Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork and What You Can Do about It

Thank you for writing this book. It gives me hope! We make over 200 food choices a day, and if at least one more choice per day favored sustainability and climate-friendly food practices, we could reduce the rate of environmental destruction. Lappe distinctively points out the pro-industrial food argument that we could not feed the planet using organic and sustainable agriculture. She then proceeds to cite the facts: Not only can organic, sustainable farming adequately feed us, but it can promote economic self-sufficiency among the poorer communities who can really tap into their natural resources. She makes the case to work with the environment, using science to bolster the natural producing capacity of the land. In our current show more environment, science is used to manipulate the natural cycle of the land through bio-tech crops, GMOs, pesticides, herbicides, and more. Sure, this method produces a heck of a lot of calories for humans, but somehow, the poor communities are still poor and most critically, still hungry. The ROI from smartly switching to organic, sustainable farming globally is tremendous. The downfall? A few corporate bigwigs lose their jobs. Oh, and our immediate gratification for five varieties of chips ahoy is squashed... Read this book. You decide. show less

Anna Lappe has written this book to inform the reader of the importance of food choices as they relate to the effect on the planet and its climate. She explains how each step in the food production chain results in and impacts the total greenhouse-gas emissions. A great deal of eye-opening information is provided regarding the amount of fossil fuel used to produce our food and get it to our local grocery store.

It is amazing how much grain is used to produce a pound of meat. Lappe gives us stories of the success of some farmers as they are developing sustainable food production, not only in the United States but in other places around the world. She pokes holes in several myths that the giant food companies want us to believe, especially show more the myths that we have to use huge amounts of chemicals to increase yield and that we need to develop genetically modified food. Lappe also exposes how giant food corporations attempt to portray themselves as being environmentally friendly. She shows how to separate the real facts from the spin.

Lappe closes the book by providing a list of seven principles of a climate-friendly diet. Many resources are given so the reader can do further reading and stay up-to-date on current information. A very worthwhile read. show less

As an introduction to the science of climate change as affected by the global industrial food system, Diet for a Hot Planet excels at informing and entertaining. I have to admit I was hesitant when I started reading it and was sure it was going to be a chore to get through, but I really enjoyed it. Lappe writes in a way that is straight forward and easy to understand, which is a quite feat considering the volume of information included in the book.

In fact, that would be my only qualm, at least with the first section. It is intensely information heavy, with little anecdotal relief. One concept after another is thrown at the reader, with little chance to actually absorb any of it. All of the information is entirely relevant to the rest show more of the book, however, which is obvious in the number of references Lappe makes to information she's already introduced. And when she does reference something she's gone over before, Lappe does tend to review it, which is a great relief, at least for me.

The notes and bibliography are extensive, and throughout the different sections there are a lot of suggestions for further reading and research. It gives the impression of "Don't just take my word for it" and gives the reader the opportunity to actually go out and learn from more than just one source. While Lappe's worldviews are obvious and assumed to be correct, which could be abrasive to someone who sees the world and issues differently, the assumptions made in the book do seem to be scientifically valid, and everything she references is well cited. Overall, the book is very well researched. I especially appreciated the attention she gave to soil health, something that often is overlooked when discussing the health of an ecosystem.

The last three parts of the book are very easily followed, full of personality and wit as well as convincing arguments and biased or not, a whole lot of science. Lappe writes with a voice that is personable and not at all condescending. In the introduction she says she doesn't want to create cynics of her readers, and I would have to say that that definitely shows. The anecdotes and stories she chooses to express the hope that she's learned to see in the world really do illustrate it.

It's an incredibly effective book. I honestly think I will read it again. show less

Anna Lappé's *Diet for a Hot Planet* offers an optimistic take on the link between a micro issue (what one eats) and a macro problem (climate change). And, despite all the problems of the status quo (and potential catastrophes if we let business continue as usual) described in the outset of the text, the optimism in the latter parts of the book is appropriate, as it encourages readers to make incremental changes in their eating habits in ways that, collectively, will benefit the earth (regardless of one's take on climate change, I'd venture). Yes, some of the recommendations echo those of Michael Pollan (and also Mark Bittman in his *Food Matters*); so there's a certain sensibility to the text: eat locally, move toward a more show more vegetarian-style diet, be mindful of food and packaging waste, etc. For some readers, then, Lappé's book won't contain much that's new. But I'm in favor of giving such works plenty of attention: As long as some members of the target audience (described as folks without much knowledge of climate-change theories) become more reflective about their eating habits, one would think that some good will result. Now, as LibraryThing member rtp3 said in an earlier review of this book, it’s time to head out to the garden! show less

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm a fan of research papers, and the sheer volume of research that went into writing this book makes it impressive to me. What's even more impressive, though, are the concise and easy to read conclusions that Anna Lappé draws from her research. She clearly shows the connection between climate change and our food system with realism and hope.

The ideas she presents about sustainable eating--from food's origin to its ending--are not radical. Anna draws upon practices that are already in place and flourishing both in the United States and around the globe. What speaks to me most is the need for diversity. Ecosystems thrive efficiently because there are many components working together: farming is the same. show more There is no need for CAFOS (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) to provide adequately for our food needs, and we don't need to sign off meat (unless we want to). The last 100 pages are filled with ways to find and support delicious food that can help rather than harm our surroundings. There are so many websites and other resources that it's difficult to summarize. So, read this book and then interact. You won't be disappointed. show less

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Goodreads' First Reads program.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and expected a lot from Frances More Lappe's daughter. Fortunately, she didn't disappoint! While I think that Diet for a Hot Planet is geared mostly toward the novice foodie and people who haven't already read thoroughly on food politics and sustainability, it still has a bit to offer to those of us who have.

What I really like about Diet for a Hot Planet is how Lappe gives a solid amount of advice about how to recognize green-washing and other corporate BS. I think a lot of people just starting on their eco-journeys will buy anything with a "green" or "eco" label and think they're doing right for the environment. Lappe not show more only teaches how to avoid making those purchases, but how to eat food that is actually sustainable and good for the environment. show less

Diet for a Hot Planet by Anna Lappe

Where do I start? Perhaps with the title. "A Hot Planet" ....I'm getting ready for a biased read. This title sounds like another tree-hugging tome from the granola-crunching, hemp-wearing folks. Yes, Lappe has some biases - But wait!! - There's more! -much more! This is a serious book that needs to be read and absorbed by all.

Ms. Lappe takes us on a journey through the industrial food industry and the impacts that will eventually take our food choices from us, unless we soon make some drastic changes. This book takes big agro-industry head-on and exposes point-by-point, the costs that we do not usually associate with our grocery store and fast-food chain choices. She describes fuel costs, show more transportation, petrochemical costs, waste management - the entire food cycle. While doing so she paints a bleak picture for the path we are traveling in the global scheme of things.

Whether you want to believe in global warming or not (which is not what this book is about), you must acknowledge Ms. Lappe's well-supported thesis that the current global food system is damaging (destroying) our planetary ecology. That is the problem Lappe's book drives home.

Lappe give a suite of solutions in her final chapters, including the "Seven Principles of a Climate-Friendly Diet". Lappe shows how we can make a difference in global ecology, promote local agro-industry, and debunk the notion that there are no solutions beyond the monstrous powers of the global agro-industrial giants. Yes, we can change this world, perhaps not all at once, but we can start to apply her wisdom, become more aware and most importantly - Start the Diet! show less