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In Defense of Food
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto | Michael Pollan
What to eat, what not to eat, and how to think about health: a manifesto for our times "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." These simple words go to the heart of Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, the well-considered answers he provides to the questions posed in the bestselling The Omnivore's Dilemma. Humans used to know how to eat well, Pollan argues. But the balanced dietary lessons that were once passed down through generations have been confused, complicated, and distorted by food industry marketers, nutritional scientists, and journalists-all of whom have much to gain from our dietary confusion. As a result, we face today a complex culinary landscape dense with bad advice and foods that are not "real." These "edible foodlike substances" are often packaged with labels bearing health claims that are typically false or misleading. Indeed, real food is fast disappearing from the marketplace, to be replaced by "nutrients," and plain old eating by an obsession with nutrition that is, paradoxically, ruining our health, not to mention our meals. Michael Pollan's sensible and decidedly counterintuitive advice is: "Don't eat anything that your great-great grandmother would not recognize as food." Writing In Defense of Food, and affirming the joy of eating, Pollan suggests that if we would pay more for better, well-grown food, but buy less of it, we'll benefit ourselves, our communities, and the environment at large. Taking a clear-eyed look at what science does and does not know about the links between diet and health, he proposes a new way to think about the question of what to eat that is informed by ecology and tradition rather than by the prevailing nutrient-by-nutrient approach. In Defense of Food reminds us that, despite the daunting dietary landscape Americans confront in the modern supermarket, the solutions to the current omnivore's dilemma can be found all around us. In looking toward traditional diets the world over, as well as the foods our families-and regions-historically enjoyed, we can recover a more balanced, reasonable, and pleasurable approach to food. Michael Pollan's bracing and eloquent manifesto shows us how we might start making thoughtful food choices that will enrich our lives and enlarge our sense of what it means to be healthy.
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sarahbellum
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Pickpick

Listened to this #roll100 pick while I got a jump on Xmas cross stitch gifts. This cute pattern is for my niece ☺️ #audiostitching #litsycrafters

While I enjoyed this and felt like Pollan‘s approach to food, eating, and health is similar to my own, I would have liked to have heard more about how to eat healthy when you‘re short on time, money, opportunities. His recommendations reeked of privilege and didn‘t acknowledge food deserts, etc. 😕

EvieBee What pretty colors for your cross-stitch! 2y
Graywacke True, the privilege. I don‘t think it comes up much with him, but it‘s an issue. 2y
PuddleJumper That's great! 2y
Catsandbooks Cute cross stitch!!💕 2y
58 likes4 comments
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sarahbellum
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Shut the front door. I cackled out loud at this coincidence. What are the odds of a book you‘re actively reading referencing another book you‘re actively reading?!?

Only connect, indeed.

#george #roll100 #1001books

Ruthiella I love it when that happens! 😂👍 2y
EvieBee I love that! He was a total downer, right? 🤣 2y
erzascarletbookgasm Yup, love! 2y
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Graywacke Fantastic. But I want the the Key to all Mythologies! (And because of Pollan, I still pick out grass-fed beef.) 2y
sarahbellum @EvieBee so far, yeah. He‘s definitely a downer 🙃 2y
sarahbellum @Graywacke I‘ve never read it or watched the documentary, but I imagine Casaubon‘s work to be a proto Power of Myth 2y
Graywacke @sarahbellum well, the blurb makes Campbell sound amazing 2y
53 likes7 comments
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Smarkies
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Pickpick

It may be the case of the author preaching to someone who already believes in the idea - but I really enjoyed the book and strongly believe in the point he puts forward - Eat Food. Not too much.Mostly Plants.
Definitely recommended if you are interested in understanding food vs nutrients.

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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

Overfed & undernourished, that‘s the ridiculous paradox we find ourselves in. In the western world we‘ve processed our food to the point where we‘ve stripped it of nutrients to create a larger quantity. He gives obvious tips, like make sure you read ingredients & shop farmers markets, but he backs it up w/the research explaining how the food industry has changed over the past few years. I got a lot out of the book, & hope the tips stick with me.

