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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
A very brief recap of Pollan's previous books. He sometimes expands on his rules beyond one or two sentences, but mostly this is an outline rather than an in-depth analysis. Consists mainly of short quips that will stick in your mind when you're shopping, but I felt more expansion was necessary for many of the rules.
Some rules to live by in this book for sure. Along with some out of date rules as well.
Simple. Awesome. Not worth buying unless you need some aphorisms. Eat natural stuff. Eat less foodstuff. Live long. Prosper.
[b:Food Rules: An Eater's Manual|7015635|Food Rules An Eater's Manual|Michael Pollan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348526224l/7015635._SY75_.jpg|7261546]
My primary issue with this book is that it is elitest and inconsiderate to the relative struggle of most people to afford basic necessities.
I was in agreement with most of the rule until he reached 'rule no.44' in which he states to "pay more, eat less," which is a luxury that many people, including myself cannot afford.
The only saving grace of this book is that it is so short.
My primary issue with this book is that it is elitest and inconsiderate to the relative struggle of most people to afford basic necessities.
I was in agreement with most of the rule until he reached 'rule no.44' in which he states to "pay more, eat less," which is a luxury that many people, including myself cannot afford.
The only saving grace of this book is that it is so short.
informative
medium-paced
It's a small book, fast read. Makes a lot of sense and has changed the way I think about the food I eat. I liked the phrase..."eat food. Not a lot. Mostly plants."
i guess it's my own fault for keeping up with pollan from the beginning, but aside from being sick of him preaching to the choir, this book is offensively dumbed down and an exact rehash of the last one (i think he admits this in the introduction, actually, but STILL). pollan seemed so genuinely excited and passionate about food and american food issues in the beginning, that 'food rules' is all the more a seemingly desperate money grab.
on the plus side, it takes less than a half hour to read, will not keep you up at night, is a quick addition to whatever booklist you've made for yourself, and it's something that you can talk about with people who buy reusable grocery bags but "always forget them in the car".
on the plus side, it takes less than a half hour to read, will not keep you up at night, is a quick addition to whatever booklist you've made for yourself, and it's something that you can talk about with people who buy reusable grocery bags but "always forget them in the car".
Michael Pollan stuffed quite a lot of harmful and restrictive language into this seemingly quaint little guide to eating. He is an author and thinker that I have admired for some time but this rule book perpetuates fatphobic ideas that I have been actively retraining my brain against.
He doesn’t shy away from the crucial role that advertisers and corporations play in selling off “food-like substances” as real food and I do appreciate his reverence to the sanctity of food and communal experiences but they are consistently tinged with the ultimate goal of weight loss. He recommends eating with people for the social aspects but also as a distraction from eating too much.
Many of the rules don’t take privilege and access into account. Yes, someone may genuinely want to shop at a farmers market rather than stopping at a fast food joint, but who’s to say their decision didn’t take multiple factors into account including cost and time? Also if someone’s income is not stable and they may not know when their next paycheck is coming in, it makes sense that they would purchase food with a longer shelf life rather than fresh produce. Demonizing processed foods and labeling a food as “wrong” or “evil” perpetuates the restriction and relapse behavior that only makes someone feel worse about their body and their decisions.
I recognize many of these rules (use a smaller plate, treat treats as treats, don’t always eat when you’re hungry) from the times they have bounced and echoed in my own head. My personal food journey held a lot of space for restriction, demonization and “no” lists that made me either hate a specific food for making me gain weight or hating myself for giving in. It completely sucks the joy out of eating.
Food is powerful. It is colorful fuel for our bodies that has been cared for, tended to, and cultivated by other people. I’d rather not waste my time squeezing the excitement and beauty out of eating experiences by twisting my head to remember 83 restrictive rules. No, I’d rather spend my energy as a conscious consumer who seeks to honor the people who harvest and prepare the food in the market bin, grocery store aisle, or restaurant table.
He doesn’t shy away from the crucial role that advertisers and corporations play in selling off “food-like substances” as real food and I do appreciate his reverence to the sanctity of food and communal experiences but they are consistently tinged with the ultimate goal of weight loss. He recommends eating with people for the social aspects but also as a distraction from eating too much.
Many of the rules don’t take privilege and access into account. Yes, someone may genuinely want to shop at a farmers market rather than stopping at a fast food joint, but who’s to say their decision didn’t take multiple factors into account including cost and time? Also if someone’s income is not stable and they may not know when their next paycheck is coming in, it makes sense that they would purchase food with a longer shelf life rather than fresh produce. Demonizing processed foods and labeling a food as “wrong” or “evil” perpetuates the restriction and relapse behavior that only makes someone feel worse about their body and their decisions.
I recognize many of these rules (use a smaller plate, treat treats as treats, don’t always eat when you’re hungry) from the times they have bounced and echoed in my own head. My personal food journey held a lot of space for restriction, demonization and “no” lists that made me either hate a specific food for making me gain weight or hating myself for giving in. It completely sucks the joy out of eating.
Food is powerful. It is colorful fuel for our bodies that has been cared for, tended to, and cultivated by other people. I’d rather not waste my time squeezing the excitement and beauty out of eating experiences by twisting my head to remember 83 restrictive rules. No, I’d rather spend my energy as a conscious consumer who seeks to honor the people who harvest and prepare the food in the market bin, grocery store aisle, or restaurant table.