lives varying from the clean health of Spenser's personal ablutions and ruminations, to the varieties of physical deterioration and downtrodden, deathly drudgery; from urban renewal edging against City Pimp-ery, to a Heartland Hero protecting the sad sanctuary of "his people" lost to an exhausting poverty of mud and swill?

Of course Parker dealt with those situations with his usual finesse, largesse, and an abundance of duress. Earthy wisdom was also applied with Biblical eyes and teeth, gusto and grace.

Before leaving this book, I felt a need to study the sophisticated symbolism of the "setup" location and situation.

What does contemplation of the scene's description bring to mind?

As did the caring, relishing (reader drool inducing) way Spenser took time to cook for himself, the "setup" setting symbolized what Spenser was defending in a battle no less than a full out war, which involved defending the continued existence of everything he held dear, including his life and the sacred people and parts in a way of life hard won in the US. The setting Spenser chose for his showdown scene also symbolized what was sea creature, at the center of that life, ripping its flesh and eating the people and parts.

In MORTAL STAKES, Parker stepped into the storms of life as we're growing it. He stuck his thick neck out and really said something. Go beyond thought spaces between sentences. This work is such a cohesive whole the undercurrents might be best seen after the last page has been turned. Slowly.

Linda G. Shelnutt

HIgh Stakes Indeed.......2004-09-02

Mortal Stakes, the third in the Spenser series, is wonderful on many levels. It is more than just about baseball and blackmail and a lone wolf PI taking on underworld thugs. It is also about relationships: between couples, between business partners, between a sports idol and his fans and also his teammates. Parker handles all of these relationships well, with the plot twisting down to a somewhat surprising end: the hero is not who you think! Excellent read - I highly recommend.

Starting to get hooked on Spenser.......2004-06-27

I am starting to like these books more and more. It is interesting to see what topic he will use in the plot. The first book, the setting was a college campus and a missing manuscript. The second one was a missing 14 year old and this one was about baseball. Spenser is hilarious. A very likeable character. The only thing I don't like about the series so far is the relationships with the women in his life. Too casual. Maybe it was a sign of the times (the 70's) but I feel like he uses the secretary and the school guidance counselor for a little more than sex and a good meal. Even so, Im going to read more. He intrigues me.

Robert Parker: Three Complete Spenser Novels (The Godwulf Manuscript / Mortal Stakes Promised Land)

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Robert Parker: Three Complete Spenser Novels (The Godwulf Manuscript / Mortal Stakes Promised Land)
Robert Parker
Manufacturer: Wings
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0517148021
Release Date: 1995-10-11

Mortal Stakes: Hunters and Hunting in Contemporary America

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Thought-provoking and a very worthwhile read.
Best book on the subject

Mortal Stakes: Hunters and Hunting in Contemporary America
Jan E. Dizard
Manufacturer: University of Massachusetts Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Animal Rights | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Hunting | Hunting & Fishing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1558493840

Book Description

Each autumn, millions of men and increasing numbers of women don camouflage or blaze orange outfits and go afield in pursuit of game. For much of American history, there was no need to explain why they did this. Hunting was simply another aspect of the annual cycle of planting, breeding, and harvesting. But modern hunting began separating from its agrarian roots well over a century ago, and although it has retained its connection to the metaphor of the harvest, the self-perceptions and motives of hunters today are no longer transparent, especially to nonhunters. Indeed, hunting—and those who hunt—have become targets of a vocal and growing array of critics.

In "Mortal Stakes," Jan E. Dizard examines the place of hunting in contemporary America. Drawing on detailed interviews with hunters as well as opinion surveys and demographic statistics, he analyzes the meanings these men and women attach to hunting and situates this traditional activity in its current setting. He looks at who hunts, how they compare socially and politically with nonhunters, and how they see themselves and are seen by others.

With fewer and fewer Americans closely linked to the land, hunting seems less ordinary and less necessary. As the gulf between hunters and nonhunters widens, hunters have begun to think of themselves as a minority group which, like other minorities, suffers from prejudice and stereotyping. As a result, Dizard argues, hunting is fast becoming one more front in an expanding "culture war" over what it means to be an American.

Customer Reviews:

Thought-provoking and a very worthwhile read........2003-03-29

Dizard continues to educate and explore hunting in America. A wonderful writer in a family of gifted writers and educators, he offers us the gift of greater understanding and contemplation of these issues. Again, another terrific book from this author.

