Mother Talkers

In Defense of Food?

by Sue in Queens

Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 08:25:03 AM PDT

Anyone reading or want to read Pollan's new book?  I'm about 3/4 through and finding it both enjoyable and provacative.  I'd be happy to host a discussion if others want to read.

Otherwise, I may just wait and share some of my favorite parts with all of you when I finish.

Expat Brit - have you read this - I think you'd find it very affirming!

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Tags: michael pollan, food, health (all tags)

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  • At our library (0 / 0)

    there's a queue 192 people long for it. :-)

    My dad just finished it and was recommending it highly. This is somewhat remarkable, because before this, he'd been of the opinion that there was no advantage to organics.

    by shenanigans on Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 09:43:41 AM PDT

  • It teases me from the bookshelf. (0 / 0)

    I'm just finishing up winter quarter, on top of crunch time at work and a new grant project.  So, I haven't had much time for reading.  I'm still trying to finish the 3rd book of the Golden Compass series.

    I bought In Defense of Food with a gift card a month ago, and have been dieing to read it. I have already made several changes to my shopping habits based on Pollan's philosophy:

    -Buying bags of potatoes instead of frozen potato products
    -Buying plain yogurt and mixing in fruit vs single serving sweetened yogurt
    -No longer cringing at the cost when I buy fresh fruit or veggies.
    -Counting the days until the Farmer's Market opens!
    -Sneaking the occasional vegetarian dish into our overly carnivorous diet.

    I'd love to discuss more, and maybe push a few things aside to actually start reading.

    Mother wannabe, ETA Spring 09 if biology allows.

    by faedrake on Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 12:56:57 PM PDT

  • I'm curious (0 / 0)

    I've talked to a couple of people who have read this book.  I've heard the opinion that this is just an expanded version of his NYT article, and that there's not much more in there if you've already read his first book (I have), and already understand why processed foods with artificial ingredients are a bad idea (I do).

    I'm a big fan of Michael Pollan.  But between the kids and grad school my reading time is limited, and it seems like you can't turn the radio on without hearing an interview with him anyway.  So I'm curious to get you opinion - is this really more preaching to the choir?

    by lyn on Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 01:08:38 PM PDT

    • That was a great article (0 / 0)

      I assume you're talking about the one from last year that started with, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." (I've heard this is the opening line from the book, too.)

      Here is a link for anyone who might have missed it.

      'Unhappy Meals' by Michael Pollan. NYTimes 1/28/07

      by sangfroid on Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 01:52:09 PM PDT

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    • Wondering that too (0 / 0)

      I've read Omnivore's Dilemma and Botany of Desire as well as the NYT article so I'm wondering whether the new book is so much different.  Even the two books were fairly similar.

      Katherine

      by pat of butter in a sea of grits on Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 02:16:38 PM PDT

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    • In a way you're right (0 / 0)

      It is an expanded version of the article (which, somehow, I missed).  His intention is to pick up from the end of "Omnivore's Dilemma", which left the reader with "ok, now what do I eat?"

      Now that I'm near the end, I can say it's the least meaty (sorry, bad pun, couldn't resist) of his books.  The recommendations at the end are not earth shattering, but they are inspiring.

      What I did like, and was new for me, was the attack on "nutritionism" - our predisposition to look at food as just nutrients that can be manipulated.  This is the part that I keep quoting to my family (until my DD said, "if you keep doing that, I won't need to read the book!").  In one passage he talks about foods that shout their health claims from the shelves, while the quiet little banana just sits there!  

      FWIW, it is a short book, lol, and reads quickly.  I like his writing, so I don't mind it.

      by Sue in Queens on Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 02:46:30 PM PDT

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  • I have it in my pile (0 / 0)

    and will tackle it next. I actually bought it because I liked The Omnivore's Dilemma so much.

    by mpg on Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 03:37:54 PM PDT

  • A little slow here... (0 / 0)

    I'm still getting through the Omnivore's Dilemma which is gathering dust because I'm just too busy to read it right now.  I got it from the library because all you MotherTalkers have talked so highly of it.  So far, I love it.  So, I guess I'd be up for a discussion of his next book... but I may not read it in time!

