Book Reviews of Beyond the Staff of Life.

1. "Many now claim that wheat, dairy products and salt may not be the body-building foods they were once thought to be; that they are, on the contrary, linked to a wide range of common disorders--including heart disease, arthritis, asthma and migraine. The recipes in this wheatless, dairyless vegetarian cookbook combine the exotic with the healthful and will be of particular appeal to those allergic to gluten, whose taste buds may no longer feel left out in the cold when their diet contains such exciting dishes as Moroccan Tagine, a vegetable stew from the back alleys of Marrakech, egg plant Tofusam, a journey to Italy via China, the creative Tostada, winner of the Pancho Villa Tostada award, rat-a-tat willy in the wok, a spicy dish from Algeria, and Meta-falafel, an Egyptian recipe that's as old as the pharaohs; each reflecting the atmosphere of its origins." (Healthy Living for Men and Women (British), November 1978)

2. "This book is subtitled 'wheatless-dairyless' cookbook, but it is much more than that. It also excludes grains in general (with occasional rice flour or similar) and eggs as well. The recipes are unusual as well as delicious, reflecting the author's travels in the Middle East, North Africa, and Orient. The introductory kitchen/cooking tips are especially good. Very much needed and a new twist in meatless cuisine." (Vegetarian World, no. 14)

3. "A person does not have to believe in UFOs to enjoy unidentified flying potatoes. The potato dish in one of many creative recipes with intriguing titles found in Beyond the Staff of Life, a recently published cookbook by Kief Adler. Although the cookbook is a wheatless, dairyless vegetarian collection of recipes, it is not 'dully healthful'. Adler explored the cuisines of North Africa and the Middle and Far East and adapted them to American kitchens and readily obtainable ingredients. Herbs are used liberally and members of the onion family appear regularly to season soups and sauces. Each recipe is introduced with an informal sentence or two that allows the cook to know what to expect or how to use it. Example: 'Plutonian cereal--try this with your favorite fruit juice or nut milk, or serve it plain. You can also try adding enough honey to create a paste and use as a spread on breads and muffins.' There are also useful chapter introductions such as the one on how to grow bean sprouts at home.

"The cookbook presupposes modern equipment in the kitchen, an electric stove, a blender, glass bakewear, and stainless steel pots and pans. The book also recognizes the teen-age predilection for contemporary food with such recipes as those for No Pizza Pizza, Creative Tostados, and Rat-a-Tat Willy in a Wok, a spicy dish from Algeria." (Betty Miller, Medford Tribune, Feb. 13, 1977)

4. "This vegetarian cookbook is based on the premise that salt, wheat and dairy products are more detrimental to human health than has been realized in the past. Beyond the Staff of Life features many standard menu items--breads, gravies, and even desserts--using readily available replacement ingredients. These ingredients, however, will probably not be available in survival situations. Although the recipes may seem bland to the meat-and-potatoes eater, they are more colorful than many standard 'health food' concoctions. Mr. Adler briefly explains why salt, wheat and dairy products should be avoided, gives complete protein sources, and provides the names of many vegetarian and nutrition resources. He also includes some cooking hints at the beginning of each section. Beyond the Staff of Life is not a survival cookbook, as it depends on items not likely to be found in a survival food cache, but it does provide a compact, full-of-variety, healthful source of recipes for those intending to maintain optimum health, through diet, before a crisis strikes." (Survival Guide Magazine, June 1983).

5. Beyond the Staff of Life, The Wheatless-dairyless Cookbook is a vegetarian cookbook that draws upon the cuisines of North Africa, the Middle East, and the Far East to showcase wheatless and dairy-free recipes that are easy to prepare, nutritious, and delicious! From Banana Ricecakes; Quasar Soup; Carrot Milk; and Hummus; to Eggplant Tofusan; Moroccan Tagine; Blueberry Cobbler; and Sunflower Seed Cookies. Beyond the Staff of Life offers an impressive variety of drinks, soups, salads, side dishes, main courses, breads, baked goods, ice creams, and sweet treats that would please even the most demanding palate and satisfy the most voracious appetite! (Jim Cox Library Bookwatch, September 2002, pg. 8).