Add BookmarkIn Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
What to eat, what not to eat, and how to think about health: a manifesto for our times
"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." These simple words go to the heart of Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, the well-considered answers he provides to the questions posed in the bestselling The Omnivore's Dilemma.
Humans used to know how to eat well, Pollan argues. But the balanced dietary lessons that were once passed down through generations have been confused, complicated, and distorted... (show more)
What to eat, what not to eat, and how to think about health: a manifesto for our times
"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." These simple words go to the heart of Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, the well-considered answers he provides to the questions posed in the bestselling The Omnivore's Dilemma.
Humans used to know how to eat well, Pollan argues. But the balanced dietary lessons that were once passed down through generations have been confused, complicated, and distorted by food industry marketers, nutritional scientists, and journalists-all of whom have much to gain from our dietary confusion. As a result, we face today a complex culinary landscape dense with bad advice and foods that are not "real." These "edible foodlike substances" are often packaged with labels bearing health claims that are typically false or misleading. Indeed, real food is fast disappearing from the marketplace, to be replaced by "nutrients," and plain old eating by an obsession with nutrition that is, paradoxically, ruining our health, not to mention our meals. Michael Pollan's sensible and decidedly counterintuitive advice is: "Don't eat anything that your great-great grandmother would not recognize as food."
Writing In Defense of Food, and affirming the joy of eating, Pollan suggests that if we would pay more for better, well-grown food, but buy less of it, we'll benefit ourselves, our communities, and the environment at large. Taking a clear-eyed look at what science does and does not know about the links between diet and health, he proposes a new way to think about the question of what to eat that is informed by ecology and tradition rather than by the prevailing nutrient-by-nutrient approach.
In Defense of Food reminds us that, despite the daunting dietary landscape Americans confront in the modern supermarket, the solutions to the current omnivore's dilemma can be found all around us.
In looking toward traditional diets the world over, as well as the foods our families-and regions-historically enjoyed, we can recover a more balanced, reasonable, and pleasurable approach to food. Michael Pollan's bracing and eloquent manifesto shows us how we might start making thoughtful food choices that will enrich our lives and enlarge our sense of what it means to be healthy. (show less)
Related Media
Photo Gallery
Reviews (See all 1,763) Write a reviewfor this
-
By the same author as The Omnivore’s Dilemma, an attempt to prescribe how one should eat to be healthy. The book begins with severe criticism of standard nutritional methodology and the politics behind them, and emphasizes how little nutritionists really know about what’s good for us. (In a radio interview, he likened the state of nutrition today to surgery in the sixteenth century). Based on what we do know, and how our ancestors ate, and common sense, he provides very simple guidelines. He’... (show more)
By the same author as The Omnivore’s Dilemma, an attempt to prescribe how one should eat to be healthy. The book begins with severe criticism of standard nutritional methodology and the politics behind them, and emphasizes how little nutritionists really know about what’s good for us. (In a radio interview, he likened the state of nutrition today to surgery in the sixteenth century). Based on what we do know, and how our ancestors ate, and common sense, he provides very simple guidelines. He’s an extremely clear and persuasive writer. He’s not a scientist himself, he’s a journalist, but he has clearly done a lot of research and talked to experts, and distilled what he’s learned into a very compelling and compact book. He is also intellectually honest in acknowledging where many of his ideas come from. The book is much more focused and less conversational than The Omnivore’s Dilemma; it’s short and I finished it in a few hours. Highly recommended. (show less)
Already read
-
Both a lot shorter and more to-the-point than "The Omnivore's Dilemma", Pollan's latest reminds me a lot of why I loved his writing when I first cracked open "The Botany of Desire" several years back. One could easily argue that this is the succinct rebuttal to his arguments made in TOD, and it is for this very reason that I recommend this over the latter. Being a denizen of Seattle where food co-ops, TJ's, Whole Foods, neighborhood farmer's markets, and organic produce ho... (show more)
Both a lot shorter and more to-the-point than "The Omnivore's Dilemma", Pollan's latest reminds me a lot of why I loved his writing when I first cracked open "The Botany of Desire" several years back. One could easily argue that this is the succinct rebuttal to his arguments made in TOD, and it is for this very reason that I recommend this over the latter. Being a denizen of Seattle where food co-ops, TJ's, Whole Foods, neighborhood farmer's markets, and organic produce home delivery are in abundance, I lap up Pollan's agro-philosophy like a thirsty and happy pup. But knowing my biased perspective, I do have to ask myself: Is America really ready to tackle the insidiously pervasive high-fructose corn syrup that's the backbone of our agricultural economy? I don't mean to be jaded, but it just may take another generation of obese Americans and the tsunami-like mounting costs (both physical and monetary) that that will inflict to snap us out of our processed sugar addiction. In the meantime, devour this quick read yourself and pass along the gospel of his words. (show less)
Already read
- See all reviews
Conversations
Please log in to join the conversation
-
Maybe I have already read too many books on the subject but I found this book to be pretty much common sense. I didn't find this book full of new information!
Sara Myers 2 months ago -
I tend to avoid books that "everyone" is ranting about, only because I usually end up disappointed. This book is no exception. Easy to read and to the point? Yes, very much so. Pollan didn't bring anything new to the table for me and in fact everything in these pages just outlines what I've said for years. The book is simple common sense, in my opinion.
Facebook User 2 months ago -
If you live in the U.S. and eat food (or, dare I say, THINK you eat food...) you NEED to read this book. No excuses. Should be required high school reading. I'm a book freak, but I would put it above the importance of reading even something as amazing as 1984 or To Kill a Mockingbird (in regards to subject of high school reading). It's just a bit more important to know what we're eating, and why, and why we will have a heart attack at 30, and thereby learning how to prevent it.
Facebook User 2 months ago -
succinct and beautifully written...
You might think Michael Pollan covered everything food-related about our culture in the Omnivore's Dilemma, but this slim book manages to pack in a concise history of America's industry-friendly FDA, a smart critique of the lipid hypothesis, a short biography of (until now little-known) dentist/anthropologist Weston Price, and even a list of eating rules to live by. I'm mostly glad that Pollan's book is reaching a wide audience--that middle America will know the merits of eating locally-grown produce, eggs from pastured hens (versus merely organic eggs), grass-finished meat, and milk from grass-fed cows and start demanding these superior foods from their CSAs, grocery stores, and farms. Pollan has started a revolution!
Facebook User about 1 year ago
Lists
This book has been added to these lists:
More Stuff
About Us
LivingSocial.com is a social discovery and cataloging network that allows people to review and share their favorite movies, books, games, music, restaurants and beer
