Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants

Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. These three phrases are the backbone of Michael Pollan's amazing book, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto. Chock full of common sense, this book is not going to tell you anything radically different from what you already intuitively know. It does, however, provide more than enough research and statistical evidence to prove it. All of this is bundled up in a great package of prose, heavily peppered with incredible insights and conclusions into the politics and science (most of it faulty and unfounded) of the food industry. This was a quick and very enjoyable read, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in where our food comes from and the history of the industrialization and politicization of the food industry.

Transitioning now to the world of fiction, I've been trying to add a few modern novels to my reading list, and I picked up The Inhabited World on a whim on one of my trips to the library. I'm glad I did. To be honest, it wasn't instant-classic good, but it was enjoyable to read. Sometimes you do just want an easy, steady-paced book that doesn't require wading through long-winded monologues or pages upon pages of description. This is what I would call a dessert book, and as one is a success. It's about a man dealing with a sort of purgatory after his death, and is mostly a collection of his significant memories. There was a side-plot, dealing with the woman currently living in the house that our main character is "haunting", as well. The characterization of our "hero" is really the shining achievement of the book, grasped through his understanding of the defining moments of his life. I would recommend this book as a fun, fast read if you have the time.

I have about ten more books to read from my last trip to the library, but I'm already thinking of my next list. What have you been reading lately, and do you have any books that you love and wish everyone would read?