Unfair labor practices are exposed throughout the book. Fast food nation doesnt take easy shots at the fast food and beef industry, it shows the whole story, shifting back and forth betweeen intimate details of real people a meat packing plant worker, a franchise owner, several cattle ranchers, and the. 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. This is of course eric schlosser other significant figures included in the. God strike me dead before i consume another fastfood product.
The leading fast food chains still embrace a boundless faith in science and as a result have changed not just what americans eat, but also how their food is made. In 1998 schlosser wrote an investigative piece on the fast food industry for rolling stone. Deep fried costumes eat what youre given and be thankful of what you get. Fast food nation is an informational book that lets readers in on the actual food process. 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. One of the recurring discussions in this book is the relationship between fast food and obesity. 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. Ive been juggling several books and have just now finished eric schlossers fast food nation, which i blogged about a while back.
Don greg kinnear, a marketer for fictionalized restaurant mickeys, is troubled to learn of the meat packing plants terrible working conditions and contaminations, but is told by two veterans of the business that he cant stop the corporate suits. Often lowwage workers, relegated to kitchenless hotel rooms have limited food options. An ensemble piece examining the health risks involved in the fast food industry and its environmental and social consequences as well. Now, because meat is distributed all over the nation, an outbreak of food poisoning in one town may indicate nation wide epidemic. Grab one of these easy to wear, unisex and soft costumes today and make mouths water. Fast food nation goodreads meet your next favorite book. The movie fast food nation and the book of the same title are very different. Based on the text you are reading, answer the following questions in complete sentences in a reading journal. Include any vocabulary terms you needed to look up and define. 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. 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. Fast food responds elegantly to various screen sizes and has been tested to work across devices, from the largest of desktops to modern smartphones. What the allamerican meal is doing to the world portions of this book were first published in rolling stone.
Yet while it feels like a call to arms, the movies glamourless style and the conditions it describes are so stark you go home spent. Most of the chapter on why the fries taste good was previously published in the atlantic monthly and the guardian. In 2001, fast food nation was published to critical acclaim and became an international bestseller. Eric investigates on the different locations where food is prcessed and learns how everything started in the business or in the world. Eric schlossers expose revealed how the fast food industry has altered the landscape of america, widened the gap between rich and poor, fueled an epidemic of obesity, and transformed food production throughout the world. Choose from 500 different sets of fast food nation flashcards on quizlet. Its easy to bring your favorite fast food to life this halloween.
This book covers american history and culture, postworld war ii. To a degree both engrossing and alarming, the story of fast food is the story of postwar america. What began as a twopart article for the magazine turned into a groundbreaking book. They spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines. Immigrants bring the food of their countries with them wherever they go and cooking traditional food is a way of preserving their culture when they move to new places. Schlosser wastes no time introducing fast food nations main objective, as at the beginning of the book. In the afterword, schlosser talks about mad cow disease a disease that schlosser failed to mention upon the initial release of fast food nation. 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. Americans can no longer ignore the multiple health hazards of a fast food diet. The book helped to change the way that americans think about what they eat.
Jan 17, 2001 fast food nation is a fascinating and very readable book. Press release for fast food nation published by houghton. The most prominently featured person in fast food nation is the book s narrator, author, and investigative reporter. That is one of the main reasons people buy fast food. In his thoughtprovoking book, fast food nation, eric schlosser argues that americas fast food franchises have played a major role in contributing to the obesity and ill health of americans. Summary by eric schlosser analysis booknotes download. Fast food nation was made into a movie in 2006, directed by richard linklater.
The film is horribly sourced, and doesnt provide 110th the background or factual data, and is far to speculative. Essay on challenging beliefs in schlossers fast food nation 544 words 3 pages. Diet, nutrition, and food safety eric schlossers fast food nation is, above all, an expose of the conditions in the fastfood industry. In this lesson, students will learn how our lifestyles have changed, including our habits of eating and working, since the emergence of fast food restaurants. People began to react negatively to schlossers opinions listed in the book. Its an angry movie that could shame a big mac lover into having a salad. Fast food nation product information package dimensions 8. Discussion of themes and motifs in eric schlossers fast food nation. Schlosser wrote the novel fast food nation in attempt to show america the dark side of the fast food industry. Nevertheless, fast food nation, along with morgan spurlocks 2004. Section one, titled the american way, traces the history of fast food from its early ancestors in southern california through its growth and expansion throughout the united states, its consolidation into uniformity of delivery, its spawning of agribusiness megacorporations, and its global.
This paper shows how schlosser argues that fast food has contributed to uncontrolled development, negatively impacted american culture, and have had a. Fast food nation suit up for run to the drive thru. Fast food wordpress theme by boldthemes themeforest. Schlosser clearly demonstrates that this industry alone has been. To the surprise of nobody so much as schlosser himself, the book sold. Huge corporations put pressure on small ranchers, family farmers, and the environment.
