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133rd out of 470 books
—
986 voters
The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved: Inside America's Underground Food Movements
An instant classic for a new generation of monkey-wrenching food activists. Food in America is cheap and abundant, yet the vast majority of it is diminished in terms of flavor and nutrition, anonymous and mysterious after being shipped thousands of miles and passing through inscrutable supply chains, and controlled by multinational corporations. In our system of globalized...more
Paperback, 378 pages
Published
November 1st 2006
by Chelsea Green Publishing Company
(first published 2006)
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Aug 29, 2007
Sheryl
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people who want to get off the grid
Shelves:
foodpolitics
Gosh, it took me forever to finish this book....I think I started it in February or something. I don't know why it took me so long, except that I got hung up on the chapter about factory farming(the same thing happened when I was reading The Omnivore's Dillema) but once I got past that, it was smooth sailing.
Sandor Katz is just a very inspiring guy, and his personal anecdotes are what really make this book compelling. Most of the underground food movements he talks about I already knew about, bu...more
Sandor Katz is just a very inspiring guy, and his personal anecdotes are what really make this book compelling. Most of the underground food movements he talks about I already knew about, bu...more
An absolutely inspiring piece of informative literature about the state of real food in the U.S. these days -- with an admittedly cheesy title, but don't let that distract you.
The author, who is part of an 'intentional community' (an agrarian cooperative) in Tennessee, discusses the state of real milk, cheese, bread, and the old ways of harvesting seeds -- actually becoming a 'political act' these days because of large seed companies and their attempts to control our ability to grow food -- of...more
The author, who is part of an 'intentional community' (an agrarian cooperative) in Tennessee, discusses the state of real milk, cheese, bread, and the old ways of harvesting seeds -- actually becoming a 'political act' these days because of large seed companies and their attempts to control our ability to grow food -- of...more
Jul 26, 2011
Tammie
added it
While I found a lot of the information in this book to be a repeat of what I have read in several other books, I found a lot of information that was new to me.
It is funny how a lot of the books in this genre all quote each other quotes from books by Michael Pollan, Wendel Berry, Alice Waters, Joel Salatin and of course the inevitable mention of Alice Waters. I know it's because they all research similar topics but it's just funny to me.
I did appreciate the section of the book that focused on for...more
It is funny how a lot of the books in this genre all quote each other quotes from books by Michael Pollan, Wendel Berry, Alice Waters, Joel Salatin and of course the inevitable mention of Alice Waters. I know it's because they all research similar topics but it's just funny to me.
I did appreciate the section of the book that focused on for...more
Yes, I read another food book, but this one is a little edgier than the others.
The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved goes beyond the usual local food, CSA, boycott industrial food mindset. Michael Pollan, Barbara Kingsolver, Mark Bittman... I would describe them as food activists, but the kind who work the system. Sure, they grow their own food and aren't doing a lot of supermarket shopping, which is radical compared to the industrial food norm... but frankly, those authors sounded quite tame c...more
The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved goes beyond the usual local food, CSA, boycott industrial food mindset. Michael Pollan, Barbara Kingsolver, Mark Bittman... I would describe them as food activists, but the kind who work the system. Sure, they grow their own food and aren't doing a lot of supermarket shopping, which is radical compared to the industrial food norm... but frankly, those authors sounded quite tame c...more
I recently came upon a bibliography of books on food with a common theme of sustainability -- I think it was in the New York Times Magazine, perhaps. I got a bunch of them out of the library. Some are excellent and others not so much or just weren't for me. One of those is The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved. The writing didn't draw me in, and perhaps my lifestyle is just too different from Katz's for his book to resonate with me. I did learn some things from the sections I read, such as that...more
This book gives me hope.
Then again, this book was written in 2006 and I don't see that ANYTHING has changed. We can be excited that 90% of Americans now want GMO products labeled, when they used to not know what the heck that was, but really that knowledge and desire has been extant for at least 9 years now. And the corporations just keep getting stronger and the health of the world's people, and the earth itself from all of our chemical inputs, continues to decline.
