Rating: 
Summary: Highly Informative Expose
Review: Have you ever caught a whiff of a box of Crayola crayons or Silly Putty in your adult life and been mentally transported back to a moment in your childhood??? Well...McDonald's counts on their Happy Meals translating "into frequent adult visits..." because a person's food preferences are formed during the first few years of life. Therefore, if a kid loves Happy Meals the odds are they're going to keep coming back as they get older."Fast Food Nation" was a very interesting read, but hardly a page turner. Although some parts were very important toward painting an overall picture of the industry, there were many portions that I found a bit boring. I am not a huge fast food fan...I eat it, but rarely. After reading this book I will certainly think twice before driving through a McDonald's (substitute any other chain here) because after learning about how these companies exploit their workers I am hesitant to continue to support the industry. "Fast Food Nation" covers all aspects of the business - not only what goes on behind the scenes at the restaurants. Schlosser takes the reader to the slaughterhouses, the potato plants, the flavor factories, through important historical governmental decisions, and into the homes and lives of the workers. I would recommend this book to anyone curious about our nation's most popular "eating habit". But be prepared to lose your appetite in the process.
Rating: 
Summary: Eye Opening
Review: An interesting topic that was explored in a great way. I liked how Schlosser picked a town and depicted the effects of fast food's ever increasing presence. I could not believe some of the stories in the meatpacking plants, but I found that maybe I (like many Americans)was a bit naive or just didn't want to know. And I think that is Schlosser's point--people should take the time to think about what they are buying when they pull up to their local McD's--its often a lot more than fattening foods.
Overall, while I found his leanings to be a bit libereal, I thought the book was fantastic because he did his fair share of homework on the topic.
Rating:
Summary: Conscience Raising
Review: I can not, in good conscience, ever spend another nickle at a Mc Donald's thanks to Mr. Schlosser. That's easier for me to say than for most, as my children are now grown. But I would like to believe that had I read this epose' when my children were small, I would have made it a POINT not to frequent fast food (especially McD's) and I would have carefully explained to my children why not. "Fast Food Nation" is riveting and disturbing...but it reads like a novel; you can't put it down!
Rating:
Summary: A Fabulous Book About a Sick Exploitive Industry
Review: Destined become an American classic, this book describes the rise and development of the fast food industry in America. More importantly, it brilliantly documents how this industry has come to dominate, manipulate and control the food industry to the point that we, as a nation, are at risk because of the health hazard this industry has created.
Because the fast food chains are the biggest customers of raw foods in the world, they control prices, squelch government regulation and inspection of foods ( especially meat ) and have succeeded in obscuring the national identity of many nations because " McWorld " has driven the traditional restaurants out of business. For example, the traditional German restaurant, one that sells schnitzel, all sorts of wursts and beer is disappearing, in part thanks to the presence of 400 German McDonalds.
But if the health risk and political clout is enough cause for alarm, it is the treatment of the animals they use and the horrible labor tactics that will make it difficult for me to ever patronize one of these establishments. In regard to labor tactics, it is quite evident that the abuses of the past are right before us once again.
There are a lot of people out there ( found mainly on conservative talk shows ) who spew hatred for any government regulation. Eric Schlosser shows what happens when big business is allowed to run wild without any government regulation.
This book is very well written, carefully researched and loaded with insight about what we have allowed our democracy to create. I want to stress that I am all for democracy and our way of life. But when money and influence speaks louder than health and safety and when young children are manipulated into developing a habit for lots of sugar and fatty foods, then it is time to take a close look at what is being practiced and do something about it. Eric Schlosser has the guts to say what is long overdue. The book is highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: A Telling Indictment of our Culture
Review: Fast Food Nation offers a critique of not only the fast food industry but all those whom continue to feed at its trough. In the interest of full disclosure, I have to confess that I used to work at a fast food joint (many years ago) and still occasionally eat at them. Fast Food Nations shows how America has been changed for the worst as a result of our passion for cheap and fast meals regardless of its nutritional value or taste.
The social loss that the convenience of the drive thru represents goes beyond the individual but affects society as a whole as generations are paid minimum wage in return for their basic education. The replacement of family ranches with factory farms and the increasingly dangerous environments of slaughterhouses are a silent testimony to the dangers of an entire industry that treasures eternal profits over all other concerns. The one weakness that the book doesn't dwell on is alternatives. Although the author gives some instances of fast food, which goes against the tide; the author never explains where else the workers will go. For most Americans, working in fast food is only a first step in the work force. What would replace fast food as employers? The author never answers the question preferring to attack their labor practices. Will the United States be willing to give up the convenience of fast food for a more socially responsible alternative? Probably not.
Despite a few flaws, this book is one of the best that I have read this year and will at least make you think twice before eating those fries.
Rating:
Summary: Everyone Should Read This Book
Review: A dramatic yet not over-dramatized account of meat-packing, food preparation, fast food marketing, etc. in the US. It's true that he goes a little far in places, but most of what he says really rings true. A great education and a fun read. You'll never look at McDonalds the same way again.
Rating:
Summary: Holy Hamburger!
Review: To make it succinct...we haven't eaten in a fast food restaurant for over 30 years and are sure glad of it! Schlosser gives you everything about fast food and the founders in this book, he's a superb researcher. The book is a fast read, but for data purposes, he's included an index! How wonderful! The information on Walt Disney and the post war Nazis he hired didn't surprise me, but what did is the meat packing industry. He also had a separate article regarding same in Mother Jones Magazine. I'd always wondered why there had been a plethora of ecoli problems in recent years when prior to the last couple decades, meat seldom had problems. Schlosser tells you why. It's a great piece of work...I can't wait for his book on prisons.
