This detailed and comprehensive overview of meat-free diets introduces readers to their long history in human cultures and analyzes some of the important questions and issues surrounding their practice in today's world. -Illustrates the rich background of individuals who have promoted and practiced vegetarianism throughout the ages -Describes some reasons that people choose to become vegetarians or vegans -Talks about the positive and negative nutritional issues involved in living a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle -Comments on reasons that some people have (sometimes strong) opposition to vegetarian and/or vegan lifestyles.