"Epic and engrossing." —The New York Times Book Review
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author and pioneering journalist, an expansive look at how history has been shaped by humanity's appetite for food, farmland, and the money behind it all—and how a better future is within reach.
The story of humankind is usually told as one of technological innovation and economic influence—of arrowheads and atomic bombs, settlers and stock markets. But behind it all, there is an even more fundamental driver: Food.
In Animal, Vegetable, Junk, trusted food authority Mark Bittman offers a panoramic view of how the frenzy for food has driven human history to some of its most catastrophic moments, from slavery and colonialism to famine and genocide—and to our current moment, wherein Big Food exacerbates climate change, plunders our planet, and sickens its people. Even still, Bittman refuses to concede that the battle is lost, pointing to activists, workers, and governments around the world who are choosing well-being over corporate greed and gluttony, and fighting to free society from Big Food's grip.
Sweeping, impassioned, and ultimately full of hope, Animal, Vegetable, Junk reveals not only how food has shaped our past, but also how we can transform it to reclaim our future.
Animal, Vegetable, Junk
A History of Food, from Sustainable to Suicidal: A Food Science Nutrition History Book
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
February 2, 2021 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780358392422
- File size: 371178 KB
- Duration: 12:53:17
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Starred review from March 1, 2021
Author and food journalist Bittman presents a fascinating analysis of how history has been shaped by humans searching for food and the continuing war against nature. This anthropological study includes a description of the cultural and environmental consequences of the transformation from ancient hunting and gathering to the age of agriculture, and dives into today's highly industrialized food system. Bittman describes the historical exploitation of land; commercial greed; how the focus on cash crops triggered the American Dust Bowl era; the ravages to the environment caused by human-made chemical fertilizers and pesticides; and the economic disaster forced on family farms by industrialized agribusiness. He ends with a passionate plea to support agriculture that sustains the land, food that genuinely nourishes, and people who want to grow and cook for their communities. Bittman's clear, steady-paced narration nicely guides erudite listeners through this important contribution to the rapidly growing genre of food activism. VERDICT Worldwide famine and the collapse of the climate are real, and the author's stark challenge to change the system or suffer catastrophe is a clarion call. This ardent work will appeal to devotees of Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma and Jared Diamond's Collapse. Highly recommended for all libraries.--Dale Farris, Groves, TX
Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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A great storyteller, food writer Bittman narrates this history of food (from "sustainable to suicidal") in a friendly, accessible way that invites listeners to consider food's centrality to everything, including pressing issues such as climate change and social justice. Sounding engaged and conversational as he shares his research on how we got to our current state of affairs (he's crunched down much history in this remarkably digestible offering), Bittman offers a frank, sobering assessment of "where we're at." That includes highlighting the dangers of monoculture, industrial agriculture, brutal labor practices, and poisonous pesticide use. Fortunately, his chapter titled "The Way Forward" illuminates steps toward progressive, sustainable agroecology practices listeners can support to create lasting changes to our food systems--now that they're aware of the logic behind them. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
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