Beyond what we already know about "food miles" and eating locally, the global food system is a major contributor to climate change, producing as m...
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reviews
Apr 22, 2011
Alex
rated it: 
This book, which describes the impact our food choices have on global warming, makes a nice companion to other books by denizens of the Slow Food movement--"The Omnivore's Dilemma", by Michael Pollan, "Food Matters", by Mark Bittman. Having already read the former book, as well as many articles by the latter author and his contemporaries, there was not too much in this book that came as a shock to me. I thought Lappé did a nice job of laying out and then explaining the data a
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Apr 07, 2011
Scott
rated it:
A little too simplistic at times but definitely a good introduction with a lot of good sources listed throughout (e.g. talking about New Forest, a fukuoka-style farm in Wisconsin, Tree Crops (1930s), several other agroecological farms and their practices, La Via, Badgely, C. et al., Real Food Challenge, Rainforest Action Network, the Greenhorns, a couple of South Korean co-ops (iCoop), park slope coop, just food, farm santuary, etc etc. Some startling statistics:
-livestock sector alone resp More...
-livestock sector alone resp More...
Jul 11, 2010
Susan
rated it: 
In 1973, I read Frances Moore Lappé's Diet for a Small Planet. It helped me to understand the real costs of the food (particularly the meat) that I put on the table for myself and my family. It required me to completely rethink my family's diet. For me and for many others, it was nothing short of revolutionary.
Now, nearly forty years later, another Lappé—Anna Lappé—clearly her mother's daughter, has written another revolutionary book, measuring the planetary cost of the way we eat. I More...
Now, nearly forty years later, another Lappé—Anna Lappé—clearly her mother's daughter, has written another revolutionary book, measuring the planetary cost of the way we eat. I More...
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Apr 21, 2010
Amber
rated it: 
As an introduction to the science of climate change as affected by the global industrial food system, Diet for a Hot Planet excels at informing and entertaining. I have to admit I was hesitant when I started reading it and was sure it was going to be a chore to get through, but I really enjoyed it. Lappe writes in a way that is straight forward and easy to understand, which is a quite feat considering the volume of information included in the book.
In fact, that would be my only qualm More...
In fact, that would be my only qualm More...
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Apr 16, 2010
Oldroses
rated it:
Thanks to the efforts of Al Gore, most people are aware of their carbon footprint and ways that they can reduce the size of their footprint. But how many of us know that we also have a “foodprint”? Anna Lappé introduces us to this important concept in her book, "Diet for a Hot Planet".
Thanks to the factory farming of crops and animals, the very food we eat is contributing to the problem of global warming. The production of chemical fertilizers and pesticides fill the air wi More...
Thanks to the factory farming of crops and animals, the very food we eat is contributing to the problem of global warming. The production of chemical fertilizers and pesticides fill the air wi More...
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Mar 22, 2010
Paul
rated it:
I recently received this book as a contest prize from Good Reads First Reads. I’ve always been concerned with the issue of climate change. However, I wasn’t aware that food production contributed as much to it as it does. It’s common sense, actually, but most of us don’t think about it.
The author brings into focus the fact that industrialized food production makes a significant contribution to the greenhouse gases currently causing the problem of climate change; from the actual gr More...
The author brings into focus the fact that industrialized food production makes a significant contribution to the greenhouse gases currently causing the problem of climate change; from the actual gr More...
Apr 29, 2010
Michael
rated it:
The book achieves an effective fusion of climate change and food security issues presented in an engaging style and accompanied by many excellent resources for further investigation of areas of particular interest to the reader. It provides a useful handbook for addressing the challenges that face us as individuals, as citizens, and as members of the world community as we attempt to take responsibility for the anthropic components of climate disruption and food insecurity and seek to mitigate th
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Jun 15, 2010
Diane
rated it:
READ THIS BOOK!!! Frances Moore Lappe (Diet for a Small Planet)'s daughter Anna, detailing the links between agriculture and climate change. When I first glanced through it, I thought I would know what was in it from reading Michael Pollan, etc - but there was a lot to learn after all. Including the ways in which organic farming practices CAN feed the world's hungry, no GMOs needed, as well as how to discern greenwashing from the real deal. Written before the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, she told
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Mar 23, 2010
AJ
rated it:
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads' First Reads program.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and expected a lot from Frances More Lappe's daughter. Fortunately, she didn't disappoint! While I think that Diet for a Hot Planet is geared mostly toward the novice foodie and people who haven't already read thoroughly on food politics and sustainability, it still has a bit to offer to those of us who have.
What I really like about Diet for a Hot Planet is how La More...
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and expected a lot from Frances More Lappe's daughter. Fortunately, she didn't disappoint! While I think that Diet for a Hot Planet is geared mostly toward the novice foodie and people who haven't already read thoroughly on food politics and sustainability, it still has a bit to offer to those of us who have.
