social sciences

I first encountered this book shortly after it was released last year, but did not actually purchase it until recently. I was hoping for a thorough analysis of the history of the fast-food industry and its effect on society.

True enough, at least for starters. Schlosser clearly has taken an interest in his subject, enough such that he takes the time to document anecdotal evidence which is so often missing in scholarly studies.

Indeed, the opening chapters provided a fascinating overview of the origins of fast food (especially vis a vis the growth of Southern California), the often denigrating working conditions found at fast-food restaurants, the chemistry of flavor and taste, and the economics that drive franchising. This part of the book makes for an engaging, fast-paced read.

But too soon, Schlosser succumbs to the overwhelming journalistic temptation to Blame It All On The Republicans. Everything from low minimum wages to beef-inspection standards is said to be the fault of conservative Republicans, apparently in thrall to Big Fast Food.

Moreover, the book ends with a rousing call for massive amounts of Government Intervention to "solve" the problems which Schlosser believes fast food have caused -- a truly overwhelming quantity of legislation and regulation.

In an afterword published for the paperback edition, Schlosser claims he has "no partisan agenda" and bemoans not having documented the Clinton Administration's connection with the poultry industry in Arkansas.

But this disclaimer is too little, too late. What could have been an interesting sociopolitical exploration of a uniquely American phenomenon instead declines into a partisan attack. It's almost as if this book is really made of two separate and smaller works.

Don't miss the opportunity to read this book -- but go into it with an open mind and don't be prepared to accept all of Schlosser's conclusions.

Frankly, this book is marvelous. Read it.

The book is centered on the fast food industry: how it works, where it came from, where it is going, what it has done to American society (and now increasingly the global one), etc. The book is full of documented facts. In addition, it is full of great and fascinating history: the growth of the West on the 20th century, transformation of agriculture, food processing, potatoes, beef ranchers and processors, advertising directed at children, Disney and anticommunist hysteria, fast food franchising, labor relations, exploitation of child/teenage labor, where the flavor of most foods comes from, and so on. Each chapter deal with particular aspects but all chapters hang together nicely.

I found two things to be quite impressive: (1) the clarity and depth of the factual documentation of what happened and is happening. This is simply a great book because you LEARN so many things. (2) The author is, in my opinion, balanced and not a whiner. This is particularly clear in his treatment of the historical aspects as the contradictions of US society are laid out in this particular case: the good and bad about private entrepreneurs, the pluses and minuses of a fast food system that provides unhealthy food and low wages but also provides playgrounds and toys and a social environment, the role of the government in subsidizing and/or regulating, etc.

I felt the author tended to show some anger and frustration on a few issues: he takes sides against the fast food companies on issues regarding SEVERE labor exploitation particularly of the poor and immigrants, easily avoidable and extremely dangerous work conditions in meat processing, and grave lack of food safety and sabotaging of the food safety system by the companies and their hired politicians. I was hard pressed to disagree.

Next time you go for a fast food hamburger, you'll ask yourself the questions whose answers are always hidden by corporations: where is the food coming from? How was it produced? Is the system humane or exploitative? How did it get to become the way it is? What are the costs and consequences of this system? The book provides excellently researched facts and an overall framework to address these questions.

Did I mention you have to read this book?

Since many other reviewers cover the more repulsive details of Schlosser's book, I will stick to pointing out something I think deserves even more attention: one of the themes of the book is that the fast food industry has its tentacles in EVERY aspect of Americans' lives. Changing this goes far, far beyond bypassing a Big Mac...boycotting fast food is not the same thing as boycotting the fast food industry, when industry practices have made the USDA powerless against meatpackers, advertisers target children as consumers, and schools are taking money for corporate sponsorship.

This a fantastic book and it touches on a lot of areas that I don't normally think of relating to fast food, such as the plight of abused migrant workers in the slaughterhouses and the economics of teen labor. Everybody should read it, even if you never eat fast food, because you're affected too.