A review by cari1268
Hooked: Food, Free Will, and How the Food Giants Exploit Our Addictions by Michael Moss

4.0

I've been meaning to read Salt Sugar Fat for years. Food books stress me out and so I limit my intake. Hooked was a quick find in my digital library.

It was a very readable book. Moss wrote in an engaging style. He got to the point quickly and then moved on. I was entertained and educated. This book made me recommit to only eating when I'm eating versus eating and doing something else.

This was probably the worst time in my year to read it. I've eaten more fast food in the past two weeks than I have all year due to visitors. However, thanks to reading this book, I've been more conscious of my food choices. I've made better decisions in the grocery store.

My main complaint about Hooked was that Moss really didn't like the food industry. The food industry was the comical, twirling-his-mustache villain. Even when they were doing things that seemed good, Moss gave them no credit. They were always to be rejected and despised.

I'm no expect, but I can't imagine that this book would be good for people suffering from eating disorders. There was a lot of food fear rhetoric. In general, I'm getting a little tired of reading books about how bad the food industry is but that offer few solutions. The remedies provided at the end of Hooked felt paltry and unsatisfying.

Regardless, I learned a lot from Hooked and I can see why Michael Moss is so popular. I would pick up another book by him. Maybe I'll even get around to Salt Sugar Fat
.
4 Stars.