My Tribute to John Robbins: The Man Who Changed My Life—and the World

How one book—and one voice—transformed my life and awakened a movement

When I was 19 years old, I read Diet for a New America by John Robbins, and I have never been the same. His words not only transformed the way I saw food and animals—they set the course for everything I’ve done since. This is my tribute to the man who changed the world—and me.

Every book I’ve written, every talk I’ve given, every class I’ve taught, every podcast I’ve recorded—all of it traces back to the moment in 1989 when I picked up Diet for a New America by John Robbins.

On June 12, 2025, I learned the heartbreaking news that John had passed away at home due to complications from post-polio syndrome—a condition he had lived with since contracting polio as a child.

I have never stopped telling the story of how John profoundly changed the course of my life 35 years ago. I’ve made sure to share that journey in every talk, every interview, and almost every book I’ve written.

“I was 19 years old when I read John Robbins’ book Diet for a New America, which looks at how our animal-based diet negatively impacts the animals, our health, and the Earth.” ~The Joy of Vegan Baking, 2007

“Raised on a typical American diet of meat, dairy, and eggs, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau was shocked by what she learned when she read Diet for a New America at 19. No longer able to justify eating animals and their "products," Colleen began a journey of discovery that continues to this day.” ~The Vegan Table, 2009

“When I was 19 years old, I read John Robbins’ groundbreaking book A Diet for a New America. I stopped eating land animals right away, then all aquatic animals, and, after a few more years, stopped buying, eating, or wearing anything that came off of, or out of, an animal—or that in any way contributed to animal exploitation. I ‘became vegan.’” ~The 30-Day Vegan Challenge, 2011

“Luckily, when I was 19 or 20 years old, I picked up Diet for a New America by John Robbins, and the course of my life changed forever.” ~On Being Vegan, 2013

“When I was 19, I read Diet for a New America by John Robbins, and the course of my life changed forever. This was one of the first books to examine the effects of an animal-based diet on our health, on the environment, and on animals themselves, and it was certainly the first time I had ever seen the images of animal factories, where lives are regarded as machines and the value of animals is determined only by what and how much their bodies can produce. ~The Joyful Vegan, 2019

“When I read John Robbins’ book A Diet for a New America, I confronted for the first time the animal cruelty I was supporting as a meat-eater. And so, when I was 19 years old, I stopped eating land animals and eventually aquatic animals. I became vegetarian.” ~A Year of Compassion, 2025

I’ve never stopped telling that story, because I never want to forget where it all began.

I still remember picking his book off the shelf in a New Jersey bookstore and reading in disbelief about animals being confined in cages and treated as nothing more than production units. I couldn’t look away then—and I haven’t turned back since.

While it took me a few years to fully wake up and eliminate dairy and eggs—as well as all animal products including leather and wool—John’s words were what first compelled me to open my eyes to the violence we perpetrate against animals, ourselves, and nature when we prioritize convenience over compassion.

I was also intrigued by John’s personal story. As the heir to the Baskin-Robbins fortune, he chose to walk away from a life of wealth and comfort to live in alignment with his values. That alone was powerful. But what made it feel even more personal was that my own father owned several Baskin-Robbins stores in New Jersey when I was a little girl. Of course, our lives were very different—I was neither wealthy nor in line to inherit an empire—but still, that unexpected connection made his story feel even closer to mine.

From Inspiration to Endorsement

Fast forward to 2001, when I hosted one of my first public events and invited John Robbins to speak. I was floored that he even answered my email—let alone said yes. A few years later in 2004, I was even more moved when he generously agreed to endorse my cooking DVD (Yes, a DVD—I’m dating myself.):

“Superb! Thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable as well as inspiring and instructive.”

Co-hosted and co-produced by fellow animal advocate and friend Alka Chandna, it was called “Vegetarian Cooking,” though it featured only vegan recipes.

Years later, he endorsed my book Vegan’s Daily Companion:

“Full of wisdom, intelligence, and thoughtfulness, Vegan’s Daily Companion is one of those books that inspires you to be a better person with each page you read.”

And after that, he once again extended his generosity by endorsing The 30-Day Vegan Challenge:

“A beautiful and inspiring guide to the immense delight that can be yours with a healthy plant-strong diet.”

Each of these endorsements felt like a gift from someone who had already given me so much—his voice, his vision, and the inspiration that shaped my own path. After all, it was John Robbins who helped me realize that I could use my words as a force for change. He inspired me to become the writer I had wanted to be—to lead with compassion, to advocate with integrity, and to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

John Robbins didn’t just open my eyes; he opened the eyes of millions. His courage, compassion, and clarity shaped a movement. He showed us that the way we treat animals, the food we put on our plates, and the choices we make every day are not just personal—they are deeply political, ethical, and transformative.

I am just one of many whose life he changed, and I will never stop telling that story. I will never stop saying thank you. Though he is no longer with us, his legacy lives on—in every seed planted, every animal spared, every person awakened by his words and example.

That’s the power each of us has: to affect the lives of others in ways we may never fully know. And while not all of us will write books or speak to crowds, we all have the capacity to live with intention and integrity, to be a voice for compassion, and to make a difference in our own corner of the world—as John did.

Rest in peace, John Robbins. The world is better because of you, and so am I. May we carry your legacy forward—guided by purpose, grounded in humility, and rooted in love.

How You Can Honor John Robbins’ Legacy

• Read Diet for a New America
  Begin where so many of us began—by reading the book that opened our eyes to the connections between animals, health, and the planet.

• Eat more plants
  Choose plant-based meals as often as you can—not just for your health, but for animals and the Earth.

• Be a voice for animals
  Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves—with kindness, clarity, and conviction.

• Live your values
  Strive to align your actions with your ethics, even when it’s inconvenient. Especially when it’s inconvenient.

• Lead by example
  Be the kind of person whose integrity inspires others to do better—not by shaming them, but by showing them what’s possible.

• Support ethical businesses
  Choose to spend your money in ways that reflect compassion and sustainability.

• Practice conscious consumerism
  Buy less. Choose wisely. Consider the impact your choices have on animals, people, and the planet.

• Share your story
  You don’t have to be an author to inspire change. Every conversation, every post, every action is a chance to plant a seed. (Share Compassion in Action with others!)

• Learn and stay curious
  Keep educating yourself—about food systems, climate change, habitat loss, rewilding, animal protection—and how they’re all connected.

• Lead with compassion
  Whether you're speaking to strangers or those closest to you, let compassion guide your words and actions.