The Omnivore's Dilemma: The Search for the Perfect Meal in a Fast-food World

The Omnivore's Dilemma: The Search for the Perfect Meal in a Fast-food World See Latest Price & Discount EAN: 9780747586753 Customer Reviews: Review #1: HOW NOT TO EAT OURSELVES AND THE PLANET TO DEATH 2009-04-19 THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE READ THIS YEAR, AND EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT BECAUSE EACH OF US CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHAT IS BEING DONE TO THE HUMAN FOOD CHAIN AND THE PLANET BY THOSE SEEKING PROFIT ABOVE HEALTH AND A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT. ALTHOUGH THE BOOK IS PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH THE USA AND ITS FOOD INDUSTRY, THE SPREAD OF AMERICAN CAPITALISM AND PRODUCTION METHODS MEAN THAT ALL OF US ARE IN DANGER OF GOING DOWN THE SAME ROAD - CURRENT SMALL ATTEMPTS TO REFORM THOSE SYSTEMS NOTWITHSTANDING. ALL OF US NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT AUTHOR MICHAEL POLLAN IS SAYING ABOUT INDUSTRIAL AND 'ORGANIC' FOODS AND TO SUPPORT A POLYFACE APPROACH TO FOOD PRODUCTION. POLLAN'S DISCUSSION OF VEGANISM AND VEGATERIANISM ARE COGENT AND THOUGHTFUL AND WERE MOST HELPFUL TO ME IN CLARIFYING MY OWN POSITION OF THIS ISSUE. FIVE STARS. Review #2: Chatty Cathy 2009-04-15 Pollan just seems to ramble away and string together his various musings. The message of this book could have been delivered in about a quarter of the space, but apparently this kind of conversational style is what some readers prefer. Personally I found it hard to stomach. Review #3: Thought-provoking, factual read 2009-04-11 Pollan's observational skills and his writing prowess allow the reader to understand the problems we have created in our well-intentioned attempts to provide cheap, calorie-abundant and widely available food for everyone who visits a supermarket. This is a must read for all who are concerned about the future of agriculture in the US, and that should be everybody. Review #4: A Great Book 2009-04-06 This is a fantastic book. It is a fascinating subject matter that is really eye-opening about the production of food in our modern society. I will change the way I select foods based on this book. This type of book would typically lend itself to a pretty heavy-handed approach, but Mr. Pollan is a deft writer with a wonderful sense of humor, and I found myself laughing out loud as often as I found myself reading bits aloud to my husband. WOW! Review #5: Informative and Entertaining! 2009-04-06 This is such an important topic nowadays when people are eating highly processed foods and have no clue where the ingredients come from. You would think Michael Pollan is another "radical" researcher preaching about things we need to stop eating right now, but he actually writes from a quite naïve (yet intelligent) perspective. He is someone we can almost all identify with: just a curious guy in search for answers on where our food really comes from. It is clear from the very beginning that he did a great deal of research. That combined with his charisma and honesty while describing his adventures is what makes this book so special. I liked the historical and scientific background presented in the first few chapters, but truly enjoyed the more subjective parts describing Pollan's experiences at the organic farm and later on hunting and cooking in California. This book is informative and at the same time quite entertaining!