In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
Book Review: Seven little words
Summary: 5 Stars
Seven little words summarize Pollan's In Defense of Food, and they are emblazoned right on the cover: Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
Could it be? Could it be that escaping from the trap of the Western diet, and associated ill health effects, could be so easy? More or less, but In Defense of Food unpacks these words to not only offer very straightforward advice about how to eat right (and avoid foodlike substances that are really just masquerading as food) but a very interesting explanation of how we got here (is it a surprise that industry lobbyist groups created much of the mess?)
As Pollan says, he is not trying to present a definitive analysis of exactly which foods in which combinations can make us healthier (turns out almost ANYTHING other than the Western diet, and our eating patterns, would make us much better off.) Rather, he offers basic tenets that can guide any shopper, but not drive him or her insane.
Very refreshing, and highly motivating. I very strongly recommend this title, even to people who think they know everything about this subject, but are obsessed with what is supposedly the most nutritious food, what is the worst, etc. We don't really have to fret so much at all, and only a writer of Pollan's character could so fully convince us that we an reclaim our relationship to real food that makes us healthy and happy.
Book Review: Great Expectations with only Good Results
Summary: 4 Stars
After reading The Omnivore's Dilemma (OD) I had great expectations for this book. It delivered, but not as much as I had hoped. While I thoroughly enjoyed OD; I, along with many of my friends and co-workers, found the first half much more fascinating than the latter. The history (and politics) of corn production, the impacts of a mono-culture (environmentally and nutritionally) and the available alternatives were fascinating.
I was hoping this book would go even deeper into all three of these topics; and it did, but only to an extent. The history of processed foods as it pertains to government regulation was fascinating. What an interesting cultural shift; I would have loved to have seen some "counter-culture" arguments from of the time as I find it hard to believe that all of society jumped head first into processed food like substances without any dissent. The counter arguments of the day that were presented were vague and felt rushed.
I've read some of the negative reviews and have to agree somewhat. As a liberal progressive this book did pander to my demographic. With a topic as important as our national health, I was hoping for a politically neutral book that would inspire the average American to change. Unfortunately, I can see how many readers could be put off. BUT, the "nutrition establishment" is funded by food processors, they did tell us that margarine was not only safe, but better for us and heck, it took at least a generation before the establishment decided that smoking was bad for us. So faulting Mr. Pollen for only presenting limited nutritional facts is unfair. Even if the scientific community were correct 99% of the time, we are talking about the health of the nation. Everything depends on it, national security, our economy, everything. The food network system is flawed, preliminary safety studies are conducted, a product is brought to market, in the case of margarine, over the next 20 years additional studies are done only to find out that the original studies were wrong and margarine is much worse for you than the butter it was supposed to replace.
So yes, maybe nutritional science does have more to offer than Mr. Pollen gives them credit for, but in the same breath, blind faith in their accuracy (and motivations) is a path we must get off. Our government should be more concerned about healthy citizens than healthy profits, regardless of the downstream economic impact to a small number of corporations or lobbys.
Book Review: Nostalgia by a Luddite
Summary: 2 Stars
This book cherry picks nutritional findings when it wishes to add a little scientific credibility to its arguments, but then implies that nutritional science will always get it wrong. In this way it implies there is no difference between the discredited lipid hypothesis and the carbohydrate hypothesis which has so recently been brilliantly documented by Gary Taubes. Pollan then wanders off into unsubstantiated claims that vegetarians live longer and endorses the customary liberal feel good arguments about farmers' markets and natural food. While charmingly written, it is basically a literary work and not a book with useful nutritional information.Book Review: Great Book Everyone Should Read
Summary: 5 Stars
This book really opened my eyes as to how I should be looking at food. I have told everyone I know about it and even have bought a copy for my parents. It's that good.Book Review: Admiration from another nutrition writer
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a better book than mine. IN DEFENSE OF FOOD and HONEST NUTRITION cover some of the same topics, but Michael Pollen does it better than I did. Buy it!
Much of popular ideas and literature about nutrition is false. Pollen does very well at presenting what is true, and making it simple.