The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
Book Review: A feast for both mind and stomach
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a book to savor. As I learned reading Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan sees from many points of view while retaining a distinct voice and sensibility. His candor and erudition are equally delightful. Like a fascinating dinner guest, he tells well-honed stories and makes it seem that he's discovering something new even as the old story unfolds. The basic dilemma we omnivores face - what to eat when it's possible to eat anything - is such a daily experience that it makes the book seem part of "real life." My diet shifted throughout the week that I read this book. I've long been wary of factory-farmed meat and fish, but after reading "Corn" I've looked askance at those shining yellow and white kernels of petroleum in the market as well. I was particularly struck by the fact that ethanol, which pollutes the air, is a less efficient way of using oil than simply pouring gas into the tank. After reading Pollan's description of the monocultural corn industry and its dependence on oil, I understood why Detroit has turned its back on hybrids in favor of ethanol burning cars: we're being encouraged to use more oil than ever! The McDonald's meal in the car that concludes the first section of The Omnivore's Dilemma was classic. Suffice it to say that I haven't eaten any fast food since reading it. The idyllic section on grass provides a clean contrast with "Corn," yet the revelations about the industrial nature of enlightened businesses like Whole Foods keeps the structure from being too predictable. There are compromises at each level of the food chain. I initially thought I'd skim the third section about hunting and foraging since I'm not likely to do either one, but Pollan had so many interesting things to say about mushrooms, pigs, hunters, limits, and cooking that I read the ending with a sense of wonder and appreciation. At the final dinner, he shies away from a formulaic or sententious grace before the meal, preferring a toast to everyone who brought it to the table. The book itself, however, is an act of thanks and grace. It's been about three weeks since I finished The Omnivore's Dilemma and it sticks to the ribs. I'll read it again in a year or two. Book Review: Excellent and Will Make You Think, Maybe Even Change You
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished this book and it is one of the best I've read in a long time. The writing is superb, the research excellent, his scope inclusive. Highly recommended. I am buying several additional copies as gifts.
This book will change what you think about food and maybe even change you. It has motivated me to eat differently. I remain an avid omnivore; but I will be attending to the sources of my food much more carefully. I will be attempting to meet the Joel Salatins (Polyface farm, grass-based) of my local world and buy from them. I want my dollars to support them not Cargill and ADM.
You might think this book would be preachy, overly-technical, too-detailed (there are many possible pitfalls here) but it is just a wonderful read, in addition to everything else it is. It is excellent history. It is memoir. It is travel. It is cuisine. It is anthropology, botany, zoology, engineering. Mr. Pollan pulls it all together in one very enjoyable whole. Excellent work.
(I would not be put off by the criticism of "too much about corn." That's the point there: it is all-pervasive. You must either show that or it's an empty statement. If you are a fervent animal rights person, you won't be satisfied either -- please note the book's title.)
Book Review: How much corn could a corn-chuck chuck, if a corn -chuck could chuck corn?
Summary: 3 Stars
The Omnivore's Delemma is most definetly an interesting read, learning the history of corn is much more interesting than it sounds and to understand the role the government has played in the demise of the average farmer is quite shocking. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in agriculutre, vegetarianism or organic farming; however, I would like to add on this piece of advice: When you are reading this book, if you get to the point where you want to say "I get it, it is all about corn... everything is about corn!" then you have read enough on corn, skip to the middle of the book and start reading when the author begins to discuss a small farm in Virginia, you will not be missing anything in the 100 to 150 extra pages on corn.Book Review: one of the years best
Summary: 5 Stars
compelling and thought provoking. You'll never look at a meal (or someone else's meal) the same way again, I assure you. Book Review: An excellent read, not too preachy
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is a well written account of the 'State of the Union' as it applies to the agricultural industry in the US. I highly recommend this book but I want to mention one unresolved point that has been bothering me. The author states that three fifths of the worlds population would not be able to survive without the use of chemical fertilizer which are created by 'fixing' nitrogen. Then he goes on to laud the biodiverse, yet nearly closed loop at Polyface farm as the model for Farming. So is his point that the other 3/5ths of the worlds population will have to die off to return to sustainable limits?
Cultural traditions in China have optimized the production of rice, but they still needed to augment traditional methods with chemical fertilizers to feed the population. The bottom line is that the world has exceeded it's carrying capacity and overburdened the natural resources available on this planet. Yes technoology has allowed us to exceed that limit temporarily, but we have only pushed back the threshold.