Alissa's Book, Again...

[AphexPhode]

I've tried several times to special order Alissa's Book thru bookstores and healthfood stores, so I can actually get it into my hands and flip through it before I commit to buying it. I've tried Whole Foods, Books-A-Million, Walden Books, Barnes and Noble, and many many local health food stores. No one can get it. It's not available for them to order. This is very frustrating to me. I know i probably sound like a big pain in the ass, but I've read more than a few raw foods books, and I want to know what I'm buying before I buy it. I realize most people will say it's different. I would rather see for myself before I commit. I guess if my money was in such an abundance that I didn't have to have a budget I'd feel differently, but right now, I havent worked in 2 months, and my husband and I are just barely scraping by. I'd hate to spend $30 bucks, plus shipping for a book, to end up letting it get dusty on the book shelf and not putting it to good use. As it is, some of our groceries are going on our charge card so we can pay our bills. Blah blah blah, I'm such a whiner. Sorry, I just needed to vent.

Thanks,

Teresa

[Olive]

Maybe you could post in local raw forums and see if anyone has the book around you so you can borrow it? I know what you mean about wanting to see the book though. If you can't get a copy, maybe try the recipes on Alissa's site to give you an idea of what's in the book. If you like those, you'll likely love the book!

[Alissa]

Teresa,
My book is not in book stores yet for a reason that i cannot go into here. But this is something that i have done for a reason. Your local health food store can order it though, they just need to call me.
You can also, like olive said, try out some recipes first to see if you like them.
Im sorry you are so frustrated about this. I have tried to make it as easy as possible to 'see' inside the book by putting that on my site and from all the testimonials.
Best,
Alissa

[Melissa]

Hi Aphex,
I also like to see a book before buying but after a decade in health publishing I know that strategic placement/marketing is the only way to ensure an "alternative lifestyle" book any longevity at all. Mass market often rips the covers off and remainders these kinds of books before you can bat an eye, if the single B & N copy hasn't moved in a specified time period...Or...yikes...pulps them. That's someone's dream going in the dumpster basically. So it's all about niche positioning nowadays for books like Alissa's...or any book that a national distributor isn't really behind. Just another perspective on the issue.

I received Alissa's book and dvd as a gift recently and I'm glad I have it, lots to admire about it. However, not having it shouldn't be a problem either...There's an abundance of recipes online including Alissa's site (generous I think) and once you get the hang of it, it's pretty simple to be creative with your own "uncooking" experiments. I'd be happy to email you links to other sites with great recipes if you'd like. I wish you lots of luck and good eatin' on this journey :) ~ Melissa

[glad_2beme]

Hi Aphex,

I hope that the time you have spent here with us shows you that we all really care about each other. I agree with Melissa, Alissa has very generously shared some recipes for us to try. I too am in a difficult place, especially financially, I am a single mom whose husband crossed over a year ago, am currently not making a living, and I am sick (yada yada).... I shuffle every month to make ends meet......but......I did take a bite and ordered Alissa's book and dvd... I do not regret it one single bit. This is a huge motivator with wonderful ideas and recipes. It is so much more tha just a recipe book It is HUGE. If being raw is something that you are committed to then this is not a waste of money.

[Sharon in Colorado]

I'd say if you are truly strapped but want to benefit from Allissa's insight and wisdom, invest in her DVD and then head over to www.fromsadtoraw.com and check out those recipes.

You won't regret getting the DVD. I have the book and love it, but just taking the 2-3 hours to watch the DVD gave me a lot more inspiration, and watching how easy the recipes were to make was very helpful and motivating. I have tons of raw books, and hers is excellent but I personally got a lot more out of the DVD inspiration-wise.

[FEELIN'GOOD]

Alissa's book is like the 'Home and Garden' of RAW... you won't regret it. The DVD's are also a great addition- they make you realize how yummy things taste (because of everyones expressions) and how easy it is to make! I agree with everyone, just go to her site, try some of the recipes, and then you will know the quality the book has to offer... I have many raw food books too... but Alissa's is usually the one my nose is in.

[Sweet lips]

We all agree that it is a wonderful book and with that said and as Melissa said, Alissa method of marketing her book was what she needed to do for herself, it was not the choice of any of ours, but we did whatever was necessary ( be it if it were afforable, if we lived out of the country...) to purchase the book, and as you have read, it is a valuable tool.