    American Son ~ Wes Clark

    by 1plain1peanut on Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 04:29:19 PM PDT

  • i finished it 2 weeks ago (0 / 0)

    And I agree w/ Sue in Queens, I didn't find the recommendations too earth shattering, esp since eating mostly non-processed food is what I do already.  But the first section of the book on nutrition, that food is more than sum of its nutrients, was definitely very interesting.  I find that I still do that, talk about food in terms of what nutrients it has.  And he argues that it's more than that.  It's very hard to do change one's thinking in that though!

    by smurfett on Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 09:17:06 PM PDT

  • here's more on michael pollan (0 / 0)

    http://cookingupastory.com/...
    plus this is an excellent website for other sustainable issues.
    saw pollan speak in pdx and picked up the book at the same time.  he further says he's done writing about food (he's actually a science writer) and now it's up to us.
    as a health teacher this first affirms what I've been teaching (and not teaching) for the past few years.  just one example is the food pyramid (new and old). not only is it not relevant, but the usda is so corrupted with food industry members that its also useless.  also, the book represents what should be a shift in the nutrition education paradigm.  That is, we have gotten so far away of the culture of food that we have mad the process of eating science and corrupted its benefits personally and as a society.  having said that, analyzing food as fuel is certainly appropriate for high level athletes and others who work in extreme conditions.  but, for example, the large number of 'sports' drinks that our less than active kids drink are certainly detrimental to their health.
    well, i could go on..........but read it as a new way of thinking and as the new way that we should look at health education in this country.

    "The day is coming when a single carrot, freshly observed, will set off a revolution." Paul Cezanne

    by educonfidential on Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 10:45:04 PM PDT

  • Sure you're thinking of me.. (0 / 0)

    ..and not Expat Chef?

    Probably something I ought to add to my list of things to read. I already have a pretty big list of things waiting, though - I'm hoping to start making a dent in some of the autism literature I've aquired soon, and I've still not found the time to read Harry Potter 7. That needs to be rectified. When I feel like I have enough time to start cooking properly, I'll maybe take a look at this. BTW, we're pescatarian, how appropriate is it to that kind of diet?

    "You're never more alone than when you're alone in a crowd."

    by Expat Briton on Mon Mar 03, 2008 at 08:27:54 AM PDT

    • lol sorry for the mixup (0 / 0)

      I get all the wonderful people here mixed up sometimes.

      Anyway - I agree on the not enough time to read problem!

      Pollan isn't for or against any particular diet - just some interesting thoughts about how to approach food.

      What are you looking at in the autism literature?

      by Sue in Queens on Mon Mar 03, 2008 at 01:52:23 PM PDT

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      • A couple of things. (0 / 0)

        Attwood's Complete Guide (which everyone and his brother seems to think is the Asperger's Bible) is something I've started reading, and not had a chance to finish. Pretending to Be Normal is one that's also sitting waiting to be read. My wife's also read over The Other Half of Asperger Syndrome, which I'd like to take a look at although the first half is really concerned with getting a diagnosis, not so useful for us. I've also got some OCD stuff that I need to look into.

        "You're never more alone than when you're alone in a crowd."

        by Expat Briton on Mon Mar 03, 2008 at 02:14:14 PM PDT

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        • Those look good (0 / 0)

          I'd like to read the "Pretending" book.  I read "Loving Mr. Spock" a few years ago, which was an interesting first person account.

          by Sue in Queens on Mon Mar 03, 2008 at 05:00:09 PM PDT

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          • We got that one.. (0 / 0)

            ..because from what we've read, I fit into the more stereotypically female form of Asperger's (essentially, more social, less angry, extremely quiet and shy, very rare or nonexistant "explosive" meltdowns - I'd put that down to the fact that through High School and much of university, I had almost exclusively female friends), and there is little literature out there on women with Asperger's. The bios are certainly interesting, especially because you get more of a chance to see how a person develops and changes. I'll maybe add Mr Spock onto my list, although it may be more academically interesting because I think relationship/communication wise, I/we are doing OK.

            "You're never more alone than when you're alone in a crowd."

            by Expat Briton on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:13:13 AM PDT

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