10th book of 2020. 2.5 Stars.
“If corn could have an opinion it would marvel at the absurdity of it.” Ummm what? I think corn would think that industrial production is awesome and an amazing feat of symbiosis. Isn’t it great to have humans doing all the work?
Pollan’s thesis isn’t new or clear. It boils down to: eat natural food, it’s better. I agree with this idea, but couldn’t help but feeling a growing disdain for the liberal coastal elite mentality dripping from each page. Every vignette he tells is the book equivalent of a carefully crafted instagram photo that Pollan self-consciously composes to arrive at a pre-ordained end.
I found the chapters on industrial organic production (the bad side of good?) and the moral case for eating chickens that have lived a good chicken life (the good side of bad?) the most interesting, these parts were worth reading, but I think I would have been better off skipping the rest. The fundamental takeaway from this book for me is: spend as much on food as you can. It’ll be better for you.