Ex Libris Book Reviews

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July 26, 2004

Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser

So many people had recommended Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser that I bought the audiobook on Audible.com and listened to all 9 hours. I have mixed opinions about it. On the one hand Schlosser does a wonderful job describing the history of the fast food industry with terrific case studies of McDonalds and Carl's Jr. Visionary entrepreneurs brought America efficiently prepared meals at prices low enough to make the food affordable to all. Schlosser also expertly delves into the the structure and participants of the entire industry, from the meatpackers and potato farmers to the franchisees and corporate marketeers. The research effort that went into this book are well deserving of praise. I was especially bothered to learn about how in-bed fast-food marketers have become with our public schools, with the schools pimping junk food to students in order to raise revenue. It is shameful that we are trading off the health of our children for the tax dollars that should be going into our schools.

On the other hand, and perhaps this is a result of my listening to a narrator read the book rather than reading it myself, I found that Schlosser often sensationalized many parts of the book when the facts could well stand on their own. Schlosser comes across as partisan anti-Republican and in most cases, anti-business. He identifies a "victim" and magnifies their position, rather than give balance by providing insight into the fuller story. As a political moderate, an MBA, and a businesswoman, I was annoyed with the tired "big bad corporate American" position that Schlosser took throughout much of the book. Perhaps it was the narrator with an overly dramatic tone. Whatever it was, the book was often annoying and I could only handle listening to so much at a time. Don't get me wrong; everyone should read this book. The facts revealed are important for all of us to know to make better public policy decisions. The message of this book is more important than its tone.

The problem of our cultural addiction to fast food is not one of big bad anything. It is not a Democrat or Republican issue. It is a national problem. As our children get fat and set up eating habits that will cost our country a lot of money in health bills as we and they age, it is all of our responsibility to support more healthy eating habits.

We the people have choice in what we buy to eat and we as a nation have forgotten how to cook healthy inexpensive meals. We've forgotten how to cook period! My parents were depression babies who grew up making their own soup stock from bones, eating balanced whole meals, and not wasting precious money on unhealthy fast food and junk food. Schlosser wisely ends his book with an appeal to all to stop eating so much fast food. This is the ultimate message of the book and one worthy of all of our support.

Links:
Too Many Chef's Barrett blogs on Eric Schlosser's talk at a local organic market

Posted by elise at 4:19 PM to Audio book, Non-fiction