I wish that the "underground"...more
Then again, this book was written in 2006 and I don't see that ANYTHING has changed. We can be excited that 90% of Americans now want GMO products labeled, when they used to not know what the heck that was, but really that knowledge and desire has been extant for at least 9 years now. And the corporations just keep getting stronger and the health of the world's people, and the earth itself from all of our chemical inputs, continues to decline.
I wish that the "underground"...more
Ugh. I really wish I liked this book more. It has such a great title, I love the subject and the cover is brilliantly designed. Unfortunately for Sandor Ellix Katz (what a bizarre name!) the writing itself is tired and uninspired. We all know about all the things he's re-hashing (farmer's markets are good, local produce is better, etc.) I was hoping to learn about some of the really underground underground food stuff. The things that aren't radio talk show buzzwords at the moment. Meh. Oh well....more
Feb 24, 2008
Stephanie Solomon
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
EVERYONE
Shelves:
food,
the-very-best
This book has taken over my life. It is exactly the kind of food politics I want to think about, talk about, be activated by and be inspired by.
Don't read this book before bed - it makes you so inflamed about seed companies, factory farming and government control of what we can eat! After the first few chapters I realised it was best for health if I read it in the morning so I could rant and rave to workmates, flatmates and anyone that would listen. The author provides a recipe or something to try at the end of each chapter as a solution to each issue. As a vego I'm not going to embrace feasting on roadkill, and I don't really want to e...more
This book was interesting in that it explores various underground or fringe food movements - everything from the raw milk movement, to freegans (people who search for food in dumpsters, etc.), and illegal seed saving and exchanges. Each chapter covered a particular movement or topic and included at least one recipe. While there was a LOT of great information and it's definitely encouraging to see that there is so much off the radar food interest, I didn't love the book. It was pretty long and de...more
On the subject of food and eating... if Michael Pollan were a cupcake, Sandor Ellix Katz would be raw grass fed steak. I say that with total respect to both authors. There is a lot of this book that isn't palatable - most of us really don't want to think about bananas year round in the grocery store or where our milk came from. There's also a lot in this book that is refreshingly honest. Life is complex. Pharmaceuticals have their uses. There is no easy 1. 2. 3. plan.
I'm grateful for books like...more
I'm grateful for books like...more
Everyone has to eat. This book takes a long hard look at how our food production system evolved into the current supermarket structure, where our food comes from, who produces it, and how it is processed before we see it.
More disturbing aspects of the book discussed the effects of
pesticides on farm workers, various sorts of difficulties that independent family farmers face, the decreasing diversity of our crops, and the incredible amount of waste that goes on in our country.
It was especially f...more
More disturbing aspects of the book discussed the effects of
pesticides on farm workers, various sorts of difficulties that independent family farmers face, the decreasing diversity of our crops, and the incredible amount of waste that goes on in our country.
It was especially f...more
Infrequently unimaginative (such as tacit praise for alternative school's local food lunch program that "dramatically improved student behavior and performance" (25) - which I interpret as accepting indoctrination) and full of hippy [crap], Sandor Ellix Katz' worst chapter is Vegetarian Ethics and Humane Meat. After building arguments elsewhere in the book on abstract concepts, Katz describes a few reasons for being vegetarian - "feminism, pacificism, concern about world hunger, fairness, animal...more
His book 'Wild Fermentation' is awesome, and taught me how to make yogurt and sauerkraut. This one is just as friendly, but provocative as well. Another book to question the ethical/environmental vegetarian's commitment in the face of local, humane, sustainably integrated animal products. Really enjoyed it, and found his tone appropriately strident without crossing the line into dogmatism. Nice personal anecdotes, but not too much self-congratulation. Lots of practical information and how-to as...more
I enjoyed this book's frolic through the many faces of current renegade food cultures. I loved the discussions of raw milk and fresh produce undergrounds, Slow Food International, seed saving, local food, and reclaiming food waste. I was less interested in the discussion of poop recycling, roadkill foraging, and medicinal uses of marijuana. I also think the detailed description of the alternative community in which the author lives is not always necessary and may hinder his credibility with some...more
Being knee deep in culinary school, I am choosing to give my mind a break by reading books about food. Yeah, the logic isn't there is it? Very good first half, notably the stuff about seed saving and biopiracy. However, it fell apart for me after the chapter about food as medicine. No, raw food does not cure cancer. And there are I'm sure better books to cover the awesomeness of weed as a cure all. Recommended with reservations.
