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31st out of 41 books
—
32 voters
Organic Manifesto: How Organic Farming Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe
by
Maria Rodale
Rodale was founded on the belief that organic gardening is the key to better health both for us and for the planet, and never has this message been more urgent. Now Maria Rodale, chairmanof Rodale,sheds new light on the state of 21st century farming. She examines the unholy alliances that have formed between the chemical companies that produce fertilizer and genetically al...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
March 16th 2010
by Rodale Books
(first published 2010)
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This book is essential reading for anyone sitting on the fence about whether or not to buy organic food.
It is very simple to read, well written and only 180 pages.
In this book the author explains:
- We must demand organic food now
- Buying organic is more important than buying local
- Organically farmed soil stores carbon
- The chemical system of agriculture is killing us
- Cheap food means high health costs
- Using antibacterial hand washes is like washing your hands in pesticides
- Whether or not org...more
It is very simple to read, well written and only 180 pages.
In this book the author explains:
- We must demand organic food now
- Buying organic is more important than buying local
- Organically farmed soil stores carbon
- The chemical system of agriculture is killing us
- Cheap food means high health costs
- Using antibacterial hand washes is like washing your hands in pesticides
- Whether or not org...more
Someone got me this book for Christmas, knowing that I tend to like good food and non-poisonous food, and so I approached it very much as a receptive, willing audience. The problem I ran into-- aside from the sometimes choppy prose and organization-- is the kind of Michael Moore problem that a lot of people face: fundamentally, I agree with this woman, and yet I find her argument to be riddled with flaws, at best, and totally disingenuous at worst.
What I mean is, this book-- even in its formatt...more
What I mean is, this book-- even in its formatt...more
This book was a catalyst for me personally, a rallying cry to push my life to be more organic. It might be a little one sided and pretty biased towards the act of organic agriculture but thats only because for some unexplainable reason we have been conditioned to think that bias is wrong! Some where along the line doing things the right way has become taboo!! I found Maria Rodale's unrelenting push for sustainable organic agriculture to be refreshing and it may be just what the casual reader nee...more
Maria Rodale, CEO of Rodale, Inc. and 3rd generation organic advocate, shares convincing arguments (scientific, financial, political, ethical) for going totally organic. Chemical agriculture is poisoning us, our children, our air, our water-- so it's not too hard to convince me. Especially fascinating as we seek a solution for dealing with carbon emissions is that there already is one: organically farmed soil stores carbon, on the mycorrhizal fungi that grow on the roots of plants-- fungi that a...more
It was hard for me to chose a 'rating' for this book. Clearly, Maria Rodale had a mission. That being said, passionate arguments that go on for 187 pages don't necessarily make the most well-written books. However, despite knowing many of her points due to a environmental science major in college, it was interesting to see them all in one place. Her constant use of citations is also helpful in fact checking and understanding her message. I believe in her ideas whole-heartedly and I think reading...more
this book was pretty good. the only thing i would say that i have against it would be that i wish she would have offered more ways to mobilize local leaders and farmers to go organic. fighting against the chemical companies and the government's tax cuts for big businesses that bully farmers is not going to just go away buy us buying organic. the reality is that until organic food becomes more affordable, we'll be stuck in the same cycle. this book offered a lot of information that changed how i...more
The premise of the book is very good; work to stop Monsanto, GMO crops, and pesticides and stop poisoning ourselves and our nation, and start demanding organic foods. However, the delivery left something to be desired. It was almost too preachy and redundant. It got to a point that I started skimming, looking for pertinent information. This is also a book that would most likely be picked up by those who are already looking towards eating organic. It does help those sitting on the fence on whethe...more
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Not a very eloquent book, but a great read nonetheless. The writing was choppy and often shifted topic from one paragraph to the next, making it a bit too difficult to want to follow sometimes, but the prose was simple enough that I could labor through the awkward paragraph transitions.
This is a manifesto. Rodale is passionate about the need for Organic Farming, and though the emotion bleeds through sometimes, she attempts a fair treatment of the situation. I found the solution part of the manif...more
This is a manifesto. Rodale is passionate about the need for Organic Farming, and though the emotion bleeds through sometimes, she attempts a fair treatment of the situation. I found the solution part of the manif...more
Manifestos are tricky things. It is not enough to identify the problem, but also to advocate a solution. Rodale and Schlosser do both in a concise and compelling way. As a long-standing partisan of the organic method, there was some 'preaching to the converted' and not much in the way of any new understandings of the subject. The two 'problem' sections could have been edited down and the 'solution' or healing section could have been expanded, but on the whole the Organic Manifesto makes a valuab...more
Maria Rodale is VERY passionate when it comes to organic food & farming. I wish everyone on this planet would read her book and change the status quo. I had no idea how complicated and detrimental the Farm Bill has become! I did know, however, how powerful and insidious the chemical companies are, but I didn't realize the full extent of their greed and control. YIKES. Thank goodness for "Part 3: The Age of Healing," or I might never sleep again.
