Nov 17, 2006 if you go to see fast food nation with a group of friends, there is a good chance that someone the smartalecky contrarian. The term fast food first appeared in the merriamwebster dictionary in 1951. Het scenario is geschreven door linklater en eric schlosser en is. Handpicked recommendations to other books that have a similar writing style or theme to fast food nation. To a degree both engrossing and alarming, the story of fast food is the story of postwar america. I couldnt resist sharing two powerful quotes found toward the end of the book something to keep in mind if you tend to hit the fast food joints on the weekend as an easy out to making something at home. Though created by a handful of mavericks, the fast food industry has triggered the homogenization of our society. In some ways it reminds me of upton sinclairs the jungle. Fast food nation is a book by eric schlosser, which uncovers the fast food industrys greed, unsanitary conditions, and almost. This book covers american history and culture, post world war ii.
Huge corporations put pressure on small ranchers, family farmers, and the environment. Americans now spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer software, or new cars. The fastfood industry, which has spread all around the world, has its origins in the united states. The most serious thing about fast food nation is that it was written 15 years ago and not much has changed. Nobody in the united states is forced to buy fast food, writes schlosser. The fast food nation lesson plan contains a variety of teaching materials that cater to all learning styles. Fast food nation themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. This book sold so well, and the design was so good, that, in many ways fast food nation became the template for every subsequent alternate food history book to follow. Eric schlosser, author of fast food nation, on the. The dark side of the allamerican meal fast food nation. But the good news is that this isnt a frivolous book at all. Fastfood restaurants are characterized by informality, focus on speed and friendly personnel. Melissa sweeney introduction taking place in the many different fast food franchises, chicken and cattle farms, and factories around the united states, fast food nation, by eric schlosser, teaches the world the untold story of fast foods.
Thus far in the book, schlosser has focused on specific people in specific locations colorado springs, greeley, etc. Every day in the united states, 200, 000 people are sickened by a food borne disease. With the advent of fast food chains following world war ii, americans have latched on to the ease and convenience of ordering a meal which is ready within minutes and which, because of advertising and gimmicks, is especially popular with children. Aug 17, 2010 fast food nation has brilliant acting and great themes strung around a loose narrative that mimics reallife. Large, sugary drinks and deep fried food have a high calorie content and a low nutritional content. Its not only a critique of fast food, the chemicals we are ingesting and the health problems we are facing, it is also critical of a system that allows exploitation of young, old and immigrant workers, and of the suburban sprawl. Apr 04, 2002 fast food nation by eric schlosser its been selected as one of times 100 best nonfiction books. How do the five themes of geography apply to fast food. Apr 06, 2001 during my research for the book, i ate an enormous amount of fast food. Schlosser wrote the novel fast food nation in attempt to show america the dark side of the fast food industry.
The red and yellow color scheme not so subtly brings to mind a certain fast food purveyor, without. Inside youll find 30 daily lessons, 20 fun activities, 180 multiple choice questions, 60 short essay questions, 20 essay questions. Fast food nation ends with a call for consumers to demand better treatment of workers and more healthful, safer food. Schlosser is a serious and diligent reporter, and fast food nation isnt an airy deconstruction but an avalanche of facts and observations as he examines the fastfood process from meat to marketing. Jan 17, 2001 new york times bestseller schlosser has a flair for dazzling scenesetting and an arsenal of startling facts. The bestselling fast food nation and other recent books have alerted us to such dangers as genetically modified organisms, foodborne diseases, and industrial farming.
The dark side of the allamerican meal, is titled why the fries taste good. They have turned one of the nations best manufacturing jobs into one of the lowest paying, created by a migrant industrial. The movie fast food nation and the book of the same title are very different. Schlosser goes into great detail about the research he had done to prove his point. Fast food nation pdf by eric schlosser bookspdf4free. Ten years after his seminal book fast food nation, eric schlosser reflects on how little has changed in the production, safety, and consumption in americabut why hes still hopeful. Responding to the demands of the fast food and supermarket chains the meatpacking giants have cut costs by cutting wages. Fast food nation is an informational book that lets readers in on the actual food process. Fast food nation, by eric schlosser one of the most shocking books of the generation is eric schlossers fast food nation. Schlosser begins by focusing on mcdonaldsto many, the symbol of american fastfood culture. The human body, having burned the calories it needs to sustain itself, stores excess calories as fat.