Rating:
Summary: Let's take back our "fast food nation!"
Review: Maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment, but I just finished reading two highly disturbing books in a row - first "Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting By in America" and now "Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal." Somehow, I found it strangely appropriate reading these books, both of which seriously call into question some of America's (currently)dominant values, in the aftermath of the recent, horrible terrorist attacks on America. For what were those attacks but the start of a war on America by those who hate our values and all that we stand for? Interestingly, as we prepare to go to war to defend our values (both good and bad), here are two books that look unflinchingly at some of the darker, less savory sides of America, and some of the dark, unsavory values that they reflect. It is also important to note that fast food, as one of the most visible symbols of American "culture" as it goes global, is one of those things which people worldwide both love -- and hate with a passion -- about America. So, what is so bad about fast food, you might ask? It's cheap and tastes good, right? Well, after reading Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation," the question might be better asked: what ISN'T bad about fast food? Let's see, here's something which is: 1) bad for your health (hert disease, E Coli); 2) bad for the environment (large-scale pollution caused by factory farming, for instance); 3) bad for workers (low pay, terrible and dangerous working conditions, degrading, virulently anti-union); 4) bad for cultural diversity (a few huge corporations take over America, wiping out local color and uniqueness in the process); 5) bad for our communities (contributing to suburban sprawl, blighting our landscape); 6) bad for our politics (as these companies pour money into politicians, overwhelmingly right-wing, who will do their bidding on a whole host of issues, including direct and indirect subsidies from you, the taxpayer, to them, the rich corporation); and 7) bad for the animals raised and slaughtered inhumanely. Besides that, what's not to like? Oh yeah, it's only "cheap" if you don't consider all the "externalities," as economists call them, such as implicit and explicit government subsidies, pollution, minimal enforcement of health and safety laws, etc. which makes fast food "cheap." And it only "tastes good" because of the addition of dozens, even hundreds of chemicals you probably don't want to know about, made by factories concentrated in industrial New Jersey. Lovely... All I can say is, if you finish reading "Fast Food Nation" and ever enter a fast food restaurant again, you're either a) extremely brave; b) not particularly smart, to put it mildly; c) hopelessly addicted to fast food; or d) totally uncaring about - pick one -- your health, the environment, worker safety, America's culture and communities, the corrupting influence of money on our politics, and/or cruelty to animals. Besides never eating fast food again, which is a total "no-brainer" after reading Eric Schlosser's brilliant, even courageous book, the question is, what MORE can you do? Well, how about telling your representatives in Washington that you don't want your tax money subsidizing the fast food industry? How about demanding that your school board not allow fast food in your kids' schools? How about being willing (if you can afford it) to pay a little more money up front for organic food? How about telling all your friends to read "Fast Food Nation," and to spread the word? How about starting by reading "Fast Food Nation" yourself, today? If we do all this, maybe we can start to take back our country and our values, and to make them better than Eric Schlosser so accurately, powerfully, and disturbingly depicts in "Fast Food Nation."
Rating:
Summary: Fun...Easy Read
Review: This book presents a large amount information and balanced research without seeming like it. The best book I've read in a long time.
Rating:
Summary: The consumer is the REAL culprit!
Review: While Mr. Schlosser's book is nice, and points out a real problem, the real problem is the "American Dream." You may recall that I have submitted another review about this subject. In that review, I stated that I had worked at 3 fast food restaurants, over a period of two years. I worked at McDonalds, Dairy Queen, and Blimpies. To be honest with you, as a former employee, I side somewhat with the chains I worked for. The reason your food is so gross, the employees undertrained, the food so artificial, the meat packers so injured is because of you-the consumer's-cheapness, not to mention how rude you are. Like I said earlier, I worked at three different fast food chains. The behavior and attitude in the places was all the same. While Blimpies gave more raises and started me at a higher wage, it felt the same working there.
I have worked countless nights watching customers and their antics, which would get them kicked out of a better restaurant. While waiting, most of the time people would be talking about how slow we were. If they weren't talking about us, they were standing there, arms crossed, glaring at us. They would say things like, A Big Mac costs that much to make? Bull $&*^! Others didn't swear, but would throw food, leave the tables a mess, and so forth. And when the prices went up and another chain was having a sale, there would be no one in the store at all--they would be down the street, trying to save a measly nickel. The average customer doesn't clean up for themselves, either. When there would be a mad rush in one of the stores, you could see evidence of this--there would be an endless mess once the rush was over. Employees would be kept an hour or so later than usual to clean it up. Which usually meant a little more on the paycheck for me, but meant the price on your favorite foods would eventually go up--who knows how many more employees were doing just as I was at the time. While many of the reviews on the page for this book, and Mr. Schlosser himself sympathize with the workers low wages and benefits, you could start helping us out be treating us decently, and cleaning up after yourself. Then the turnover rate would most likely go down, and you wouldn't have to worry about unskilled workers serving you. It is completely hypocritical to help a bunch of people out when you already treat them so shabbily. It actually costs money--as Mr. Schlosser points out--to make you favorite foods. It also takes money ot pay for benefits, ingredients, employees and employee training, stores, machines, and everything else. All that I am saying is that while I agreed with Mr. Schlosser's book, I must say that change is up to us--the Americans who started this. After all, being so cheap and rude is what got you here in the first place, not the fast food chains.
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