A Review of In Defense of Food by amanda bidema
Rating: 5 Stars (Excellent)
Michael Pollan taught me a lot about how food has changed in the past years. I liked the book because it reinforces the reason why I strive to be a natural and organic chef. “I Defense of Food” is good for someone who wonders where their food comes from. I liked to read his book because I could see how much passion Michael has for food, and the environment. Its definitely not a text book I will sell back.
Submitted on 9:45 PM on 6/12/08

A Review of In Defense of Food by Jessica DaBell
Rating: 5 Stars (Excellent)
Great follow up from The Omnivore's Dilemma. I feel like this book is easier to pass on to friends or family because it's coming from more of a, dare I say, "nutritionist" point of view? The biggest thing I took from this book is the need to listen to your body, and not to stress over the latest health claims.
Submitted on 5:42 PM on 6/12/08

A Review of In Defense of Food by scott schell
Rating: 5 Stars (Excellent)
I found In Defense of Food to be an excellent read for anyone interested in the food they eat (which should be everyone). Pollen explores our food and what nutritional science has done to our diets. He goes on to analyze the ‘Western diet’ and how it has evolved into something very different than the wholesome meals that our grandparents prepared. The book concludes with a few basics steps to help us get out of our rut of eating ‘nutritionally based food products’ and more towards eating a well balanced natural diet. Many of the diet suggestions seem to be common sense for most of us in the know, but adhering to them for most of our meals is truly something to strive for. Overall, Pollans manifesto is an enjoyable read and offers some insight as to how we have arrived at our current nutritional predicament. As Pollan suggests in the beginning of his book, “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly Plants.” - Words to live by.
Submitted on 2:55 PM on 6/11/08

A Review of In Defense of Food by shelley buechels
Rating: 4 Stars (Good)

I very much enjoyed reading another Michael Pollen book. Again, he has
pulled me through pages of information about: the environment, human
dependence on the plant world, the incredible adaptations and evolution of
plants (and all species),and of course well researched information about our
food supply. In addition his writing contributes to my growing cynicism
regarding our political system and the incessant greed that seems to be inherent in
capitalism. I learned a great deal about food and food choice,
the importance of culture (or lack thereof) in our American life style... what
we lose when we take food for granted not to mention to missing the very social
aspect of eating. I have changed my food purchase and preparation
habits as a result of this book and the seminar.
However, while reading the book, I often questioned Pollen's sources of
information... (as I think he hoped that the reader would)... why was the
research he offered any more valid than the nutritionism that he spoke of? I
think Pollen hoped to instill some level of doubt in the reader... so that we
always stay alert and question.... what research should we really embrace?
Maybe as he suggests, we should look back at those who paved the way before
us... question, do research for ouselves and ultimately trust our own "gut" (pun
intended).

Submitted on 12:42 PM on 6/11/08

A Review of In Defense of Food by Brita Norvold
Rating: 4 Stars (Good)
For those that have read Michael Pollan's other books, such as The Omnivore's Dilemma, and for those that are simply interested in better educating themselves in making the healthiest decisions concerning their food, this book brings direction to the confusion that comes to the current consumer in reading nutrition labels, wandering the grocery store aisles and deciphering the latest nutrition research. As Pollan weaves through the history of the American diet and the science of nutritionism, the connection to growing health problems in the country to our Western eating habits is strongly made evident. These eating habits include not only what foods or food products we eat but also the style in which we eat. He notes the phenomenon of a nation that is overly concerned with food is also the very same nation that is concernedly overweight. The needed change in one's regard for food that is presented is both sensible and feasible for Americans to find a harmony in their link to the systems that nourishes both themselves, their food and their environment.
Submitted on 11:04 PM on 6/10/08

A Review of In Defense of Food by Jenny Bloor
Rating: 4 Stars (Good)
Michael Pollan’s book In Defense of Food dissects many of our common thoughts about food. On the front cover lies a quote that gets you thinking before you even open the cover, “EAT FOOD. NOT TOO MUCH. MOSTLY PLANTS.” This quote got me asking the following… What about the fiber enriched Fiber One bars? Or the vitamin c enriched juices? Maybe my fiber should simply come from greens and my vitamin c from citrus fruits.
This is precisely what Pollan is trying to tell us. Pretend you are walking down the grocery store isles with your great grandmother, which food items would she recognize? A century ago food was food and people were healthier. Food wasn’t processed to the point of one not being able to identify its ingredients or one not being able to pronounce the ingredients in the food.
Is there an even deeper misunderstanding of food in our culture? How about the way in which we eat? In a hurry, in the car, in front of the TV. The average American is in such a hurry that meal preparation falls on our priority list. So not only may our meals not be balanced they are eaten very quickly.
Pollan’s In Defense of Food is written in a way that it can access many people. It is very easy to understand what he has to say. I find it very important for books to be easily read and fun to relate to. I found my eyes hungry for more words as I was reading this book, which is what a well written book will do.

Submitted on 12:08 PM on 6/9/08

A Review of In Defense of Food by Eric Lau
Rating: 4 Stars (Good)
I though that while the book was well focused on the interconnection between eatting on health it did not examine the wider picture outside of the interaction of food and its impact on the body. Issues such as the enviromental, costs and the politics of food were barely touched upon. But as a whole it was still quite enjoyable with many good points of analysis.

In addition for those of you with family across the country I found some web sites in the NY times to help making eating "good" food easier. Very useful for people who cant go to farmers markets often cause of time issues.
Austin/San Antonio www.greenling.com
By Zip Code www.localharvest.org
Seattle/San Francisco/Portland/LA www.spud.com
Sarasota Florida www.harvestcycle.com
Illinois www.naturaldirect.com
Submitted on 11:00 AM on 6/5/08

A Review of In Defense of Food by David Rose
Rating: 4 Stars (Good)
In Defence of food was a great first book to read about nutritional content of food and where our conventional food comes from. The author took me on an exploration of food consumption history and illustrated the FDA's influence over nutrition and conventional farming. It was interesting to me to learn about the farm bill and more specifically food subsidies. I found the writing to be a little dry, but the text was very informative and the content was very applicable to my food consumption. I have not read other Michael Pollan's books but I will now! Reading the book and reviewing it in class was helpful for me to be able to understand food issues presented in the book a little more clearly.
Submitted on 1:11 PM on 6/4/08