The Omnivore's Dilemma

I just picked up and started reading The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan. Has anyone read this yet? Thoughts?

Comments

[marymuses]

I read it, dog-eared a bunch of the pages, and have passed it on more than once. After reading Fat Land and Fast Food Nation, this was my next step in becoming better at choosing my food. I've also read Pollan's latest book, In Defense of Food, and find it to be a good guide. The way he challenges people to eat is not convenient, but is ultimately more satisfying than the usual Standard American Diet. What has surprised me most is that even though we are eating better food that sometimes costs more, we don't actually spend more. I think it comes from being purposeful about what we purchase and prepare; we simply waste less because we are being more conscious about how and where and why we eat.

[Lucas Land]

Tim,

this is like my second bible. i listened to it on audiobook. it was the last in a long series of reads on food for me which have finally culminated in my family moving to the world hunger farm (http://www.worldhungerrelief.org) and me starting the What Would Jesus Eat?(http://wwje.wordpress.com) blog. I would love to be part of a discussion about this book on your blog. looking forward to hearing yours and other's thoughts.

[brookeraymond]

It is one of the best books I have ever read. As someone who loves to cook (and eat) I have always been interested in buying the best ingredients. This book takes understanding your food and where it comes from to a whole different level and has changed how we buy, eat and in some respects, cook our food. This book goes way beyond organic (and debunks some thinking around the organic movement). A book I believe every omnivore should read.

[Marlies]

I grew up eating healthy but it can get complicated on how extreme to go and why. Given that I have a master's degree in nutrition, my intrigue has definitely led me down the path of my current occupation. Pollan's book is straight forward, full of fact and truth, and gives you a goal to your own life (and a fear of processed food). In Defense of Food is on the list of things to read. Some radio interviews from NPR for your listening pleasure.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95896389

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98417440

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98690109

Wendell Berry is like his long lost father. . . . .

[Bobby Hopkins]

Hey Tim,
I haven't read this specific book, but now I want to do so. A few other book hit on points similiar to Pollan's, and those books have completely blown a part the way I view what I eat. And this purposeful eating is very difficult. I'd also love to be a part of a discussion about this topic. Personally I'm going through a "Herbivore's Dilemma". :) I also recommend Michael Sleeth's book "Serve God, Save the Planet."

[Tim Keel]

Thanks for all the feedback. The universal praise you all have given is akin to what I had heard in other arenas and caused me to pick up the book. Mimi and I are reading it together and are just at the beginning of it. I don't have much to contribute by way of discussion, but please feel free to engage one another and I'll chime in where I can...

[Eric Clarkson]

I agree with the other comments. Pollan is a thoughtful and entertaining writer, and unlike Fast Food Nation he does not try to "scare" you into eating well. He is more concerned with eaters being more aware of what they consume and what is involved with bringing that food to their table. As a family physician I have recommended this book to many of my patients. Beware though... with your book addiction, you might as well buy Pollan's other books The Botany of Desire, and In Defense of Food.

[Mike Morrell]

Tim, I discovered this book about six months ago and it's been a life-changer. I've joined my local Slow Food chapter and we're getting a certain amount of our produce from local farms in this innovative service called Papa Spuds. Baby steps I know, but a start.

I'm looking forward in the next year to a church more attentive to re-regionalizing agriculture and standing up for food justice - perhaps in our eucharistic practice? Pollan wrote an excellent Open Letter to the Next US President that I blog about here: http://zoecarnate.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/obamas-public-works-the-new-secretary-of-agriculture-your-voice-matters

[moe didde]

i haven't read it, but I've heard great things. But I'm commenting in regards to the Neal Stephenson book in your sidebar--how do you like it? Toby's friend gave him that entire series and he's had a hard time getting into it (I think he read the first one or 2 and has since ceased). Thoughts?

[Jeremy D. Scott]

I haven't read that book, Tim...I'm only beginning to be challenged on my role in food consumerism, but I was given a link to this video:
http://video.hsus.org/?fr_story=fddfc1d63c358bb2db36b53597ceeb7b724f5771&rf=sitemap

...by a friend about an hour before I came across your post. Greg Boyd plays a prominent role in it. It looks at factory farming from a Christian perspective.

[Mike Morrell]

Tim, I just finished updating the Incredible, Edible Sites portion of my sprawling links directory, lots of great follow-up resources here: http://zoecarnate.com/#Food

[Keas Keasler]

Hola Tim, great to see a post on Pollan. Have enjoyed his stuff for a while but he really won over my heart this summer while I was in London and read this article in the Guardian paper (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/06/ethicalliving.food). There's so much there to run with. And over macaroni I think I mentioned to you his piece on the cattle industry (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E5DB153BF932A05750C0A9649C8B63). It will make you proud to be so close to Kansas. Maybe.

I picked up Ireton's book on the seasons as well as one of Gorman's on Paul. Thanks much for the recommendations. Finally have had time to work through Ched Myers' commentary on Mark (http://www.amazon.com/Binding-Strong-Man-Political-Reading/dp/1570757976/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231083629&sr=8-1) and it's blowing my mind. And I was given Sagmeister's new one for Christmas so I'm a happy camper (http://www.amazon.com/Things-have-learned-life-far/dp/0810995298/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231083568&sr=8-1).

Shalom and happy reading in 09!

[Randy]

Eat Food, Not too much, Mostly plants. BAM! Does it get any easier? Brilliant. Its not only healthier, but also a social justice issue, energy consumption issue...

Truly this book(along with two of his others) has changed my posture towards food/eating... as some are eluding to... its made eating spiritual.

It amazes me when I discuss issues in this book with people how most people completely accept our modern way of living as "the way its supposed to be". When the fact is the industrialization of food didn't happen but in the last 80 or so years.

And as for theology in a nugget: If we are to be agents of redemption now(not wait for the "Sweet Bye and Bye") then we better get to gardening because we'll be doing that in heaven too! ;)Isaiah 65:21-22

Oh and by the way you will never let a Mcnugget enter past the gates of your mouth again after reading the chapter about McDonalds. haha good luck!

[Rob O.]

I'm about 2/3rds thru "Omnivore's" now and I hafta admit that this has been a bit of a dense book to slog through. I've certainly enjoyed it and it's quite eye-opening but the book is so packed with information and Pollan describes things in such rich detail... Wow!

The distressing thing is I'm already trying to map out how I can apply some of what I've picked up thus far, but I'm not in an agricultural region so I don't quite know where to find farmers/ranchers in my area who offer the kinds of off-the grid food that the author found at Polyface.

I'm also a bit disheartened that my efforts to spend more on what few "organic" products are available in my area might be far less productive than I had imagined. I don't regret learning that organic foods are nearly as industrialized as the rest, but it certainly makes grocery store decisions that much more tricky.

This book and "Fast Food Nation" have certainly begun to reshape what I put in the fridge and on the table for my family.