Food Fight : The Citizen's Guide to a Food and Farm Bill

by Daniel Imhoff, Michael Pollan (Foreword)

The Farm Bill is perhaps the single most significant land use legislation enacted in the United States, yet many citizens remain unaware of its power and scope. With subsidies ballooning toward $25 billion dollars per year, the Farm Bill largely dictates who grows what crops, on what acreage, and under what conditions—all with major impacts on the country's rural economies, health and nutrition, national security, and biodiversity. As debate and wrangling over the 2007 Farm Bill intensifies, Food Fight offers a highly informative and visually engaging overview of legislation that literally shapes our food system, our bodies, and our future.

Genres: Food, Nonfiction, Politics, Health

167 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2007

Reviews

[David]

Well, this one wasn't it either. I am continuing my quest for a good discussion of the interaction of U.S. food policy and third world poverty. This one hinted at it but was mostly about how the farm bill has evolved from one that was intended to help family farms to one that squeezes out smaller farms in favor of granting hugh subsidies to giant conglomerates. It was interesting and was well presented with lots of color graphics. I am glad I read it because it gives me a background for my study of third world hunger.

[Joy Weese Moll]

Food Fight by Daniel Imhoff is about what we colloquially call the Farm Bill with a special emphasis on being a guide to the 2012 version. In order to do that, though, a lot of background and history is required to understand how we got to the complicated and confusing state of affairs.

More here: Book Review: Food Fight by Daniel Imhoff

[Ellee]

The Farm Bill is a much ignored policy document that has it's tenticles in every aspect of our lives. This book reads more like a really long brochure, with lots of useful information. As always, I wish policy books went further when advocating for change...but, the last chapter has some great suggestions, and lots of contacts.

[Asta]

I saw Dan Imhoff speak last night with Dan Barber. It was great but there was a feeling of impending doom because the Farm Bill was voted on that night in the House. This morning, we woke to find that Speaker Polosi sold us short in a number of areas. I still want to read this book though!

[Mary Louise]

A quick read with plenty of colorful graphs, cheerful Venn Diagrams, and snappy flow charts with Famer and Cow-shaped symbols to help you understand how the "Farm Bill" should be called the "Food Bill." It determines what sort of food we eat and as a result, the health of our nation.

[Lily]

Has a lot of good info on the farm bill--especially in terms of a comprehensive history. It's written kind of like an annoying reading you would be assigned in high school, though. Not my favorite, but full of things everyone should know more about.

[One Lit Chick]

I would have liked this more if it wasn't so textbooky. Important information, and while brief, I kinda just wanted a checklist or summary.

[meredith]

Quasi coffee table format and cumbersome graphics take away from an otherwise interesting and informative book.

[Stepho]

Please read this book. Soon. It is an incredible education on what our farm bill is, and the pervasive impact it has on nearly everything we do.

[Nicole McCann]

extremely relevant. the next farm bill is 2012. time to get to work!

[Sarah]

Saw him speak at CFSC 2011.

[Sarah]

The most reasonably comprehensive plain-language primer on food and farm policy out there. Not unbiased.. but also not unfair.

[Toph White]

Good book that gives you the breakdown of our food system and legislation.

[Rick]

The farm bill is totally screwy. But there are some good parts to it. I learned a lot. You would too.

[Deborah Drucker]

Indispensable guide to the history and politics of the Farm Bill.