The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
**The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals** by Michael Pollan explores the complexities of food choices faced by modern omnivores, particularly in the context of American dining habits. Pollan investigates the origins of various meals by examining industrial foods, organic options, and foraged ingredients. His journey leads him across the United States, where he engages with food-science laboratories, organic farms, and fast-food establishments to trace the journey of food from its source to the dinner table. The book poses an essential question for readers: what should Americans eat for dinner?
Pollan emphasizes the relationship between personal dietary preferences, environmental health, and the ethical implications of food production. His work not only illuminates the decision-making process regarding food but also critiques the industrial food system, particularly factory farming. While the book has received accolades, including being a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, it has sparked debate within agribusiness circles due to its critical perspective. Overall, **The Omnivore’s Dilemma** encourages readers to reflect on their food choices and their broader impact on health and the environment.
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The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Identification: A nonfiction book that studies the evolution of the modern omnivore
Author: Michael Pollan (b. 1955)
Date: Published in 2006
In The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, Michael Pollan focuses on the diets of omnivores and the evolution of the modern American meal. In order to help readers understand where the different components of their meals come from, Pollan investigated contemporary diets, including those that consist of industrial foods, organic foods, and foods people forage for themselves. Through these efforts, Pollan hoped to answer one question: What should Americans eat for dinner?
Author Michael Pollan set out to discover the source of modern American cuisine for his book The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Pollan traveled around the United States to explore the nation’s dining habits. He wanted to understand how Americans decide what they should or should not eat. His book compares the various types of food available, examines the origin of an array of feasts, and acknowledges the dilemma consumers face when confronted with so many conflicting dietary opinions.
To better understand what goes into Americans’ meals, Pollan sampled a series of dishes and then located the original source of each ingredient that made up these meals. He visited food-science laboratories, organic farms, fast-food chains, and Iowa’s cornfields in search of answers. Pollan’s objective was to help his readers truly understand just what they were eating and how it arrived at their dinner tables. He also explains the link between personal food preferences and hereditary evolution. Another point that Pollan particularly emphasizes is how people’s diets affect not only their health but also the health of the planet.
Impact
The Omnivore’s Dilemma was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and won the James Beard Award for best food writing. The book was also chosen as one of the ten best books of 2006 by the New York Times and the Washington Post. Despite these achievements, many critics questioned Pollan’s spin on America’s food-production process. His criticisms of factory farming, in particular, garnered some backlash from those in agribusiness.
These reactions did not hinder the book’s success, however; it was even included in Washington State University’s freshman reading program in 2009. That same year, Pollan published an adaptation of the book for young readers. In 2011, an unconventional theatrical adaptation of The Omnivore's Dilemma was staged at Georgetown University, and three years later, actor Frances McDormand acquired the film rights to Pollan’s text.
Bibliography
“About Michael Pollan.” Michael Pollan. Michael Pollan, 2010. Web. 4 Sept. 2012.
“Author Michael Pollan: ‘The Omnivore’s Dilemma.’” NPR. National Public Radio, 14 Apr. 2006. Web. 4 Sept. 2012.
Hurst, Blake. “The Omnivore’s Delusion: Against the Agri-Intellectuals.” The American. American Enterprise Institute, 30 July 2009. Web. 4 Sept. 2012.
Ramanathan, Lavanya. "'Dilemma,' with a Dash of Humor." Rev. of The Omnivore's Dilemma, dir. Natsu Onoda Power. Washington Post. Washington Post, 22 July 2011. Web. 5 Feb. 2015.
“The Ten Best Books of 2006.” New York Times. New York Times, 2007. Web. 4 Sept. 2012.