I finished reading this book a few weeks ago and lent it to a friend thinking I would get it back fairly quickly and be able to post a review of it. Instead my book has formed a huge waiting list and remains at large. In the hope that my poor dog-eared copy will be returned to me I’ve decided to write the review sans book and post a link. Perhaps some of the people waiting to read it will buy their own copy so that mine may be returned from the masses.

The Omnivore’s Dilemma is an in-depth and remarkably well researched book about food and food culture in America. If you are looking for an answer to the question: “Where did my food come from?” this book contains the answer. In journalistic style (but not without feelings or anecdotes) Michael Pollan traces four meals, McDonalds, Whole Foods, farmer’s market, and foraged, back to their origins from feedlots and fields to the forest.

Personally, this book is going to remain in my library for years and be referenced often. It’s a good overview that covers not only what food in America is today, but the history of how it got that way. It’s also full of facts and sources which makes it a handy jumping off point to continue learning more on your own.

You may be asking: “Do you have anything negative to say about this book?” I do have one tiny criticism. Pollan’s writing can get a bit textbook-ish at times. Sometimes the lists would make me yawn and want to skip a page here or there. But these lists of facts were few and far between. Much more frequent were stories about getting up close and personal with everything from livestock to feisty grass farmers. Overall I found it to be not only informative, but readable as well. Definitely one for the collection.