The Carnivore Diet, also known as the all-meat diet, has gained significant attention in recent years. The diet involves consuming only animal products, including meat, fish, and eggs, and eliminating all plant-based foods. It has been praised for its potential health benefits, including weight loss, improved digestion, and increased energy.
Whether you are a seasoned carnivore or interested in trying out this dietary approach, many books are available on the topic. In this article, we will review the top ten carnivore diet books to help you find the best resource for your needs. Learn more below.
1. The Carnivore Diet by Shawn Baker, MD
The Carnivore Diet by Shawn Baker takes readers deep-diving into the world of all-meat diets. The book was originally popular in the health and fitness community but has since found broader appeal.
Baker himself runs an active YouTube channel and several other social media accounts. He is a staunch advocate of centering one’s diet around animal-based foods and avoiding plants as much as possible.
Critically, the treatise is not just his personal opinion. Baker also presents readers with scientific research backing up his points, making his thesis more persuasive.
2. The Carnivore Code by Paul Saladino, MD
The Carnivore Code by Paul Saladino also promotes the benefits of a meat-based, carnivorous diet. The book speaks at length about the value of eating animal foods, particularly organ meats and bone broth, for optimal health and wellness.
Saladino then argues that many of modern man’s chronic health conditions, including autoimmune diseases, can be improved or reversed with a fully meat-based diet. The book is practical, full of helpful advice, and provides tips and meal plans for beginners starting their carnivore journey.
3. Carnivore Cure by Judy Cho, NTP
The Carnivore Cure by Judy Cho is a brave treatise on everything the carnivore diet offers. The tome shows why eating an all-meat diet is ideal for health and healing.
In addition to theory, The Carnivore Cure provides practical tips and recipes to help readers transition to this way of eating. The book also contains testimonials from people who’ve tried the diet, sharing their experiences.
4. The Carnivore Cookbook by Craig and Maria Emmerich
The Carnivore Cookbook by Craig and Maria Emmerich is a magnum opus by a husband and wife team designed to help you eat more meat. All the recipes are low-carb and high in protein and fat. There are more than 100 recipes to enjoy, all made from simple ingredients you can find in the local store.
5. The Carnivore Code Bible 2023 by Blake Reed
The Carnivore Code Bible 2023 is an up-to-date book by Blake Reed, covering more than 365 days of delicious recipes for those wanting to follow the diet religiously.
Like many other low-carb authors, Reed helps readers rediscover their vitality and energy. Returning to a meat-heavy diet, he says, is the optimal way to achieve this.
6. The Carnivore Code Cookbook by Paul Saladino, MD
The Carnivore Code Cookbook is the companion to Paul Saladino’s The Carnivore Code: Unlocking the Secrets to Optimal Health by Returning to Our Ancestral Diet. Published on March 23, 2021, the tome includes dozens of recipes to improve health and prevent chronic disease.
As you might expect, recipes include meat, fish, and eggs while minimizing the use of plant foods, particularly grains. Saladino breaks recipes into various categories, such as seafood, poultry, beef, and breakfast, making them easier to navigate. All dishes are simple to prepare.
7. The Carnivore Diet for Beginners by Chris Irvine, MS
The Carnivore Diet for Beginners by Chris Irvine is a compendium of information, including everything you need to know about transitioning to a meat-based eating plan. Inside, you’ll find various tips for weight loss, health, and healing.
Irvine argues that research shows that high-protein, low-carb diets can help people lose weight and fight the symptoms of chronic disease. He also makes the case that many of these foods are straightforward to source and consume by most people to reach their health goals.
8. Hardcore Carnivore: Cook Meat Like You Mean It by Jess Pryles
Hardcore Carnivore: Cook Meat Like You Mean It by Jess Pryles is a cookbook published in 2017 to help people get the most flavor from their meat dishes. The tome offers over a hundred recipes for cooking meat in different ways, including broiling, grilling, and roasting.
The people who will benefit most from this book are those most passionate about eating meat and taking their cooking skills up a notch. Recipes are approachable but also sometimes challenging.
9. Whole Beast Butchery by Ryan Farr
Whole Beast Butchery by Ryan Farr, written in 2011, is a comprehensive guide for butchering every part of an animal, from nose to tail. Therefore, it’s popular among both the fitness and survival communities.
Farr gets his expertise from his work as a professional chef. As the founder of 4505 Meats, a butcher shop and restaurant in San Francisco, he learned how to get the best from every animal on his workbench. He then wraps this up in his book, running through how to butcher different types of animals, including pigs, sheep, and cattle.
10. Keto Carnivore Cookbook by Mel Brown
Rounding out this list is Keto Carnivore by Mel Brown. The book covers why it is critical to avoid consuming carbohydrates on a meat-based diet and the value of remaining in ketosis for most of the day.
The book then details dozens of recipes to switch you over to fat metabolism and away from glucose. It’s a must-read for anyone starting their keto-carnivore journey or wanting to lose weight.
