In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto

This is a great book, though I expect most who will read it have already read Pollan's earlier books, and therefore will have already absorbed most of this information. I look forward to some fresh insights, or a new direction in his next book, as he has pretty much beaten the whole foods, anti-corn-and-soy dogma to death.

This review is not actually about the book, but about the Audio Book. Do yourself a favor and DO NOT listen to it if you ever want to read another book by Michael Pollan. The reader, Scott Brick, is really awful. He takes "preachy" to a new level and does a great disservice to Pollan's research and writing. As a non-stop listener to public radio, I am familiar with the sound of Pollan's voice, and of his collegial, didactic tone. I spent the whole time I listened to this book gritting my teeth and wishing Pollan had read it himself (perhaps he's too busy peddling himself on public radio?) instead of shunting it off to Scott Brick. Brick sounds like a second-rate local theater actor with aspirations toward Shakespeare, turning (soft) journalism into high drama. His tone is antagonistic at best, and just overall condescending to the listener. If you'll excuse the pun, he will leave a bad taste in your mouth -- Brick is the corn syrup of audio book readers.

Let me say that on its own this is a very good book. Pollan does a great job of talking about how much of the "science" behind the nutrition claims of journalists and doctors is basically bunk and often may do more harm than good. He then goes onto explain what parts of the Western Diet (processed foods, industrial foods, corn syrup, hydrogenated corn) may be causing so many of the Chronic diseases) and some basic rules to live by for eating food.
That said, there is not much in this book that I did not already learn from Omnivore's Dilemma. The book read more like another chapter to Omnivore's dilemma than a stand alone book. So hence the three stars since I think its just okay if you have read Omnivore's, however if you haven't i would say this is more like 4.5 stars

This book is excellent, mostly because of the references you'll find to other books. Very good research into a subject that matters to us all. A good starting point into the problems and rewards of eating well.

What a fun book to read. The author is brilliant and a riot. Very informative and inspiring. I would recomend this book to everyone wanting to take back ownership of their health and well being.

"Most of what we're consuming today is not food, and how we're consuming it--in the car, in front of the TV, and increasing alone--is not really eating."

It is the American paradox that the more we worry about nutrition, the less healthy we seem to become. Pollan explains why this has happened and what we can do about it. Understanding the context of health is vital to understanding how to achieve it in our current circumstances.