Eric schlossers fast food nation is an attempt to describe how american eating and foodproduction patterns have changed since world war two. What began as a twopart article for the magazine turned into a groundbreaking book. New york times bestseller, with a new afterwordschlosser has a flair for dazzling scenesetting and an arsenal of startling facts. In 1998 schlosser wrote an investigative piece on the fast food industry for rolling stone. Now, because meat is distributed all over the nation, an outbreak of food poisoning in one town may indicate nationwide epidemic. Schlosser charts this transformation by tracking many different people. Things arent quite that bad, but at the same time, fast food has made a complex problem even more so.
Fast food nation is a fascinating and very readable book. Taco bell, dunkin donuts, wendys, dominos, and kentucky fried chicken. When an independent research in the meat patties produced in cody. To a degree both engrossing and alarming, the story of fast food is the story of postwar america. If you ever eat in fast food restaurants, you should read this book. Introduction next to death and taxes, fast food might be the most unavoidable experience for americans. The first fast food restaurants began primarily in response to the automobile and highways. The section on the fast food companies focuses a lot on mcdonalds, which is understandable given mcdonalds brand awareness. Fattening up a controversial article published in rolling stone in 1999, schlosser considers all the ways in which fast food has lessened the quality of life in america. Don henderson greg kinneara marketing executive at mickeys fast food restaurant chain, home of the big onehas a problem. Fast food is now served at restaurants, stadiums, airports, zoos, schools and universities, on cruise ships, trains and aeroplanes, at supermarkets, petrol stations and even in hospital cafeterias. In some ways it reminds me of upton sinclairs the jungle.
Schlosser wrote the novel fast food nation in attempt to show america the dark side of the fast food industry. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this fast food nation. The dark side of the allamerican meal, is a thoughtprovoking, researchbased account of the rise of the fast food industry and the resulting consequences of the drive for lowcost, rapidly prepared meals. From the financial implications of fast food, to our nation. Eisenhowers interstate highway act brought even more people to eat in selfservice restaurants. Yet fast food nation is far more than a lament for home cooking and momandpop diners. Schlosser then turns a critical eye toward the hot topic of globalization a phenomenon launched by fast food. In 2001, fast food nation was published to critical acclaim and became an international bestseller. Im afraid that blaming our widespread obesity problem on fast food is a gross oversimplification. What are the differences between fast food nation the. Fast food nation points the way but, to resurrect an old fast food slogan, the choice is yours. Celebrating prezi s teacher community for teacher appreciation week.
If you go to see fast food nation with a group of friends, there is a good chance that someone the smartalecky contrarian. The dark side of the allamerican meal is a 2001 book written by investigative journalist eric schlosser that examines the local and global influence of the united states fast food industry. An ensemble piece examining the health risks involved in the fast food industry and its environmental and social consequences as well. His chief objection is not that it tastes badfar from it, he insists, going on to examine, for instance, why mcdonalds fries lauded by the likes of julia child and james. The dark side of the allamerican meal study guide and get instant access to the following summary. Fast food has hastened the malling of our landscape, widened the chasm between rich and poor, fueled an. During this period many of the fastfood places that remain today were started. Fast food nation is a groundbreaking work of investigation and cultural history that may change the way america thinks about the way it eats. The most dangerous job excerpted from the book fast food nation by eric schlosser perennial books, 2002, paper p169 one night i visit a slaughterhouse somewhere in the high plains. Prior to the rise of large meatpacking plants, people would become ill from bad food in small, localized arenas. Every day in the united states, 200, 000 people are sickened by a.
Fast food has hastened the malling of our landscape, widened th. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in fast food nation, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. He has received a national magazine award and a sidney hillman foundation award for reporting. On any given day in the united states about onequarter of the adult population visits a fast food restaurant. Fast food nation is the kind of book that you hope young people read because it demonstrates far better than any social studies class the need for government regulation, the unchecked power of multinational corporations and the importance of our everyday decisions. From the back cover in 2001, fast food nation was published to critical acclaim and became an international bestseller. Ronald mcdonald invented by willard scott is second only to santa claus in recognizability. It is a serious piece of investigative journalism into an. In the early 1970s, the farm activist jim hightower warned of the mcdonaldization of america. Reading guide for fast food nation by eric schlosser. He viewed the emerging fast food industry as a threat to independent businesses, as a step toward a food economy dominated by giant corporations, and as a homogenizing influence on american life. Fast food is a significant part of contemporary culture and economy. Schlosser is a talented storyteller, and his reportorial skills are considerable. Eric schlosser s expose revealed how the fast food industry has altered the landscape of america, widened the gap between rich and poor, fueled an epidemic of obesity, and transformed food production throughout the world.