What I really like about Diet for a Hot Planet is how La More...
Jul 01, 2011
Jody
rated it:
This book has all the scary facts about the American diet and global warming. There were some interesting facts that I didn't know. 'The livestock sector alone is responsible for 18% of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions - That's more than the ENTIRE transportation sector - every car, SUV, ship and plane combined!' The author 'drives' home the point that what we put on our plate is more important that the car we drive, in terms of climate change.
The author advocates some easy More...
The author advocates some easy More...
Mar 27, 2010
Lisa
rated it:
I received this book through Goodreads' book giveaways.
I thoroughly enjoyed Anna Lappe's explanation and research on the links between food and climate change. While I have read many books on the topics of real foods, nutrition, localized eating, and slow food, this was the first book where I learned the ins and outs of the climate change-food connection.
I especially liked the vignettes on New Forest Farm, the co-ops in Korea, and college campuses in America. The book lef More...
I thoroughly enjoyed Anna Lappe's explanation and research on the links between food and climate change. While I have read many books on the topics of real foods, nutrition, localized eating, and slow food, this was the first book where I learned the ins and outs of the climate change-food connection.
I especially liked the vignettes on New Forest Farm, the co-ops in Korea, and college campuses in America. The book lef More...
Jul 06, 2011
John
rated it:
This was a great introduction for the layperson to the impacts how the choices we make in the grocery store have on the world as a whole. From the impact we have on the global climate to villagers in Africa to our neighbors and our children, there are very real consequences to the dietary lifestyle we Americans have become accustomed to. These consequences have passed the point of sustainability and are now starting to have irreversible effects on the planet Earth. This book should prompt those
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Feb 11, 2011
Marshall
rated it:
Extremely well-written book on the connection between global warming and food production. It's honest yet inspiring, well-researched yet down-to-earth. There are a lot of details in this book, but it usually finds a way to stay engaging. It's clear this author has a penchant for debating skeptics and greenwashers, as she devotes much of this book to answering false claims.
Anna Lappe is the daughter of Frances Moore Lappe, author of the classic, Diet For a Small Planet. It's obvious tha More...
Anna Lappe is the daughter of Frances Moore Lappe, author of the classic, Diet For a Small Planet. It's obvious tha More...
Jan 10, 2011
Peter
rated it:
Lappe strongly argues the need for a change in the way we eat if we are going fend of the worst of climate change. The most important chapter is her argument that spites the claims of industry and makes a strong case that less carbon intensive agriculture and more organic production can feed the planet. Though I agree with this part of her thesis she unfortunately is overly utopian and somewhat selective in how much more labor intensive that form of agriculture is going to be, and the general in
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Oct 30, 2010
Ryan
rated it:
I should be rating this book higher, and if I were coming from a different perspective I very like would. "Diet for a Hot Planet" is a solid, if somewhat repetitive, primer on what's wrong with our 21st century food production system vis-à-vis climate change and what responsible people can do (and are doing) about it. There's also plenty — though maybe not enough — about the usual suspects' (Monsanto, Syngenta, Tyson, Cargill, ADM, etc.) efforts preserve the status quo. But this is a b
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Jan 04, 2011
Anastasia
rated it:
I won this book in the Goodreads First Reads contest. It's an advance copy that I can read and review. How exciting!
4/6/10 Disclaimer: I won this book free in the Goodreads First Reads contest.
I have to confess that when it came time to read this book, I actually expected that I already knew most of this information and that the book wouldn't really hold my interest for lack of revelations. In the beginning, I did find that I already knew a lot about the topic, since I have b More...
4/6/10 Disclaimer: I won this book free in the Goodreads First Reads contest.
I have to confess that when it came time to read this book, I actually expected that I already knew most of this information and that the book wouldn't really hold my interest for lack of revelations. In the beginning, I did find that I already knew a lot about the topic, since I have b More...
May 14, 2010
Amanda
rated it:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm a fan of research papers, and the sheer volume of research that went into writing this book makes it impressive to me. What's even more impressive, though, are the concise and easy to read conclusions that Anna Lappé draws from her research. She clearly shows the connection between climate change and our food system with realism and hope.
The ideas she presents about sustainable eating--from food's origin to its ending--are not radical. Anna draws More...
The ideas she presents about sustainable eating--from food's origin to its ending--are not radical. Anna draws More...
Apr 03, 2010
Donna
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I read this book after receiving it through Goodreads' First Reads program. I requested it because Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappe changed by life when I read it in the 70s. In that book, Lappe explained how every step in the food chain uses only ten percent of the protein from the previous level, so that eating high on the food chain has implications in economics and poverty. Vegetarianism thus makes sense for reasons far beyond health and nutrition.
Her daughter, An More...
Her daughter, An More...
