This was a really fascinating book, examining both the roots and present day culture of the fast food industry, and how it is infiltrating (becoming?) our culture.

It's a mix of expose, research paper, and psychology study. Really an enlightening read, although mentally I nitpicked some conclusions and premises the author took, overall this was incredibly enlightening. It wasn't a "screaming headline of the day" type book, but rather truly creepy in the way it made me realize how our culture is changing, practically being bought by large companies.

I see this is on a lot of people's wishlist at Cliff's site, so would like to make it a bookring.

Bookring to begin this month for this copy. Please journal when received and when finished. Please move it along within 2 months of receipt, or at least give an update of its progress by that time.

I would like to keep this a US only bookring, and to 6 participants (changed to 8 as a few people asked to join at the end) as I would really like this copy to return. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!

1. raquelsita, CA
2. bossmare, WY
3. AmyMS88, TX
4. NGraceD, MO
5. Mamikaem, MO
6. SCRAM33, NC
7. Grammarbroad, LA <------ here now
8. susieq46, WI
9. fizzfred, CA
-----> back to MazieNH, Hooksett, NH.

RELEASE NOTES:

mailed off to start bookring

Came in the mail today. I'm in the middle of another book right now, but I will start this one soon. Thanks MazieNH!

I thought this book would talk about all the gross things that are in fast food today, but it talked more in general about how fast food has changed the nation and the world. At times I just felt like he was trying to go in too many different directions with it instead of just focusing on one or two issues. It almost makes me feel like it's hopeless...there's no way to avoid eating chemicals or possibly tainted meat. At the end of the book he discusses all the things about the industry that need to be changed, but he doesn't really talk about HOW goverment can change them. To me it seems like one of those issues that everybody agrees needs change, but when it comes down to it they don't want to raise their taxes or do whatever it may take to actually make the change.

In all, an eye opening and educational read. A little boring at times...I found myself skimming over some material. But it gives you a good overall look at the start and rise of fast food and all that came with it.

Will be shipped off to bossmare this week. Thanks MazzieNH!

Got today via postal release. Thanks, will read quick as I can.

If this doesn't give you the jeebies about eating beef I don't know what else would. Opens your eyes about the meat packing business, (horrendous) the sly, underhanded, way that McDonald's and other fast food places treat their workers, the advertising practices, the way they got into the schools, etc. All the hiring of illerate illegals in the nation's meat packing business and they want to irradiate beef makes me uneasy. When almost half of thier worker's can't read any langauge! This is just asking for an accident of horrendeous proportions! They may call it cold pasturization but it still using radiation. We need to get more laws back on the books concerning the meat packing business. The Bush administration's gutting of Clinton's meat packing laws was just one more reason to get Bush out of office next term. To bad it couldn't have been this time. This book is creepy.

Just rec'd this book today. I'm a little afraid to read it, I do love my McDonald's fries... I have one in front of it I have to finish, then this is next. I'll get it out as soon as I can!

Thanks a lot!

I have mixed feelings about this book. It is definitely an indictment of the meat packing industry in the US. The stories he tells are frightening and the industry seems to have a SCARY hold on the US government, which I think is incredibly wrong!!! About the fast food part, though, I look at it this way - MickeyD's doesn't force me to eat there. For heaven's sake, Americans need to take responsibility for their own actions and choices. It should be obvious that french fries are not health food. Eating fast food is a choice, and it's easily avoidable. Avoiding hamburger altogether (unless you're a vegetarian) is really not that easy. It's pretty much a staple in our kitchen... I do agree that the industry needs to be overseen by a federal agency in order to make our food supply as safe as possible. Some of the abuses documented in this book are absolutely ridiculous.

As for marketing to children, again, I have to disagree with his stand. Children don't have jobs (usually) and children should not be in charge of the household. (Of course, I can say that-since I don't have any :-) ) When I was a kid, the advertisers could market to me all they wanted. If my parents didn't want me to have something, I didn't get it. I know things have changed in the last 25 or so years, but we had fast food maybe 3 or 4 times a year. And believe me, my brother and I did want it!

Some of his suggestions at the end I do think would work. If we all demanded that McD's and others used beef from suppliers who treated their workers well and they did, I think that would help some. I don't think there should be any restrictions on advertising to kids, that comes too close to violating 1st Amendment rights. That's just my .02. I did learn a lot from this book and plan to try to think critically about what I put in my body!

I am really close to finishing and will mail it out in a couple of days, as soon as I get the next person's address.

Mailing today to Advoc84justice (formerly NGraceD).

This showed up in my mailbox today

Received this in the mail yesterday. I really need to read this as I just got out of the hospital. I was having chest pains, but after many tests, it's not the old ticker after all (thanks to God!) Still the doctor wants me to lower my cholesterol, so it's goodbye McDonald's french fries! :-( Maybe this book will encourage me!

I have a few book rings/rays on the stack in front of it, but will get to it asap.

UPDATE: 01/31/2005 - started reading this today.

02/13/2005 - I'm almost finished and really enjoying this! SCRAMM33 has just received her own copy of the book, so I will skip her and contact the next person on the list.

This book was very informative--maybe a little too informative at times! I stopped short of finishing it, as enough was enough! It was indeed well written and the author did a good job on his research, but I'm still not giving up my McDonald's! hehe!

Mailed to GrammarBroad on 02/25/2005.

Arrived today. Thanks a lot. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Sorry to keep this so long. It was a pretty quick read once I got to it.

I echo the sentiments of the other journalers. I especially enjoyed the history - how we got to where we are today. I also feel the impotence others expressed about what we can actually DO about it - on any kind of scale. Of course we can control what we do individually, but unless there is some sort of UNION, or unity - little commercial there - what good will it do in the long run?

Still, I'm glad I read it. I guess becoming informed IS the first step.

#640

Just where has this book gone? Will it be moving again one day to another anxious reader? The Lost Book Island welcomes this book to our friendly shores in hopes that some rest and relaxation is all that is needed for this book to get moving again to finish out the bookring that it once started on so long ago.

Here at the Lost Book Island books may choose from a variety of activites. There is lots of fun in the sun and plenty of time to lounge in the shade and sip cool fruity drinks. And of course there is no 'fast food' on this island. All o our delicacies are prepared fresh daily from the variety of materials at hand and feature the all-you-can-eat buffet in the dining room.

It is hoped that one day very soon this book will get a new journal entry that will tell all of the interested parties just where this book has been and what its future travel plans will be.

I received this book in today's mail from GrammarBroad, with a kind note of apology. I'm glad the mystery of the lost book has been solved. I'll stop reading the book I'm reading now and get to this one right away, so it can proceed on its journey. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read a book I've wanted to read for a long time.

RELEASE NOTES:

I am grateful for the chance to have read this very enlightening book. I'll never be able to look at a fast food restaurant the same way again. I'm sorry I wasn't able to get this book to fizzfred sooner. It will be in the mail tomorrow.

Oh my gosh, I have had this for a while now. I guess with the confusion of the holidays I forgot to journal that I received it. It has been sitting next to my bed and I have read about 80 pages. I will finish it as soon as I can.