In that regards, its essentially a sliceoflife kind of. Fast food nation points the way but, to resurrect an old fast food slogan, the choice is yours. Free study guide for fast food nation by eric schlosser. Jan 17, 2001 fast food nation is a fascinating and very readable book. This study guide consists of approximately 47 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of fast food nation.
Prior to the rise of large meatpacking plants, people would become ill from bad food in small, localized arenas. The dark side of the allamerican meal is a 2001 book written by investigative journalist eric schlosser that examines the local and global influence of the united states fast food industry. The dark side of the allamerican meal is a 2001 book written by investigative journalist eric schlosser that examines the local and global influence of the united states fast food industry first serialized by rolling stone in 1999, the book has drawn comparisons to upton sinclairs 1906 muckraking novel the jungle. During my research for the book, i ate an enormous amount of fast food. The dark side of the allamerican meal by eric schlosser and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Fast food has hurried the malling of our scene, broadened the gap among rich and poor, filled a scourge of corpulence, and pushed american social government abroad. Schlosser emphasizes the relationship between ones personal independence the freedom it impliesand of social welfare, or the common bond between. Sep 19, 2016 the most serious thing about fast food nation is that it was written 15 years ago and not much has changed. The dark side of the allamerican meal is a 2001 book written by. The film is horribly sourced, and doesnt provide 110th the background or factual data, and is far to speculative. In the early 1970s, the farm activist jim hightower warned of the mcdonaldization of america. The allamerican meal is now a hamburger, fries and a coke.
Chapter five of eric schlosser s examination of the food processing and service industries, fast food nation. The book is very well sourced, well researched and has stood up to scrutiny. Mcdonald s is, as schlosser writes, one of the largest companies in america, one of the largest retail property owners, and one of the major buyers of meat, bread, and potatoes. Discussion of themes and motifs in eric schlossers fast food nation. We used to enjoy the beef tallowfried mcdonalds french fries but they went by the wayside in 1990 and, despite schlossers explanation of how mcdonalds recreated that flavouring, we find it just aint. List of books and articles about fast food industry. That is one of the main reasons people buy fast food. Fast food nation is a fascinating and very readable book. Throughout the text, he emphasizes the point that fast food is a corrupting force that impacts nearly every aspect in america whether its in relation to health, politics, economy, society, etc. In 1998 schlosser wrote an investigative piece on the fast food industry for rolling stone. Eric investigates on the different locations where food is prcessed and learns how everything started in the business or in the world. Table of contents list of characters short summary synopsis eric schlosser biography historical information genre chapter summaries with notes analysis.
Many books have taken on the topic of fast food, and while they all emphasize different aspects, they share one unanimous message. The term fastfood first appeared in the merriamwebster dictionary in 1951. Fast food nation is the kind of book that you hope young people read because it demonstrates far better than any social studies class the need for government regulation, the unchecked power of multinational corporations and the importance of our everyday decisions. List of books and articles about fast food industry online. The fast food industry, which has spread all around the world, has its origins in the united states. Ive been juggling several books and have just now finished eric schlossers fast food nation, which i blogged about a while back.
