Rating: 
Summary: should be compulsory reading for all americans
Review: I am currently finishing my MSc if food logistic mangement and found this book almost by accident when looking in to new food processing technologies. Currently I am currently working in the food industry as a Logistics officer in the Army. Fast Food Nation was absolutely compeling book. I have worked within and visited Abatoirs as part of my training in the UK and was flabagasted at lax and unsafe the system running in the US. I certainly will not be eating any ground meat products whilst I am in the US. The threat from pathiogenic bacteria, the exploitation of the workers and the enviromental and political impact of this industry is incrediable, the lack of political will or ability to control the industry frightening. I found the book presented and argued these points with brevity and without exaggeration.It is clearly well researched and has done well to avoid being sensationalist, which in turn lends more weight to its conclusion. It is easy to read but at the same time will provoke deep thought, especially how our behavior has created this beast that exhibits the very worst attributes of capitalisation.
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Summary: Thank you, Mr. Schlosser
Review: This is a book that every parent and every high-school student should read. Please teachers, bring it into the classroom!
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting but.....
Review: A very interesting read. The behind-the-scenes details of a slaughterhouse were especially compelling. The technical side of creating odors and tastes for fast food was something I had never heard of and found it fascinating. However I noticed a disturbing undertone throughout. The author seems to harbor a deep resentment of capitalism and especially, Republicans. Read further and one can surmise he is actually anti-American, a sentiment prevalent on today's campuses and some media outlets so it's not an unusual stance and sadly, expected. Schlosser makes it a point to let you know that he believes most things wrong with the fast food industry can be traced to Republicans. His most egregious error (and a key one that betrays his beliefs and possibly his agenda) is to state that Gorbachev ended the cold war. Gorbachev!?! He slips this propaganda in slyly as a description of the man to make a juxtaposition about his accomplishments and the absurd notion of Gorbachev speaking at a fast food convention. His conclusion of why Gorby was there at all may actually be accurate, though. This book deserves at least three stars due to the interesting tidbits about the industry and the machinery that supplies it. But I can't give it anymore due to the author's blatant political agenda.
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Summary: A Great Lesson For Our Times
Review: This recount of the fast-food industry is extremely complelling and has made me think twice about eating fast food. Eric Schlosser tells vivid stories using sharp images and backs them up with stellar research. The book really makes a person evaluate his regular habits in life.
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Summary: Excellent Coverage of the Fast Food industry
Review: Schlosser writes a gripping account of the societal effects of the plethora of fast food restaurants. While not vegetarian's book, a health book, or even an animals' rights book, it is rather a grim look at the impact on the nation by fast food chains. The start of the book covers the beginnings of McDonalds, Carl's Jr, Wendy's. and other now-famous chains. Reading the capitalistic accounts of the owners is truly remarkable in understanding how these people got where they are today. However, there is a dark side to their success, one that Schlosser reveals to the reader and reveals the true nature of the business: profits. Schlosser covers the non-unionized workers that run the stores. They are at risk to robberies and are underpaid and have no real benefits. They are also given no real job skills, yet the restaurants receive tax breaks for the high rate of turnover on their employees. Schlosser then takes the reader through tours of various slaughterhouses. He has personally interviewed workers who are forced to do rush jobs butchering animals and who have high rates of on the job injuries that are quietly swept under the carpet. Most of the workers in charge of the nation's meat supply are uneducated illegal aliens. Most of the food found in fast food restaurants has been overly processed and may contain fecal matter or other contaminants, according to Schlosser. The overworked and understaffed USDA is often at the mercy of the meat plants. Despite repeat violations, even the USDA continues to purchase meat for school lunches from cited meat plants. There are many throwbacks in this book from Upton Sinclair's, The Jungle (the book is dedicated to "Red"). From reading the book, one would guess we are only a little better than where we were in 1906. The book doesn't advocate vegetarianism, but does equate the working conditions for the delivery of the cheap burger to those of the sweat shop workers. I found the book extremely compelling and factual, one that made huge amounts of sense to me as I see trend of homogenizing America, and the world.
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Summary: This is simply a great book
Review: I recommend this book to anyone who is on the fence about how they feel about corporate america. It's a fanatstic account of the evils of propaganda and control of the public mind. Not only that, it will set you straight as to how to overcome the pitfalls that exist in the corporate fast food industry (or corporations in general for that matter). You have a choice, and with the facts present in this book, it will help you put your thoughts into action. I was once a fast food junkie. I will never step foot in a fast food restaurant as long as I live. Thanks, Eric for having the courage and intelligence to write this book. It's an amazing piece of journalism.
Rating: 
Summary: Over and out
Review: Just read this book and I'm done with fast food, due to both its' effects on my health and the effects of the fast food industry on society as a whole. I realize this is not a review of the book, but look at it this way: someone who happily consumed cheap burgers, fries, fried chicken and tacos decided to stop after reading this book. Think there might be something to it?
Rating: 
Summary: Thank you, Captain Obvious
Review: .... I was simply bored. Ho hum, McDonald's and Burger King market to children in a calculated fashion. Whoopee, meat sometimes causes food poisoning. Yawn, slaughterhouse working conditions are bad. Zzzzzzz, fast food joints are staffed by underpaid teenagers who often drop food on the floor then serve it. No duh, Americans are too fat because they eat a lot of this stuff. Why not tell me something I don't already know? The author pads out the book with unnecessary anecdotes about the history of Colorado Springs, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Las Vegas, but the weirdest part was the story about e-coli bacteria in a school cafeteria! What does that have to do with fast food? Why didn't he investigate just why people go to these places, and why didn't he come up with some sort of solution? Save your money and go out for a good meal instead.
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Summary: A tip for readers
Review: Lasater Grasslands Beef is mentioned in the book as a place that raises cattle that have only been fed grass 'on the range'. It's true & you can order from them over the net. The meat is low in fat & high in flavor, and you don't have to worry about all the issues in Fast Food Nation as well as Mad Cow Disease. If you eat meat, support this ranch.
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Summary: Finally, a truthful look at fast food.
Review: I could not put this book down. I have sworn off fast food for years now, for a number of reasons. This book made me so glad that I haven't been eating that garbage. One of the previous reviews said. "if you like fast food, you probably shouldn't read this book." On the contrary, if you like fast food, that is the BEST reason to read this book. The people who do eat fast food need to know this information the most! I don't think everyone who reads this book will stop eating fast food, but at least they will be more educated about the risks they are taking and what kind of companies they are supporting. The narrative style of this book is excellent. The way the author tells stories is extremely compelling. This is a great read. I don't believe that any meat you buy in grocery stores is much safer than fast food meat. Furthermore, almost all meat comes from the same kinds of farms and slaughterhouses described in Fast Food Nation. There is no reason to consume beef if you want to stay healthy and avoid food poisoning. The beef industry will only listen when sales drop. Never underestimate the power of the consumer. I've been a vegetarian for 8 years now. It makes me happy that the author is not a vegetarian. Now maybe my family, friend and colleagues will read this book and start to understand why I've made the choices I did. And they will hear it from a person who *does* eat meat. People who do eat meat would rather hear this sort of thing from others who eat meat.
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