In the spirit of the listing that this season entails — the New York Times has no fewer than 11 book lists to guide what readers read and buy — and the good reading weather the cool season brings (though it is 77 degrees in San Diego as I write this), I thought I’d jot down some of the books that have been shaping my thinking on this super-local eating scheme.
Must read.
- The Ominivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan
- In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan
- The End of the Wild, by Stephen M. Meyer
Should read.
- When the Rivers Run Dry, by Fred Pearce
- Citizenship Papers, by Wendell Berry
Could read.
- Field Notes From a Catastrophe, by Elizabeth Kolbert
- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver
Skip it.
- The World Without Us, by Alan Weisman
- Coming Home to Eat, by Gary Paul Nabhan
This last book I’m working my way through now, and it’s a bit wandering and self congratulatory without imparting any real knowledge or sense of experience. At best. Which is disappointing because I had high hopes: It recounts a guy’s attempt to consume only what he can get from within 220 miles from his Arizona home (a bit far for “local”, but a great goal).
I have a “to read” stack on my desk that includes The End of Food, by Paul Roberts; Hot, Flat, and Crowded, by Thomas L. Friedman; Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser; and Second Nature, by Michael Pollan. That’s where I’ll be heading next, trying to read as many as I can before the spring semester starts and my reading turns back to student work.
If there’s anything else I should read, or any of the above that I’ve misread — drop me a note.
Fast Food Nation is alright, not quite up to Pollan’s level but informative and as disturbing as it should be. Hey I dropped an email your way about once more to the lake…
I’d highly recommend Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. My wife and I both loved it. In Defense of Food was a good read also.
I really enjoyed Omnivore’s Dilemma. Do we still have your copy?
In “environmental fiction”, I really enjoyed David James Duncan’s “The River Why.” Really good writing-nice sustainable themes. Good stuff.
The Wendell Berry book just got added to my Amazon wishlist…
You do still have my Omnivore’s Dilemma … which I’ll need because I’m using it in a class next semester. I’ll trade you the Berry book.
Another good book is Gaia’s Garden, a book on permaculture…
Definitely. I really enjoyed that one. Lots of good information.
Son,
You have a great website you should write a book of your garden adventures.I’m very impressed.Great garden tips.