Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant and provocative
Review: We've all, by now, heard about the obesity epidemic that's afflicting the United States (and quickly spreading to the rest of the civilized world). Politicians talk and talk about fighting this, but by making this book REQUIRED reading for junior high school kids we could probably go a long way towards eradicating obesity.The book examines how our fast food industry affects the consumers, employees, small business owners, farmers, ranchers, etc., who are all connected to this vast economy. It is well written, and balanced. I thought it was interesting that the author had genuine respect for the entrepeneurs who started all of these (now) giant food processors, fast food chains, and meatpacking companies. Well researched and fair, after reading this book you will come to understand how eating a hamburger at McDonald's affects the environment and people connected to McDonald's, and how when you buy a $1.50 order of french fries about 2 cents goes to the farmer who grew the potatoes you are consuming. The book describes the abuses of employees, the environment, and free speech by large corporations in sometimes graphic detail. I can't think of how the book could be improved, it's perfect. I've noticed that the comments here on this book fall into two major categories: 1) Very positive, i.e, "This book opened my eyes, I'll never eat another hamburger again" and 2) This book is thrash, ..I occasionally ate a hamburger in Europe in the 80s and 90s, and now I'm concerned that my brain might some day turn into mush thanks to Mad Cow disease, ack! The other criticism, which I think is obscene, leveled here at the book is that the author never mentions that the horribly abused workers in the meatpacking plants (the most disturbing portion in the book) should go find some other job if they don't like working there. This is based on the very false assumption that these unskilled, illiterate, non-English speaking victims of these companies COULD find different jobs. Don't forget that they are being paid ten times what they could paid to work in their home countries. The most disturbing part about this attitute is that SOMEONE has to process this meat! If working at a meatpacking plant was so unpleasant and everyone quit, then we would have no meat at all! I don't think America is going to go all-vegetarian anytime soon! Read this book, it's well written and informative!
Rating:
Summary: A Big Mac Will Never Taste The Same....
Review: Everyone should read this book. It should be required reading in every middle school, high school and college. But of course the restaurant industry won't let that happen.
You will be amazed at the picture Schlosser paints of the Fast Food Industry.....and you'll be angry at yourself for ever setting foot inside one. There are lots of reasons why the ubiquitous 99 cent hamburger exists....and none of them are good. Be brave. Buy a copy of this book and insist your whole family read it.
Rating: 
Summary: A joke -- not worth reading
Review: Schlosser's book promises so much and delivers less than a highly hyped fast food meal. The book is not well written, and lacks organization as it skips around in its telling of fast food horror stories. He spends a great deal of time on Walt Disney and bashing DisneyLand -- why is that in a book about fast food? "Bashing" is the best word for this book. Schlosser clearly believes that the fast food industry is responsible for every problem in America today. From the common cold to inflation to malls to unruly kids to warts -- blame it all on Big Business and especially the Big Food Business. The book is written in a breathless alarming motif that makes it sound like McDonalds and Disney are co-conspirators to take over the world and force every living child to eat greasy french fries. Give me a break! Schlosser is also very biased for the left, praising unions while ripping right wing values and Republicans. Nixon seems to get special attention. Just having your picture made with him gets sinister prose and makes you a co-conspirator. Despite claims of "research" there are numerous blatant assertions ("parents in the 80's spent more money on their children because they felt guilty about not spending time with them" -- how does he know that? was all consumer spending on kids really driven by guilt?). The book is a farce. Save your money for a Big Mac and read something else -- unless you are an anti-Republican, anti-big business, "there are evil forces everywhere subverting the world" fan -- then you'll love this ridiculous book.
Rating:
Summary: A scary read...but I couldn't put it down!
