Summary of the Omnivores Dilemma - 1336 Words

[in press, Human Ethology Bulletin, October 2007] The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals By Michael Pollan Penguin Press, New York, NY. 2006, 450pp. ISBN 1†59420†082†3 [Hdbk., $26.95] Reviewed by William F. McKibbin and Todd K. Shackelford Florida Atlantic University, Dept. of Psychology, Davie, FL 33314 USA [E-mail: wmckibbi@fau.edu, tshackel@fau.edu] The Omnivore’s Dilemma is the latest book by Michael Pollan, best known for his previous best† selling work, The Botany of Desire. Here, Pollan has crafted a well†written and enjoyable exploration of humans’ relationship with food. The book is written for a lay audience, but is appreciable by all. Pollan begins by focusing on a seemingly simple question,†¦show more content†¦Other flaws in â€Å"big† organic are discussed, painting a picture of a feel†good movement that provides few benefits. Pollan’s final position on â€Å"big† organic is somewhat unclear. He clearly perceives substantial flaws in the system, such as the fact that it is as non†sustainable as typical industrial food production, but at the same time he seems to argue that it is at least a step in the right direction. Pollanà ¢â‚¬â„¢s position on â€Å"small† organic is much less equivocal. He spends a substantial section of the book detailing his visit to a small organic â€Å"grass† farm. Although Pollan does his best to maintain a journalistic, neutral view throughout the book, it is clear that he was captivated by the work being done by the grass farmers. Pollan shows that the most important crop to these farmers is in fact the numerous varieties of grass, which form the foundation of the life cycle on the farm. These farmers work to farm in a sustainable, natural way that closely resembles the symbiosis of nature. In this section, Pollan provides a fascinating look at the evolved relationships between different species of plants and animals, and how these relationships can be utilized to create a sustainable farming system. Although Pollan is clearly enamored with such â€Å"small† grass†based farming, he also recognizes the near impossibility of implementing suc h farming on a large scale. For example, the higher costsShow MoreRelatedThe Different Sections Of The Book The Omnivore s Dilemma 2173 Words   |  9 PagesThe different sections of the book â€Å"The Omnivore’s Dilemma† embody the flawed system that America is currently facing, particularly the food industry. There is a limited understanding of what constitute an ideal meal, and process of prepping one. It could be that the information available are not clear and direct, or most consumers are choosing to overlook the lurking dangers behind the accessible food products. Either way, it is evident that most consumers have fell out of touch with knowing whatRead MoreAmericas Meat Industry Hides From The Consumer1201 Words   |  5 PagesAmerica’s meat industry hides from the consumer, according to Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma. The consumer, as well as corporations, have built walls instead of demanding transparency. Journalists and th e general public are not permitted to enter abattoirs of many corporations, leaving the judgement of slaughtering methods to the businesses themselves. State and federal regulations aren’t always enforced, thus corporations decide what is ‘humane’. Profit organisations find the mostRead MoreOmnivores Dilemma Explored3481 Words   |  14 Pagesï » ¿ Omnivores Dilemma Explored Outline: Omnivore Dilemma - Pastoral Grass Introduction: A summary of Omnivores Dilemma and Pollans critique of Americas industrial food production and distribution system. Todays world agricultural system is controlled by a few large corporations that exploit the poor, the small farmers and peasants, and even use slave labor. They also control the seeds, prices, fertilizers, and even the genome of plants and animals, and this system should become more democraticRead MoreOmnivores Dilemma5066 Words   |  21 Pagesï » ¿ Michael Pollan, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You Eat (Young Reader’s Edition) - Grade 7 Originally published in New York: Dial Books, 2009. Learning Objective: The goal of this two day exemplar is to give students the opportunity to use the reading and writing habits they’ve been practicing on a regular basis to unpack Pollan’s investigative journalism of industrial farms. By reading and rereading the passage closely combined with classroom discussion about it, studentsRead MoreEssay In Defense of Food1215 Words   |  5 Pagesof Pollan When Michael Pollans book The Omnivores Dilemma was published, many readers began questioning him for advice on what they should eat in order to stay healthy. In his more recent book, In Defense of Food, he responds with three rules, Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants(Pollan 1). This seven word response seems too simple for a relatively complicated question, but as he further elaborates these rules into specific guidelines, this summary turns out to be surprisingly complete. UsingRead MoreSummary Of Chapter Twelve Of The Omnivore s Dilemma1311 Words   |  6 PagesReading Summary/Discussion Questions #3 This past week of class we were to read chapters ten through fourteen of The Omnivore’s Dilemma. This week’s readings were really a mix of different things, but it was a more behind the scenes look at what happens on a farm. I found it all very interesting, as I have this entire book, because often times I do not know what all goes into farming and it was interesting to see how it traveled from Polyface Farms to the market to a meal. In chapters ten andRead MoreOmnivores Dilemma Discussion Questions1461 Words   |  6 PagesReading Summary/Discussion Questions #1 During the first week of class, we had to read the first few chapters of The Omnivore’s Dilemma. I had never realized as humans we always have to question what we are eating next, and that became apparent to me in the first few pages of the introduction. Animals never have to think about what to eat, they just know. Humans on the other hand have such a variety of foods to choose from that it is often hard to choose. We are always questioning ourselvesRead MoreOmnivores Dilemma Discussion Questions1423 Words   |  6 PagesReading Summary/Discussion Questions #2 During the second week of class, we were to read chapters six through nine of The Omnivore’s Dilemma. So far this week I have learned a lot about calories. First my chemistry class, then biology, and now this class. I find it interesting, though, because I never really put much thought into it. In high school, I had a friend who was obsessed with counting calories and then there was me who just ate whatever was in sight. Pollan made me realize how muchRead MoreConsumption and Mortality: Tackling the Problem of Childhood Obesity3599 Words   |  14 Pagesin United States is the main cause of childhood obesity. According to the Omnivores theory, as omnivores, the most indiscriminate eaters, we humans are faced with a extensive assortment of food choices, resulting in a dilemma (Pollan 2006). In his book The Omnivores Dilemma, Pollan starts with an examination of the food-production system from which the enormous preponderance of American meals are obtained. This industrial food chain is mostly based on corn, whether it is eaten directly or indirectly