The Omnivore's Dilemma

A Natural History of Four Meals

By: Michael Pollan

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

The best-selling author of The Botany of Desire explores the ecology of eating to unveil why we consume what we consume in the 21st century.

"What should we have for dinner?" To one degree or another, this simple question assails any creature faced with a wide choice of things to eat. Anthropologists call it the omnivore's dilemma. Choosing from among the countless potential foods nature offers, humans have had to learn what is safe, and what isn't, which mushrooms should be avoided, for example, and which berries we can enjoy. Today, as America confronts what can only be described as a national eating disorder, the omnivore's dilemma has returned with an atavistic vengeance.

The cornucopia of the modern American supermarket and fast-food outlet has thrown us back on a bewildering landscape where we once again have to worry about which of those tasty-looking morsels might kill us. At the same time we're realizing that our food choices also have profound implications for the health of our environment. The Omnivore's Dilemma is best-selling author Michael Pollan's brilliant and eye-opening exploration of these little-known but vitally important dimensions of eating in America.

We are indeed what we eat, and what we eat remakes the world. A society of voracious and increasingly confused omnivores, we are just beginning to recognize the profound consequences of the simplest everyday food choices, both for ourselves and for the natural world. The Omnivore's Dilemma is a long-overdue book and one that will become known for bringing a completely fresh perspective to a question as ordinary and yet momentous as "What shall we have for dinner?"

©2006 Michael Pollan (P)2006 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

Gold Medal in Nonfiction for the California Book Award • Winner of the 2007 Bay Area Book Award for Nonfiction • Winner of the 2007 James Beard Book Award/Writing on Food Category • Finalist for the 2007 Orion Book Award • Finalist for the 2007 NBCC Award

"Thoughtful, engrossing . . . You're not likely to get a better explanation of exactly where your food comes from."—The New York Times Book Review

"An eater's manifesto . . . [Pollan's] cause is just, his thinking is clear, and his writing is compelling. Be careful of your dinner!"—The Washington Post

"Outstanding . . . a wide-ranging invitation to think through the moral ramifications of our eating habits."—The New Yorker

Excellent

A well balanced and reasoned look at modern American food production.

The Best Book you will Ever Read.

Everyone should read this piece. Beginning to end it is a must read, and it is spoken very well additionally.

second listen

Really amazing and well done all around. I've sent it as the first free Audible book to at least 5 people this time around.

Spoiler alert: eating food will never be the same for you

The book does an excellent job of uncovering the real cost and process of today's food culture. Initially the book spends a lot of time on "corn" but you only realize the importance of that "drag" later in the book. The book definitely grows on you as you listen on. Sometimes stretched too much and for my taste, narration is slow, but again that's why you have speed feature (1.25x for me). Also, being a vegetarian, the book provokes my dietary preference and the justification thereof.

Excellent reminder of where food really comes from

Such a good book; it should be required reading for everyone. I love meat, but we should all step back and eat less, but higher quality meat.

One of the best narrators, one of the best books

One of the best narrators, one of the best books. I do find the premise of the authors disdain for industrialized food somewhat shortsighted. For example, he points out much of the bad but little of the good. For example, industrialized farming has eradicated hunger in wealthy nations and been part of the foundation for much human economic production and innovation since.

great book

really makes you think about your food. overall it was a really great book will be getting another one of Michael Pollan's books.

Well done!

Wonderfully written and performed description of food systems and philosophies. Not overly biased but open minded and adventurous. You'll be glad to listened.

Well worth a second listen.

This second listen was far more profitable than the first. This work should be required reading in high school. But the AG industry will see to it that that does not happen.

Don't Shoot the Messenger...

4 1/2 Stars...

No matter how you react to the material in this book, you will forever think differently about what is on your plate. Expect to think a bit about your willingness to "fill in the blanks" with exactly the information desired by food providers. Eat what you please, but at least understand how food gets to your table and all the costs associated thereto.

A 5-star rating if not for questioning if the material was politically bias. I will re-listen to sort out whether or not I was being eased into a point of view or if I thoughtfully formed one. Even so, an experience in critical thinking...no matter the outcome...is of great value.