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Fast Food Nation - Book Review |
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Book Reviews -
Women's Health and Psychology
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Written by DivaTribe Member Lara
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 Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser
Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser, is a book I would recommend to anyone. I was sincerely captivated throughout this written documentary on the history, politics and realizations of fast food and franchisors in America.
Schlosser, in great depth, touched upon many aspects of the fast food culture and 'McDonalization' of our nation. I was wary at first when diving into this novel that it would be a 21st century take on the popular book by Upton Sinclair, The Jungle, which gave us a first account on the horrors of meat packing plants and unknown substances going into our food. Although Schlosser explored this aspect toward the end of the novel (in no less of a heart-wrenching way) he spent the majority of his book dedicated to the marketing marvels and hidden agendas of corporate fast food companies and the alarming, almost mind-boggling way the public is coerced into eating and feeding families engineered foods.
Arguably, this is only one side of the story. Schlosser takes a political left wing stance on the issues of corporatilization, and target marketing which has earned him some criticism from the Republican party. Although neither one side or the other is at fault it is easy to see how the political parties are in vast disagreement over the fast food phenomenons and monopolies.
As a parent I am naturally more concerned with the media pull toward enticing children into a tale spin of unhealthy food as well as the ideas behind fast food corporations that have their own subculture of elitism thriving in our 'democratic society' as Schlosser portrays frequently throughout the book.
From exploring the money makers behind our most popular fast food chains to the working conditions and ideals behind the brand philosophies, I believe Schlosser hits close to what should be one of our nation's biggest concerns.
...along the way, he unearths a trove of fascinating, unsettling truths... -excerpt from back cover.
This review is available for reprint.
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