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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
that was actually a great book!! i really think it changed the way i think about food i hope this isn’t momentary and actually stays with me
Pollan does a good job at covering many facets of food/eating in the book, from the history of corn to the raising of livestock to the very philosophy of eating what we eat, and to top it all off, the book is well written. There really is something for everyone in this book. It is divided into three sections; corn, grass, and forests (I think these were the titles.) I personally enjoyed the grass section the most in which he covers different types of farming and shares his experiences at an alternative farm where he explains the symbiosis of earth, plants, and animals in a way that will make you want to go out and start your own garden and compost heap.
You'll never look at food the same again. Fascinating and impactful, it will change how and what you eat for the better. The "adult" version is also brilliant but this one is accessible to more reading levels. Read out loud with your family.
This was amazingly written but long and dense. It took some motivation to finish, but I was also never bored. It has also affected the way I think about food. Great, long read.
This is at times depressing and at times hopeful, which I suppose matches the state of food in America. Very detailed, very well written. Recommended. Though stay away if you have a soft heart for animals. Food means death, and sometimes in this book, it ain't pretty.
This is a fascinating look at what goes into the food most Americans eat, especially the processed/fast food world. But he also shines a light on the organic food producers (big organic vs. small organic). I found this kind of like Animal, Vegetable, Miracle from a more macho perspective. My aversion to corn syrup only strengthened after reading this book, though I certainly don't agree with everything he wrote. I'm looking forward to reading In Defense of Food too.
Certainly torn on this. There's definitely a lot of changes that need to occur in how we eat and what we eat. While those are questions that many of us need to raise, how we answer them can be challenging based on our current food system. Pollen, while he raises incredibly valid and reasonable points, comes across as more of an optimist and lacks the realistic aspects of daily life. There's no clear cut suggestions offered and steps to take other than just think more deeply about where the food comes that we eat. Perhaps that was his intention. In terms of the writing, he meanders from journalism, to philosophy, to history, to narrative, and everything in between. This is a book that may benefit from a bit of priot knowledge.
The first 2/3 of the book was great. I am not sure I agree with the last 1/3. I have nothing against meat eating. But when the author succumbs to hyperbole and sentimentalism and somehow paints hunting as an idealized experience, I had to smother a twinge of irritation. the rest of it was eye-opening. This is definitely a must read.