The Gist: Michael Pollan, NYT writer and author of "In Defense of Food" (requested from the library; will review post haste!) goes in depth in to the American food system to discover the man behind the door, and how straying so far from our roots has changed our diets and lives.
Layout: The book is in three parts, with a good ramble in each part. The first is about the corn industry in the US and how sociopolitical pressures have made this grain the ever-present ingredient in everything from toothpaste to Kool-aid. The second part is a visit to a self sustainable farm for a look at local farming, sustainability, and the natural food chain. In the third and final part, Pollan befriends a group of hunter-gatherers in his own Berkeley to attempt to create a wholly local, self-caught-and-cooked meal for his friends and family.
Thoughts: The corn and farm sections are absolutely fascinating-- the twists and tangents sometimes get a little confusing, but Pollan does a good job of reiterating his point to keep you on the same page as him. The last section was a bit tedious for me, however the payoff is completely worth it. The last two pages actually made me tear up a bit, the sentiment was so deep-rooted in what I see to be the Southern way of life and reminded me desperately of the two people I miss most: My paternal grandfather and my maternal great grandmother.
Overall Impression: Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma" is a fantastic book; I'm completely obsessed with it and if I could buy ten copies to consistently loan out or hand to strangers on the street, I would!
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