RSS FeedCommon Reading: The Omnivore's Dilemma
August 27, 2007
The college has chosen The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan as the common reading book for this year.
The New York Times included The Omnivore's Dilemma in their list of 10 Best Books of 2006.
"When you can eat just about anything nature has to offer, deciding what you should eat will inevitably stir anxiety," Pollan writes in this supple and probing book. He gracefully navigates within these anxieties as he traces the origins of four meals -- from a fast-food dinner to a 'hunter-gatherer' feast -- and makes us see, with remarkable clarity, exactly how what we eat affects both our bodies and the planet. Pollan is the perfect tour guide: his prose is incisive and alive, and pointed without being tendentious. In an uncommonly good year for American food writing, this is a book that stands out.
Read a full review of The Omnivore's Dilemma from the New York Times.
Need a copy?
The library has several copies in our collection (including one audiobook).
You can also read the introduction and first chapter from the author's website.
Online discussions
The forums at BookTalk.org include a discussion of The Omnivore's Dilemma.
The critics of Slate.com discuss The Omnivore's Dilemma in their audio book club.
Learn more about local and sustainable food
Eat Wild - Explains the benefits of grass-fed meat, poultry, and dairy. Also lets you shop for grass fed products by state.
Local Harvest - National resources for finding small farms, CSA's, farmers' markets, and food co-ops. Has option to search by city or zip code and shows a map of nearby farms, restaurants, co-op's, etc.
MACSAC - Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Coalition. Gives information about local CSA programs and how to join one.
Reap Food Group - Research, Education, Action and Policy on Food Group is a non-profit organization located in Madison, Wisconsin. Has an excellent selection of Madison resources concerning local and sustainable food systems.
Sustainable Agriculture - The national campaign for sustainable agriculture. Provides a number of opportunities to get involved.
True Cost of Food - Sierra Club website for sustainable consumption. Has numerous ways to get involved and even an animated movie explaining the true cost of food.
Organic Consumers Association - An online and grassroots non-profit public interest organization campaigning for health, justice, and sustainability.
Community Gardens - From the Community Action Coalition of South Central Wisconsin.
Dane County Buy Local - A coalition of local independent businesses, social impact groups and citizens working together to support a healthy community economy.
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