In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
by Michael Pollan
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Book Reviews of In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
Book Review: Simple, common sense approach to eating
Summary: 5 Stars
Most of what we eat is not food. That's the simple premise in Pollan's follow-up to The Omnivore's Dilemma. Most of what we eat are food-like substances (and that might be generous), packed with preservatives, artificial flavors, fillers and other chemicals that don't exist in nature. Pollan makes the point that if our grandparents walked into the modern supermarket, they wouldn't recognize many of the things on the shelves. This is not good.
It's the Western obsession with nutrients as opposed to food that has led us here. Sometimes flaky dietary science, a culture desperately seeking out the "magic bullet," big-budget marketing campaigns from American food manufacturers and laws and regulation that place the financial health of the agricultural industry above the physical health of the population have all contributed to a situation where people really aren't sure what they should and shouldn't be eating. As Pollan points out, that's a uniquely human dilemma.
Although he give the disclaimer that he's nobody to be telling anybody what to eat, he does give some good, common sense rules of thumb: Eat mostly plants (mostly green plants). Eat less. Think of meat as more of a side dish. Don't eat things with ingredients you can't pronounce. Paradoxically, avoid foods that make health claims on their packaging (which implies, firstly, that they have packaging--something else to probably avoid). Shop around the edges of the grocery store. All of these direct us to eat food, not food-like, processed, manufactured food-like substances. It's a great message, and with all the confusing health claims out there, it's nice to have a call for simple common sense.
Book Review: Important Essay on an Essential Paradigm Shift
Summary: 4 Stars
This book lays out an important paradigm shift that differentiates 'nutritionalism' - the valuation of food according to isolated nutrients -- with a more holistic approach that emphasizes a return to whole, unprocessed, natural foods.
As Pollard brilliantly points out, the problem with nutritionalism is that it allows us to continue eating a dysfunctional westernized diet filled with processed foods, animal fats and imitation foodstuffs while believing that because such 'frankenfoods' are supplemented with faddish nutrients, they are somehow OK and healthy. This serves the commercial food industry well as they can simply re-engineer highly profitable processed foodstuffs to contain whatever 'magic bullet' nutrient is fashionable at the moment and thus market it as healthful.
An example. Just because beta-carotene has been isolated as a helpful nutrient doesn't mean you can rip it out of the carrot, put it in some kind of hideous chemical laden food and proudly proclaim said hideous chemical laden food 'now contains beta carotene'. As Pollard points out, we have no idea now all the individual micronutrients within the carrot act synergistically to promote health - so why not just eat the carrot?
Very simple concept but one lost amid the constantly shifting and often contradictory medical studies which struggle to isolate individual componenents of various foodstuffs in an attempt to provide health information to a confused public.
I wouldn't necessarily buy the book - you can read it in a night, but I think the concepts are extremely valuable for all of us to ponder.
Book Review: In Defense of Food
Summary: 3 Stars
I decided to read this book after seeing "Food, Inc." in the theaters. This is the second book of Pollan's on the food industry--the first being "The Omnivore's Dilemma." This sequel of sorts was supposed to offer more constructive ways consumers can change their eating habits instead of just providing a "Jungle"-meets-Michael-Moore complaint about current industry standards and practices.
I say "was supposed to" because really only the last chapter offered anything new. This is not to say that the book wasn't intriguing or compelling. It's also not to say that the book attacks the food industry. In actuality, the majority of the book offers a historical look on the roots of "nutritionism," as well as some of the less nutritional results of the trend. The main themes are "if it says it's healthy, it's probably not" and "if people say don't eat this protein/fat/mineral, in ten years they'll change their minds." Essentially, Pollan sees nutritionists as the food-equivalent of weather-men: the job should be simple, but yet all the "experts" do is guess.
Having said that, the last chapter really is what I was hoping for from the entire book. It offers simple and sensible ways people can change their eating habits for the better. It also provides list of resources to learn more.
This probably is a library-book only. It's certainly no classic. Again, only the last chapter is anything new, or anything to write home about. But, the topic is certainly one about which Americans should be more concerned and educated. Pollan's book, in that case, is probably a friendly introduction.
Book Review: Another book that revolutionizes the way I view our interactions with plants
Summary: 5 Stars
Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants. Michael Pollan begins his book with these especially concise declarations about how to eat healthfully and he then writes a book about how nutritionism, the 'Western diet', and unmindful eating have led many humans astray (often down paths to stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer). Pollan encourages us to shy away from reductionistic dietary journeying towards a fuller and more mindful experience with food and with other humans. He calls for a return to eating whole foods. It's strange that a music festival (Bonnaroo) and then my doctor's recommendation that I take a medication (a $60 a month medication no less!) to try to reduce my triglycerides would lead me on such a dietary quest that my core beliefs about food and meals would be decimated and more humanly primordial food mindfulness would rise from the ashes like a phoenix of health. I grew up very thin and very athletic and figured that I could eat whatever (often highly processed, laboratory flavored 'food-like substances), tons of whatever, and few plants. This was a very important book for me to read considering that a lovely baby boy grows inside the womb of my lovely bride. This book will help me to be mindful of what we as a family eat and what we slowly eat together. This is a very important book that I recommend for everybody to read. I place this book in very high regard and will cherish it along with other books that have helped change my worldview about our relationship with plants. I also recommend that you consider reading _Fast Food Nation_, _Slaughterhouse_, and _What to Eat_.Book Review: In Defense of Food
Summary: 4 Stars
Obviously at this point there's little new to be said about this book. Where in his last book Michael Pollan described the state of American eating, in In Defense of Food, he sets out an eating plan. Rather simple, it requires only that one Eat Food, Not Too Much, Mostly Plants. The plan makes intuitive sense and, more importantly, is ably defended by Mr. Pollan. The book is, as should be quite obvious to anyone objectively looking into the matter, persuasive, well written, and important. One can do well by oneself by following the simple, non-controversial prescription advocated by Pollan.
My only quibble is with Mr. Pollan's nearly polemic attacks on food science. While I am certainly no food science academic, I do have faith in the scientific method and the yeoman's work of our nations thousands of scientists. Mr. Pollan rightly points out the mistakes of the past and suggests a misfocus in the field. At times, however, he seems to venture into "climate change denier" territory - arguing that food science is entirely without merit and perhaps unknowable. Obviously, we've learned a lot over the years about the nature of the food we eat. I would imagine Mr. Pollan realizes this, but that's not the message one gets in portions of this book.
The tenor of some arguments aside, Mr. Pollan continues to do good things for America's health with this book. Setting out in simple terms how one can reform his diet without obsessive counting and exposing the abundant dangers of today's American food markets, Mr. Pollan's book comes justly highly recommended.