Books that Changed My Life – Part 1
This is the first post in series about books (some off-topic) that have changed me at my core or made me view the world through a new or unique lens.
The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals - Michael Pollan
Before reading this book, I never gave much thought to where my food comes from. Maybe that’s because I am a farmer’s daughter and as such have had the “opportunity” to butcher my own hogs, freeze my own sweet corn, and walk miles and miles of bean fields. Or, maybe I’m just like all other Americans and take bounty of my local supermarket for granted. Either way, for better or for worse, Pollan’s book changed the way I think about food.
I grew up in an environment where I didn’t have access to much processed food. My grandparents (on both sides) were semi-sustenance farmers and in the 1970s and early 80s, my parents were as well. Natural, organic, homegrown food filled my childhood (and our giant chest freezer and pantry) and I was completely clueless as to what a gift that bounty was. As a kid, processed food - like frozen pizza or spaghetti-o’s, were more of a treat to me than a succulent pork chop (I could have a steak or fresh sweet corn any day - boxed mac & cheese and a Twinkie - now that was something to get excited about!).
In Omnivore, Pollan follows four meals (varying from McDonald’s to a meal that he hunts and gathers completely alone) as they are processed, prepared, and consumed.
How this Book Changed My Life
- This book opened my eyes to the flaws in the organic movement and made me realize that I shouldn’t have taken the free-range, grass-fed beef from my childhood for granted.
- As a direct result of reading Omnivore, I always check the labels when I shop to see where the food was packaged and manufactured, so that I know how far it had to travel to get to me.
- I am now active in the “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” movement in my hometown.
- I’m even going so far as attempting to pull together a 100% locally grown wedding (a good friend is brewing the beer from hops he grows himself!).
Omnivore’s Dilemma changed the way I shop, the way I eat, and the way I think about food. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is curious about how food gets from the source to their plate.
Stumble it!
January 24th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
I loved loved loved this book. I’ve lent it out to everyone I know. The message I took away isn’t that organics is useless, it’s that organics is the MINIMUM we should be doing, because even it isn’t that good for the environment. It should become the new default, and remove factory/industrial farming entirely from the picture.
January 24th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Wow…great recomendation. I will check it out!
January 25th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Michael Pollan’s new book is just out. “In Defense of Food - An Eater’s Manifesto” It is a follow up to the Omnivore’s Delimna and was writen in responce to so many people asking him what they can eat! It opened as #1 on the NY Times best seller list and is again a wonderful book.
Barbara Kingsolver’s “Animal, Vegetable Miracle” is another great book on the subject of eating local.
Happy Reading!
January 25th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Pollan’s book also changed my life too and I am all for buying local. It can be difficult, though, when you want some fruits like bananas or kiwis which are just not grown locally! Getting off of bottled water is also a great idea. Tap water in the U.S. is safe to drink, making bottled water one of the most wasteful consumer trends in recent memory. Before I read Omnivore’s Dilemma I read Fast Food Nation which also had a big impact on me. No more McD’s!
Actually one of the best individual choices we can make is to give up meat altogether. The cultivation of livestock is highly wasteful and bad for the environment. All that methane contributes to global warming! Meat also costs more than alternatives so it’s good for your finances too. Believe me if most of us knew what is in the factory farmed and processed meat we would never touch it again.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:18 am
This book has been sitting on my bookshelf since the summer - I went a little book crazy and got about 10 books from half.com at once. I’m definitely inspired to get to reading it now!