Fast Food Nation
 

Fast Food Nation

by Eric Schlosser

On any given day, one out of four Americans opts for a quick and cheap meal at a fast-food restaurant, without giving either its speed or its thriftiness a second thought. Fast food is so ubiquitous that it now seems as American, and harmless, as apple pie. But the industry's drive for consolidation, homogenization, and speed has radically transformed America's diet, landscape, economy, and... (read more)

Top tags: nonfictionfoodnon-fictionhealthcultural criticism (all tags)

 

Member Reviews

  • Coloreader
    1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
    • Rated 3 stars

    A great summary of the history of fast food. Very cumbersome in the middle, but worth muddling through for the good stuff.

    Coloreader wrote this review Friday, August 15 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • JudithAnn
    1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
    • Rated 4 stars

    This book tells you all about fast food companies and the supplying corporations behind it. It is an easy read about an unpleasant topic.

    The people working for fast food companies (cheap, young and expendable), the people working for potato and meat supplying companies (cheap, imigrant, non-skilled, and expendable), the dangers of working for meat processing factories (cuts, amputations, deaths), the dangers of eating fast food (obesity, e. coli, death), it all comes down to one thing: making a lot of money without any thought for the well-being of people and animals.

    Schlosser believes that big changes in all this would lead to merely small price increases of fast food in the restaurants. He thinks customers would be happy to pay a few extra dollar cents, if they knew what improvements this could bring.

    JudithAnn wrote this review Friday, July 18 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Kibbles
    1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
    • Rated 4 stars

    I found Schlosser's book to be disturbing and profound, especially if the allegations from Schlosser's investigation are true. His focus is definitely the fast food industry, but he also has made comments about other types of food, including organic food, that has me questioning what the heck is really in our food. Yes, I do feel a bit paranoid about eating any sort of processed food regardless of where it's purchased, whether it comes in a can, box, frozen, organic, etc, and I have changed my eating habits for the better (I hope!).
    When I look at the ingredient list on food and drinks and see the words "natural flavors" I shudder.

    Schlosser book is a bit long winded at parts and he tends to repeat himself. However, the overall message of the book is clear and the history of food preparation is interesting.

    Kibbles wrote this review Monday, November 26 2007. ( reply | permalink )
  • Dr. J. G.
    • Rated 3 stars

    This should be made required reading for all - beginning with junior high school pupils and all parents, to college students.

    It is after all a good idea to know what you are eating and why you are risking your life - for fast and cheap food.

    Dr. J. G. wrote this review 2 days ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Caroline T
    • Rated 0 stars

    Never Eating Red Food Again

    Caroline T wrote this review 8 days ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • irishtomato0413
    • Rated 4 stars

    Anti-Republican, anti-McDonald's, and (possibly) anti-ground beef, Schlosser bombards the reader with statistics that would give pause to the most diehard Big Mac lover. Schlosser slams McDonald's and other fast food companies, the meat packing industry, big agribusiness, and American restaurant franchising in this 300-page book that reads like pulp fiction. In fact, several of Schlosser's critics have claimed that his data is flawed, or outright fabrication. Personally, I enjoyed the book, but I noticed a couple of contradictions and overlapping data. I think, however, that Schlosser more than makes his point that government needs to do more to protect workers in fast food restaurants and meat packing plants. The health and well-being of these people has been at odds with their working environments for long enough, and it's clear (or it should be) that no matter what side of the fence you're on, more can be done. Overall, a quick, interesting read. I would recommend that you also read "Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan, for another perspective on agribusiness and where the fast food we eat comes from.

    irishtomato0413 wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Henderson W
    • Rated 5 stars

    This book shows the "Dark Side of the All-American Meal". From the potato fields in Idaho to numerous bloody and deadly slaughterhouses across this nation, Fast Food Nation does indeed give you an insight into the horrors of McDonald's, Burger King, and many others. Oh, did I mention there have been outbreaks of Salmonella and E. Coli that was in fast food in the past? It is a good and disturbing read...

    Henderson W wrote this review Thursday, September 11 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Chris Blankenship
    • Rated 2 stars

    While very interesting details are displayed in this book I couldn't help but notice the partisan way the author writes. It seems that Corporate America and the Conservatives are to blame for our "Fast Food Nation".

    While enlightening I found it difficult to complete this book. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the inner workings of the fast food industry.

    Chris Blankenship wrote this review Tuesday, August 19 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Colleen D
    • Rated 0 stars

    im really struggling with this book, because it's so full of facts, and the chapters take an hour and a half each to read. If i manage to finish this before school starts, it will be a miracle.

    Colleen D wrote this review Monday, August 18 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Vic R
    • Rated 5 stars

    Prior to Freshman year in College, this was our orientation reading for the Summer. I thought it was going to be a drag for my 1st Summer after high school to read this long book. I was lucky, our incoming class got a great choice. When I finished the book, it really opened your eye to what goes on in the Restaurant Industry. For those who have or will read it, don't judge it as solely exclusive to the Fast-Food Industry, it clearly goes wider than that (the author just focuses more on that industry than the rest).

    I remember the book making headlines when it first came out, and I understood why. Besides all the health impacts, there were A LOT of hygiene and sanitary impacts that this book opened your eyes to (and the shock factor worked to a "T").

    Once you start reading it, you won't want to put it down (unless you're squeamish).

    Vic R wrote this review Monday, August 18 2008. ( reply | permalink )
Displaying 1-10 of 211 reviews
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