I HIGHLY recommend this book. The only reason I...more
I HIGHLY recommend this book. The only reason I...more
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This book scared the crap out of me, but in a good way. I really had never thought about our food sources in this way. The damage that we have done to our planet and still keep doing just blows me away. I live in a small rural community and am surrounded by fields. I wasn't even aware of all the pesticides that farmers use. I also live right next to an elevator so when they haul the crops in we are coated with another layer of crap. Tha...more
This book scared the crap out of me, but in a good way. I really had never thought about our food sources in this way. The damage that we have done to our planet and still keep doing just blows me away. I live in a small rural community and am surrounded by fields. I wasn't even aware of all the pesticides that farmers use. I also live right next to an elevator so when they haul the crops in we are coated with another layer of crap. Tha...more
After listening to this woman on Jillian Michael's last podcast, I had to read her book. I was floored when she said that many of the same companies that made poison for the Nazis make pesticides for our food. So far, she's spelling out what the big damn deal is about organic food and why we should buy/support it.
The book serves an important function but felt repetitive after a while. It surely could've been cut down by 75% and been an amazingly informative booklet. Pages 181-183 answer the most...more
The book serves an important function but felt repetitive after a while. It surely could've been cut down by 75% and been an amazingly informative booklet. Pages 181-183 answer the most...more
I know I say this a lot but, READ THIS! She delves into the history of modern farming, the many benefits of organic farming and why we need to demand organic. She also makes a good, if obvious, argument about the local vs. organic question. If you have any doubts about the nutritional benefits of organic foods (including non-GMO foods) then read this for other arguments on why going organic is essential...and book a workshop with me to get the lowdown on the nutritional aspects of organic foods!
Information-packed quick read about the benefits of organic farming/ranching. Rodale offers terrific arguments in favor of organic food production, as opposed to chemical food production. She's fairly liberal with the ad hominem attacks on her opposition that are sorta unnecessary, so that's why four stars rather than five. Overall, though, it's a good introduction/refresher on why organic is such a good idea for the planet and for our tables.
While I agreed with the overall premise -- I love the organic industry and would like to see it continue to grow -- the science seemed a little too black and white. I'm not saying that it's wrong, because I don't know, but I doubt that organic farming is the solution to all the world's ills and conventional farming (and the chemical companies) are the root of all evil. I suspect the situation is a lot more complex than that and contains a lot more shades of gray. However, I'll continue to buy an...more
The author is biased, but she let's you know that up front. I mean, look at the title. This is a really interesting read if you're wondering about the pros and cons of buying organic. You have to take some of what the author says with a grain of salt, but the book offers a lot of good information. I did skim over a couple of parts, but overall I found it very interesting and thought provoking.
This was a fascinating, although sometimes disheartening and vaguely frightening, read. Maria Rodale covers all the reasons why the current chemical farming methods the majority of our farms use are killing us and the planet and makes the argument for an organic revolution. There are copious endnotes and sources provided for each chapter so you know where the information and statistics are coming from. I would recommend this friends and anyone who is unsure exactly WHY organic really is the bett...more
This is a good start when you are trying to understand how the organic movement can affect all of us. If you want to understand how government, customers, and businesses affect agriculture, this is where you should start.
See also, the 5 steps they everyone can take to make organic work in the last chapter. It's an eye opener.
See also, the 5 steps they everyone can take to make organic work in the last chapter. It's an eye opener.
As someone married to an organic farmer, I was interested to see what Maria Rodale had to offer. I'll be honest, I expected a great deal of propaganda and rhetoric. I was happily surprised to see that it was minimal.
