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Gluttony: Ample Tales of Epicurean Excess
Hot on the heels of "Lust," the second title in our "Chronicles of Sin" series explores excess in all its bulging glory. "Gluttony" is a satisfying smorgasbord of good writing about an overabundance of food and drink -- and its consequences. Everyone loves to eat and drink, and in "Gluttony" readers can indulge to their hearts' content -- without gaining an ounce. Including short stories, essays, and excerpts, "Gluttony" offers such delicious tidbits as Russell Baker on fried bologna, M.F.K. Fisher on the carnal beauty of excess, and Fran Lebowitz on the salutary dietary effects of stress. Featuring both period and contemporary pieces, "Gluttony" stretches the waistband of fine food writing.
132 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 2, 2013
Yes, this is gross at times (to comment on one reviewer who did not finish).
I think I heard about this from Batali, or Buford, or who knows. Just found it on my shelf today, re-read it quickly, and thought I'd post a quick review--my second time through this book was a little more thought-provoking than the first.
These are tales of over-indulgence and of food. Some of them are a little much, especially "The Feast" and "A Confederacy of Dunces." But underneath all of this is a warning of excess; it is a cautionary tale that within a feast a famine can lurk.
MKK Fisher says in her tale "G is for Gluttony" (1949): "Probably this country will never again see so many fat, rich men as were prevalent at the end of last ceuntry." She was wrong, in only that it is not fat rich men, but people of every class who are now morbidly obese. This is attributable to many factors, one of which is the fact that the cheapest food is not the healthiest (dollar menu?).
So the next time you hit up the Chinese buffet, remember that all of that gorging and feasting (while probably OK once in a while), is hollow, empty and probably dangerous to your health.
While at one time I thought this book a fun read for a guy who likes to eat, I now see it as a wake-up call and an indictment on our obsession with (over) eating.
I think I heard about this from Batali, or Buford, or who knows. Just found it on my shelf today, re-read it quickly, and thought I'd post a quick review--my second time through this book was a little more thought-provoking than the first.
These are tales of over-indulgence and of food. Some of them are a little much, especially "The Feast" and "A Confederacy of Dunces." But underneath all of this is a warning of excess; it is a cautionary tale that within a feast a famine can lurk.
MKK Fisher says in her tale "G is for Gluttony" (1949): "Probably this country will never again see so many fat, rich men as were prevalent at the end of last ceuntry." She was wrong, in only that it is not fat rich men, but people of every class who are now morbidly obese. This is attributable to many factors, one of which is the fact that the cheapest food is not the healthiest (dollar menu?).
So the next time you hit up the Chinese buffet, remember that all of that gorging and feasting (while probably OK once in a while), is hollow, empty and probably dangerous to your health.
While at one time I thought this book a fun read for a guy who likes to eat, I now see it as a wake-up call and an indictment on our obsession with (over) eating.
June 13, 2013
A collection of bits about gluttony. I was happy to reread a piece by MFK Fisher and it has given me something to blog about tonight.
December 11, 2013
Another great series of short stories, some more appealing than others (no pun intended).
December 9, 2018
Writings of excess from the Romans to today; awesome descriptions of feasts and foods
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews