I am teaching this book in my 9th grade Social Studies class right now as part of the Economics unit. It does a good job breaking down the ideas, with lots of excellent visuals. I think it's really helping the students understand some difficult concepts related to economics and the politics of food. ( )

What's for dinner? seemed like a simple question--until journalist and supermarket detective Michael Pollan delved behind the scenes. From fast food and big organic to small farms and old-fashioned hunting and gathering, this young readers' adaptation of Pollan's famous food-chain exploration encourages kids to consider the personal and global health implications of their food choices.

The secrets behind what you eat

Pollan presents his book in a thoughtful, intelligent, interesting and personal way, without getting preachy. His personal beliefs are very apparent, but he does not hold others' belief against them. He leads you by the hand through the facts and the experiences, but allows you to make your own decisions. His writing style is an even blend of scholarly reflection and personal narration. I'll definitely be reading some of his other works. ( )

This is a great read. I liked the fact that Pollan is able to write about the food industry without judging me to be completely morally bankrupt if I elect to have a Big Mac meal in my car every now and again (hopefully not while driving past the cattle feedlots on the I5 between L.A. and San Francisco ... Ugh!). The piece truly does make you realize that we should be making more conscious choices about what we eat, how we eat, from where our food comes, and how we "vote with our forks." ( )