ContentsIntroductionChapter 1 The Hijacking of the Global Food SupplyChapter 2 Soy Imperialism and the Destruction of Local Food CulturesChapter 3 ...
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reviews
Aug 21, 2009
Catherine
rated it: 
At 127 pages (not including the index) _Stolen Harvest_ is a very slim book, but there's an enormous amount of information / argument packed into these pages. The book focuses mainly, although not exclusively, on the effect of global industrial agriculture on the culture, spiritual systems, economy, and politics of India, and this is one of its real strengths - it doesn't just condemn genetically modified seeds, as I'm sure many books would, but asks what our responsibilities are to other speci
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Aug 28, 2011
Ismail
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The main idea of the book is that factoring all the negative externalities of making transgenic crops a viable option in the long run, it simply doesn't make economic or environmental sense. Shiva suggests that one way biotech companies like Monsanto make profits is by letting ordinary citizens and farmers shouldering these hidden costs that cannot be easily assessed by short-term epidemiological or environmental studies. By the time anything close to definitive is made public, most farmers and
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Nov 20, 2008
Jessica
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prepare for the fact that the book's a bit repetitive (um, okay, it IS shiva); on the other hand have heard reviews claiming the book sensationalizes the problems of agribusiness without prescribing solutions, which seems ridiculous as the entire book is about how the only step really necessary to solve the "problems" inherent in agriculture is to stop creating problems already. a few questionable claims (mostly technicalities regarding fat type & content in soy & meat) but overall a g
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Dec 11, 2011
Caroline
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I was assigned to read this book for class. That being said, I'm glad I was given this assignment. It is propelling and eye-opening. If anything, it should move readers to question and conduct further research on how the agricultural business operates. It is easy to simply ignore our food sources in this fast paced world but Shiva makes you think about the ramifications of doing so. This is a book that needs to be read, especially by us supermarket shoppers. Read the book with an open mind
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Oct 11, 2011
Tory
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This book tells an important story of the impact of our current industrial food system on our environment, our culture, and our bodies. It is compelling and disturbing. It amazes me how easily the American people have relinquished our rights to nutritious and diverse foods without even realizing it. This is a quick read that has a lot of important information. An example of what I learned in this book: cows are herbivores; they need roughage. However, they are being fed a high-protein diet
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Jul 02, 2011
Winston
rated it:
Excellent.
Goes into detail on how neo-liberalism & globalization is effacing natural food resources without calling it neo-liberalism: you don't have to go to college to get this book. Shiva is an excellent writer; she enumerates complex processes through anecdotes that are accessible and contain a human touch. I'd like to read her other titles soon.
Goes into detail on how neo-liberalism & globalization is effacing natural food resources without calling it neo-liberalism: you don't have to go to college to get this book. Shiva is an excellent writer; she enumerates complex processes through anecdotes that are accessible and contain a human touch. I'd like to read her other titles soon.
Aug 02, 2009
Annie
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This book changed my life. Started my interest in sustainability and (fun fact)I haven't eaten shrimp for over 2 years as a result of this book! Vandana Shiva is an amazing person.
Nov 20, 2008
I highly recommend reading/seeing Shiva. She has a PhD in physics, has done the research, and has effective arguments to counter the lies of transnational corporations.
Nov 04, 2009
Bridget
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Amazing and completely scary. Shiva deos a great job of breaking down all the ways the US has ruined global agriculture. Everyone who eats should read this book!
Feb 15, 2010
Angrysrilankan
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I need to finish this book. It's kind of dense and heavy. I think I stopped reading it because it was easier not to have to deal with/face the content.
Aug 01, 2009
I've recently started reading Stolen Harvest by Vandana Shiva, who is a dedicated activist, prolific writer, and seriously cool lady.
Aug 15, 2010
Silvio
rated it:
A denunciation of what global capitalism is doing to agriculture worldwide. Treats plenty of frightening issues that deserve attention, like the patenting of traditional plant varieties by multinational companies and trade laws that can make it illegal for farmers to sell seed directly to each other without going through a company. Unfortunately, the book is often not organized and clear enough to state precisely what the abuse is that it is denouncing.
Dec 12, 2010
Mads P.
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Excellent arguments against the use of genetically modified foods, especially given how we have no choice in the matter. They are not the solution for world hunger that biotech companies like Monsanto claim them to be. I like this book much better than Shiva's Earth Democracy, which is a bit redundant both within itself and among the other books she's written. The reason I didn't give Stolen Harvest five stars is that it could use more footnotes or other explanation of where she's getting her da
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Jun 21, 2011
Zishan
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Good but she doesn't provide a ton of background info for someone who isn't familiar with farming jargon
Oct 07, 2007
Rachel
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This book is pretty important, I guess, but not intensely interesting to read. The writing is quite ho-hum, although there are a few nice phrases. The main thing this book has to recommend it is also the thing that damns it, I think: it's full of information that's absolutely hair-raising and makes me want to go shake someone and yell. It doesn't make me feel optimistic. It's important, though, and the more people know this stuff, the better.
May 13, 2008
Stephanie
rated it:
One of the most terrifying and depressing books I have read...possibly ever. The author makes many thought provoking points. It makes you want to do some more research in regards to the food that we put in our body. Despite becoming paranoid about my food, I really enjoyed this book. It opened up my eyes to see how controlled we are by corporations, and it is now on us to take that power back.
May 15, 2007
Carmen
rated it:
I knew I had come of age
at the time
when being gendered
and being in love with the world
the physical world, not the ethereal one
became concerns of equal weight
womens' bodies treated like the earth
essentialized
torn up
made to produce in unnatural ways
to feed others
and not ourselves.
VS. Thank you.
at the time
when being gendered
and being in love with the world
the physical world, not the ethereal one
became concerns of equal weight
womens' bodies treated like the earth
essentialized
torn up
made to produce in unnatural ways
to feed others
and not ourselves.
VS. Thank you.
Jun 24, 2008
Anastasia
rated it:
This is a very short book, but really dense with information. I highly recommend it, but I also feel it'd be better to have a little background on the subject before delving in. If anyone knows of any good pre-reading for this book, let me know.
Jan 29, 2008
Britta
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Read this book in my college English class. Great information about genetically modified foods and agriculture (namely in India) and how it affects the world socially. It sounds like a boring book but it is far from it!
Jan 12, 2012
Megan
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much of this addresses (in my opinion, out-dated) issues with GMOs. It is written for an uninformed audience, of which I am not a part of. I got halfway and doubt I'll come back to finish.
Jul 11, 2007
Tia
rated it:
Interesting but a little histrionic. I think Shiva makes good points and has done some interesting research in a much neglected pocket of the world.
Sep 07, 2008
Mike
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Read it a couple of years ago. Very interesting info, but very Shiva. Kind of repetitive.
Recommended........
Recommended........
Jun 10, 2008
c.b.
rated it:
Sort of repetitive, but a good introduction to some topics I want to spend the Summer learning more about.
Sep 23, 2007
Bart
rated it:
Although not at all advocating veganism, the chapter Mad Cows and Sacred Cows led me to become a vegan.
Aug 12, 2007
Ian Marvy recommended this book to me. And Vandana Shiva sounds amazing. Cant wait till I pick it up.
