The Omnivore's Dilemma

A Natural History of Four Meals

De: Michael Pollan

Narrado por: Scott Brick

One of the New York Times Book Review's Ten Best Books of the Year

Winner of the James Beard Award

Author of #1 New York Times Bestsellers In Defense of Food and Food Rules

What should we have for dinner? Ten years ago, Michael Pollan confronted us with this seemingly simple question and, with The Omnivore’s Dilemma, his brilliant and eye-opening exploration of our food choices, demonstrated that how we answer it today may determine not only our health but our survival as a species. In the years since, Pollan’s revolutionary examination has changed the way Americans think about food. Bringing wide attention to the little-known but vitally important dimensions of food and agriculture in America, Pollan launched a national conversation about what we eat and the profound consequences that even the simplest everyday food choices have on both ourselves and the natural world. Ten years later, The Omnivore’s Dilemma continues to transform the way Americans think about the politics, perils, and pleasures of eating.©2006 Michael Pollan; (P)2006 Penguin Audio

Great book; didn't love the reading

While raving to a friend about Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle", she recommended this book, so it was my next purchase. Early on I began to wonder if ANYTHING was really healthy and ethical to eat, unless you can produce all your own food! But it turned out to have some fascinating and valuable information about the way our food is grown, processed and transported, so it was well worth reading.

As for the narration... I've listened to several other books narrated by Scott Brick, and he's never been a favorite, but this was just baaaaddd. This book did NOT require a dramatic reading, but that's what it got! And I wish someone would give narrators a list of uncommon words in advance so he or she can be prepared! Mr. Brick really butchered a few words, and based on sentence context, I think he may have mis-read a few words altogether! I kept telling myself it's not a big deal - I got the point - but it's just so distracting!

Loved it!

Quality from the research to the narration. Pollan deserves a medal for the work he's done. This is a dense book, and is particularly well-suited to audio. (Quite frankly, I'm not sure I would have gotten through the print version, and that would have been a shame.) One of the most influential books I've "read" in years.

Thoughtful Exploration of Sourcing Food

Although some facts presented are outdated, the spirit remains true. It explores a wide range of solutions without providing The Answer. This is an excellent place to start when solving one's own Omnivore's Dilemma.

Thoroughly enjoyable

Mr. Pollan seems to have done his homework, and does a great job of weaving his findings into a thoroughly enjoyable (and for the most part, mouth-watering) account of four meals.

Dry listen - but interesting

I found the information to be very interesting and the book was an easy one to get through. It seemed a little dry, but it really made me think and changed a lot of my perspective involving food.

Remain an Omnivore

A thoroughly enjoyable listen!

The book is not gross or aimed at converting you to any mode of eating. Rather it is informative and empowers you to make better choices, if you like. You will not be "SCARED STARVED."

We Americans should become more aware of our food sources. I shared many points I learned in this book with my friends and found them hopelessly unaware of their food. I felt proud to enlighten them, however slightly, as Michael Pollan has me in a very large way.

Michael lays out the story of food and its source with an entertaining style delivering a lot of digestible information along the way; truly informative and educational.

Scott Brick is the perfect reader for this book. His delivery is clear and provides emphasis as if he were the source of the story. The humor within is delivered nicely.

I remain an omnivore!

Time to prepare my own feast...

I've just finished both shopping for a feast I'll be serving tomorrow and listening to this wonderful work.

I'm an omnivore on a primarily carnivore diet. Tomorrow's dinner guests are vegan activists and one is a dear friend. My challenge is to transform creole cuisine into vegan fare. Chashew butter replaces creamy cow fat, mushrooms instead of crab. Thank God, I don't have to turn water into wine.

I don't know if my feast tomorrow will be perfect, but I can assure you that the book I just took in via audible was perfect.

An amazing food journey!

I loved this, start to finish! I didn't quite get why I was being buried in corn at the beginning, but the weight of it was removed at the end. Michael Pollan is a compelling storyteller who leaves you to find the moral. I thank him for the journey, and the thought-provoking oberservations. Digging into Second Nature now, and delighted that he narrates it himself.

Eye opening

This is a detailed, informative and very disturbing look at the industrial food system we live within. It makes me want to run away from anything with corn in it.

So much to think about

Michael Pollan writes a very well researched book on how our choices when eating impact our local and global world. I think I will ask of myself much more because I have read this book. Worthwhile.

My complaints about this book are editing and narrator. While I think this book is good I think it could have been more heavily edited. Maybe as much as a third could have been left on the cutting room floor.

Narration requires an understanding of the topic AND the willingness to research correct pronunciation. The correct plural of beef is beef. The correct pronunciation of carrageenan is ghee or gi (martial arts uniform, not G as in Leave it to Beaver 'Ah, gee, Wally.'

Not sure I will listen again but if I do I will consider 1.25 or 1.5 speed.