It thoroughly explains what happens at the slaughterhouses all over the country. Eric schlossers fast food nation is, above all, an expose of the conditions in the fastfood industry. Every day in the united states, 200, 000 people are sickened by a. Fast food nation is een amerikaansbritse dramafilm, geregisseerd door richard linklater. Fast food restaurants are characterized by informality, focus on speed and friendly personnel. Fast food nation has brilliant acting and great themes strung around a loose narrative that mimics reallife. One of the recurring discussions in this book is the relationship between fast food and obesity. He viewed the emerging fast food industry as a threat to independent businesses, as a step toward a food economy dominated by giant corporations, and as a homogenizing influence on american life. They have turned one of the nation s best manufacturing jobs into one of the lowest paying, created by a migrant industrial workforce of poor immigrants, tolerated high injury rates, and spawned rural ghettos in the american. Now, because meat is distributed all over the nation, an outbreak of food poisoning in one town may indicate nationwide epidemic. They spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded musiccombined.
Fast food nation describes how the fast food industry has reduced the overall food quality worldwide, created poor. Originally published in 2002 and reissued in 2012 with a new afterward, its equally relevant today. The fast food nation community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. His chief objection is not that it tastes badfar from it, he insists, going on to examine, for instance, why mcdonalds fries lauded by the likes of julia child and james. By now most of us are aware of the threats looming in the food world. Fast food has hastened the malling of our landscape, widened the chasm between rich and poor, fueled an epidemic of obesity, and propelled american cultural imperialism abroad. The dark side of the allamerican meal from the worlds largest community of readers. If you go to see fast food nation with a group of friends, there is a good chance that someone the smartalecky contrarian. Now, because meat is distributed all over the nation, an outbreak of food poisoning in one town may indicate nation wide epidemic. Fast food nation is as relevant today as it was a decade ago. Fast food nation is a landmark book right up there in importance with rachel carsons silent spring. Fast food nation the groundbreaking work of investigation and cultural history that has changed the way america thinks about the way it eats and spent nearly four months on the new york times bestseller list now available on cassette. I think where it throws off some viewers is that, as in reallife, theres no apparent payoff. Fast food nation chapter 10 study guide thebestnotes.
Unfair labor practices are exposed throughout the book. How do the five themes of geography apply to fast food nation. Fast food nation study guide in 2020 infographic, book. Fattening up a controversial article published in rolling stone in 1999, schlosser considers all the ways in which fast food has lessened the quality of life in america. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in fast food nation, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Americans can no longer ignore the multiple health hazards of a fast food diet.
What began as a twopart article for the magazine turned into a groundbreaking book. First serialized by rolling stone in 1999, the book has drawn comparisons to upton sinclairs 1906 muckraking novel the jungle. Apr 12, 2020 this study guide and infographic for eric schlossers fast food nation offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. He has received a national magazine award and a sidney hillman foundation award for reporting.
Louis lassen is said to be the first to have ever served a hamburger. Now it is time for answers, and slow food nation steps up to the challenge. In a new afterword for this edition, schlosser discusses the growing interest in local and organic food, the continued exploitation of poor workers by the food industry, and the need to ensure that every american has access to good, healthy, affordable food. Fast food nation by eric schlosser its been selected as one of times 100 best nonfiction books. Fast food is certainly ripe for this perspective because it is a chief american export. The ending initially feels abrupt, and the fates of the characters unresolved. The dark side of the allamerican meal by eric schlosser published on 5th july 2005. Fast food has hastened the malling of our landscape, widened the chasm between rich and poor, fueled an epidemic of obesity.
Read about the themes used in eric schlossers fast food nation and their significance. Fast food nation is a landmark book right up there in. The fast food nation community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author. Colorados front range, or a group of cities including denver, colorado. The red and yellow color scheme not so subtly brings to mind a certain fast food purveyor, without heading directly into infringement. Summary by eric schlosser analysis booknotes download. Fast food nation goodreads meet your next favorite book. Fast food nation by eric schlosser books the guardian. Eric schlosser begins his account of the american fast food industry by focusing on one region of the united states in particular. In considering the effect fast food has had abroad, schlosser emphasizes the significance of his research. After reading the excerpt from chapter five of eric schlossers fast food nation. Sep 19, 2010 the movie fast food nation and the book of the same title are very different. The novel includes two sections, the american way and meat and potatoes, that aid him in describing the history and people. Fast food nation themes from litcharts the creators of.