Cooking from the spirit Easy, delicious, and joyful plant-based inspirations

Audiobooks and cookbooks may not seem like a natural pairing, but actress, restaurateur, and social media star Brown's (Feeding the Soul) latest is terrific. Brown's way of cooking--she doesn't provide exact measurements but encourages listeners to use more of what they like and less of what they don't--is perfect for audio. Led to veganism because of a battle with chronic pain, Brown describes how she made all her favorite foods vegan and details the health improvements that ensued. Convincing her family to eat vegan took a little longer, but their response to her wonderful food made all the difference. Nobody cared about the ingredients; they just want it to taste good. Listening to Brown share her stories and recipes feels like being wrapped in a warm hug--comforting, validating, and empowering all at once. Her positive energy is dazzling, and each recipe ends with a "Tabism," a positive affirmation; it could have turned sappy, but from Brown it's a boost straight from the heart. VERDICT Charismatic Brown makes this audio cookbook a good bet for public libraries, especially where vegan cooking is popular.--Christa Van Herreweghe