This is a nice book if you are interested in transitioning to a higher % of raw foods in your diet. The tone is non-dogmatic and encouraging, with the co-authors offering various viewpoints and approaches to consider. The recipe section is large and varied. I recommend this book for those who are interested in including more non-cooked, high-enzyme foods in their diet.

Cherie Soria has lived this lifestyle for decades. As the reviewer above noted, she looks at least twenty years younger than her 60-something age.
Coming from a person like her, you can rest assured that this is not a fad, unbalanced diet. She is a vibrant, healthy, energetic person.

What I particularly like is that she has a great deal of sympathy and understanding of the challenges facing a person who is struggling with their weight and their health, and understands how intimidating it is to make that huge transition from a Standard American Diet to mostly raw vegan.

The best thing about the book is that each day's eating is completely laid out, so you don't have to fill your head with planning and making decisions. Just do what she says, and you'll very quickly 'get it' - because in the end, it's all very very simple. And you will feel so much healthier and cleaner (not to mention thinner!) very quickly. Within days. Once you 'get it', it's easy to use the book as a guide for taking over and planning for yourself.

There are lots of great raw cookbooks out there, but this explains the basics of what to eat, how much and when. So it's great for beginners.

She doesn't insist that you eat 100% raw, and has great suggestions for common concerns like cold weather, travelling, and eating out.

The book is very well-researched, and has a great deal of scientific information if you want it. There are easy to use charts. And she explains the big 'protein question' that always comes up - ie how do you get enough.

There are recipes for nutrient-packed and yet simple to prepare foods, with great sympathy for those of us who don't have a lot of time in the day. Nothing is very difficult to put together, and they are appealing to non-raw diners as well (who, if you didn't tell them what you were serving, probably wouldn't notice, and might even congratulate you on the quality of your hummus and hungrily devour the nut creams and desserts).

She goes on to explore and recommend special equipment like juicers and dehydrators, which might be useful additions to your kitchen if you continue to eat in this vein.

Overall, an excellent introduction to the new healthy you. My criticisms are minor, but I did find it a little hard to navigate without reading from cover to cover. And I would have preferred color photographs, to enhance the recipe pages. I'd recommend this book if your current food-style isn't creating the health and life you want to have.

This is an excellent book for health, weight loss and potentially a plethora of physical ailments. I know people who have cured everything from migraines to IBS following this plan. The information is solid, reliably cited and the recipes...to die for. I especially like the zucchini hummus, tastes just like the authentic middle eastern version, minus the gas! If you want to feel better, look better and eat delicious food while getting there, get this book. It's worth it.

I am surprised that this book has not already been reviewed. It unlike anything on raw food. It gives details of the diet from Cherie who walks the walk. When reading this book I became amazed. I saw Cherie at a booth during a Vegetarian Event last year. I thought she was around my age. In reading the book she is old enough to be my mother. That is an endorsement for this book. She must be in her mid 60's.

Of the recipes I have tried the cashew yogurt worked and tasted good. The zucchini hummus will be made again this week. I have shared the mexican-style seasoned cabbage with people at worked and everyone loves it.

The two other authors Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina give a thoughtful and scientific basis for raw food. Becoming Vegan by these authors is a wonderful book that any vegan should have.