Help needed to finish my book(let)

[Graeme M]

Ages ago, I started to write a short booklet to summarise all the stuff I'd been writing about on my blog. I finally finished it to the point where I think it's good enough to show publicly. Before I do that, I need some interested supporters to check it out and offer some feedback.

The booklet uses simple words, is as short and concise as I can make it and explains veganism from my point of view. Hopefully it makes sense.

It's not aimed at vegans, nor at converting anyone to veganism. It's meant to explain veganism as the idea we care about other animals and do what we can to make things better for them. It tackles many of the big criticisms and hopes to leave readers with the idea that veganism really does make sense.

You can download and read it here:

https://justustoo.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/booklet-veganism-for-everyone.pdf

 

[Second Summer]

I've only read the introduction so far, and just glanced at the rest, but it looks impressive!

If I were the author and trying to reach common folk, or maybe regardless of audience, I would probably have thrown in some images and illustrations. I find it helps convey the message in some cases, and in other cases helps to keep it interesting. I think that's my only criticism so far.

 

[Graeme M]

Good point. I'll have a think about that; I'm always uncertain how to go about finding royalty-free images though I think you can use anyone's images with recognition, for non-profit uses.

Thanks.

 

[Second Summer]

If you go to e.g. Google Images and do a search, then the results will be presented with some options along the top, one being Search Tools, which has an option Usage Rights. If from there you select Creative Commons, then you should get images you can use for free, although attribution is expected in some cases depending on the specific licence. Attribution isn't a big deal, just mention whatever name or username they have used and maybe the website. You also don't need to have the attribution right next to the image necessarily, e.g. you could put it at the bottom of the page if you think it's distracting otherwise.

 

[Graeme M]

Thank you for that!

 

[Second Summer]

Chapter 1 is great. It's a good place to start with human rights, and I especially like that you say these are beliefs.

Chapter 2: I like the sentence about the difference between people and most other animals being one of degree, not kind. Well said.

There is another sentence where you express the view that sentient animals should be protected from human cruelty. While limiting this to sentient animals maybe sets you up for success later in explaining in a logically consistent way why vegans won't eat sentient animals, it leaves out animals not considered to be sentient. But AFAIK most people who consider themselves vegans won't eat those animals either.

I did a search on "sentient", and I see that you talk about this a bit more in later chapters.

I think, if you don't have it already, it might be useful to add a paragraph on why most vegans won't eat non-sentient animals either, or why those animals are not generally considered to be vegan-suitable food.

 

[Graeme M]

I think, if you don't have it already, it might be useful to add a paragraph on why most vegans won't eat non-sentient animals either, or why those animals are not generally considered to be vegan-suitable food.

Good point. Personally I think veganism is only concerned with sentient animals, otherwise it's an irrational stance. One reason some vegans might extend sentience to include all animals might be by being cautious, as we really don't know which animals are sentient. But then as you say, many people simply regard veganism as the idea all animals are in-scope.

I think I'll just do as you suggest and point out that for many vegans, it's all animals.

 

[Graeme M]

If anyone has had the chance to download and have a read, I'd love to hear any feedback. I want to start using it in my advocacy but would like to hear whether it sounds OK and gets the message across.

 

[Graeme M]

A quick update. I've finished my booklet to the point I am pretty satisfied with it and it's now live on my blog site. There is a new URL, so anyone interested can download it here:

https://justustoo.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/booklet-animals-matter.pdf

If you think it makes sense do feel free to share it with others. I plan to use it in my own advocacy, which is more focused on education about veganism and animal rights than trying to change anyone's mind (though of course I hope people DO change).