Mar 26, 2010
Shultonus
rated it:
Not at all what I expected! This book brilliantly unifies the two largest issues facing us today: Climate Change and Food Security. This book is bound to be a classic among both Foodies and the Green movements. The first section of the book is hard hitting science regarding agriculture's environmental impact. The rest of the book focuses on how our daily choices matter. Lappe goes beyond the aesthetic and ethical reasons authors like Pollan and Singer have for promoting local, organic and ethi
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Mar 19, 2010
Steve
rated it:
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Goodreads.
This book takes a look at the impact food production and consumption have on the ecology. It looks at how current practices are ruining the economy, and how using sustainable, organic methods will have a far smaller impact. The book was well-written, informative, well-researched and easy to read. I'd recommend it everyone who cares about the footprint they're leaving on the planet. It may change your eating habits for the bett
This book takes a look at the impact food production and consumption have on the ecology. It looks at how current practices are ruining the economy, and how using sustainable, organic methods will have a far smaller impact. The book was well-written, informative, well-researched and easy to read. I'd recommend it everyone who cares about the footprint they're leaving on the planet. It may change your eating habits for the bett
May 29, 2010
Julia
rated it:
Lappe connects the issue of human caused global warming with the transit of global food production, excessive beef production and genetically modified foods. Some of the material is dated; only because new material on these topics is constantly being released. The book's strength lies in the cited web sources, action lists and bibliography. It is a valuable read for a lay person just beginning to investigate these issues.
Nov 13, 2011
Suzanne
rated it:
This book was incredibly well-informed and had a strong voice. However, there was almost TOO much information and not enough narrative to keep my attention. It receives a 5 for content, but a 3 for readability. I wholeheartedly support the message in this book however, and I really think for those who want to know more about the connection between our food sources and the environment it is a must-read.
Mar 20, 2010
Carrie
rated it:
This was an interesting and thought-provoking read on the ways in which the food we eat (and the process by which that food is grown, processed and shipped) contributes to the climate crisis. Lappe starts by explaining the ways in which food and farming affect the planet and then explains how to have a "climate-friendly" diet. If you like reading about food and sustainability, this is a good book to add to your to-read list.
May 23, 2010
Mary
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Anna Lappe''s book broadens the concept of how food affects climate change beyond our notion of "food miles." There is far more to it than our food traveling from a distant field to our dinner tables. Lappe' delves into CAFO's (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations), where livestock is confined and scientifically fed, and where energy use and emissions are enormous. She uses the term "greenwashing" for the practice of certain companies that enumerate the ways they are con
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Apr 28, 2010
Blah blah blah.
Activists are pushy when in tight quarters, even if you totally support their campaigns.
Entitlement is so unbecoming an author.
I support the ideas put forth by Lappe and the pages I glanced over seemed clear and laced with humor. But this was not the best possible event. Just sayin'.
Activists are pushy when in tight quarters, even if you totally support their campaigns.
Entitlement is so unbecoming an author.
I support the ideas put forth by Lappe and the pages I glanced over seemed clear and laced with humor. But this was not the best possible event. Just sayin'.
Mar 29, 2010
Tom
rated it:
I received this from goodreads.com giveaways.
This was an informative book about the connection of what we eat and climate change. It was easy to read and leaves me more aware, but also more hopeful. What is healthful for our bodies, is healthful for the planet. I hope everyone reads it.
This was an informative book about the connection of what we eat and climate change. It was easy to read and leaves me more aware, but also more hopeful. What is healthful for our bodies, is healthful for the planet. I hope everyone reads it.
Aug 26, 2010
Alioh
rated it:
Yet another book on eating right for the environment? Yes! But this one covered topics that have been so far in my readings left out of other books, such as, for one example, an in-depth discussion of 'greenwashing' metehods and how to recognize them.
When I got this book I really wasn't in the mood to delve into a dry, lengthy non-fiction so I planned to browse it out of order. Well I looked into the 'how to read this book' section and it encouraged me to do just that.
I More...
When I got this book I really wasn't in the mood to delve into a dry, lengthy non-fiction so I planned to browse it out of order. Well I looked into the 'how to read this book' section and it encouraged me to do just that.
I More...
Aug 27, 2010
Melody
rated it:
Yep, doomed is what we are. We are living as if nothing matters but us, and although Lappe has some hope, I guess I don't really. I see how the changes she recommends could have an effect, but I'm doubtful of humanity's willingness to make changes in time. This book made me less hopeful than I was before I started it, and that's going a far piece.
Apr 21, 2011
Erika
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This book brings out the important point that agriculture, not transportation, is the sector that makes the largest impact on global climate change. Overall, I found the book quite informative about this important topic, but not entirely focused.
Apr 04, 2011
Jen
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This book included a lot of data and facts but the author put in enough anecdotal stories to make it an enjoyable read. There are plenty of resources given to the reader to help implement change. The author does a good job of motivating the reader to take control without being too pushy. Overall a very interesting and important read for this time in history.
