Rating: 
Summary: Holy Cow What a Good Book
Review: I bought this book on a whim. When I first saw it I thought it was simply about how Americans love fast food. Boy was I wrong. Instead Schlosser goes over everything fast food: from the history to where the meat comes from to the social and political power the fast food industry has. And, for the most part, he scores a direct hit. There is a great deal to like in this book. I particularly enjoyed the history of the fast food business. I also found the sections on how the food is flavored (with "natural flavors") and the franchiser/franchisee sections eye-opening to say the least. Another thing he did was not focus on the animals that the food is made from. This has been done already numerous times prior to his book, and very well I might add. Instead he focuses on the humans who work throughout the industry. However, there are a couple of points, and I know I'm probably nitpicking here, that I disagree with. The main point everyone else has pointed out is how hard he is on the Republicans. I agree that at times he mentions that "Mr. X, who is a Republican..." without really having to mention that he is a Republican at all. He addresses this in the Afterword in the paperback edition. Other points: He interviews the teens working at McDonald's who buy all this expensive stuff. Well guys, maybe you wouldn't have to work so many hours if you didn't buy the name brands. Also he mentions about how all these farmers have been run out of business. While I never want to see anyone unemployed, those people chose to be farmers in a society that continues to be more and more suburban and urban every day. Like I said these points are pretty minor and didn't take away at all from the impact of the book. ... To sum up: This is a very interesting book that isn't dry at all. I would recommend this to anyone interested in where exactly their food comes from and how the fast food industry treats its employees. Its a pretty fast read and well documented with footnotes and bibliography as well.
Rating:
Summary: Overwhelming facts and going-ons in the fast food industry!
Review: This review is in reference to the 2002 reprint of Fast Food Nation. This book enlightens you on the the way meatpackers slaughter and prepare the meat to be shipped to all of your favorite fast food restaurants. It details the effects of big agribusiness on the rancher culture that is currently becoming a dying breed in agriculture. It goes to great lengths to describe how our eating habits have changed because of the fast food industry, and how we are now more suseptable to E. coli 0157:H7 and other pathogens and diseases, such as Mad Cow Disease (BSE). It also details the correlation between the rise of obesity with the rise of fast food consumption. Some statistics seem hard to believe, however, for those that refer to how much we actually consume of fast food. In any case, the author does a wonderful job explaining in a variety of areas the "Dark Side of the All-American Meal." I highly recommend this book to those who have a slight curiousity in what's in their meat (you will get more than you bargained for when reading), and to those who want to know how much power and control the McDonald's and other fast food places, as well as those corrupt meatpacker industries have over our country.
Rating: 
Summary: A MUST READ
Review: If you have ever consumed food at any fast food chain in the world you must read this book. Disturbing. You will stop feeding the exec's at all the large chains. You just might stop eating beef!! Eric does a great job from the history to where the meat in your burger comes from. I HIGHLY suggest everyone read this book. It should be required reading in all US High Schools.
Rating:
Summary: EVERYONE should read this book
Review: This is an intense book and an important piece of well-researched and written journalism. Everyone should read this book. The book is not so much about the food itself (which the author admits can be quite delicious) but the effect on society caused by the proliferation of McFood. Not all the problems in American society are directly related to fast food, but a change in eating habits that is so huge has had a profound ripple effect on our culture. As the book states, what we eat has changed more in the past 40 years than in the 40,000 before that. Fast food may seem cheap, but the real costs are hidden. Everything that you decide to purchase has an effect on the marketplace and our society. Choose to not be part of the problem.
Rating:
Summary: business myths
Review: This book takes an in-depth look at fast food and all of the industries it affects. I knew the book was going to give some shocking statistics and stories, but the aspects I found most interesting were the stories from individuals who owe their great success and failure to fast food. Schlosser take a look at the usual cast of characters, Kroc, Thomas, and the Coronal, but he also profiles the entrepreneurs of the supporting industries. One myth that I'm glad he cleared up was the idea that purchasing a franchise is an easy way to "get rich quick." People seem to think the franchise route is the easiest way to start a business. Schlosser profiles franchisees that signed up looking for the American Dream and got more than they bargained for, very interesting read.