My husband and I are some sort of bibliophiles and own nearly a thousand books, and yes, most we got to touch, to feel to open before we bought them, some we bought site unseen - always happy, no, even with some I got to open before I purchased them.

There is a wonderful amount of resources on the internet, which again has been pointed out - utilize those until perhaps you partner up with someone in the state of Flordia that may have a copy. I happen to know there a few persons in the sunshine state that have purchased the book and they in - fact may live very close to you and share - nothing beats a fail but a try.

Perhaps you may consider entering the 30 day challenge, you never know what may be offered if your are the successful challenger for the thirty days that you enter. It seems that we really can't convince you as that is not the frist posting about this subject, the comments provided were very true about the book, the response to you were kind and explained with suggestions. It appears to me :cool: that you will do what settles your mind, best to you.

[AphexPhode]

Thank you for all of your responses. I do appreciate it. I guess I was just as much frustrated with my personal financial situation, as I was about not being about to see the book for myself before I commited to it. Bottom line is I will start my new job soon (today I will find out my official start date), and when our bills are caught up, which should be in about a month, I'll treat myself to her book, and possibly her DVD's. You would think that eating raw would be cheaper, but unfortunately it's not that way, at least not for me. Blah blah blah, I'm done complaining. Thanks again everyone. This board has been very helpful in my struggle to become and remain raw.

much love

Teresa

[Rawkinlocs]

Aphex,

Best to you in your situation getting better. About raw being cheaper, in all honesty it SHOULD be and really is but only when we are to the point of being able to eat more simpler. It's during the transition when we have the "need" of all the recipes, etc. to replace our cooked food favorites and create the "full" feeling we're all accustomed to from eating cooked foods.

But once our bodies get used to eating lighter and eating more simpler (basic fruits, veggies, salads, a few nuts and seeds here and there) then I foresee it being less expensive. But in all actuality, when I total up my grocery bill, it's really not that much more than it was when we were eating SAD. The difference is, on the SAD, there are very cheap (and very poor for the health) "convenience foods" such as Raman Noodles, boxed mac and cheese, hot dogs, etc. that are usually staples in the diet of those who are on strict, tight budgets. There aren't cheap convenience foods in the arena of healthier eating. When we first became vegetarian, it was expensive because I was buying a lot of meat replacers...but had we stuck to brown rice, beans, veggies, fruit...stuff like that, then it wouldn't have been as much.

So again, the key to raw being less costly is getting the body used to eating lighter and eating less frequently. That comes faster and easier for some than others.

[Sweet lips]

Teresa,

Congratulations on you new employment! I am sure you will do very well. and yes, as Rawinloccs stated and you expressed, it is expensive to eat raw, who makes the money, only the famers, but in processed foods, those manufactuers rake it in. Here in the northeast and of course in the midwest, we pay out of our pockets for fruit and veggies not in season in our area - right now, If I were willing to only eat apples, carrots and kale, I would be in the money so to speak - but oh well, as Rawkinlocs said, I am not a simple eater - oh when will it come - soon and very soon I hope or do I really :D

[Sharon in Colorado]

I tend to agree with the expense when it comes to making a lot of recipes. Our food bill was ridiculously high this holiday season because of all the nuts, dried fruit, oils and other things I was buying for our recipes. Not to mention splurging on young coconuts and other exotics, macadamias, organic seasonings, specialty raw foods like cacao beans, celtic salt, etc. And this didn't include the regular cooked food I got for the rest of the family.

I hope to get back to the basics with affordable fruits and greens. I have enough nuts and things around to last quite a while if used conservatively.

[Olive]

I've taken to buying seeds over nuts, since they are so much cheaper. So I'll use sunflower seeds in a pate over nuts and sub cheaper nuts in recipes. I still do buy cashews and almonds, but I've cut back a lot on pecans, macs and walnuts. There's also produce I've taken to staring at longingly, rather than buying, like organic red bell peppers (over $4 a pound!). Even organic romaine is up to almost $2 a head! In winter it would definitely be cheaper to live on dried beans, pasta and the like, but my health this winter is so far improved over past years, I can't imagine going back!