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The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (2006)

by Michael POLLAN

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
13,626344404 (4.21)491
What should we have for dinner? When you can eat just about anything nature (or the supermarket) has to offer, deciding what you should eat will inevitably stir anxiety, especially when some of the foods might shorten your life. Today, buffeted by one food fad after another, America is suffering from a national eating disorder. As the cornucopia of the modern American supermarket and fast food outlet confronts us with a bewildering and treacherous landscape, what's at stake becomes not only our own and our children's health, but the health of the environment that sustains life on earth. Pollan follows each of the food chains--industrial food, organic or alternative food, and food we forage ourselves--from the source to the final meal, always emphasizing our coevolutionary relationship with the handful of plant and animal species we depend on. The surprising answers Pollan offers have profound political, economic, psychological, and even moral implications for all of us.--From publisher description.… (more)
  1. 120
    In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan (marzipanz, chrisharpe)
    chrisharpe: Less of a narrative than "The Omnivore's Dilemma", "In Defense of Food" is a succinct argument for considering what we eat, and includes potted advice for consumers who prefer a set of simple rules for eating. As the title suggests, this is perhaps the better analysis of the way the food industry affects the eater and what we can do about it.… (more)
  2. 145
    Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver (heidialice, lorax)
    lorax: More thoughtful and personal than Omnivore's Dilemma, in many ways it picks up where Pollan leaves off.
  3. 60
    Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating by Jane Goodall (thebooky)
  4. 41
    In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed (Plus) by Carl Honoré (Musecologist)
  5. 20
    The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability by Lierre Keith (owen1218)
  6. 31
    Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer (crazybatcow)
    crazybatcow: Very similar perspective, though Pollan focuses more on the "process" of getting "food" to the table.
  7. 20
    Why Did the Chicken Cross the World?: The Epic Saga of the Bird that Powers Civilization by Andrew Lawler (AmourFou)
  8. 10
    American Terroir: Savoring the Flavors of Our Woods, Waters, and Fields by Rowan Jacobsen (DetailMuse)
  9. 10
    The American Way of Eating: Undercover at Walmart, Applebee's, Farm Fields and the Dinner Table by Tracie McMillan (meggyweg, meggyweg)
  10. 11
    Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies About the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You're Eating by Jeffrey M. Smith (piononus)
  11. 00
    Cheesemonger: A Life on the Wedge by Gordon Edgar (Othemts)
  12. 00
    Altered Genes, Twisted Truth: How the Venture to Genetically Engineer Our Food Has Subverted Science, Corrupted Government, and Systematically Deceived the Public by Steven Druker (davidgn)
  13. 12
    Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals by Karen Dawn (SqueakyChu)
  14. 12
    Mercy For Animals: One Man's Quest to Inspire Compassion and Improve the Lives of Farm Animals by Nathan Runkle (renardkitsune)
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» See also 491 mentions

English (341)  Italian (1)  Spanish (1)  All languages (343)
Showing 1-5 of 341 (next | show all)
I did not like this book as much as I expected. The first section was almost unbearable - a long, depressing, science lesson about corn. The rest of the book was much better. I especially enjoyed the hunting/foraging section's vivid details and interesting discussion of animals rights. Basically the purpose of this book is to horrify and shame the American public, and in that regard it is pretty successful (it certainly worked on me). Is it a good read, though? Meh. ( )
  blueskygreentrees | Jul 30, 2023 |
If the saying you are what you eat is true, then according to this book,most Americans are pretty much screwed. ( )
  kevinkevbo | Jul 14, 2023 |
A nice, thorough look at the food chains we enjoy, but of which we are woefully unaware. While the overall thesis is poignant - we should make ourselves aware of the true cost of our food systems, as our culture's voluntary ignorance is taking a huge toll and is immoral, to say the least - the author's fascination with all things chemical makes sections seem like they belong in a culinary or chemistry textbook (especially true of the first section - corn). As such, the general reader might be put off by the textbook ramblings and fail to notice the gems of information hidden amongst the weeds of loquaciousness. For those interested in a deeper (and more balanced) dive into America's food industries than that provided by FAST FOOD NATION, this is highly recommended. ( )
  alrajul | Jun 1, 2023 |
Eccellente lettura di consapevolezza alimentare e culturale. Scritto come un romanzo coinvolgente, accompagna il lettore in un percorso personale in cui rispecchiarsi. ( )
  d.v. | May 16, 2023 |
Green team
  GHA.Library | Apr 29, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 341 (next | show all)
But for Pollan, the final outcome is less important than the meal's journey from the soil to the plate. His supermeticulous reporting is the book's strength — you're not likely to get a better explanation of exactly where your food comes from.
added by carport | editNew York Times, David Kamp (Apr 23, 2006)
 

» Add other authors (5 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
POLLAN, Michaelprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Brick, ScottNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Gissinger, HansCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
GODOFF, AnnEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
HAGGAR, DarrenCover designersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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For Judith and Isaac
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What should we have for dinner?
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
The Omnivore's Dilemma, The Omnivore's Dilemma: Young Readers Edition, and The Omnivore's Dilemma for Kids are three separate works. Please do not combine them.
ISBN 0606087230 is for The Omnivore's Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You Eat, Young Readers Edition
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What should we have for dinner? When you can eat just about anything nature (or the supermarket) has to offer, deciding what you should eat will inevitably stir anxiety, especially when some of the foods might shorten your life. Today, buffeted by one food fad after another, America is suffering from a national eating disorder. As the cornucopia of the modern American supermarket and fast food outlet confronts us with a bewildering and treacherous landscape, what's at stake becomes not only our own and our children's health, but the health of the environment that sustains life on earth. Pollan follows each of the food chains--industrial food, organic or alternative food, and food we forage ourselves--from the source to the final meal, always emphasizing our coevolutionary relationship with the handful of plant and animal species we depend on. The surprising answers Pollan offers have profound political, economic, psychological, and even moral implications for all of us.--From publisher description.

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Penguin Australia

An edition of this book was published by Penguin Australia.

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