Tamra So true. 4y
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ravenlee
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Pickpick

I wish there was an updated version (or if there already is that my library had it!), but I found this fascinating. It‘s easy to read if a little difficult to swallow. It renewed my dedication to following a mostly whole-foods diet, which I‘ve slipped and slid from over the past year (pandemic, lockdown, having hubby deployed for five months, etc). Third finish of #20in4 with @Andrew65

Andrew65 Doing great 👏👏👏🙌 4y
sarahgreatlove Yeah I listened to it on audio. Great ideas but I find it hard to adjust to them in a busy life. 4y
ravenlee @sarahgreatlove I‘m looking at it as any progress is good progress. I‘ll shop at the farmers‘ market when able, increase the veggies in our meals (we usually eat plenty, but not always), try to get the husband to buy organic meat for the kiddo‘s sake if not his own. I‘m not throwing out half my pantry, but I‘ll try not to buy processed stuff as much. It‘s a work in progress. 4y
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mrsmarch
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My corn has tassels! It‘s a miracle! Might even get to eat homegrown corn this summer. #victorygarden #urbanfarm

ValerieAndBooks 💖 Aka DAR Sunshine Garden ☀️ ! I have a few pots on my deck — mostly herbs — and waiting for my tomato 🍅 plant to ripen 😋 4y
ValerieAndBooks P.S. awesome new profile pic. I‘ll answer your email soon! 4y
mrsmarch @ValerieAndBooks one of the tomatoes on one of my plants is almost ripe...it turned orange the other day. We‘re in for 90 degree temps this weekend so I expect a bunch will ripen. 4y
31 likes3 comments
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janeycanuck
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Pickpick

A thoughtful and organized argument of everything that‘s wrong with our modern Western relationship with food. Pollan lays out where things went off course and gives guidance on how we can get back on track. His mantra of “eat food, not too much, mostly plants” will stay with me.

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janeycanuck
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My favourite part of summer - reading in the evenings out on the balcony while the dog watches the world go by.

#dogsoflitsy

wanderinglynn What a sweet reading buddy! ❤️🐶 4y
janeycanuck @wanderinglynn yeah, she‘s pretty great! 4y
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sarahlandis
Pickpick

I love Michael Pollan!!!! This book was so good and definitely made me reevaluate things (I was in fact eating fries from Burger King as I finished this). Food farming, diet, and disease are such complicated, intricate issues in western culture and he does such a good job with his research, giving readers simple explanations with sometimes humorous insight. Simply put, Pollan always educates me AND makes me want to be better.

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JustCarissa
Pickpick

A refreshing read on food, as well as the scientific and cultural places it holds across several societies. It‘s a read for anyone who finds themselves constantly confused by nutritionism and the ways their food is marketed to them.

A criticism I do have is that in a post-2016 world, this book often adopts a tone of “what They don‘t want you to know!!” Luckily this attitude that often comes off as smug is outweighed by being heavily sourced.

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JustCarissa
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Thinking about this excerpt a lot.

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Megabooks
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Pickpick

I did a lot of extra study on nutrition in vet school & have had my dog on a prescribed diet since. I fully believe this is why he is alive at 17 when he was predicted to die at 7.

That said, the breaking of nutrients away from their traditional dietary contexts certainly hasn‘t done a lot for western people, including me. If Sara Lee sold imitation bread, would you buy it? Because that‘s what most is.

I‘m taking a hard look at my health, ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Scochrane26 I listened to this years ago. I have another one of his I‘m going to read soon. I also like Food Matters by Marc Bittman (sp?). 5y
Megabooks ⬆️⬆️⬆️ and in my heart I know I need to eat a wider variety of foods, more whole foods from the farmer‘s market, and cut out the over-processed gluten free carbs. I also enjoyed his look at the lipid hypothesis of weight gain versus the newer carbohydrate hypothesis and how both are faulty. 4.5⭐️ 5y
Megabooks @Scochrane26 I just downloaded Cooked because it was a daily deal and added the audiobook. Thanks for the rec! 5y
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Scochrane26 @megabooks I should probably listen again to the tagged because I don‘t remember much. I got into some of those books, including Fast Food Nation sometime before 2010, so it‘s been a long time. 5y
sprainedbrain I think I need to listen to this one! I absolutely loved 5y
Megabooks @sprainedbrain I read Omnivore‘s when it came out, but that was so long ago! I‘m going to read Cooked next from him. It‘s on sale on kindle this weekend! I definitely recommend In Defense of Food. 👍🏻 5y
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Owlizabeth
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Current armchair situation - all three are fantastic in their own ways. And the tagged is my textbook, so I‘m reading with real purpose!

