5 thoughts on “In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto”

1. To get to the chase read the last 50 pages of the book. The research put into the book is evident and I am sure the book was somewhat difficult to piece together. For those looking for the life altering book simply read the last 50 pages. Side note. . . .
   The authors failure to recognize prayer as an importance before meals was a huge turn off to me as a Christian. Prayer not only recognizes that God has provided the provisions to eat but also shows respect to the one who MADE the food. The author did recognze the lack/ chaging of the times of families sitting down together for an evening meal but this portion of the book could have easily added how Chrisitians, as well as other faiths, pause to voice their thanks for their meals.
   When I reach for the next book on the same subject I will have to skip this author’s other books. Simply not entertaining enough for my tastes.

   Rating: 1 / 5

2. I always enjoy books that make vegetables appetizing. It’s great to be reminded to eat good food. Unfortunately, this book was sprinkled throughout with doses of evolution. I thought the claim that our ancestors spontaneously produced vitamin C in their bodies was a real stretch. I could do without the made-up stuff.
   Rating: 1 / 5

3. Nutritionists often change their minds, as new evidence comes in. Thus, per Pollan, we should stop paying attention to them. Doctors and nuclear scientists also sometimes change their minds – should we also disdain their thoughts?

   It’s true that Americans’ health has deteriorated in some ways over recent decades – eg. the alarming growth of obesity. Pollan suggests this also damns nutritionists. Forget about eating TOO MUCH – eg. the larger portions and enticements for super-sizing, reduced physical exertion in our daily lives, and ignoring the universal advice of nutritionists (avoid animal fats, eat a balanced meal, etc. ). Pollan also wants to associate (blame?) increasing heart disease on nutritionists – but what about the fact that it is decreasing?

   “In Defense of Food” cannot be defended – too much hair-splitting and absurd logic. I cannot be convinced that nutritionists and the marketers that use them do not/can not improve food – eg. niacin added to bread, iodine in salt, etc. We simply don’t know enough to do so as well as in animals because the required scientific testing is often not possible or frowned upon.
   Rating: 1 / 5

4. I’m a working woman – I have four jobs and they take up all my time. I am also overweight and in recovery from so much abuse – my whole life has been abuse. So I try to treat my body right and do what the good Lord intended me to do with it – after so many years of abuse and trrible behavior it shows. So i like to read books about food and such. Maybe I am ignorant – it wouldnt be the first time some big shot man has made me feel that but this book was hard to read. The whole first part just talks about all these historical facts about food. I wanted to know what i shoudl and shouldn;t eat – and he does say that later on but I was so confused and lost by the time I was done that i don’t think I got much out of it. My sponser Pam said I needed to have patience and read it again – but she doesn;t work four jobs to try and stay off welfare and food stamps – and I am pretty sure most of what he tells you to eat instead in here I can;t get on food stamps. So i gave Pam her book back and said I woudl rather hear about it on Oprah. If you went to Harvard maybe this is for you, but I work all the time and try to behave righteously and am not a liberal so this wasn’t for me.
   Rating: 3 / 5

5. The book came over a month after I ordered it. The seller was responsive, however, and offered to give a full refund if it didn’t come by a certain date.
   Rating: 3 / 5