Books - Fast Food Nation

summerbug · 05-18-2004, 06:54 AM

I am in the middle of this book and find it very interesting. It talks about the history of fast food organizations, food processing, advertising and how it is directed at kids...

Has anyone else read this?

groovygirl · 05-24-2004, 10:00 AM

I read Fast Food Nation over a year ago. I haven't eaten a fast food hamburger since. It is quite an informative book. I would recommend it to anyone.

girl in a cardigan · 05-26-2004, 09:34 AM

I had to read it for my sociology class, though I only read the one chapter that I had to lead my discussion group on. It was quite interesting, though most of it was stuff I already knew.

L u x i e · 05-27-2004, 07:09 PM

I adore this book. Although, yes I admit I skimmed through most of the beginning (the history section), it was still fascinating, especially the stuff they use, the outbreaks of E. Coli, and the mistreatment of workers.

Hated fast food before, now I just have more reasons too.

Carrie99 · 05-28-2004, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by groovygirl
I read Fast Food Nation over a year ago. I haven't eaten a fast food hamburger since. It is quite an informative book. I would recommend it to anyone.

I know all the 'horror stories' in the back of my head, but I'm afraid to read it in print. It'll make it true. I love fast food.

summerbug · 05-28-2004, 09:02 AM

Actually the history stuff was surrprisingly interesting too. I mean, seeing farmers get squeezed out by the corporate farm (putting a face to that situation), how chains came to be and are threatened by other chains, grievances against chains by employees, and how the advertising is focused on kids.

I thought the "smell" factory was probably one of the most disturbing things. Who knows what we are eating since they can make is smell like anything if they wanted too.

Gabriela · 05-29-2004, 04:31 PM

I've had to read this book for two of my classes. It was pretty good. The history stuff was actually interesting, and the details about the plants that produce the meat and the E.Coli stuff was really gross, but extremely informative.

fear x less · 05-29-2004, 10:34 PM

Hmm I think I have to read this during the summer actually, looks interesting

Kismet16 · 07-06-2004, 06:18 AM

I started reading this because I saw it here. I'm almost done and i think it will be a while before I step into a McDonalds.

AvonleaAnne · 07-07-2004, 10:14 PM

This is one of my favorite books ever. I recommend it to anyone and everyone. I originally thought it was going to be strictly about how the food is disgusting and tainted, etc... but it is SO much more than that. It was fascinating to read about how McDonald's doesn't want its workers to be unionized, and about how thousands of people get hurt in the meat industry, and how the fast food industry preys on the unfortunate lower class in order to exploit them for their workforce.

This book rocks.

summerbug · 07-08-2004, 12:39 PM

Avonlea - I have to add the advertising stuff to your list of things about the book. That was one of my favorite/most interesting aspects. All the talk about how everything is targeted towards children and how initially McDonalds wasn't "good enough" to be at Disney parks but now Disney always has their stuff coupled with McDonalds happy meals, etc.

QTgirl · 07-09-2004, 09:25 PM

This book didn't really open my eyes because I already knew most of what is said but i thought it was really good.

summerbug · 07-12-2004, 07:30 AM

I agree - I knew these things too. However, for me, it was in a pretty safe, general sense. A factory that produces smells to the degree that it does was amazing to me. And while I knew of some of the horrors in the food industry, I didn't have nearly the detail that was gone into in this book. I wish I didn't have any of the detail about E Coli. That just freaks me out!

It was the specifics and the depth that I found so interesting - and made me nervous at the same time

ALittaM · 07-13-2004, 10:30 AM

My boyfriend has readit and he found it very interesting. I think I'll give it a try. It seems both scary and informative.

~*Echo*~ · 07-13-2004, 02:16 PM

I read the book a couple months ago, and I loved it. I knew a lot of the information, but the way that it was presented in the book made me give it more serious thought. I would recommend it to anyone, because it makes a lot of good points and makes you think twice about the fast food industry.

-beth