Review: This book should be required reading of anyone who eats food they did not grow or raise themselves (and I think that is just about everyone in this day and age). Schlosser is the first to open my eyes: I plan to do a lot more reading about food production and I am certainly thinking a lot more about the choices I make. Fast Food Nation is very well-written and researched, and it is addictive reading. (Although my stomach churned more than once and I have probably lost a few pounds!) Schlosser is able to weave a wide spectrum; this book is not just about McDonald's, folks. Fast Food Nation is a fasciniating portrait of Americans from all walks of life. In the end, we are all affected--in big and little ways--by something as innocuous as the good ol' American cheeseburger. Schlosser makes the point that we don't stop driving because people are killed each day in accidents. But to continue the allusion, I feel like we have the opportunity to wear seatbelts and drive defenisvely to take some hazard out of it. If you don't read this book (or others like it) that open your eyes to the horrors of modern food production and distribution, you are essentially driving while intoxicated and without wearing your seat belt! A little knowledge goes a long way, and in this case, Fast Food Nation is going to change my life--and my family's life--for the better. READ THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: It's a must-read for every person in America today
Review: I've never recommended a book to as many people. It's a very quick read, and a page-turner at that. It takes you into the industry to the people behind it. You will view fast-food as it applies to your mid-section and the planet around you. In addition, the brief education I received on processed food, in general, is invaluable...and I've tried to stop eating it, too. I read this in November 2002, and haven't had a single cheeseburger from a fast food resturant since (though I broke down once and went to Taco Bell...).
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book about the truth of the Fast Food industry
Review: This book truly awakened me to all aspects of the fast food industry; ranging from labor abuse to animal slaughter. Eric Schlosser simply states the facts in this book. All I can say is that you read it and see for yourself what Fast Food is doing to our families, our health, our lands and our rights.
Rating:
Summary: Vital reading for all Americans
Review: This book changed the way I live and eat, and I have urged everyone I know to read it and consider the facts it lays out so compellingly. First of all, Schlosser writes in a clean, matter-of-fact style, without shrillness or bias, although it is clear he cares about working conditions and food safety and is rightly shocked by what he sees. Apparently many reviewers are bothered by the inclusion of the meat-packing industry. This is ridiculous. The book sets out to explore the entire process involved in fast food and the meat-packing industry is just one part. From farm to Happy Meal (tm) the book exhaustively details the process of how we get our fast food, and its revelations are horrifying. It is sadly typical to see so many reviews toss the "left-wing bias" accusation at this methodically researched and documented book. As the author himself points out, while politicians of both parties are compromised by fast food and meat-packing industry money, there is ample proof that Republicans are worse when it comes to, for example, fighting meat-packing safety regulations. The charges Schlosser levies against both politicians and corporations are so serious that it is not surprising to see so many of them attempt to discredit this book. Do not believe them. I grew up just a few miles from a meat-packing town Schlosser focuses on, and have witnessed the damage he describes. I can verify many of his facts and his anecdotes. As a hunter and farmer I feel I cannot be accused of tree-hugging liberalism, yet this book has made me give up feedlot meat. Please, read this book.
Rating:
Summary: This is a MUST READ for everyone
Review: This is one of the most informative books I have ever read. The information in this book is something that every American should know before putting anything in their mouth! I am absolutely amazed at how in the dark I was about the nations food industry before reading this book. Eric Schlosser should be praised for bringing this information to the nations attention. THANK YOU MR. SCHLOSSER!!
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: This book is a must read for anyone. Schlosser does a great job! All of my friends had read it and said I should as well. But I thought this book would be boring and dull. In fact I found it interesting and horrifying.The public should know what they're eating and then decide. It is informative and heartbreaking about the animals, the industry and the way we treat fellow human beings.
Rating:
Summary: The Culinary ¿Pentagon Papers¿
Review: Daniel Ellsberg has nothing on Eric Schlosser, who in this hard-hitting exposé reveals countless previously unuttered truths that were veiled for decades by an ingenious web of disinformation spun by the fast food industry. Newly excavated facts that eluded crusading journalists for generations include: 1) Fast food is generally unhealthy
2) Fast food workers are not very well paid
3) Fast food restaurants are run by multi-national corporations - ones whose very reasons for existence appear to revolve around chalking up profits Fast food regulars who dined for years under a happy cloud of lies, thinking that their meals were high-fiber low-fat treats, and that their remittances were being directed toward women's shelters, exploited seals, and the fat bank accounts of their servers, will be aghast at every page. We have significantly reduced our patronage of the Golden Arches of Doom since I finished reading this horrifying chronicle, however we have not ceased it entirely as the twins continue to extort regular visits for the purpose of acquiring Happy Meal add-in toys. Even Priscilla - already a budding Socialist (or worse) at four - is unmoved by our patient explanations of how this habit is adding to the plight of migrant workers.
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