The Omnivore's Dilemma

450 pages

English language

Published April 11, 2006

ISBN:
978-1-59420-082-3
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Goodreads:
3109

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(2 reviews)

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals is a nonfiction book written by American author Michael Pollan published in 2006. As omnivores, humans have a variety of food choices. In the book, Pollan investigates the environmental and animal welfare effects of various food choices. He suggests that, prior to modern food preservation and transportation technologies, the dilemmas caused by these options were resolved primarily by cultural influences. Technology has made foods that were previously seasonal or regional available year round and in all regions. The relationship between food and society, once moderated by culture, is now confused. To teach more about those choices, Pollan describes various food chains that end in human food: industrial food, organic food, and food we forage ourselves; from the source to a final meal, and in the process writes a critique of the American method of eating.

4 editions

As overused as the phrase is: this is a must read!

As someone who went down the rabbit hole of not eating processed foods or factory farmed meat for several years, I really thought I knew all there was to know about the way America produces its food. But wow was I wrong.

This book continually astounded me with the facts and figures of just how silly our food chain really is. Also I learned so much more about eating seasonally and locally than I was expecting. I could not stop sharing quotes with people as I was reading and I would consider this a must read for anyone who lives in a society that doesn’t live off the land.