I have just finished The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. The book is a smooth blend of narrative and education. Divided into three parts, each section tells the story of a different meal. Firstly the stereotypical fast food McDonald’s, representative of the monoculture, corn based, industrial food chain. Secondly a meal made from organic or sustainable produce including a look at the industrial organic industry. The final part tells of the author’s journey to hunt wild pig, forage wild mushrooms, attempt to mine natural salt, and grow or harvest fruits and vegetables.

Personally, the book has engaged inside me an awareness, an activism, a sense of reverence, around food. It has also reminded me of my own passion for writing. I fondly imagine the life of the writer, free from daily constraints to pursue the matter of her thoughts.

I highly recommend your read The Omnivore’s Dilemma. It is at times abstruse and prolix, that is: complicated and wordy! However, the little hardship in reading is easily made up for by the content. Indeed, I find myself penning this note in a more loquacious style than usual, partly inspired by Nollan’s writing.

As for the matter of food, I shall talk more about that in later posts. For now, I will simply say: food matters, read this book.