Best book on the subject.......2003-03-08

Great writing by a brave person willing to attempt to make sense of an aspect of our culture everyone thinks they understand. One will find it difficult to take pleasure or refuge in their prejudices after reading this book.

For Mortal Stakes: Solutions for Schools and Society

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For Mortal Stakes: Solutions for Schools and Society
Paul F. Cummins , and Anna K. Cummins
Manufacturer: Bramble Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Policy | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1883647088

Death Sentence, The Barclay Place, Mortal Stakes (Detective Book Club)

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Death Sentence, The Barclay Place, Mortal Stakes (Detective Book Club)

Manufacturer: Walter J. Black
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Product Description

Three complete novels. 156+165+151=472 pages.

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Mortal Stakes
Robert B. Parker
Manufacturer: Dell Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000Q5YY56

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Mortal Stakes
Robert B. Parker
Manufacturer: Dell Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NTT6V2

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Mortal Stakes

Manufacturer: Berkley Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GB7SQM

Product Description

Large Print Fiction

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MORTAL STAKES
Robert B XXXX Parker
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000J5Q0NC

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Mortal Stakes
Robert B. Parker
Manufacturer: Deutsch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Book Description

Stacey Christian and Peter Mansfield join forces to help solve the mysteries surrounding Lady Katherine O'Flannery's Irish castle - mysteries of hauntings, suicide, desertion, embezzlement and revenge. Skepticism turns to incredulity and finally terror as Stacey and Peter come face to face with a reality that neither could ever have imagined.

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Customer Reviews:

wonderful novel.......2004-11-14

I was spellbound, could not put it down...can't wait for Ms. McMahon's next novel, excellent author!

A Favorite.......2004-10-16

I loved Return of the Gulls. Its is a very good mystery, it is a great Cliff hanger (lots of suspence). One reason i like Return of the Gulls (and Shadows in the Mist/Maureen Mcmahon's other Roamantic/suspence book) ; is because she keeps you wanting to read untill the very end. When you think its all over and you already know the answer to the mystery, something new pops out and the answer/your thoughts completly change. She has beautiful discrption, and i love how before every chapter she has a poem that kinda has to do with that chaoter! One night i just could'nt get myself to put the book down so i ended up staying up untill one in the moring finishing it. I started it over the next day.
So I highly recommend this book. I would rate it 10 stars(even though its only out of 5!)

RETURN OF THE GULLS is a Gripping Gothic!.......2004-10-03

RETURN OF THE GULLS by Maureen McMahon is a suspenseful gothic with new twists and turns on every page. Stacey Christian visits Ireland and finds herself in a castle the local inhabitants are certain is haunted. With the help of her sometimes-boyfriend Peter Mansfield, she tries to solve the mystery of the murder in the past and the intrigue and danger in the present. You'll stay up all night to finish this one!

A little treasure!.......2004-10-02

This is one of those books that are a real find. Set in Ireland in a haunted castle, Stacey Christian and Peter Mansfield uncover a myriad of secrets and surprises. I was on the edge of my seat! I recommend this book to everyone.

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Return to Gull Haven
Mary Earls Wells
Manufacturer: 1st Books Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1403316163

Book Description

Return to Gull Haven is about the life of Shelby Francis. Glimpses of tragedy in her past, a doomed romance, danger and kidnapping in the present, and a glimmer of hope for her future gives her the will to survive.

Relationships between ecological variables and four organochlorine pollutants in an artic glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) population [An article from: Environmental Pollution]

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Relationships between ecological variables and four organochlorine pollutants in an artic glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) population [An article from: Environmental Pollution]
J.O. Bustnes , O. Miland , M. Fjeld , and K.E. Erikstad
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000RR3U3A

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Environmental Pollution, published by Elsevier in 2005. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
The Arctic has become a sink for organochlorine contaminants (OCs) from lower latitudes, and relatively high levels have been found in different biota. Recent studies of the glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus, a top predator in the arctic food web, have documented that high blood residues of various OCs are related to lower reproductive performance and reduced adult survival. Here we provide additional evidence that OCs are having ecological effects in the glaucous gull population at Bear Island in the Norwegian Arctic, and compare the effects of the four major OCs found in the glaucous gulls: HCB, oxychlordane, DDE and PCBs, which made up >95% of measured OCs. Firstly; it has previously been shown that gulls with high levels of PCBs in their blood spent more time away from the nest site during incubation than gulls with low levels. Here we reanalyzed the data and found that PCBs (P <0.02) and oxychlordane (P <0.05) were positive and significantly related to time away from the nest site, while DDE and HCB were not related to this trait. Secondly, among females which bred in an area where fish dominated the diet, and thus had high flight costs during feeding, early chick growth was negatively related to maternal levels of all four OCs, especially HCB and DDE (P <0.01). On the contrary, among females breeding in an area where the diet was dominated by eggs and young from nearby seabird colonies, and thus feeding costs were low, there were no effects of OC levels on early chick growth. This indicates that additional stress may be fundamental in causing reproductive effects of OCs in this population. Finally, during three breeding seasons we examined the probability of adults returning to the breeding grounds in the subsequent season, as a function of blood concentration of the four OCs. Overall, return rate from one year to the next was negatively related to blood residues of oxychlordane (P=0.02), but not significantly related to the other three compounds. Further support for the importance of oxychlordane was that a 60% drop in the blood levels between 1997 and 2000 led to a significant increase in return rate between these two years.