If I could pick one book that I think everyone on Earth should read, this would be it. What Fast Food Nation did for fast food this book does for all of the food that we put in our bodies. This book is written in a way that is accessible, but also includes footnotes with sources and the end of each chapter contains additional books/movies/websites/organizations to contact regarding each subject. After reading this book, I, Jessica, the woman who refused to cook, now buys only (local, in every in...more
This book left a huge impression on me. Much of the ideas in this book I had already suspected on my own, but to see Katz spell out in real terms the the sad state of our society's complex relationship with food really validated my feelings. The book has serious changed the way I approach my day-to-day nutritive needs. Honestly has left me pondering new directions in life...
This is what Omnivores Dilemma _should_ have been. Well written, not overly pedantic, extremely informative. Sandor is a balanced thinker and writer and acknowledges his own contradictions. Some chapters toe the activist line and don't really bring anything to the discussion, but others are very thoughtful. MUST read for food politics people.
There were some good chapters and some bad ones. It is definitely worth the read. I feel like this book -- more so than In Defense of Food and Omnivores Dilemma -- may appeal more to the emotions of a specific crowd that already participates in food movements. It was cool learning about all the underground food movements like Food Not Bombs.
To be honest, it wasn't that great. I enjoyed the first few chapters, such as "Seed Saving as a Political Act" and I got some leads on other great books (at the end of each chapter is a long list of other books & articles that go along with that chapter's topic) but overall I don't agree with the authors arguments and worldview.
Jan 01, 2010
Sherri
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in food and health.. and the politics of both
Very interesting, covers an amazing amount of information having to do with all things food in America. I loved the end of each chapter where the author has lists of other books, websites and documentaries on the subjects. It's the best source I've seen on so many food and agricultural subjects.
A- What a fascinating book. This is a must for any activist-foodie. There's great stuff in here on Food Not Bombs, foraging, the evils of GM, eating locally, eating on a collective, and more. Highly recommended for anyone wishing to eat and live more sustainably and equitably!
I am now more aware of where my food is grown, the importance of buying local, and how to protect my local food sources. I didn't realize food had such strong social and economic ramifications. I plan to support the farmers markets this year to insure I have a food source near.
What an inspiring look at the food we eat (or should eat), how we cook it (or should/should not cook it), and what we do with it (or should do with it!).
Katz pulled me in so effectively I didn't even question the segment at the end in which he describes the empowerment derived from cleaning up yours and your companions' shit from your environmentally friendly outhouse, or for that matter, the chapter on roadkill.
This book gave me the push I needed to invest in a cow share, and I can now drink MI...more
Katz pulled me in so effectively I didn't even question the segment at the end in which he describes the empowerment derived from cleaning up yours and your companions' shit from your environmentally friendly outhouse, or for that matter, the chapter on roadkill.
This book gave me the push I needed to invest in a cow share, and I can now drink MI...more
I learned much more in this book than I had anticipated. It is an in depth look, as many books are recently, about our move from cooking and farming to pre-packaged life-styles, but specifically looks at patriotic and cultural trends, policy issues, and regulations that have assisted corporate interests in succeeding at production farming while simultaneously creating illegal "pirate" markets in cheese and dairy production on the small scale. Even bread making and baking - in terms of selling go...more
Lawd help. I gave this a 3 just for the entertainment aspect. I thought I was completely on the natural food kick until this book. I think I just eat some of the foods this author talks about.IE roadkill I have to give him though it's entertaining.
Jun 03, 2010
Katharine
is currently reading it
Recommended by a friend. If you want to be fully informed about what you're eating (and get really angry and empowered at the same time), pick this up. Though, potentially not the best book to read before bed, as it gets your mind thinking and energized. Makes me feel very empowered to making good food decisions.
I was turned onto this book by another student on my Permaculture Design Course and I am finding that it is JUST FASCINATING. If you know me and my interests in food, then you'll know why I'm enjoying this book! More of a review when I finish...
This is a comprehensive book that's a good launching point for anyone interested in a variety of food issues. Also, Detroit is well represented. I love Sandor. Also, it's part of my "Patrick Crouch Media Library." I love Patrick.
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