Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal
Book Review: "Eat This, President Bush"
Summary: 5 Stars
I cannot add more to all of the other excellent reviews written here about this book, except to say that, as the expression goes, "If you're not outraged, you are not paying attention!" Being a physician, I have recommended this book to my patients on countless occasions, not only to enhance their education about nutritional diets, but to also see the connections between Corporate America, politics, and economics, and that Americans can no longer stay in their comfy little bubble of ignorance concerning not only their health, but their lack of involvement in the political process. I cannot recommend this book enough. A GREAT EYE OPENER.
Linda E. Dewey, M.D.
Book Review: "Please drive up to the window"
Summary: 5 Stars
The first time I read this book, I was working at a fast food joint. Every time I put one of those carnation pink waffles on the grill, all I could think about were the people of Greely, CO and what they went through to make sure that the people whining at the tills get their double cheeseburger. I never realized what went into those combo meals and even though I had a thankless job. After my expeirences in combination with reading this book, I will never work fast food again since everyone looses in the equasion.Book Review: "The Jungle" set in modern day
Summary: 5 Stars
What is written here is very good (I read it in the space of a day), but those who have read The Jungle should find this material familiar, sans the fast food influence on the meatpacking and poultry industries. I bought this book after watching the outstanding documentary "Supersize Me" by Morgan Spurlock and catching an interview that Spurlock does with Schlosser as an 'extra' on the DVD. This book talks about the marketing practices of fast food chains, working conditions in meatpacking plants and poultry plants, etc.Book Review: 21st Century Muckracking
Summary: 5 Stars
Fast Food Nation was a predecessor in the revelation of the fast food industries glutonous history,pre-queling the latter success of "Super Size Me". In 400+ pages of analysis, Schlosser manages to expose the entrenched and oligopolistic established value chain that makes up the modern fast food industry. From the supplier of Potatoes (Simplot), to the slaughterers, producers, cleansers, and packages of beef, to the retail fast food chains themselves, Schlosser gains access to the inner gruesome sanctums of this dirty industry.
Exposing the artificial chemicals/preservatives, the harsh and deadly working conditions, and the mass engineered economies of scale and subsidization and expanse of the industry, Schlosser's work has done much to enlighten as well as dishearten many consumers of the fast food industry. His work in particular has been highly influential in recent administrative changes that aim at curbing childhood and overall American obesity.
Book Review: A Fine Social Thriller.
Summary: 5 Stars
Fast Food Nation is a fine "Social Thriller" bringing you to the edge of your seat right from beginning till the end.
If "Erin Brockowich" is for P&G, then "Fast Food Nation" is for MacDonald's.Author has not spared a single stone unturned to make this book an "encyclopedia" of fast food "facts"( read evils)
Going right into the production of raw materials,beef, french fries, potato farms, cattle feeds, workers apathy, production plants overseas, rules,legalities, food poisoning etc, Author has managed to bring the complete loop or lifecycle into this 300 pages "encyclopedia".Author has to commended for the way he has presented the topic to be an interesting reading and not a dull thesis.
And as a reader , I respectfully disagree with the author on the following areas :
Authors blatant attack on the low paid jobs - It is true that pay scales in fast food joints are going down, but we need to understand that fast food joints have created enormous amount of "low quality-high quantity"jobs that helps the economy. Do not expect any industry (even the government) to hire millions of employees even on short term contracts with zero to no skills at close proximity to employees homes at hours that are flexible. In fact America is called a "service economy" and a service economy is mostly nothing more than flipping burgers .
So many people read the book for sheer one reason:
How does it affect me and my children ?-
And that would have meant atleast some comparison to restaurent jobs, restaurant cleanliness etc outside the fast food world. This would probably have given the reader a more balanced view of the food industry as a whole( contrary to all "burger kings and MacDonald's are villains).
Author also fails to emphazise the bigger picture of the fact that "fast food" industries are an evolution of the "modern couch potato American" , "working moms", "single parent" culture. It was not the sheer marketing genius of MacDonald's that made it what it is today.Fortunately or unfortunately MacDonald ( and others )are adding value to the society by filling up a "dangerous need" in the society. "Low cost food" - fast and easy.
And the worst of all, the same need is getting slowly created in societies like India and China.
Read this book -
If you have a family
If you frequently grab a quick lunch at McDonald's
If you or ur friends have tried Lipitor and other weight loss medications
Read it - even if you read only fiction books!.It is about YOU AND YOUR LIFE.
One of the finest books that I have read in recent times on social themes. I always wondered this book has every quality to be a 'movie' and yes, it did become a movie. If you are averse to reading, watch the movie. For me , I enjoyed the literary richness of the book ,analysis and the content of the book