Rating:
Summary: Beyond food to Money, Power, and Influence...
Review: This is a book that needs to be read, but if all you take away from it is the fact that there is great potential for serious food poisoning, then you miss the whole iceburg. The political power and influence of the meatpacking industry is enormous, and this book details how, with some of the whys. The same is true of some of the fast food companies themselves. In their world, there would be precious few options, and yet there are exceptions...get this book and read it.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting look at the fast food industry
Review: This is a well written, interesting--sometimes dull--look at all aspects of the fast food industry from an impartial perspective (the author eats fast food and does not have any particular axe to grind). Highlights include the history of fast food, what's in the food and how it is prepared, how the workers are treated at the slaughterhouse and how the animals to be slaughtered are treated.
The author provides interesting observation more than perspective. For example, we learn that fast food is so successful because the industry has mastered the art of providing a taste most people love. However, the psychology of why so many people would choose to visit a [fast food chain] to eat reconstituted food instead of a local hamburger joint which might offer a "real" hamburger and fries (and variation in taste at different locals) isn't discussed. We learn about the horrible conditions in slaughterhouses, but not how the employees feel about their gruesome work or why they would choose to remain on a difficult, dangerous job for so little pay. And to what extent is it all just marketing? Bayer outsells all other generic brands while charging up to ten times more for the exact same product (aspirin). Tylenol is nothing more than acetaminophen yet people pay three times more for it. Clorox, which is chemical bleach, outsells generic bleach, an identical product. Do Americans eat at [fast food chains] because they have great burgers or great advertising? Such analysis isn't covered. That aside, there are some really interesting tales here: the initial genius, false starts and efforts that went into what eventually became the fast food industry, changing they way most Americans eat. The New Jersey flavor companies that are paid to treat the food, using chemicals to make anything you eat taste like anything else. All that's needed is the sprinkling of chemicals (natural or artificial flavors, doesn't seem to matter). The treatment of animals prior to and during the slaughter process. The working conditions for those in the industry. You may enjoy this book just to discover exactly what you are eating at a fast food restaurant. You may enjoy it as a slice of American history. And if your interest is to grind your own axe against the fast food industry (or friends who are eating their way to a heart attack), you'll find plenty of new information here.
Rating:
Summary: Fast Food Nation -- A Five Star Read
Review: This book is a an enlightning and truly sobering survey of Fast Food and Fast Food Culture. Author Eric Schlosser does an incredible job of tackling the issues -- social, cultural, economic, environmental, global -- surrounding American Consumerism. His prose is gripping with a decidely human angle, and his research is immaculate -- this is a man who cared enough about his family to roll around in the muck of an utterly repulisve industry. I would highly reccomend this book to people that care anything about what they are putting in their children's systems as well as their own.
Rating: 
Summary: Gosh, What a Disappointment
Review: I was excited to read this book, anticipating a factual reporting of the history of the fast food industry, and its influence on the evolution of America's pop culture. What I found, instead, was a wolf in sheep's clothing. In my opinion, Schlosser should have chosen one of two paths for this book: either provide a historical, sociological account of the fast food industry, or provide a long editorial, highlighting the fast food industry as a manifestation of the things he thinks are wrong with our society. Either path is fine, but he should have chosen one CLEARLY. Instead, he makes us think it's the former when really it's the latter. This is just a cleverly disguised liberal speech, lashing out against commercialism, the vicitimizing, opportunistic nature of our evil society, and the lurking, evil monster that is big-business. Save your money.
Rating:
Summary: Broad and insightful
Review: This is one of the most enjoyable books I have read in the past twelve months. It is a quick read, maybe a couple of sittings, but it touches on so many issues. Far beyond just an indictment of the American processed food industry, this book gets into land use issues and the suburbanization of America, loss of open space, the farming crisis, the economics of unskilled labor, and on and on. I hope not too many people get hung up on the descriptions of the slaughterhouse, or the chemicals and contaminants that get into our food--hot button topics in our overconsuming, overweight society--because there is SO much more here to think about than just the food itself. This book is a great synthesis of many subjects, and I'm glad it is getting so much attention.
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