I found the audio version of “Fast Food Nation” by Eric Schlosser, at my local library.
It starts off a bit slow; I actually stopped listening for a few days, but I am glad I gave it another try. By the time I started disc 6, I was riveted. It broke my heart to hear about the poor workers who receive injury after injury, but have no other skills but to work for a horrible place like a meat packing company. I knew it was a bad business, but to hear the personal stories of what really goes on there, I have a new found hatred for the big business of food, and a new found respect for the poor souls who are forced to work there.
The book begins with a lot of history. How fast food restaurants started, who started them, etc. It goes on to tell how advertising has played a huge part in brainwashing children and adults. Efficient equipment, ripping off rangers and farmers, food additives, it’s all in the book. Everything you wanted to know (and didn’t want to know) about the fast food industry, and how it has dramatically changed our way of life!
Obesity is a huge problem in America. As a whole, we are a fat and lazy country. Fast food is easy and delicious, so of course we love to eat it! But besides making us obese and giving us a vast amount of diseases, the fast food industry is also responsible for an unhealthy planet (literally!)
No, this book might not stop me from never ever eating at Burger King or Wendy’s, but it has opened my eyes wider to the huge problem of meat consumption in the world. I need to make better choices, more humane and healthy choices that will make my life better. I don’t believe everything I hear and read anymore, and it’s thanks to books like this one, along with “In Defense of Food” and “Don’t Eat This Book” I am learning more and more!
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