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Spaceways 18/race (Spaceways Series, No. 18)
John Cleve
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0425070247

Book Description

If you thought you had to be a nutritionist to figure out a vegetarian diet, it’s actually a lot simpler than you think. Eating vegetarian, in addition to being healthy and delicious, is just plain fun. Discovering new and exotic vegetables like celeriac or kohlrabi will widen your palate as well as your sense of adventure in the kitchen. Plus, vegetarian cuisine is chockfull of dishes that are robust and flavorful, and a match for any standard meat dish. And, most important of all, eating a plateful of vegetarian lasagna or pasta primavera, or any other scrumptious dish prepared vegetarian style will let you indulge—without guilt!

With Vegetarian Cooking For Dummies, you’ll get the skinny on just what lacto-ovo, lacto, and just plain vegan diets are all about and how to create nutritious meals from the rich cornucopia of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, and dairy and egg substitutes that are the staple of the vegetarian menu. You’ll also find out:

How to get your full complement of protein and vitamins, including calcium, iron, C, B12, and zinc—and from what, often surprising, food sources
How to successfully convert to a vegetarian diet
How to stock up a vegetarian pantry—including tips on where to shop, starting a kitchen garden, as well as handy weekly and monthly food lists
Vegetarian cooking basics—including preparing ingredients, cooking beans and grains, handling tofu and tempeh, washing and cutting fruits and vegetables
Simple cooking techniques—including baking, boiling, steaming, sautéing, and stewing
The ins and outs of vegetarian etiquette

Not only will you become fully acquainted with the new and delicious world of meat replacements (like tofu, tempeh, seitan, textured vegetable protein, veggie burgers and franks) and egg, dairy, yogurt and cheese substitutes, you’ll see how truly simple and enjoyable cooking vegetarian can be. With over delicious 100 recipes, you’ll find yourself choosing among such soon-to-be favorites as:

Smoothie snacks—including a Caramel Apple Smoothie and a Winter Berry Smooth
Breakfast dishes—including Savory Mushroom Tofu Quiche, Healthy Pancakes, and French Toasties
Delicious dips—including Hummus, Baba Ghanouj, and Fresh Avocado and Lime Dip
Soups for all seasons—including Vegetarian Chili with Cashews and Southern Sweet Onion Soup
Scrumptious salads—including Festive Broccoli Salad, Tofu Salad, and Lentil Vinaigrette Salad
Entrees for everyone—including Basic Bean Burritos, Spinach and Mushroom Manicotti, Garden Pizza, and Tempeh Sloppy Joes

Full of tips on adapting traditional recipes to vegetarian style cooking, plus a spicy spin on old standbys like Home Fries, Vegetarian Cooking For Dummies lets you reinvent the vegetarian lifestyle to suit your needs and tastes. With pages of full-color photos, black-and-white how-to illustrations, and humorous cartoons along the way, this fun, informative, and upbeat guide makes every meal an exciting step in the journey toward lifelong health.

Customer Reviews:

A wealth of wonderful recipes.......2001-11-11

Vegetarian Cooking For Dummies is the ideal "starter" book for anyone wishing to convert to a vegetarian culinary lifestyle. Fun and easy, the recipes are enhanced with superb color photographs and instructions that are simple, straightforward, and consistently reliable. In addition to a wealth of wonderful recipes, the novice vegetarian is also treated to a "reader friendly" guide to vegetarian basics, a description of the vegetarian kitchen, the tools and techniques of vegetarian basics, and some very good "tips, tricks and techniques" for adapting recipes to a vegetarian format. There is an invaluable section offering ten reasons to cook vegetarian, ten practical vegetarian cookbooks, ten helpful websites; and ten online sources of ingredients; as well as a metric conversion guide, an index, and book registration information. From dips, spreads, and soups to salads, entrees, and side dishes, to breads, rolls and desserts, Vegetarian Cooking For Dummies is an enthusiastically recommended reference for vegetarian dining from the ordinary family meal to the extraordinary holiday event menu.