Fast food nation by eric schlosser tone the author uses a playful and entertaining style in his writing, often including personal stories and descriptive phrases to make the problems of the sonamed fast food nation feel immediate and close to home. Fast food nation is a fascinating and very readable book. I think where it throws off some viewers is that, as in reallife, theres no apparent payoff. Fast food nation book cover the fastfood industry has had an enormous impact on the way that americans live and eat. Fast food nation oswego reading initiative suny oswego. A reaction to fast food nation, a book by eric schlosser. Fast food nation themes and style flashcards quizlet.
Apr 06, 2001 during my research for the book, i ate an enormous amount of fast food. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. How do the five themes of geography apply to fast food nation. Fast food nation has brilliant acting and great themes strung around a loose narrative that mimics reallife. Fast food nation audiobook abridged listen instantly. Table of contents list of characters short summary synopsis eric schlosser biography historical information genre chapter summaries with notes analysis. For more on the relationship between lowwage workers and the fastfood industry see barbara ehrenreichs nickel and dimed.
Behind the counter critical reading questions directions. Eric schlosser begins his account of the american fast food industry by focusing on one region of the united states in particular. It thoroughly explains what happens at the slaughterhouses all over the country. The story of meat packing plant workers follows sylvia.
The american way the first part, takes a historical view of the fast food business by analyzing its beginnings within postworld war ii america while meat and potatoes examines the specific mechanisms of the fastfood industry within a modern context as well as its influence. Fast food nation quotes by eric schlosser goodreads. There use to be a company called ibp, and it was americas biggest beef packing plant. 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.
We believe every one of us deserves equal access to factbased news and analysis. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in fast food nation, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The health risks of unhealthy eating habits in fast food nation, a film by richard linklater. Colorados front range, or a group of cities including denver, colorado. The ending initially feels abrupt, and the fates of the characters unresolved. Schlosser begins the book by tracing the genesis of fast food companies, especially mcdonalds. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. The book is very well sourced, well researched and has stood up to scrutiny. 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. Eric schlosser in this interview excerpt, eric schlosser, awardwinning journalist and author of the book fast food nation, discusses the state of the american food system. Schlosser goes into great detail about the research he had done to prove his point. It is fully responsive, retina ready and easy to customize. Every day in the united states, 200, 000 people are sickened by a food borne disease.
Fast food nation will not only make you think twice before eating your next hamburger. How do the five themes of geography apply to fast food. These greasy getups make excellent restaurant mascots for the fast food industry. A compulsively readable, deeply human novel that examines our most basic and unquenchable emotion. This time was especially prosperous for many americans, particularly white middleclass men. Eric schlossers fast food nation is, above all, an expose of the conditions in the fastfood industry. Aside from the salad greens and tomatoes, most fast food is delivered to the restaurant already frozen, canned, dehydrated, or freezedried.
In that regards, its essentially a sliceoflife kind of. Mcdonalds was still hesitant to improve their working conditions and critics worldwide criticized schlossers claims. Diet, nutrition, and food safety eric schlossers fast food nation is, above all, an expose of the conditions in the fast food industry. Now, because meat is distributed all over the nation, an outbreak of food poisoning in one town may indicate nationwide epidemic. Americans can no longer ignore the multiple health hazards of a. 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. The fast food nation causes acidification disease acceleration corrupt adjudication false nutrition advocation cancer alteration animal assassination and forest annihilation footnote eric schlossers book fas. Eric schlossers compelling new book, fast food nation, will not only make you think twice before eating your next hamburger, but it will also make you think about the fallout that the fast food industry has had on americas social and cultural landscape. In some ways it reminds me of upton sinclairs the jungle. The dark side of the allamerican meal serves to change the publics perception of some of the worlds most popular chain restaurants by informing its readers about the secretive, and often precarious, practices of the american fast food industry.
If you go to see fast food nation with a group of friends, there is a good chance that someone the smartalecky contrarian. This book was published in january of 2001 by houghton mifflin company in new york, ny. Fast food nation is divided into two large sections. The current methods for preparing fast food are less likely to be found in cookbooks than in trade journals such as food technologist and food engineering. Moreover, there is a classelement at stake in fastfood consumption. The fast food group costume is great for hen or stag dos, festival fancy dress and even perfect for ski season. Thats an outcome more american directors should risk. Sep 19, 2010 the movie fast food nation and the book of the same title are very different. Nov 17, 2006 richard linklaters fast food nation is major. With a satirists eye and a romantics heart, miles captures the morass and comedy of contemporary life in all its excess. New york times bestseller schlosser has a flair for dazzling scenesetting and an arsenal of startling facts. 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.
This book was written by eric schlosser who has received many journalistic honors for his books. Prior to the rise of large meatpacking plants, people would become ill from bad food in small, localized arenas. During my research for the book, i ate an enormous amount of fast food. With greg kinnear, bruce willis, catalina sandino moreno, wilmer valderrama. Free study guide for fast food nation by eric schlosser. The dark side of the allamerican meal, is a thoughtprovoking, researchbased account of the rise of the fast food industry and the resulting consequences of the drive for lowcost, rapidly prepared meals. Fast food nation themes from litcharts the creators of. Continuing to make food from their culture for family meals is a symbol of pride for their ethnicity and a means of coping with homesickness. Learn fast food nation with free interactive flashcards.