Tobias Leenaert - How to Create a Vegan World: A Pragmatic Approach

Tobias Leenaert's writings are consistently some of the sharpest and most perceptive material in the animal protection movement's literature. His advice gives activists the tools to play a decisive role in ending the era of industrialized animal exploitation.Erik Marcus, publisher of Vegan.com

As religious, political, and dietary dogma enjoys a heyday, How to Create a Vegan World offers pragmatists a welcome haven. With research supporting his position, the author contends that in valuing both small changes and sweeping ones, we can build, rather than bulldoze, our way to a compassionate and sustainable world.Victoria Moran, author, Main Street Vegan, and director, Main Street Vegan Academy

The animal rights movement has been waiting for a book like this. Tobias Leenaert goes beyond the obvious reasons of why the world should go vegan and provides valuable insights on how to effectively make progress towards that goal. I would highly recommend this book to new and veteran activists dedicated to helping as many animals as they can.Nick Cooney, Vice President of Mercy for Animals, author, Veganomics and Change of Heart

Tobias Leenaert has a unique and practical point of view on all things vegan that cuts through the issues like a knife through a firm cake of tofu. He is not afraid to challenge common misconceptions and norms with his penetrating, fact-based reasoning. Always independent and illuminating, we count on activists like Tobias to lead the way towards a vegan world.Seth Tibbott, founder and president, the Tofurky Company

How to Create a Vegan World is a must-read for anyone who wants to maximize their impact to make the world a better place for animals. Tobias Leenaert synthesizes a wealth of research with his own extensive experience as a vegan advocate to present clear arguments and practical tips for effective vegan advocacy. I highly recommend this book!Melanie Joy, PhD, author, Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows; cofounder and codirector, Center for Effective Vegan Advocacy

Some animal advocates are content just to be right. Tobias Leenaert doesn't want you to be just right; he wants you to be both right and effective. There's a big difference, and he'll show you what it is.Paul Shapiro, The Humane Society of the United States

Tobias Leenaert is one of today's most important writers regarding animal issues. Probably his greatest strength is his ability to stay focused on what will actually help animals in the real world. Especially in this time of social media and filtered feeds, it is incredibly easy to focus on what is popular with people who are already vegan. Tobias, however, looks beyond his likes and retweets, and instead stays focused on the bottom linereaching new people with the message of compassion.Matt Ball, author, The Accidental Activist, and coauthor, The Animal Activist's Handbook

If the meat industry had to pick one book they don't want you to read, this would be it.Sebastian Joy, founder and director, ProVeg International

Big-hearted and level-headed Tobias Leenaert shows us how we need both idealism and pragmatism in the animal rights movement, and that we can make greater, more strategic strides through collaboration, inclusiveness, and meeting people where they're at. Listen to Tobias.Jo-Anne McArthur, photojournalist, author, We Animals and Captive

Tobias Leenaert makes a very convincing argument for why a food first approach should be an essential part of the strategic toolbox of the animal advocacy movement. A refreshing, compelling, and ultimately very positive book that should be read by everyone who wants to help animals.Bruce Friedrich, executive director, Good Food Institute

The single most important book on the subject. With wit, compassion, and humor, Tobias brilliantly combines light-hearted stories with hard-hitting facts, ultimately leaving the reader with a renewed sense of purpose and joy. If you want to master the most effective strategies for reducing societal consumption of animal products, this ultimate guide is for you.Brian Kateman, editor, The Reducetarian Solution, and cofounder, the Reducetarian Foundation

Drawing from the research on successful behavior change as well as his own extensive experience, Tobias Leenaert has created an essential tool for anyone who wants to change the world for animals. How to Create a Vegan World is thoughtful, pragmatic, and provocative. It's also packed with useful tips that are likely to make your advocacy more effective than ever.Virginia Messina, MPH, RD, author, Vegan for Life, and coauthor, Even Vegans Die

Tobias Leenaert doesn't want to be right but applies a pragmatic approach to create a big societal transition. He does this with a keen eye for human nature. Like Berthold Brecht noticed ninety years ago: Food comes first, then morals.Jaap Korteweg, the Vegetarian Butcher

Tobias' pragmatism in this book is refreshing. Any method that leads to reduction of used resources, greenhouse gas emissions, and animal suffering should be pursued. Personally, and to illustrate Tobias' points in this book, as a habitual meat-eater, my inclination to become vegetarian or vegan is boosted more by eating in a spectacular vegan restaurant, having a vegetarian daughter, and meeting rational people like Tobias, than my professional endeavors or my encounters with proselytizing vegans.Mark Post, creator of the stemcell-based hamburger

This book contains many of the ideas I wish I had come by immediately when I went vegan in 2005. It would have saved me and others from countless fruitless discussions. Highly recommended for any vegan who wants to make a difference!Mahi Klosterhalfen, CEO and president, Albert Schweitzer Foundation

Through a rational, strategic approach, this book shows the reader how we can all play a part in ending factory farming and sparing billions of animals from suffering.David Coman-Hidy, executive director, The Humane League

Tobias Leenaert is the meat industry's worst nightmare: a triple-threat visionary who is also utterly pragmatic and who writes well. His book is stuffed from beginning to end with great advice that's backed up by research and common sense, and is well delivered. If you care about saving the animals, read it.Hillary Rettig, vegan activist and author, The Lifelong Activist

In a movement charged with emotion, pragmatism can often be overlooked. Tobias takes a critical look at how to create change in our modern society, and his thoughtful viewpoints teach valuable, evidence-based approaches to achieving victories for animals.Jon Bockman, CEO, Animal Charity Evaluators

I wish How to Create a Vegan World fell into my hands years ago. It would have profoundly impacted my views on what helps the most animals. If you care about saving animals you should not only read this book, you should have it on your bedside table.Sharon Nuez, president, Animal Equality

How to Create a Vegan World is a thoughtful plea for pragmatism in the vegan movement. Drawing on effective altruist principles and social psychology research, Leenaert explores how our biases can blind our advocacy for animals. He makes a powerful case for dropping conventional wisdom and leaving our comfort zone, and instead starting from first principles in our quest to best help animals.Lewis Bollard, farm animal welfare program officer, the Open Philanthropy Project

People don't do anything when they think they have to do everything. This helpful book provides a practical outline for guiding people to take positive steps and for being the type of activist who asks the question, Do I want to be right or do I want to be effective?