A delicious dish on the culture of food in America! “In Defense of Food” lives up to it’s title.  Michael Pollan has written a compelling argument for not only WHY food needs defending, but HOW the everyday American can begin to make simple, yet profound, changes in the way we view food and make our food choices.  One might wonder why food even needs to be “defended”, but as Pollan breaks down American attittudes and relationships with food, it becomes quite clear that we simply don’t know what food is anymore!  His simple, thoughtful writing incorporates facts, history, nutritional insights, and observations (and often judgements) about “food science” in a down-to-earth, accessible way.  Any reader can easily understand and relate to the message of this book, which openly states that which we all already know, deep down inside:  if a food has to convince you of it’s nutritional value, it probably has none at all.  As Pollan points out, the processed foods, with their bright, colorful labels are screaming their nutritional worth to us in bold print, while the produce section, full of genuine whole foods, is laid out silently.  With practical advice on how to make healthy food choices, this inspiring nutritional read has convinced me to make important eating changes–changes that I’m sure have my great-great-grandmother looking over my shoulder from heaven and smiling down at the food I’m choosing to put in my fridge and family’s mouths.

Content Analysis:

Not only a fascinating, life-changing read, but a definite Squeaky Clean Read!  The age group recommendation of 16+ is purely because of the subject matter, as ages 16+ would benefit most from this informational book.

Mature Subject Matter:

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Alcohol / Drug Use:

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