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A consumer's guide to the food system, from local to global: our part as citizens in the interconnected networks, institutions, and organizations that enable our food choices. Parasecoli describes a system made up of open-ended, shifting, and unstable networks rather than well-defined chains; considers healthy food and the contradictory advice about it consumers receive; discusses food waste and the implications for sustainability; explores food technologies (and "culinary luddism"); and examines hunger and food insecurity in both developing and developed countries. Parasecoli reminds us that we are not only consumers but also citizens, and as citizens we have more power to improve the food system than we do by our individual food choices.
228 pages, Paperback
Published May 21, 2019
16 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
Fabio Parasecoli
16 books11 followersFABIO PARASECOLI is President of the Association for the Study of Food and Society and teaches on food history, culture and the arts at the Città del Gusto School in Rome and at New York University. He is also a journalist for the food and wine magazine Gambero Rosso and author of Food Culture in Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 25, 2020
It's an incredibly broad subject to cover in a succinct primer like this, so there were definitely a lot of places that could have benefitted from more elaboration and thought provokation. It's a good start though. However, what I love most about this series is the wealth of resources via the citations. The author goes out of his way in the beginning to note the intention of being light on footnotes, but I think that maybe he went a little too light. There were a lot of things that definitely fell outside the rule of thumb of "common knowledge" and should have definitely had an associated citation number, but did not. Being that my main purpose in reading these MIT books is to use then for what they are - primers and gateways to more primary resources - I was pretty disappointed at the lack of thoroughness when it came to citations. Still worth a read, but a little too light for me - I could barely recount anything substantiative or novel if you asked me what I just read.
August 7, 2020
In Food, written as part of the MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series, journalist and Professor of Food Studies Fabio Parasecoli gives us a well-rounded summary and description of the current global food system.
In seven chapters, we get to read about the different topics related to food, some of which include: Health and Nutrition, Environment and Sustainability, Technology, Hunger and Food Security. As a student who will be embarking on the Food Science and Technology course in university, I was compelled to read this book as I wanted to get a rough picture of the current global food system and know more about its processes and problems.
I am happy that the author expounds on these issues and at the same time reveals how food is intricately linked to other topics like geopolitics and economics. However, it also seems like the book doesn’t offer much that is new as most of what is mentioned has already been taught to me in my Geography/Economics lessons in high school. This is, of course, no fault of the author. Yet, I believe the unavoidably academic writing style might make this a dry read and deter less interested readers, hence my rating.
3.5/5
In seven chapters, we get to read about the different topics related to food, some of which include: Health and Nutrition, Environment and Sustainability, Technology, Hunger and Food Security. As a student who will be embarking on the Food Science and Technology course in university, I was compelled to read this book as I wanted to get a rough picture of the current global food system and know more about its processes and problems.
I am happy that the author expounds on these issues and at the same time reveals how food is intricately linked to other topics like geopolitics and economics. However, it also seems like the book doesn’t offer much that is new as most of what is mentioned has already been taught to me in my Geography/Economics lessons in high school. This is, of course, no fault of the author. Yet, I believe the unavoidably academic writing style might make this a dry read and deter less interested readers, hence my rating.
3.5/5
September 5, 2020
An excellent rundown of the current state of the global food system for those new to the topic. Parasecoli runs us through the myriad ways in which food is a far more complicated issue than most might realize via the spiraling tendrils that our food choices reach into the economic, cultural, health, social, and environmental spheres of our increasingly globalized world.
This book delves into a brief history of how we reached the global networks of today; to confusion over nutrition information and how governments are attempting to both clean it up and keep it safe; to the sustainability issues looming over the planet due to irrigation, overfishing, CAFOs, monocultures, etc.; to the continual issue of food insecurity and how it is often entwined with forces far outside the what one might expect; the advancement of technology and its repercussions, both positive and negative; and finally, the fine web of political and economic agreements desperately in need of restructuring.
All in all, a concise illustration, clearly written - a great snippet of multiple topics to provoke deeper delving. In fact, one element I quite like is that the book is packed with questions, whole pages worth that foster further analysis and exploration! While I'd learned most of the information in the book already, the literal piles of questions are great resources for those finding themselves inspired to look a little deeper into an area that interested them.
This book delves into a brief history of how we reached the global networks of today; to confusion over nutrition information and how governments are attempting to both clean it up and keep it safe; to the sustainability issues looming over the planet due to irrigation, overfishing, CAFOs, monocultures, etc.; to the continual issue of food insecurity and how it is often entwined with forces far outside the what one might expect; the advancement of technology and its repercussions, both positive and negative; and finally, the fine web of political and economic agreements desperately in need of restructuring.
All in all, a concise illustration, clearly written - a great snippet of multiple topics to provoke deeper delving. In fact, one element I quite like is that the book is packed with questions, whole pages worth that foster further analysis and exploration! While I'd learned most of the information in the book already, the literal piles of questions are great resources for those finding themselves inspired to look a little deeper into an area that interested them.
