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snowstar280's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book, especially since I am obsessed with the documentary. The documentary was really well put together, and, although horrifying, leaves you with a feeling of hope. This book gave me none of the same feelings. The first section was interesting and I actually found myself enjoying it. But then I began the second part, and everything went downhill from there. Because this is not written by one author, a lot of facts were repeated, which is fine, because they did not know what another person had written. However, when it is pages of the same facts said in different ways, it gets a bit annoying. What really got me, however, was the absolute stupidity in the "Improving Kids' Nutrition: An Action Tool Kit for Parents". I was actually really excited about this one, since it is such a big topic. What I got, however, was a bunch of repeated "whole fat milk is filled with 'artery clogging saturated fats'" blah blah blah. Once, that's fine, but really? I think it was over 20 times. It was a bit much. The snacks that they say to give kids actually included fruit cups in syrup. This syrup, if we can even consider it to be a healthy option is probably GMO ladened corn syrup, which, if anything, our kids need less of. And how about instead of just creating mandates where we take products kids enjoy out of schools, we actually educate about what is in our food. Everyone hears "Don't drink soda" but there is no education behind it. Kids don't do blanket statements well. They like information and are completely able to make good choices if they know what they actually are. Only through education will people be able to make better choices. Parents are doing their best to give their kids healthy foods, and big food companies are doing their best to make profits. By not empowering parents on how to make healthy choices, we are just left in this big cycle of giving unhealthy products to our kids and then being shocked at our declining health rates. And, for the record, just because something has 'low sodium' or 'low fat' on the front of the package does not make it healthy. A lot of times it just has added chemicals to suit whatever the current health fad is.
I was really excited for this one. Definitely a not recommend.
I was really excited for this one. Definitely a not recommend.
thereaderofbooks's review
3.0
I knew most of the information that was presented. The book was much like Fast Food Nation but included information on non-meat products.
sondosia's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't expect to like this book, but I did. It made some great points and, for the most part, presented facts in a straightforward, unbiased way. However, I did get tired of all the anti-scientific propaganda against genetic engineering. Yes, it is a fledgling technology, and yes, like many other things, corporations are trying to take advantage of it. THAT should be stopped, but the technology itself can be extremely valuable.
Another thing that irked me about the book was a piece called "Declare Your Independence," by a farmer named Joel Salatin. The premise is very good--we should take steps to reduce our dependency on industrial food--but MAN, his writing drove me nuts. I had to struggle through passages like this:
"By contrast, today's industrial food system views pigs are merely inanimate piles of protoplasmic molecular structure to be manipulated with whatever cleverness the egocentric human mind can conceive. A society that views its plants and animals from that manipulative, egocentric, mechanistic mindset will soon come to view its citizens in the same way."
Now, you know, I read this book because I wanted to be more informed. That doesn't mean I need terribly written demagoguery like this shoved in my face. I couldn't keep reading the essay after that, though it had some good points.
Of course, the same essay also argued in favor of raw (that is, unpasteurized) milk, because it seemed to oppose everything that's new and modern regardless of what it actually IS. Some new and modern things, like harmful pesticides and industrial farming in general, are terrible. But other new and modern things (like, yes, pasteurized milk) are extremely useful. Countless people died before pasteurization was developed. Opposing this practice is like opposing modern medicine in favor of bloodletting. Stupid.
But I'm trying not to let that one essay color my opinion of the rest of the book. It was a great book. I wish it cited the factual claims it made, but I guess I'll just research them myself.
Another thing that irked me about the book was a piece called "Declare Your Independence," by a farmer named Joel Salatin. The premise is very good--we should take steps to reduce our dependency on industrial food--but MAN, his writing drove me nuts. I had to struggle through passages like this:
"By contrast, today's industrial food system views pigs are merely inanimate piles of protoplasmic molecular structure to be manipulated with whatever cleverness the egocentric human mind can conceive. A society that views its plants and animals from that manipulative, egocentric, mechanistic mindset will soon come to view its citizens in the same way."
Now, you know, I read this book because I wanted to be more informed. That doesn't mean I need terribly written demagoguery like this shoved in my face. I couldn't keep reading the essay after that, though it had some good points.
Of course, the same essay also argued in favor of raw (that is, unpasteurized) milk, because it seemed to oppose everything that's new and modern regardless of what it actually IS. Some new and modern things, like harmful pesticides and industrial farming in general, are terrible. But other new and modern things (like, yes, pasteurized milk) are extremely useful. Countless people died before pasteurization was developed. Opposing this practice is like opposing modern medicine in favor of bloodletting. Stupid.
But I'm trying not to let that one essay color my opinion of the rest of the book. It was a great book. I wish it cited the factual claims it made, but I guess I'll just research them myself.
karmakat's review
3.0
This is the companion guide to the movie. Which I don't think I've seen.
While this is a very informative book, I would not call in engaging or even interesting a lot of the time. It's a collection of essays from various people, so the writing ranges from highly technical to very basic. A lot of ideas are repeated from one essay to the next, so that got tiring. Also, eight years later, the book already feels really dated to me. I admit to skimming many of the later chapters. If this is a subject that is totally new to you, there is a lot of good substance in here. If you are already familiar with a lot of the issues, there will be little new information.
While this is a very informative book, I would not call in engaging or even interesting a lot of the time. It's a collection of essays from various people, so the writing ranges from highly technical to very basic. A lot of ideas are repeated from one essay to the next, so that got tiring. Also, eight years later, the book already feels really dated to me. I admit to skimming many of the later chapters. If this is a subject that is totally new to you, there is a lot of good substance in here. If you are already familiar with a lot of the issues, there will be little new information.
konkie44's review
3.0
This book expands on some of the ideas from the movie, Food, Inc. A good guide for those who are just learning about factory farms, conventional vs. organic food, and the effects of industrial farms on the environmental. Some interesting websites and informational sources are also listed for further research. The movie trumps the book but it still has its worthwhile moments.
moreadsbooks's review
3.0
Best essay = Declare Your Independence, wherein Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms urges us to keep laying hens in apartments. "The secret reality is that the government is out of money and can't hire enough bureaucrats to check up on everybody anyway." I love that guy.
raehink's review
2.0
A movie tie-in rehash. Not a bad place to start if you know nothing about industrial food and its effects on the environment etc but this was just way too political for me. I've read much better material. I haven't seen the movie yet, but plan to do so.
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