One of the most interesting points in the book is obvious. Following are 2 statements that are frequently in the news:
1 - We need chemicals to feed people or we will starve. (ie we will not be able to produce enough)
2 - The Farm Bill pays farmers to NOT farm because we grow too much....more
One of the most interesting points in the book is obvious. Following are 2 statements that are frequently in the news:
1 - We need chemicals to feed people or we will starve. (ie we will not be able to produce enough)
2 - The Farm Bill pays farmers to NOT farm because we grow too much....more
3.5 stars
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A very well thought out, eloquent summary of conventional vs. organic farming, and why organic is better. The only thing I don't like about it is how Rodale loves big corporations, even Wal-Mart, as long as they sell organic produce. I realize that big corporations love taking divisive issues such as this and taking advantage of them to their benefit, but in my opinion, the world will be a better place without big corporations. I also have some problems with the Rodale corporat...more
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A very well thought out, eloquent summary of conventional vs. organic farming, and why organic is better. The only thing I don't like about it is how Rodale loves big corporations, even Wal-Mart, as long as they sell organic produce. I realize that big corporations love taking divisive issues such as this and taking advantage of them to their benefit, but in my opinion, the world will be a better place without big corporations. I also have some problems with the Rodale corporat...more
This book provides an in-depth look at this history of farming, the industry & government's role in chemical farming practices, and the impact of this on our health & climate. Although the material isn't 'page-turning', it's both fascinating and frightening. Rodale does a good job of inserting her wry tone of voice, worthy of a few chuckles. She didn't come off preachy at all, openly admitting that she doesn't go organic all the time and believes that people should be allowed to eat what...more
Outstanding! A very pleasant and informative read. While we try to eat organic, now we WILL eat organic as much as possible. I am somewhat disgusted by the American food industry and government controls. It is good to be an informed consumer. Highly recommend that ALL read this book.
Really good information. My takeway from this book: "You have a lot more power to create the world than you think. Every choice you make creates your world. Every purchase you make rewards either the good or the bad. Every time you chose cheap, chemical food over organic, you are rewarding the bad. You vote with every dollar you spend. Companies and governments count every purchase you make and make almost every decision based on your purchases."
Not the most well-written non-fiction. It could have used more facts to back up some assertions and was quite repetitive, especially towards the end. But definitely succeeded in opening my eyes to the necessity of buying organic!
I first checked this out of the library. Then after reading it, twice, I bought 2 copies and lent them to friends. If you want to find out what Big Agra is doing to ourselves and our children you need to read this book.
Way too dirty hippie for me. I'm all about organic farming and sustainable eating but this was just a big lobby against the farming industry, Montesano, and a bunch of political crap about how the republicans are killing the earth.
I think I'll drive it back to the library in my gas guzzling SUV.
I think I'll drive it back to the library in my gas guzzling SUV.
I found this book to be fascinating and depressing all at the same time. I learned way more than I care to about the greed and motivation behind the majority of food we eat. If you want to know more about where your food comes from and how it's grown this is a fantastic book.
Apr 10, 2010
Natalie
is currently reading it
do the part titles tell you enough?
Part 1: the great chemical experiment (in which we are all guinea pigs)
Part 2: the torturous journey to our extinction
Part 3: the age of healing
Part 1: the great chemical experiment (in which we are all guinea pigs)
Part 2: the torturous journey to our extinction
Part 3: the age of healing
Nice, succinct introduction to organic vs. chemical farming and some insight into changes that may possibly improve our world as we know it. Definitely worth the easy 200 pages.
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Maya Rodale is the author of the Regency-set Negligent Chaperone Series featuring the titles The Heir And The Spare and The Rogue And The Rival.
Her first book, a self-help guide for women entitled Its My Pleasure: A Revolutionary Plan to Free Yourself from Guilt and Create the Life You Want, was co-written with her mother, Maria Rodale. Maya is a graduate of NYUs Gallatin School of Individualized...more
More about Maria Rodale...
Her first book, a self-help guide for women entitled Its My Pleasure: A Revolutionary Plan to Free Yourself from Guilt and Create the Life You Want, was co-written with her mother, Maria Rodale. Maya is a graduate of NYUs Gallatin School of Individualized...more
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“Organic is something we can all partake of and benefit from. When we demand organic, we are demanding poison-free food. We are demanding clean air. We are demanding pure, fresh water. We are demanding soil that is free to do its job and seeds that are free of toxins. We are demanding that our children be protected from harm. We all need to bite the bullet and do what needs to be done—buy organic whenever we can, insist on organic, fight for organic and work to make it the norm. We must make organic the conventional choice and not the exception available only to the rich and educated.”
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5 people liked it
“Switching to all organic food production is the single most critical (and most doable) action we can take right now to stop our climate crisis.”
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2 people liked it
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Dec 16, 2012 06:04pm