Comments (28)

The Omnivore's Dilemma

a Natural History of Four Meals
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1 to 25 of 28 items
Mar 25, 2023JLMason rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Still relevant after 20 years, Omnivore's Dilemma reveals both Big Agra's cornopoly that co-opts farmers and dominates our Western diets and the pretence of industrial organic agriculture. As in his other investigations, Pollan inserts…
Sep 15, 2022EvanSchoenfeld rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
The idea is that fast food is inherently unhealthy not just because of its nutritional profile but because it is fast, flattening and dissipating the core values of cuisine—that when you carefully purchase basic ingredients, growing,…
Aug 30, 2022heliolibros rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I finally got around to reading Pollans' signature book. It's at times enjoyable, and depressing. The subjects covered are inspiring, educational and frustrating. But it's important to understand our industrial food system better, and the…
May 11, 2021FlaquitaRD rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This now-famous book is worth reading. I learned a lot about the food industry, farming, if organic is worth buying and why buying local is something to consider. All in all this was an informative, well researched book. Easier to read…
Apr 08, 2021maiki69 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Michael Pollan has too much time on his hands. With THE OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA: A NATURAL HISTORY OF FOUR MEALS he takes mealtime and turns it on his head. By mapping the genealogy of four separately sourced meals, Pollan traces them back to…
Dec 11, 2020ryner rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Journalist Michael Pollan delves into the powerful forces that determine the food we eat, how it is grown and produced, the disastrous environmental effects, and the way the food industry has changed and been regulated since our…
Oct 07, 2020TEENREVIEWCREW rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
The Omnivore’s Dilemma is a detailed and thought-provoking book, worthy of a read. It allows the reader to think about something that usually sits in the back of their minds: food. In reading this book, I was able to reflect upon many…
Apr 06, 2020mikey69 rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Michael Pollan takes mealtime and turns it on its head with THE OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA: A NATURAL HISTORY OF FOUR MEALS (Penguin Press, $26.95). Within its pages, he follows the genealogy of four meals (one from a fast food chain, one from a…
Mar 04, 2020JLDAY9294 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A good read, but extremely dense. I found it difficult to stay focused on this book for too long and ended up switching to an audio version to ease the process. He brings up some great points and new ideas on the origins of our food. I…
Nov 01, 2019
The Omnivores Dilemma is a fantastic read. It is a very interesting study of the American agricultural system and how our eating habits affect both our health and the health of the animals raised to feed us. Few books will make you…
Jun 26, 2019Lou2005 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
One of the best nonfiction books I've read this decade. I thought that since it was ten years old it would already be out of date, but sadly, it is still relevant today.
Jun 18, 2019JCLAMELIAM rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Michael Pollan writes about food with remarkable care, insight and curiosity. This book works to untangle some of the reasons why it seems to be so difficult to make the right choices when it comes to what's for dinner. He traces the roots…
Jan 13, 2018movar rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Very detailed book. Pollan has a good sense of humor. He also gives many references all along. I wish this book was translated in French, faster for me to read.
Feb 09, 2015LizSJ57 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Loved this book. Great for expanding our critical thinking and provides lots of "food" for thought.
Feb 06, 2015Ron rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
excelent
Jan 07, 2015
A great book about food and the choices we make
Jan 03, 2015sharon711 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Pollan gives us a massive amount of info about where our food comes from and how our food production systems sustain themselves (or not...). His writing is entertaining, anecdotal, and matter-of-factual, rather than alarmist or…
Sep 06, 2012lonnylu rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This book gives great insight into the food system in the US. It is so easy to read and it never seems like the author is preaching to you about what you should or should not eat - just giving you the facts and his opinion.
Apr 08, 2012Lauren31 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Excellent, easy-to-read book on the state of the North American food system, the disengagement of most from how food winds up on our plates, and encouragement on how it is possible to eat healthfully and ethically! I really enjoyed this…
fastace911
Jan 28, 2012fastace911 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Great insight into the food industry from the beginning to the end of the food chain. It's amazing that the author Micheal Pollan personally experienced every moment of the book. He provided great history (sometimes overly elaborate),…
Aug 04, 2011Kiirsti rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone! This book has made me see food in an entirely different light. I learned a lot and changed my diet quite a bit after reading this book. If you're looking for a good non-fiction read,…
May 02, 2011RenGrrl rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Fascinating read. A very interesting and different perspective on food. He's a little hard on vegetarians though.
Jan 22, 2011oldman74 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
this book follows the life cycle of food, particularly that of corn. it explains how farmers are exploited and then goes on to show how their exploitation serves to corrupt our meat industry practices, as well as affecting many other food…
Sep 29, 2010katiespires rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I will never look at my food the same way.
May 13, 2010zipread rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Let's get one thing straight right from the get-go --- this is not a work of fiction --- it is true --- factual --- although there are some who might think that Omnivore reads like shrill fiction. Pollan has written a number of books ---…