Beyond Beliefs: A Guide to Improving Relationships and Communication for Vegans, Vegetarians, and Meat Eaters - Softcover

Harvard-educated psychologist Dr. Melanie Joy is an expert on the psychology of veganism/vegetarianism and of meat eating, and her work has been featured by media outlets around the world, including the New York Times, the BBC, and ABC Australia. Dr. Joy is also a longtime relationship coach and communication specialist. She has traveled to 39 countries on six continents, where she’s spoken with thousands of vegans, vegetarians, and meat eaters about their experiences in “veg/non-veg” relationships. Dr. Joy is also the author of the award-winning book Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows, and she is the founder and president of Beyond Carnism. You can learn more about her work at carnism.org.

“This book can help people with any food beliefs significantly improve their relationships and communication. And if you’re vegan (or vegetarian), this book will also help you better understand yourself and be a much more effective ambassador for the cause.”
―Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, author of The 30-Day Vegan Challenge and other books

“Dr. Melanie Joy is one of the most profound thinkers of our age. Read this book. Your life will never be the same. It will be much better."
―Jane Velez-Mitchell, journalist and founder and host of JaneUnchained

“Melanie Joy does a brilliant job of showing us how to negotiate veg/non-veg relationships and ultimately make them stronger.”
―Dan Buettner, National Geographic Fellow and author of The Blue Zones

“Beyond Beliefs will show you how to significantly reduce conflict and increase connection in all your relationships―with your partner, family, friends, colleagues, and even acquaintances. I can’t think of a single vegan, vegetarian, or meat eater who wouldn’t benefit tremendously from this book!” ―Michael Greger, MD, author of How Not to Die and founder of NutritionFacts.org

“I love this book. As a vegan married to a non-vegan, I found Melanie Joy’s advice on how to maintain a loving relationship regardless of people’s differences to be fantastic. I recommend this book to anyone seeking deeper, more connected relationships.”
―Alexandra Paul, actress and health coach

“From the minute you meet Melanie Joy, it becomes clear that she is a catalyst for connecting you with your deepest levels of compassion and common sense. Instantly you wish you could be at least a fraction as articulate as she is. Luckily, you now have in your hands a guide to help you navigate distances between you and the others in your life, the world, and yourself. Beyond Beliefs will leave you feeling clearer, more connected, confident, and even― though many difficult issues are addressed―happier. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to be a more mindful agent for bringing the light of conscious living to everything from personal relationships to the predominant culture in which we live.”
―Lani Muelrath author of The Mindful Vegan: A 30-Day Plan for Finding Health, Balance, Peace, and Happiness

“In this insightful and engaging book, Melanie Joy offers wisdom, comfort, and advice for any vegan or vegetarian who’s ever felt misunderstood by meat eaters and for any meat eater who’s ever felt confounded by vegans or vegetarians. This book can show you the way beyond your beliefs, so you can relate and communicate with clarity and compassion. I highly recommend it!”
―Lisa Bloom, civil rights attorney at The Bloom Firm

“Navigating relationships can be hard, particularly for new vegans trying to figure out how to relate to their non-vegan friends and family. Dr. Joy’s book provides excellent guidance to help with these issues and provides vegans and others with the tools they need for social success.”
―Dave Simon, Esq., author of Meatonomics

“This is such an important book. A huge part of being a vegan needs to be communicating effectively and respectfully.”
―Moby, musician, author, and activist

“Melanie Joy’s work contains some of the very best thinking ever on the psychology of eating and provides the first really robust, consistent, deep analysis of some of our most critical food beliefs. In Beyond Beliefs, Joy has again made a major achievement. This book is, please excuse me, a joy to read. I cannot imagine anyone reading this without an 'aha' moment, and one for the good.”
―Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, PhD, author of When Elephants Weep and other books