December 13, 2021
just finished up this thorough little overview of food systems, food globalization markets, agricultural behaviors, environmental changes, policy and politics influence in food issues, food security and justice, food(ie) trends, and how technology folds all around this food tapestry.
it's published by the mit press' essential knowledge series, and i'd say it's a great intro to the various issues and complications around food. it helped me understand a bit more about when certain changes came about (like the continued influences from the green revolution of the 70s), and thinking about technology in a more modulated way (looking more closely at who is funding what tech innovations, and who profits from them).
it also emphasized how we as citizens can be more involved (it's not just how you exercise your buying power!).
it's published by the mit press' essential knowledge series, and i'd say it's a great intro to the various issues and complications around food. it helped me understand a bit more about when certain changes came about (like the continued influences from the green revolution of the 70s), and thinking about technology in a more modulated way (looking more closely at who is funding what tech innovations, and who profits from them).
it also emphasized how we as citizens can be more involved (it's not just how you exercise your buying power!).
October 13, 2019
For a compressed version of a complicated topic, this was very well written. If you eat food, check out this book, it will at least get you thinking.
July 29, 2020
It's like reading a book about reading a book about food. Certified 100% information free vapid filler. I assume this is a student's homework which the university decided to publish to shame him.
August 10, 2020
It is presented as a semi-structured, long conversation with a food-expert. Given the amplitude of the topic, it only felt like an appetizer. But frankly, “se me quedó en el diente”.
July 28, 2020
The dynamics of food production and distribution, the supply chains, economics, and technologies have all been strained during the COVID pandemic, which makes it an apt time to understand more about all of the above. This book is part of MIT Press's "Essential Knowledge Series" and it touches on all of the above, as well as nutritional concerns, in a compact manner. It is short, not exactly sweet (the writing is a little dry and academic). It is best for those who really are beginning to see the truth about food. But if you've read anything in the food politics genre, you're unlikely to find anything new here.
April 9, 2020
Extremely informative, it opened my eyes to the food system from a different perspective.
However it was difficult to follow because it felt like reading 200 pages of bullet points. There were no stories to connect the disparate facts, figures, and ideas.
Would recommend if you are super interested in the topic.
However it was difficult to follow because it felt like reading 200 pages of bullet points. There were no stories to connect the disparate facts, figures, and ideas.
Would recommend if you are super interested in the topic.
May 25, 2020
Read during a global pandemic (CORVID-19). Gave context to the state of the food supply chain, even though the material predates the pandemic. Informative read -- it is to the point -- but can get dry.
June 17, 2020
Mile wide and inch deep
December 31, 2020
It's obvious that this book was written by a journalist. Superficial coverage of the topics included, with too few hard facts and too many opinions. A disappointing read.
Currently reading
January 20, 2022641.3 P223 2019
March 7, 2022
you know the cheap food chapter from A History Of The World in 7 Cheap Things? It's that chapter but more expansive.
August 10, 2020
Written as part of the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, Food by Fabio Parasecoli is a pocket-sized book that provides up-to-date information pertaining to the global food system.
It comprehensively describes the intricacies of the global food system and the various problems that exists within it e.g. health, environmental and food security issues. It details how cultural, social, economical and political factors all have an important role to play in engendering these issues and what can be done to address them.
The book is divided into various chapters, including health and nutrition, environment and sustainability, technology and hunger and food security. I particularly enjoyed reading the chapter on technology as it describes the possibilities of technology in the food systems and how it can potentially help solve problems e.g. fridges that can keep tab on what food is going bad inside to prevent food wastage and also its ability to connect with online grocery shops to arrange deliveries for what needs to be replenished (especially beneficial for patients with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia).
As the book is inevitably laden with information, it is not as engaging and compelling as what I would hoped for. Nonetheless, this is a relevant and informative book that accurately depicts the complexity of the global food system and what we as consumers and citizens in the interconnected networks can do to improve the system.
It comprehensively describes the intricacies of the global food system and the various problems that exists within it e.g. health, environmental and food security issues. It details how cultural, social, economical and political factors all have an important role to play in engendering these issues and what can be done to address them.
The book is divided into various chapters, including health and nutrition, environment and sustainability, technology and hunger and food security. I particularly enjoyed reading the chapter on technology as it describes the possibilities of technology in the food systems and how it can potentially help solve problems e.g. fridges that can keep tab on what food is going bad inside to prevent food wastage and also its ability to connect with online grocery shops to arrange deliveries for what needs to be replenished (especially beneficial for patients with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia).
As the book is inevitably laden with information, it is not as engaging and compelling as what I would hoped for. Nonetheless, this is a relevant and informative book that accurately depicts the complexity of the global food system and what we as consumers and citizens in the interconnected networks can do to improve the system.
November 4, 2025
⭐️ 3.0
Good introduction to the many topics involving the food system. Doesn’t delve too deep into such topics, but has great references and has piqued my interest into learning more about food politics.
Good introduction to the many topics involving the food system. Doesn’t delve too deep into such topics, but has great references and has piqued my interest into learning more about food politics.
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March 12, 2020A lot of fun to read, but not a lot of resolutions to provide. It's an interesting perspective on the impact of technology and political structures on hunger, GMOs and nutrients.
It even provides an interesting look at the effects of issues like colonization and capital gains on crops in other countries, soil damage and the cosmopolitan outlook on locavorism to today's food culture.
A great summarization of today's food situation for sure!
It even provides an interesting look at the effects of issues like colonization and capital gains on crops in other countries, soil damage and the cosmopolitan outlook on locavorism to today's food culture.
A great summarization of today's food situation for sure!
February 10, 2020
Food systems explained with great examples and a historical and international approach.
Food systems explained with great examples and a historical and international approach. Good ideas if you if you want to do Food research.
Food systems explained with great examples and a historical and international approach. Good ideas if you if you want to do Food research.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews