I was expecting a book on being healthier both individually and environmentally. Instead I got a book that combined environmental issues and Covid. The author offered broad opinions on both topics which left me questioning the purpose of the book.

If you are interested in learning more about how you as an individual can do more to help the environment, this book may be helpful to you. However, be prepared to walk away feeling very down about the world. There are some good tips, but they can sometimes get lost in the data and other information. If you already know the world is doomed and you are already eating a plant based diet and bringing your own bags to the store, this book maybe isn’t for you.

I just couldn’t finish this book. I was bored.
I had such high hopes for this one .

I just can’t recommend this one at all.

To be honest, I was disappointed. The cover is colourful and attractive and I was hoping th book would be like this but it wasn't. The chapters were dull, there are not pictures and I found it hard to stay engaged. the subtitles for each chapter are clearly laid out and I liked this but I thought considering how powerful the message is, the book could be more.attractive go draw more people in.

This book wasn't quite what I was expecting and I ended up not finishing it.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy.

This book has its pros and cons.
First of all I was very excited about the combination of health and environment and it is a great approach to the subject.
However, especially the first half of the book was incredibly dry and at times I wasn't sure which audience it was aimed at. At times, it went too deep for the average person to follow, and at other times, it was pointing out such obvious facts that anyone with previous knowledge would probably want to jump the section.
My other objection to this book is that there is a lot of repetition of the same points throughout the book, the two parts, and even the individual chapters. It was long and hard to read.

The positive note however is that the practical tips (part 2) are in fact useful and mostly achievable for the average person, which makes it an interesting read overall.

An interesting opinion writing focused on the effects of the food industry, agriculture, food security, and it's ties with climate change and global effects. I applaud the concept of this piece.

My main criticism lies in some of the references used and overarching conclusions made. I appreciate the way this book makes you consider the second and third order effects of all our actions. However, as a physician with science background, I question many of details and conclusions referenced.

I did enjoy and appreciate the "recipe" portion of this book. Thank you for these recommendations. Overall, I have decided 3 stars seems appropriate.

For future drafts of this book, I recommend reconsidering references used, and having experts of various science background review to ensure appropriat, valid conclusions. I wish the "recipes" portion of this read has more presence and was the main stay of the read.

I read these books to find more ways to heal Mother earth and I found "Recipe for Survival," to be a very thorough look at what ails are planet and some solutions that can help make a difference.
The first half of the book talks about all the problems that we are facing and the organizations that are trying to help, such as plastic in the ocean and poaching. The second half has the solution that each one of us can do to help, such as, using less plastic, eating more vegetable base proteins, and voting for those who are advocates for the planet.
This a great book for anyone trying to help the planet and I hope it makes believers out of those who do not believe.

I want to thank Cambridge University Press and NetGalley for this helpful book.

I really enjoyed this and it was a breath of fresh air. It really opened up my eyes and made me think about how we're living.

Recipe for Survival by Dana Ellis Hunnes aims to inform and educate its readers about how they "can live a healthier and more environmentally-friendly life." In case you are looking for an environmentally-friendly cookbook because the title includes the word "recipe," let me tell you, this is not the book you're looking for. This book is about climate change and the actions you can take as an individual. In other words, the recipes here are actions you can take, not dishes you can serve and eat.

First things first - I love the idea of "action recipes." There are so many books of gloom out there that instill a sense of helplessness in readers instead of inspiring them. And even if the readers are inspired to do something to help the environment, those books often offer little to no guidance. Hence, what sets apart Recipe for Survival is its unapologetic emphasis on action.

The first part of the book exposes the link between global food systems and environmental degradation, particularly climate change. It brings the reader up to speed about the issues at hand and prepares them for the second part, which contains 21 "recipes" they can do to live well and be environmentally friendly at the same time. This structure is another strength of this book. But why didn't I give it 5/5?

The author presents her recipes in order of importance according to her, based on "how much difference they make to our health and to the overall health of the environment." But whose health are we talking about? Some recipes are not accessible to or feasible for many. Not everyone has a yard or nearby community garden (or the time or energy to attend to plants) to grow their own food and compost their scraps. Not everyone has the income to afford organic and fair trade foods and eco-friendly products that are generally more expensive than their conventional counterparts. Not everyone needs to be told to buy fewer things when they can barely buy food after paying rent. Ironically, the ones who suffer the most from environmental problems are the ones who have the least power to do anything about it.

Moreover, I wish the author had given an objectively ranked list. For instance, I just don't see how canning foods (recipe 6) or eating more omegas (recipe 3) are superior to electing pro-environment officials who are willing to implement laws (such as single-use plastic ban), regulate polluting industries (petrochemical, big Ag, etc.), or do away with the subsidies these industries have been receiving (recipe 15).

The other aspect of this book that could be improved is its presentation of information. The tone was a mix between semi-academic and conversational. It was peppered with a lot of references, yet some sections missed or glanced over certain pieces of information, while others were repeated again and again.

This book is for those who'd like to learn more about food-related aspects of climate change and can afford to make lifestyle changes that are better for their health, and to some degree, less damaging to the environment.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Recipe for Survival.

If you're looking for an optimistic read about saving our planet and preventing the climate change that's wreaking havoc on our world and people, then look away.

Recipe for Survival is not entertaining; it is bleak, dire, and honest.

Because climate change is brutal, and things aren't getting better.

Our planet is suffering, and so are we We just haven gotten used to it, and we shouldn't.

The author has done copious research and the narrative is jam packed with numbers and statistics so it's a heavy read.

The numbers are staggering and basically, almost everything we do and eat contributes to climate change. Horrifying isn't the word for it.

It's bad. Really bad. And to be honest, the only way we can help our planet, stave off the impending crisis that only increases each year, is if we all pitch in and do something about it.

But, I'm realistic. Some people care about climate change, just not enough of us.