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kathopreads's review against another edition
3.0
Some good informative bits sprinkled throughout and on the whole interesting, but as others have echoed the author just rubbed me the wrong way at times.
liz_rachel's review against another edition
3.0
This was a mixed bag for me. McMillan is an excellent writer but her observations, particularly about field workers in California earlier in the book, come across as out of touch and insensitive. The author has no problem exploiting other people if it means she can write a good story, and this leads to a lot of uncomfortable descriptions of how McMillan takes advantage of the resources of those who have much less than she does.
I know that this book is a little dated now, but I still expected more self awareness from a James Beard finalist. I did learn a lot about food production distribution in America, which is where all three of my stars are coming from, but I think an even more successful book could have been written by, I don't know, being a journalist and actually asking people about how they live instead of playing a condescending game of make-believe with the people you are claiming to advocate for.
I know that this book is a little dated now, but I still expected more self awareness from a James Beard finalist. I did learn a lot about food production distribution in America, which is where all three of my stars are coming from, but I think an even more successful book could have been written by, I don't know, being a journalist and actually asking people about how they live instead of playing a condescending game of make-believe with the people you are claiming to advocate for.
elephant's review against another edition
4.0
Tracie decided to work in 3 major areas of the food industry in the US and write about them. She worked in the fields picking fruits and vegetables, in the produce section of a Wal-Mart and in an Applebees restaurant - all undercover as a reporter.
I think it would have added another interesting dimension if she had also worked in a food processing company like Kraft, and perhaps at a dairy farm or cattle ranch or meat processing plant, since those are also major parts of our food industry.
In memoir fashion, with informative footnotes, Tracie tells how she picked grapes and garlic in California, worked at Wal-Marts in Michigan and New York and worked at an Applebees in New York.
I learned more from the informative footnotes than from her memoir, but the book is well-written and interesting and entertaining. I was saddened, but not suprised to read about the children who sometimes work in the fields picking produce, the injuries caused by the repetitive motion, and the low pay and re-writing of pay records to make it look like they are paying the produce workers fairly. I was suprised and saddened to learn that for the workers, picking organic produce is just the same as any other produce. I think that we would like to think that "organic" means not only a lack of pesticide, but that the entire process would be kinder and gentler and healthier and more fair and that the workers would get higher pay since the produce itself costs more, but that is not the case.
Tracie includes facts about the grocery industry and how it grew quickly once it created it's own distribution system and how Wal-Mart's low prices can be deceiving since the low prices of the loss leaders are made up by higher prices elsewhere in their stores.
She points out that at both Wal-Mart and at Applebees, there is supposed to be training for the employees and at some point they are asked to sign papers stating that they received training that they did not actually receive. That does not suprise me at all since I work in retail and have had that happen to me in the past too. Everyone signs that because if you don't, you won't have a job.
I found it very unappetising and rather disgusting to learn that most of the foods at Applebees are pre-prepared and made from packaged mixes and later heated in a microwave in plastic baggies before being served to the customers.
Tracie includes information about CSAs and bemoans the fact that in our country we make sure that people have access to electricity, water and to some extent even health care, but we do not put any effort into making sure that fresh, healthy food is readily available to everyone everywhere, instead, we leave that to the private industries and corporations like Wal-Mart.
I think it would have added another interesting dimension if she had also worked in a food processing company like Kraft, and perhaps at a dairy farm or cattle ranch or meat processing plant, since those are also major parts of our food industry.
In memoir fashion, with informative footnotes, Tracie tells how she picked grapes and garlic in California, worked at Wal-Marts in Michigan and New York and worked at an Applebees in New York.
I learned more from the informative footnotes than from her memoir, but the book is well-written and interesting and entertaining. I was saddened, but not suprised to read about the children who sometimes work in the fields picking produce, the injuries caused by the repetitive motion, and the low pay and re-writing of pay records to make it look like they are paying the produce workers fairly. I was suprised and saddened to learn that for the workers, picking organic produce is just the same as any other produce. I think that we would like to think that "organic" means not only a lack of pesticide, but that the entire process would be kinder and gentler and healthier and more fair and that the workers would get higher pay since the produce itself costs more, but that is not the case.
Tracie includes facts about the grocery industry and how it grew quickly once it created it's own distribution system and how Wal-Mart's low prices can be deceiving since the low prices of the loss leaders are made up by higher prices elsewhere in their stores.
She points out that at both Wal-Mart and at Applebees, there is supposed to be training for the employees and at some point they are asked to sign papers stating that they received training that they did not actually receive. That does not suprise me at all since I work in retail and have had that happen to me in the past too. Everyone signs that because if you don't, you won't have a job.
