Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser
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Book Reviews of Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal
Book Review: A thought provoking read. Definite muckraking, but possibly life changing.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've taught FFN a few times, sometimes switching it out with Cadillac Desert. FFN has a lot of information, most of which may be new to readers. It has become an industry of its own, and since Morgan Spurlock's Supersize Me, more people have become aware of these issues. While Supersize me is a rock 'n roll, fast-paced, in-your-face romp through issues of nutrition, Schlosser's book is a much more thoroughly researched and encyclopedic take on all aspects of fast food, from the agricultural practices that support fast food, to the nutrition, to the advertising, to the impacts on children (obesity and brainwashing), to the impact on the landscape and architecture, to the globalization of the American lifestyle. It is an easier read that it may seem from this review because most all of the references are in end notes, so his research never gets in the way of the story. This is good and bad. It makes it an easy read, but it makes it hard to evaluate his copious research. As an academic, I do have bones to pick with some of his sources, but these are relatively few, and I have a few more sources I would suggest in support.
If anyone is thinking it, the book is not a novelization of the film. The film is a fictionalized narrative based on the research in this book. An interesting note is that the slaughterhouse scenes in the film were taken in an actual slaughterhouse, in Mexico, if I remember correctly.
Book Review: Eye-Opening Primer on the Impacts of Fast Food
Summary: 5 Stars
The title of this book, "Fast Food Nation," captures the essence of the author's message simply and coherently. Yes, Eric Schlosser offers up an eye-opening exposé on the many harmful aspects of consuming "fast food," but this book offers so much more.
Schlosser manages to cover the societal impacts of fast food on early 21st-Century America in a relatively short, and highly readable and engaging, publication. The impacts of fast food, vertically (source of foods to consumers) and horizontally (across the agriculture supply chain for a particular food), are covered in good detail and with good context.
"Fast Food Nation" is a more highly charged assault on the fast food industry than two other popular books on the impact of food, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto and The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, both written by Michael Pollan.
For readers interested in learning more about how the fast food industry works and the impact this industry is having on the American society should read this book. Pollan's aforementioned two popular books should follow "Fast Food Nation," in my opinion.
This is an important, and highly recommended, book.
Book Review: Fast Food Consumers Beware, by K. Renner
Summary: 5 Stars
The book details out how the fast food industry evolved from a hot dog stand to what its inner workings are about today. The "founding Fathers" in many cases did not even have a high school diploma, but they knew how to sell. This book contains a plethora of interesting information based on facts, statistics, and case studies that are illustrative of a strong case against the "fast food giants", allowing the reader to draw conclusions. The main focus relates to the meat packing industry, employee safety, bad working conditions, low wages, what goes into the beef and why consumers eat it and "savor the flavor". In addition it touches on globalization, the influence of the agricultural industry and slaughterhouse conditions. Schlosser's book makes references to "The Golden Age of Food Processing", but the not so golden years if one does not change their eating habits. This industry gives much insight into the nature of mass consumption with no compunction. Consumers do not give much thought about the ramifications of their food purchase. "The real price never appears on the menu." This book educates you on what is really lurking in between that "sesame seed bun"; in this case "Think inside the bun not outside of it." Life is a process, food is processed, and in this case ignorance is not bliss. Eaters beware! After reading this book one is aware of more than just "what is in the beef?"Book Review: Fascinating and eye-opening look at fast food.
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow. What can I say about this other than it really opened my eyes to what I was eating. I am not in the best shape of my life but recently rededicated myself to getting more exercise and eating right. In the past I have tried some fad diets and they would work for a time but they would eventually wear off. This time I decided to take a slightly different approach. I decided to really LEARN what I was eating. And this book told me a lot about what was in those burgers.
I was listening to a Diggnation episode and Kevin Rose mentioned this book so I took a look. From the first chapter to the last, I was totally fascinated with it. The book discusses the history of fast food restaurants, the meatpacking industry and other related areas. It gave me insight into the food production. Now I have more reason to NOT want to eat fast food.
As far as the writing goes, I really enjoyed it. The author spent a lot of time researching and including lots of interesting information. Some of it was disgusting (wait to you read what is really in that McD's hamburger) but it was interesting. The author's style was very easy to read and not dry or boring at any point.
If you want to really learn about what you are eating when you go to McDonalds, Burger King or other fast food joints, I HIGHLY recommend you read this book. As I said above, it is truly eye-opening.
Book Review: A must read before you order your next fast food burger
Summary: 5 Stars
"Fast Food Nation" is well-written, well-researched, and applicable to more than just the food we order and eat today. It provides a secondary hypothesis (against the backdrop of the urban sprawl of Colorado Springs) explaining reasons cities developed in the 20th century the way they did - as driven by fast food development along with the supply chain organizations supporting it.
The book maintains a constant theme with enough twists and human interest added to keep the reader engaged. It covers a variety of related topics within the subject that help support the thesis. Anyone who has eaten at a fast food restaurant (especially in the inner city) can relate to "Fast Food Nation."
The book presents a doomsday scenario which may not be too far off of the mark (and is addressed by the author in a new afterward in the paperback version addressing Mad Cow Disease). The logic Schlosser uses throughout the book highlights some significant problems with the industry, many of which must be addressed to turn the industry, and supporting supply chain industries, around. He provides some suggestions about what needs to happen to make those changes.
It's hard to believe that the industry can be so rife with dangers and apathy from within, but Schlosser's research and well-positioned arguments make his theories and observations hard to refute.