Feature: Food Rules: An Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan (BLOG TOUR)

Title: Food Rules

Author: Michael Pollan

Illustrator: Maira Kalman

Publisher: Penguin

Genre: Food Memoir/Reference

I came across Michael Pollan's Food Rules awhile back and swallowed a large lump in my throat after paging through a few pages. Man, what the hell am I eating? What the hell is my kid eating? (sorry for the language)

I have since went on to read Omnivore's Dilemma, another book of his, and am fascinated with his take and knowledge on the current state of "food" in our society.

I was curious to take a peak at this new illustrated version

and check out the new rules he adds to this edition.

Here is a brief description from the author's website:

Michael Pollan’s Food Rules began with his hunch that the wisdom of our grandparents might have more helpful things to say about how to eat well than the recommendations of science or industry or government. The result was a slim volume of food wisdom that has forever changed how we think about food. Now in a new edition illustrated by artist Maira Kalman, and expanded with a new introduction and nineteen additional food rules, this hardcover volume marks an advance in the national dialogue that Food Rules inspired.

I think the illustrated version will make this quaint little book appeal to a broader audience who may have seen it before and chalked it up to "just another food book". The illustrations are qite lovely. I see it now as a way of life and a way of understanding what food really is. We all should really know what is in our food and what is going into our bodies. How does our childhood eating habits affect how we are today? What did our grandparents teach us?

I am glad I checked this book out. It puts shopping into perspective too. Why does my lunch contain ingredients I can't pronounce? Is that a good thing? Where is my food really coming from? Discover the natural goodness around you.

You don't have to be a foodie to appreciate the important message in this book.

Michael Pollan is the author of five books: Second Nature, A Place of My Own, The Botany of Desire, which received the Borders Original Voices Award for the best nonfiction work of 2001 and was recognized as a best book of the year by the American Booksellers Association and Amazon, and the national bestsellers, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and In Defense of Food.

A longtime contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine, Pollan is also the Knight Professor of Journalism at UC Berkeley. His writing on food and agriculture has won numerous awards, including the Reuters/World Conservation Union Global Award in Environmental Journalism, the James Beard Award, and the Genesis Award from the American Humane Association.

Visit Michael at his website, michaelpollan.com.

About Maira Kalman

Find out more about Ms. Kalman’s work at her website.

Maira Kalman is an illustrator, author, and designer. She is the author of The Principles of Uncertainty and she illustrated the bestselling edition of Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style. Ms. Kalman’s twelve children’s books include Max Makes a Million, Stay Up Late, Swami on Rye, and What Pete Ate. She also has designed fabric for Isaac Mizrahi, accessories for Kate Spade, sets for the Mark Morris Dance Company, and, with her late husband Tibor Kalman under the M&Co. label, clocks, umbrellas, and other accessories for the Museum of Modern Art.

Thanks to TLC Book Tours for having me on this tour.

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child