A national bestseller that has changed the way readers view the ecology of eating, this revolutionary book by award winner Michael Pollan asks the seemingly simple question: What should we have for dinner? Tracing from source to table each of the food chains that sustain us— whether industrial or organic, alternative or processed—he develops a portrait of the American way of eating. The result is a sweeping, surprising exploration of the hungers that have shaped our evolution, and of the profound implications our food choices have for the health of our species and the future of our planet.
I would definitely recommend this book. It's not preachy, and it's funny and entertaining, while pointing out some of the realities of food production in today's world. I only gave 3 stars because I've also ready Barbara Kingsolver's book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Comparatively, Kingsolver's book is much more realistic in it's scope for the average American. It's not likely anyone I know will go foraging for mushrooms, or attempt to hunt wild boar.
I unfortunately knew most of the information presented in this book so I found it quite boring at times. However I would recommend this to anybody who is unfamiliar or not well versed in the industry, history etc.
On the whole, it seemed more like a collection of essays on clean/organic food than a coherent book with one overreaching thesis. There were some great chapters, especially the ones about Polyface farm and its clean agricultural practices and how organic became a big business - his criticism of Whole Foods is dead on. The last section about hunting and foraging seemed to be the weakest section. I would recommend it, with reservations to others.