I found it very unappetising and rather disgusting to learn that most of the foods at Applebees are pre-prepared and made from packaged mixes and later heated in a microwave in plastic baggies before being served to the customers.
Tracie includes information about CSAs and bemoans the fact that in our country we make sure that people have access to electricity, water and to some extent even health care, but we do not put any effort into making sure that fresh, healthy food is readily available to everyone everywhere, instead, we leave that to the private industries and corporations like Wal-Mart.
storysgraphically's review against another edition
4.0
Good, but I am sort of appalled by her staying in one place only long enough to take charity and not give back.
tinkerer's review against another edition
2.0
Update: This book is on hold because it was due at the library and I couldn't push myself through that chapter or any other at this time...
I'm reading this book because I want details, facts and anecdotes about (in the first part of the book) farm labor. However, there aren't as many facts and descriptions of the systems as I thought there would be...in my opinion, there's too much space devoted to the author's social blunders or triumphs in a Spanish-speaking labor environment. It all comes across as angsty and is distracting from the real purpose of the book. Hopefully I make it through one more chapter in this section to the rest of the book that won't be so bogged down with this stuff.
I'm reading this book because I want details, facts and anecdotes about (in the first part of the book) farm labor. However, there aren't as many facts and descriptions of the systems as I thought there would be...in my opinion, there's too much space devoted to the author's social blunders or triumphs in a Spanish-speaking labor environment. It all comes across as angsty and is distracting from the real purpose of the book. Hopefully I make it through one more chapter in this section to the rest of the book that won't be so bogged down with this stuff.
ojo's review against another edition
4.0
'The American Way of' is right up there with 'A People's History of,' promising-beginnings-of-titles-wise.
alessajill's review against another edition
3.0
While much of what this book covers is fairly obvious, it is an accessible and quick read that calls out several stereotypes while discussing the important topic of why we eat what we eat. The book also touches somewhat on the consequences of a poor diet and solutions for fixing the barriers to good food for all; however, it stops short any detailed plan for future action. The books gets credibility from the unique perspective of the author, who at least temporarily tried to live like the people she wrote about, but acknowledged the advantages and privilges she could not elimintate.
tanyadillyn's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent reporting job made this far more readable than I could have expected. McMillan steps a bit outside of the Michael Pollans of the world and explores the people behind the food we eat, as opposed to the substance and ingredients. This exploration and immersion reveals how a capitalist system supports sustenance as commodity, and those responsible for getting food to those who can afford it cannot partake themselves. Henry Ford was far from a decent guy, but he paid his workers enough for them to purchase their own Model Ts. If a farm worker doesn't make enough to purchase the veg she's picking, or an Applebee's cook can't afford a meal out (but will microwave meals day in and out for hungry families), our priorities have gone a little askew.
dreesreads's review against another edition
3.0
This book is meticulously researched, and has great notes. Unfortunately, they are organized by page number, so when you are reading the book, there is no way to know there is an endnote (I hate that!). Also, in the notes there are repeated references to the website, with photos of pay slips, receipts, etc etc. I went to the site, I can find no such information, nor could I find it on the related blog. I know these things can't stay up forever, but this book was published in 2012. I read it in...June 2012.
McMillan's writing is easy to read, her experiences interesting. But the book reads more as a memoir (which it kind of is) than as investigative reporting--yes, there are great notes in the back, but the text does not come to conclusions, it just tells stories. I would like to know what people do when their check is short, the are injured, their credit card is frozen for suspicious activity. Yes, she, as single white woman, was helped by new acquaintances, but she herself admits that as a single white woman, she didn't blend in (except, probably, at Walmart). Was she helped because people are just nice and generous? Because she was an oddity? Because she was single? What do people who don't have a chunk of change to start with DO? Where do single parents put their kids for childcare while working? What do they feed them? Do they go hungry for their kids?
Interesting read, but largely anecdotal.
McMillan's writing is easy to read, her experiences interesting. But the book reads more as a memoir (which it kind of is) than as investigative reporting--yes, there are great notes in the back, but the text does not come to conclusions, it just tells stories. I would like to know what people do when their check is short, the are injured, their credit card is frozen for suspicious activity. Yes, she, as single white woman, was helped by new acquaintances, but she herself admits that as a single white woman, she didn't blend in (except, probably, at Walmart). Was she helped because people are just nice and generous? Because she was an oddity? Because she was single? What do people who don't have a chunk of change to start with DO? Where do single parents put their kids for childcare while working? What do they feed them? Do they go hungry for their kids?
Interesting read, but largely anecdotal.
sophronisba's review against another edition
4.0
Really 4 1/2 stars. Along the lines of Nickeled and Dimed, but less doctrinaire. A very engaging read that will make you think about where your food comes from.