The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan explores the eating habits of people in the United States in The Omnivore's Dilemma.  In the first section, Pollan discusses the proliferation of corn into the American diet and the American way of life.  He also discusses the history of corn and the effects of its overuse on the health of Americans.  In the second section, he turns his attention to grass, or more accurately pastoral eating or grazing.  He discusses organic farming and the benefits of raising livestock eating foods their bodies are designed to eat.  He also delves into the potential issues with the organic approach and organic labels.  In the third section, he focuses on foraging for food.  He includes hunting and gathering food form the forest and other places where food grows truly organically - or in the wild, so to speak.  In this section, he also explores the controversary surrounding eating meat or being vegetarian.  Each section traces his personal journey of experiencing the process of taking food from being raised to the table.  He ends each section eating a meal based on that section's focus.  The Omnivore's Dilemma is a well-written, if at times academic, informative, and interesting examination of food and the American culture surrounding food.  Every person who eats should read The Omnivore's Dilemma to better understand what they eat to nourish or at least sustain their bodies.