The Fatal Harvest Reader: The Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture by Andrew Kimbrell (Editor) (1-May-2002) Paperback

by Andrew Kimbrell

Fatal Harvest takes an unprecedented look at our current ecologically destructive agricultural system and offers a compelling vision for an organic and environmentally safer way of producing the food we eat. The Fatal Harvest Reader brings together in an affordable paperback edition the essays included in Fatal Harvest, offering a concise overview of the failings of industrial agriculture and approaches to creating a more healthful and sustainable food system.

Genres: Environment, Agriculture, Nonfiction

Unknown Binding

First published May 1, 2002

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly disappointing.

When I saw this book, I was excited to see something that finally went in to great detail on the environmental impact of industrial plant agriculture. Large scale mono-crop agriculture is something that needs to be addressed more, but unfortunately this is overshadowed by all the attention given to industrial animal agriculture (and worse, perhaps, is the false dichotomy in all of this).

While some articles did a great job of exposing the centuries-old myth of over-population and the importance of healthy topsoil, others went down a path of pseudoscience, fanning the flames of chemophobia. I prefer my foods locally grown and organic too, but folks, the health argument isn't there. I used to believe otherwise, and then I got trained as a health coach, looked at the science, and had to accept the evidence.

Since this is a collection of articles, and not a proper book, sadly there is an extreme lack of citations for these claims. What a shame, since the book was intended to provide ammunition for activists.

Overall, I have to give this 2 1/2 stars for a lack of a proper bibliography which is incredibly frustrating for those not trained in health and environmental science (and even for those who are, since it requires a good deal of fact checking), and the sad and completely unscientific chemophobia that gets promoted. I love and agree with so much of the anti-industrial agriculture statements, but without the science to back it up, it's little more than an unchecked theory for someone else to find a citation for.

[Steves · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best sort of compendium of issues related to agricultural practices in the United States and how they effect eating habits and the environment. Explanatory without being condescending, the articles also don't overwhelm the reader or beat them over the head. One of the more sensible in this category.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for most people who want to get a better understanding as to why industrial agriculture is "The Fatal Harvest". I would stress finding a simple source that can explain 'negative' vs 'positive' feedback loops. In my edition my class found two articles where the authors had miss used the concept. Other wise, this is easy to read and well explained.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is seriously depressing. And it seems like a lot of their facts aren't backed up. I'd like to see the sources for the articles.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worthy read for the information it contains, though I think some of it is old and a little outdated; but some of the essays aren't particularly well written and are difficult to follow.