During a relatively brief period of time, the fast food industry has helped to. Fast food nation by eric schlosser overdrive rakuten. But in a larger sense, what fast food nation criticizes is the very freemarket enthusiasm that has made heroes of the burger fans gates and buffett, the latter of whom has famously been a major mcdonalds shareholder. Schlosser writes that this is a book about fast food, the values it embodies, and the world it has made.
In california, the vp of marketing of the mickeys fast food don anderson is responsible for the hamburger big one, the number one in selling in mickeys chain of fast food restaurants. At the very least, schlosser makes it hard to go on eating fast food in blissful ignorance. The dark side of the allamerican meal from the worlds largest community of readers. He vows to trace the impact of fast food companies both backward and forward in the food chainfrom the farmers who raise steer and grow potatoes, to the agribusinesses that process the food, to the restaurants like mcdonalds that sell it, to the consumers who eat it. New york times bestseller schlosser has a flair for dazzling scenesetting and an arsenal of startling facts.
In an age when ronald mcdonald is the second most identifiable fictional character to young children after santa claus, fast food embodies a number of modern american characteristics. Fast food nation ebook by eric schlosser rakuten kobo. The film, an international coproduction of the united states and the united kingdom, is loosely based on the schlossers bestselling 2001 nonfiction book fast food nation. Fast food nation film trailer participant media youtube. This article relates to fastfood nation because it is a reflection on the book 10 years later. These citations may not conform precisely to your selected citation style. With greg kinnear, bruce willis, catalina sandino moreno, wilmer valderrama. Fast food nation summary from litcharts the creators of. Free study guide for fast food nation by eric schlosser.
Fast food nation is the kind of book that you hope young people read because it demonstrates far better than any social studies class the need for government. Fast food nation presents these sometimes startling discoveries in a manner that manages to be both careful and fastpaced. Schlosser clearly demonstrates that this industry alone has been. A nations diet can be more revealing than its art or literature. The granddaddy of food policy books, fast food nation looks at the dark side of the allamerican meal, as it says in its subtitle. Woodshock its impossible to learn to plow by reading books rumtreiber.
Fast food nation was on the new york times bestseller list for more than two years, as well as on bestseller lists in canada, great britain, and japan. Fast food nation is a 2006 comedydrama film directed by richard linklater and written by linklater and eric schlosser. Peter singer and eric schlosser explore the broad and compelling issues and ethical dilemmas surrounding food production in the u. The most dangerous job excerpted from the book fast food. Eric schlossers expose revealed how the fast food industry has altered the landscape of america, widened the gap between rich and poor, fueled an epidemic of obesity, and transformed food production throughout the world. Its not only a critique of fast food, the chemicals we are ingesting and the health problems we are facing, it is also critical of a system that allows exploitation of young, old and immigrant workers, and of the suburban sprawl that resulted from the eradication of efficient and environmentally friendly public transportation by the auto industry. The dark side of the allamerican meal by eric schlosser and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Its not only a critique of fast food, the chemicals we are ingesting and the health problems we are facing, it is also critical of a system that allows exploitation of young, old and immigrant workers, and of the suburban sprawl. Table of contents list of characters short summary synopsis eric schlosser biography historical information genre chapter summaries with notes analysis. Entrepreneurs from throughout the nation came to observe the mcdonalds phenomenon. But what they may not know about is the cocktail of chemicals that. Schlosser goes into great detail about the research he had done to prove his point. Throughout the text, he emphasizes the point that fast food is a corrupting force that impacts nearly every aspect in america whether its in relation to health, politics, economy, society, etc. Colorados front range, or a group of cities including denver, colorado.
Fast food nation by eric schlosser books the guardian. The dark side of the allamerican meal is a 2001 book written by investigative journalist eric schlosser that examines the local and global. Fast food nation the groundbreaking work of investigation and cultural history that has changed the way america thinks about the way it eats and spent nearly four months on the new york times bestseller list now available on cassette. Create marketing content that resonates with prezi video. Eric schlosser begins his account of the american fast food industry by focusing on one region of the united states in particular. Even though the obese rates have gone up and millions of people still eat at mcdonalds, there are been many positive changes to school lunches and. Just from this one book eric schlosser has made a huge change in the way people view fast food. What the allamerican meal is doing to the world schlosser, eric isbn. The movie to which you refer has taken a few minor truths and blown them into a tale of monumental conspiracy and fraud. This study guide consists of approximately 47 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of fast food nation. What makes fast food nation different is that it is not the predictable antimeat, antifat, antiadditives, antinondairy.
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