Whole Foods founder John Mackey has written a positive, easy to read celebration of the Plant Based Whole Foods lifestyle. Rather than a treatise mired in too much scientific data, or a fear-based anti-meat sentiment (though he does lay out some facts), Mackey takes the high road of encouraging his readers to understand the benefits of a lifestyle that is at least 90% plant-based, non-processed foods. He leaves the wiggle room of 10% animal-based products for those who feel they just can't make the full leap. To many hardcore vegans, this is sacrilege, but I think he does tremendous good for his cause by taking the tact of the evangelist who shows you glimpses of heaven instead of threatening you with hellfire.

He also examines other popular approaches to eating (Paleo, high protein/low carb diets, etc) and does his best to accentuate their positives while pointing out key differences that, in his mind, make them less effective than the PBWF approach.

He's well-informed, personable, and conversational - all plusses for books like these that can often feel too clinical.

He's never heavy-handed, and offers a lot of great guidance along the way, including chapters that speak to how the foods you eat can help slow or even reverse heart disease, diabetes, and other diet-related maladies.

Mackey saves his ethical pitch for veganism for the final pages of the book, and even then, lays out his case in a way that shouldn't make anyone feel accosted or guilty, but instead invited to explore.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to make a change in their lives. He lays out a path that feels possible, and one that allows for missteps along the way.