As a vegan I enjoyed this book. The author teaches the reader about in depth world of vegetables and has good information about gardening. I recommend this book.

Veggie Smarts is an engaging and insightful blend of memoir, science, and practical wisdom from Michael T. Compton—a medical doctor turned organic farmer with a deep passion for vegetables and nutrition. In this book, Compton shares his personal journey of leaving behind a bustling city life to cultivate a thriving organic vegetable farm in the Hudson Valley, weaving together reflections on health, farming, food culture, and the land’s history.
At the heart of the book is a clever framework: nearly all vegetables we eat come from just eight plant families. Compton dives into each of these families—Brassicas, Alliums, Nightshades, Cucurbits, and more—offering readers a mix of scientific facts, growing tips, nutritional insights, and delicious ways to enjoy them. This "eight on my plate" concept serves as both a nutritional guide and a practical way to understand the diversity of what we eat.
The first chapters focus heavily on Compton’s personal transformation and his deepening connection to the land, filled with humorous and heartfelt anecdotes that set the tone for the rest of the book. While the structure may not follow a traditional textbook-style layout, Compton’s conversational tone and vivid storytelling make the information accessible and enjoyable. He balances practical advice—like how vegetables grow or what makes good cooking coals—with thoughtful commentary on health, diet, and sustainability.
What sets this book apart is the way Compton connects his expertise as a physician with his passion for real, nourishing food. He uses his background in anatomy and nutrition to explain how different vegetables benefit the body, offering real-life examples and simple recipes throughout. His medical insights are framed not in a preachy or clinical way, but with warmth and practicality. He even refers to himself as a "vegetable snob"—not to intimidate, but to inspire a deeper appreciation for the variety, flavor, and healing power of fresh produce.
The book also includes a valuable section on the history of the land and those who farmed it before him, adding a thoughtful layer to the narrative. From building a solar oven to understanding soil health, readers are invited into Compton’s trial-and-error journey as a first-generation farmer reclaiming neglected farmland for a new purpose.
Compton’s writing is down-to-earth, humorous, and relatable. Whether he's explaining why onions make us cry or sharing the real reason beets can change the color of your pee, he brings curiosity and charm to each page.
The recipes are easy to follow and family-friendly, presented in a conversational style rather than a traditional cookbook format. They come with helpful tips and alternative options, making the experience more engaging and flexible.
While readers looking for a highly structured, textbook-style guide to vegetable families may find the format a bit loose, Veggie Smarts more than makes up for it with heart, humor, and wisdom. It’s a celebration of growing your own food, eating mindfully, and reconnecting with nature. For anyone curious about vegetables, healthy eating, sustainable farming, or simply seeking a more grounded lifestyle, this book is both inspiring and informative.
The only element that feels missing is the inclusion of photographs—both of the vegetables /produce, as well as the dishes made from them. Visuals like these would have added an appealing and enriching touch to the book.
In short, Veggie Smarts is part memoir, part guide, and part love letter to vegetables—and it’s a good read for anyone who wants to deepen their connection to the food they eat and the earth that grows it.

This is a great book for gardeners who enjoy hearing about other's experiences with gardening and learning tips. It's also a great book for those who enjoy cooking and a variety of ingredients. Both of these things fit me, so it's a great book for me. The only thing I didn't love is that the author felt judgy at times around nutrition, but overall this is great book that I can see myself coming back to again and again!

This was a book full of great information. It was very easy to read and I would highly recommend it.

If you're looking for basic knowledge about vegetables and a lot of anecdotes about the author's life, Veggie Smarts might be for you. Once you get beyond the first two chapters, the book focuses more on the eight most commonly consumed families of vegetables. He talks about how things from the same family are similar and what makes them different from each other, along with broad strokes about how they grow and what you can expect them to look like along the way.

If you're hoping for a more structured presentation of vegetables, like I was, you might be a little disappointed. It's still an entertaining read but Veggie Smarts is more of a collection anecdotes about the author himself, his home, and his relationship with vegetables than a presentation of information.

There is a lot of good information here. But honestly, the book is very boring. There are so many different types and colors of veggies that can brighten up the pages and there are no pages. Each section has a black and white sketch of one of the vegetables in the larger group. There were a lot of teachable moments lost here.
There was vetable snobbery (I get the issue with iceberg lettuce lettuce but leave my bellpeppers alone). And there is a section at the back of mostly good shortcuts that are helpful when trying to help eat well. But be careful, the author is still stuck on the BMI; talk to your own doctor.
Overall, all other is great advice but not presented in an engaging way that will bring in the average population

When Author Michael T. Compton purchased a home and an adjoining plot of land in rural upstate New York, he became determined to build a garden and cultivate an assortment of organic vegetables. Similar to so many others, this author caught on quickly to a clean eating, superfood, healthy alternative lifestyle that genuinely needs to be shared with more readers. To be perfectly honest, this book was not the content that I was expecting to find, but somehow it was intrinsically so much more than I had anticipated. Michael T. Compton offers genuine narrative which details his personal encounters and reflections of beginning a small vegetable gardening and expanding to offer his home-grown vegetables to local farmer's markets and restaurants.

