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ltsang08's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating and thought provoking read; certainly lots of food for thought on how we approach food and sustainability. Yes, it's part memoir, part story telling, part op-ed. It's JR's classic tongue in cheek style of writing.
gemmaduds's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to on Audible.
Rayner uses his usual dry wit and humour to guide us through the messy world of food economics across the globe. Alongside a few autobiographical anecdotes, he explains the need for large scale agriculture, the reasons that supermarkets are not evil but need to take more responsibility, and why we need to reduce (but not necessarily cut out) our meat consumption.
Whether you agree with him or not, his writing is entertaining and I learned a lot from it.
I enjoyed listening to his narration for the audiobook.
Rayner uses his usual dry wit and humour to guide us through the messy world of food economics across the globe. Alongside a few autobiographical anecdotes, he explains the need for large scale agriculture, the reasons that supermarkets are not evil but need to take more responsibility, and why we need to reduce (but not necessarily cut out) our meat consumption.
Whether you agree with him or not, his writing is entertaining and I learned a lot from it.
I enjoyed listening to his narration for the audiobook.
margaret21's review against another edition
4.0
This book was published in 2013, and in many ways, the world has changed. Back then, Brexit didn't exist: now it's almost a fait accompli. Nor was the debate about climate change quite so centre stage.
However, much of what Rayner writes about concerning food imports, feeding an exploding world population and so on remains germane. He treats this extremely important subject with a light touch, leavening his writing with personal anecdotes which are in fact relevant to his argument. I don't agree with all his conclusions - I think the organic movement has much to teach us about sustainability and soil health for instance. But he has made me look again at the arguments round such topics as food miles. A thought provoking, interesting and entertaining read.
However, much of what Rayner writes about concerning food imports, feeding an exploding world population and so on remains germane. He treats this extremely important subject with a light touch, leavening his writing with personal anecdotes which are in fact relevant to his argument. I don't agree with all his conclusions - I think the organic movement has much to teach us about sustainability and soil health for instance. But he has made me look again at the arguments round such topics as food miles. A thought provoking, interesting and entertaining read.
beebless's review against another edition
3.0
The chapter at an abbatoir made me think I should really try being vegan.
gemmaduds's review
4.0
Listened to on Audible.
Rayner uses his usual dry wit and humour to guide us through the messy world of food economics across the globe. Alongside a few autobiographical anecdotes, he explains the need for large scale agriculture, the reasons that supermarkets are not evil but need to take more responsibility, and why we need to reduce (but not necessarily cut out) our meat consumption.
Whether you agree with him or not, his writing is entertaining and I learned a lot from it.
I enjoyed listening to his narration for the audiobook.
Rayner uses his usual dry wit and humour to guide us through the messy world of food economics across the globe. Alongside a few autobiographical anecdotes, he explains the need for large scale agriculture, the reasons that supermarkets are not evil but need to take more responsibility, and why we need to reduce (but not necessarily cut out) our meat consumption.
Whether you agree with him or not, his writing is entertaining and I learned a lot from it.
I enjoyed listening to his narration for the audiobook.
snoakes7001's review
5.0
This is fascinating stuff. I admit a certain amount of confirmation bias, but there is a lot in this book I didn't know, and what I did is argued much more eruditely than I could in a million years.
It's very readable - not an endless diatribe, but a frank confession that issues of food sustainability and security are complex - way more complex than the polarised arguments in the media would have you believe. There are personal anecdotes interspersed here and there which lighten the tone.
If you care about food and how it's produced, if you want your family to be able to eat in the future, then read this - it's eye-opening. Once again I'm led to wonder why we don't teach this stuff in schools.
It's very readable - not an endless diatribe, but a frank confession that issues of food sustainability and security are complex - way more complex than the polarised arguments in the media would have you believe. There are personal anecdotes interspersed here and there which lighten the tone.
If you care about food and how it's produced, if you want your family to be able to eat in the future, then read this - it's eye-opening. Once again I'm led to wonder why we don't teach this stuff in schools.
jlflannery's review
4.0
Well, he predicted supermarket shortages here. Low and behold we have lettuce and courgette shortages. He's a bit mean to vegetarians and hipsters who buy from farmer's markets but if you've ever read his column you'll know he has a tendency to do that. An interesting read about the food industry.
caribouffant's review against another edition
4.0
Push past the frothy persona and hyperbolic title and there's some very wise advice here.