Average customer rating:

Best book out there....
Still a dummy
Wonderful resource for those interested in a vegetarian lifestyle
Good info but too preachy
Great resource - fun to read!

Being Vegetarian for Dummies
Suzanne Havala
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Vegetables & Vegetarian | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0764563351

Book Description

Before you arrived at the restaurant, your friends all ordered a large pizza—half pepperoni, half sausage. As the solo vegetarian, you discreetly add a small cheese pizza to the order—with peppers and onions, of course! Welcome to the world of a vegetarian in an otherwise carnivorous population.

Vegetarianism has found itself growing in popularity, whether for religious, health, moral, or many other reasons. Still, it’s not uncommon to be the minority in a large group of people based on your vegetarian lifestyle. Going to a restaurant, a dinner party, traveling, and holidays (think: tofurkey!) can often be a challenge for many vegetarians. Being Vegetarian For Dummies helps you choose the vegetarian lifestyle that is right for you, whether you’re a vegetarian in the making or if you’ve been a vegetarian for years . With the helpful advice this guide provides, you’ll:

Discover the vegetarian food guide pyramid
Figure out true benefits of vegetarianism
Find out how to reinvent your favorite recipes
Learn how to arrange for vegetarian foods at wedding, banquets, and other social events

Best of all, Being Vegetarian For Dummies tackles head-on some of the most common questions that vegetarians often face when someone learns of their dietary lifestyle. Aren’t you lacking a ton of vitamins and minerals? What exactly do you eat? Don’t you get tired of salads? Isn’t it dangerous to be vegetarian when you’re pregnant? The list goes on—mainly because most people don’t have a clear understanding of what being a vegetarian really entails. Being Vegetarian For Dummies offers you all you need to know to make smart, healthy choices, and also covers:

Deciding whether to switch to vegetarianism overnight or gradually
Finding vegetarian sources of protein
Ensuring that you have a healthy vegetarian pregnancy
Vegetarian diets for children and teens
Understanding what’s really in your food and other products

Being Vegetarian For Dummies definitely promises that you won’t be eating grilled cheese sandwiches for the rest of your life.

Customer Reviews:

Best book out there...........2007-07-06

Wonderful explanations, definitions etc. All you could ever ask for in a book! Thanks to this book I am so much more educated on being vegetarian!

Still a dummy.......2007-03-26

It is freggin hard to be a vegetarian in a meat eating world that is for sure. It is a good read, but you have got to be motivated to go meatless. I have not gotten there yet.

Wonderful resource for those interested in a vegetarian lifestyle.......2006-02-07

I'm extremely impressed with the amount of information that his book contains and it's clear cut, and interesting layout. Being Vegetarian for Dummies, is chocked full of nutritional information, as well as common myths. What I found most helpful about this book was its real world approach to being a vegetarian. I've read many books on the topic, but this book really seems to take into account the fact that as a vegetarian you will have to interact outside the confines of your own kitchen. It gives suggestions on how to support your vegetarian lifestyle while on vacation, in office settings, while over someone else's home. The book gives multiple options for those who follow either an ovo-lacto or vegan lifestyle. I highly recommend this book for those interested in learning more about being a vegetarian, but I do suggest you look at multiple sources, there are other books that focus more on the importance of individual vitamins and minerals, and their optimal food source.

Good info but too preachy.......2004-07-06

This book follows in the same tradition as the other Dummies books. The book covers basics about being vegetarian and what you need to watch out for if becoming purely vegan. However, the author preaches to the reader, in essence saying "what has taken you so long, dummy, to become a vegetarian? Don't you know it's the right thing to do?" I have also read another book called "Becoming Vegetarian" (original version; the authors now have a newer version available) by Vesanto Melina, et al. I thought the information was presented in a very organized fashion without any preaching or finger-pointing. I would highly recommend the Melina book over Dummies.

Great resource - fun to read!.......2003-07-30

I ordered three books on becoming a Vegetarian, and stayed up late last night to finish this one. It is great - very informative, without too much technical jargon. Just down-to-earth "how to" stuff, without "preaching" vegetarianism. I highly recommend this book if you are thinking about adopting a vegetarian diet, or just want to eat healthier.

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