The author repeatedly refers to himself as a "vegetable snob" and with excellent reason-- as the reader I believe this is because he is illustrating a valuable point, he is explaining to his readers that vegetables are so much more appealing and encompassing than the limited selection that the general American population once grew tired of. When he details how many nutrients like minerals and vitamins are found in vegetables, he offers vivid examples and recipes and scenarios from his recollections of growing and sharing his own vegetables. He offers a brief history of how people have changed their eating habits by referencing genuine people who have genuine connections to his work and research.

Michael T. Compton describes himself as ""A Pescetarian Presbyterian" then proceeds to explain his own personal view of vegetables and healthy eating habits. He refers back to his knowledge of human anatomy and physiology and offers scenarios of how vegetables can cure so many human limitations and health conditions. As a M.D., he is a wonderful example of how medical professionals can look beyond the limits of pharmacology and see the person as a whole, integral organism.

I highly recommend reading the reflections and recollections found in Veggie Smarts. There are so many recipes found within the narrative that the author has taken the time to share with readers, to help impart the valuable information he has gleaned from his many encounters and research.

A delightful look at both the history and benefits of vegetables!

Definitely for those who like to read non-fiction to gain insight and information about things that most people do not know.

Perfect for someone who loves to garden and grow their own food.

Michael T Compton clearly loves vegetables and does a fabulous job sharing that love with the world in this book. I never would assume a book about vegetables would be so enthusiastic but it is! A wonderful read.

The only thing I did not like about this book was the title, I think that it is too of the moment and will age the book and its sales in the future. Otherwise I loved the book, the authors love of vegetables shines out from every page making this book a joy to read.

In Eight on My Plate, Dr. Michael Compton combines his expertise in nutrition with a love for farming to take us on an insightful journey through the world of vegetables. With a deep dive into the eight major families of vegetables—ranging from Brassicas and Alliums to Nightshades and Cucurbits—Compton provides a refreshing, science-backed approach to incorporating these healthy foods into our diets. As a former city dweller who traded his fast-paced urban life for an organic farm in the Hudson Valley, Compton shares not only his scientific knowledge but also the joys and struggles of organic farming. His personal journey is an inspiring testament to the rewards of reconnecting with nature and growing your own food.

What makes this book especially engaging is Compton’s balance of scientific facts, practical farming tips, and humorous anecdotes. From explaining why onions make us cry to revealing the surprising reason beets turn our pee pink, he brings lightheartedness and intrigue to every chapter. His exploration of the history of the land and the farmers who worked it before him adds a layer of depth to the book. As you follow his adventure in building a thriving organic farm, you’ll feel encouraged to reflect on your own relationship with vegetables and maybe even feel inspired to plant a garden of your own. This is a celebration of good food, healthy living, and the joy of growing and savoring vegetables.

A really easy to follow story about many of the foods we eat on a daily basis. And the author’s relationship with them.

Veggie Smarts, by Michael T. Compton, a passionate farmer who also happens to be a an expert in nutrition provides insightful and fun facts in addtion to a healthy approach to eating veggies on a daily basis.

There is so much joyful knowledge in this book! Michael Compton cannot help but imbue his book with his love for vegetables, both growing them and eating them. His inspiration to eat more mindfully, and with the wisdom he so expertly dispenses, leaps off the page.

Dr. Michael Compton, a passionate farmer and vegetable enthusiast, has crafted a book, Veggie Smarts, that not only highlights the nutritional powerhouse of veggies but also celebrates the rich history of the land they come from. His approach is both scientific and soulful, making it a delightful read for those looking to enhance and understand their daily diet. I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this treasure of a book, one that I will return to often!

this was a very informative book, especially to me who is still exploring the world of vegetables and incorporating them into my diet!

Such an uplifting book! Michael enthusiasm for vegetables just oozes from the pages. I raced through the pages

I can imagine many different people will enjoy this.

As an experienced gardener, I found new information but if you're just starting to grow vegetables you'll be inspired too. It's also the story of buying a house and creating a garden, that then grows into a business supplying the neighbourhood.

It s also for those who would like to eat more healthily, Michael introduces us to different families of vegetables. It explains as a super taster (someone who finds bitter foods hard to swallow) I am ok with spinach but not broccoli!

This book is interesting, enlightening, entertaining, humorous (at times) and more read! The author has a conversational writing style yet delves into many topics of growing food, health, and lifestyle. I loved hearing about his old farmhouse and the history it has. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

3.5 rating. I was expecting more from this book. It was much more technical and written like a biography, history lesson and informational about vegetables. I really was hoping for some colorful pictures to keep the reader interested. Some of the praise said it was humorous and delightful, but it didn’t feel like that for me. I’m sure others may love this informational text, but it wasn’t for me

I really enjoyed this read as it has a lot of useful information that I will personally be able to add to my wealth of knowledge and my journey of eating more veggies in my diet.

A few things that stuck out for me are:
- We all know that we should eat more vegetables
- Eight on a plate holds promise that lower the risk of things such as being overweight, pre diabetic, type 2 diabetes etc.
- Let food be thy medicine and medicine by thy food.

The definition of being veggie smart is: Having a thorough understanding of vegetables so that meals will be more delicious + health will be more optimized.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC.