Comments on: The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals http://thinkhole.org/wp/2007/06/19/the-omnivores-dilemma-a-natural-history-of-four-meals/ There should be one obvious way to do it. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:51:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: giampaolo http://thinkhole.org/wp/2007/06/19/the-omnivores-dilemma-a-natural-history-of-four-meals/#comment-175416 giampaolo Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:36:50 +0000 http://thinkhole.org/wp/2007/06/19/the-omnivores-dilemma-a-natural-history-of-four-meals/#comment-175416 I am Italian, I didn't finish yet to read the book, but at the same time I think that picking "technical imprecisions" even if softens the issue, does not change it. In Italy and especially where I lived, the issue of organic food is not a great deal. For us appears, at this moment, like what it is a "fake". The sense is that if you do not have always corporation working to make money, and at any cost, you would not need to have issues about organic produce. In USA we eat too much, the food is even less expensive than in Italy, but you have to consider that usually here we have the bottom of the bottom, and the excellence of the excellence. I was use to a more leveled on the center food quality. The grass farm are not a discovery of the book, are what it was in reality a farm some decads ago. People were self sufficent, in summer the ate mostly vegetable from their garden, in winter meat and higher proteic animal meat or beans. I am trying to see the big picture of the book, and not the errors in valutation of quantities. Many times, when you write something non fictional it finish to appear too documentary and people do not focus on the problem, is like running water, and so the exceeding extravagant dangerous quantity described raise the bar of the popular attention. The very low prices of meat, the high percentuage of fat people, are all issues that are present in the country that I live now. If somebody rise the bar and try to understand what is it happening, I think that it is jus right and due. The fact that all big companies, controll a lot of different business, and that from one day to the other tranform a philosophy, like the organic, in a big business, I do not think sounds good. Because at the end who gains money on this is not the people in general but a few at the highest point of the pyramid. And also, why shoul be philosophical rules be changed to be adapted to the world that not all people (democracy???) but a few, undoubtfully smart people, want to bend to their schopes?? One of the most eyes opening issue, is that in a country like the USA, where competition and meritocracy are the base, this rules are not respected and somebody gains money and power, with the indirect help of our taxes!!!??? As I see the food world, I work in restaurants, is like looking at the window and have a multicolor view, the problem is that a few of that colors are right and healty for you, but instead you are pushed to try and retry them all. It is not a good factor, especially if you look beyond the colors, there is always grey and black as their pillars. just this, wake up people let's get back in control of ourselves.....and of how we fuel ourselves. Try to enjoy an extra night at home and cook something by yourself using basic ingredients... it is really the best way to control what you are eating...and it is as relaxating as a work out at the gym....!!! thanks I am Italian, I didn’t finish yet to read the book, but at the same time I think that picking “technical imprecisions” even if softens the issue, does not change it. In Italy and especially where I lived, the issue of organic food is not a great deal. For us appears, at this moment, like what it is a “fake”. The sense is that if you do not have always corporation working to make money, and at any cost, you would not need to have issues about organic produce. In USA we eat too much, the food is even less expensive than in Italy, but you have to consider that usually here we have the bottom of the bottom, and the excellence of the excellence. I was use to a more leveled on the center food quality. The grass farm are not a discovery of the book, are what it was in reality a farm some decads ago. People were self sufficent, in summer the ate mostly vegetable from their garden, in winter meat and higher proteic animal meat or beans. I am trying to see the big picture of the book, and not the errors in valutation of quantities. Many times, when you write something non fictional it finish to appear too documentary and people do not focus on the problem, is like running water, and so the exceeding extravagant dangerous quantity described raise the bar of the popular attention.
The very low prices of meat, the high percentuage of fat people, are all issues that are present in the country that I live now. If somebody rise the bar and try to understand what is it happening, I think that it is jus right and due. The fact that all big companies, controll a lot of different business, and that from one day to the other tranform a philosophy, like the organic, in a big business, I do not think sounds good. Because at the end who gains money on this is not the people in general but a few at the highest point of the pyramid. And also, why shoul be philosophical rules be changed to be adapted to the world that not all people (democracy???) but a few, undoubtfully smart people, want to bend to their schopes??
One of the most eyes opening issue, is that in a country like the USA, where competition and meritocracy are the base, this rules are not respected and somebody gains money and power, with the indirect help of our taxes!!!??? As I see the food world, I work in restaurants, is like looking at the window and have a multicolor view, the problem is that a few of that colors are right and healty for you, but instead you are pushed to try and retry them all. It is not a good factor, especially if you look beyond the colors, there is always grey and black as their pillars. just this, wake up people let’s get back in control of ourselves…..and of how we fuel ourselves. Try to enjoy an extra night at home and cook something by yourself using basic ingredients… it is really the best way to control what you are eating…and it is as relaxating as a work out at the gym….!!!
thanks

]]> By: Ken-ichi http://thinkhole.org/wp/2007/06/19/the-omnivores-dilemma-a-natural-history-of-four-meals/#comment-90728 Ken-ichi Tue, 14 Aug 2007 19:21:09 +0000 http://thinkhole.org/wp/2007/06/19/the-omnivores-dilemma-a-natural-history-of-four-meals/#comment-90728 Interesting nitpicking. I think the point of the corn numbers was more along the lines of amount carbon we consume that was once corn, which I don't think is lame. Whether or not there are health effects of eating a lot of corn carbon, the environmental effects of corn agriculture in the US are pretty bad. Even if Pollan's numbers aren't calculated with much rigor, I think he explores interesting topics with eloquent and accessible prose, and raises legitimate issues (like how the reality of organic agriculture doesn't always match the public perception). Even if suspect numbers cast doubt on the legitimacy of his larger claims, I felt the book was less an Ivory Tower edict on how to live and more a spotlight on some issues some us may not have been paying attention to. Then again, I'm a Californian who eschews supermarkets, so I'm probably biased. Also, "omphaloskeptical" is both new and awesome to me. Thanks! Interesting nitpicking. I think the point of the corn numbers was more along the lines of amount carbon we consume that was once corn, which I don’t think is lame. Whether or not there are health effects of eating a lot of corn carbon, the environmental effects of corn agriculture in the US are pretty bad.

Even if Pollan’s numbers aren’t calculated with much rigor, I think he explores interesting topics with eloquent and accessible prose, and raises legitimate issues (like how the reality of organic agriculture doesn’t always match the public perception). Even if suspect numbers cast doubt on the legitimacy of his larger claims, I felt the book was less an Ivory Tower edict on how to live and more a spotlight on some issues some us may not have been paying attention to.

Then again, I’m a Californian who eschews supermarkets, so I’m probably biased. Also, “omphaloskeptical” is both new and awesome to me. Thanks!

]]> By: Dan http://thinkhole.org/wp/2007/06/19/the-omnivores-dilemma-a-natural-history-of-four-meals/#comment-82565 Dan Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:09:46 +0000 http://thinkhole.org/wp/2007/06/19/the-omnivores-dilemma-a-natural-history-of-four-meals/#comment-82565 If you consider the soldier who invades the country that has the oil that supplies the energy company that supplies the chemical company that supplies the seed company that supplies the seed corn that the farmer plants to sell to the synthetic food company that sells it to the soft drink company that sponsors the recruiting company that supplies the soldier... we eat a ton of crap. Where is the wet-mill in Iowa City that Pollan writes of in Chapter Five? I've lived here 5 years and I woulda smelt it by now! I think he means Cedar Rapids; this is of course irrelevant. We all breathe the same air, drink the same water. Pollan raises good issues. I just wish he was more thorough. (Hey maybe he is too much Thoreau). If you consider the soldier who invades the country that has the oil that supplies the energy company that supplies the chemical company that supplies the seed company that supplies the seed corn that the farmer plants to sell to the synthetic food company that sells it to the soft drink company that sponsors the recruiting company that supplies the soldier…

we eat a ton of crap.

Where is the wet-mill in Iowa City that Pollan writes of in Chapter Five? I’ve lived here 5 years and I woulda smelt it by now! I think he means Cedar Rapids; this is of course irrelevant. We all breathe the same air, drink the same water.

Pollan raises good issues. I just wish he was more thorough.

(Hey maybe he is too much Thoreau).

]]> By: John http://thinkhole.org/wp/2007/06/19/the-omnivores-dilemma-a-natural-history-of-four-meals/#comment-75159 John Fri, 22 Jun 2007 21:42:21 +0000 http://thinkhole.org/wp/2007/06/19/the-omnivores-dilemma-a-natural-history-of-four-meals/#comment-75159 Yeah, Pollan does that in various places throughout the book. For example, he might count corn-fed chicken or beef as being "corn consumed" by me. Quite lame IMHO. If this is what Gladwell's books are like, then his titles are getting crossed off my summer reading list. :) Yeah, Pollan does that in various places throughout the book. For example, he might count corn-fed chicken or beef as being “corn consumed” by me. Quite lame IMHO.

If this is what Gladwell’s books are like, then his titles are getting crossed off my summer reading list. :)

]]> By: Patrick http://thinkhole.org/wp/2007/06/19/the-omnivores-dilemma-a-natural-history-of-four-meals/#comment-74931 Patrick Fri, 22 Jun 2007 01:37:58 +0000 http://thinkhole.org/wp/2007/06/19/the-omnivores-dilemma-a-natural-history-of-four-meals/#comment-74931 The ton of corn claim might hold water were it to mean me + all the animals I ate this year. Both Pollan and Gladwell top my list of careless writers that people read anyways. I mean, when Edutainment gets facts blatantly wrong. its value to society zeroes out pretty quickly. The ton of corn claim might hold water were it to mean me + all the animals I ate this year.

Both Pollan and Gladwell top my list of careless writers that people read anyways. I mean, when Edutainment gets facts blatantly wrong. its value to society zeroes out pretty quickly.

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