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CampbellTaraL
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Pickpick

A grounding place in a time of rampant nutritionism (a form of religious zeal) that shows the failure of reductionist thinking, and the Western world's never-ending quest for the holy grail of optimal food item, may it come packaged and profitable.

The book shows where "nutrition science" mixed with self-interested governing bodies and poor journalism came together to make a disaster of westernized food, especially the American type.

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caraltmcbride
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Looking for Health & Wellness / Fitness & Nutrition books...any suggestions?

CrowCAH Welcome to the Litsy family!!! 📚 6y
caraltmcbride @BethM : thanks! I'll try it for sure! 6y
caraltmcbride @CrowCAH : very kind of you! Thanks!! 6y
RaimeyGallant Great book! 6y
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CampbellTaraL
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After eating all the feels today, I decided to hit up the library and checkout this book on food. I've been meaning to read it for awhile now, here goes!

BarbaraTheBibliophage I was surprised at how much this book made me laugh. Pollan is so good! 6y
Tanisha_A Michael Pollan is so good! 6y
CampbellTaraL @BarbaraTheBibliophage I'm loving his witty commentary! 😁 6y
CampbellTaraL @Tanisha_A Agreed! This is my first book of his, though I've been a fan of his articles and journalism. 6y
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Olive315
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My first book I received for Christmas this year during my family's celebration on the 27th of Christmas II. I really enjoyed The Omnivore's Dilemma so I think I'll like this too!

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Foragingfantasy
Pickpick

This pretty much just reinforced all the things I already believe about America‘s food system. The knowing and the doing are two different things. Definitely motivated me to hit the farmers market more often and maybe eat fewer Woppers and 🍟.

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perfectlywinged
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Summer fruit and finally reading this book that has been on my shelf for ten years. And it is still pretty on point.

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KimHM
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Reading in this tiny urban park in Andover, Mass until Daughter gets off work and retrieves me. 📚🌿💚

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KimHM
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“. . . a food of humbling complexity . . . “

Try as I might, it‘s difficult to escape reminders of the train wreck that is the current administration. Sigh.

📚💚🥦🥒🥑🍆🍅🍑🍒🍉🍏🍐🍓🥝💚📚

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RaimeyGallant
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Pickpick

This was pubbed in 2008 around the same time I started chasing ethical food knowledge, so there weren't as many new takeaways for me as there will be for others. What I will say about this book/manifesto that I've never been able to say about anything similar in length, is that I agree with everything he wrote, and everything is still applicable. Pollan puts the common sense back into eating, and I recommend it for anyone who eats. #Recommendsday

MissyMelissy This is one of my favorites! I have read it several times and it is flagged and dog eared in so many of my favorite parts. 7y
A_woman_on_a_bike One of my favourites too! Well researched but simple messages that have stayed with me. I often think about his description of food being something your grandmother would recognise as food. “Eat food. Not too much. Mainly leaves” 7y
RaimeyGallant @A_woman_on_a_bike He almost said it that way exactly! When you post something, tag me so that I can welcome you and hopefully get others to as well. :) 7y
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Craftylikefox I love Michael Pollan! I get so excited when I hear anyone even mention that they have read In Defense of Food. If you haven‘t yet, you should check out Cooked too! 7y
Craftylikefox @RaimeyGallant I have not! I will add it! 7y
A_woman_on_a_bike Thanks @RaimeyGallant Still working my way around 😊 7y
149 likes10 stack adds7 comments
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RaimeyGallant
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Michael Pollan's voice has been replaced for me by the narrator's. Potential future scenario: Someone who looks an awful lot like Michael Pollan walks up to me.

HIM: Hi, I'm Michael Pollan.
ME: Bullshit.

I feel like this disaster could be avoided if, in audiobooks and when possible, authors introduced their narrators and then said something at the end as well. This is only my 2nd #audiobook though. Do any authors already do this?

benchley1 Most of them have read by before 7y
Kaye I listen to tons of audiobooks. The only one I recall the sort of introduced his narrator was Pat Conroy, talking about the narrator of Prince of Tides. Apparently the narrator died shortly after completing the book, at a fairly young age, so Pat gave a wonderful tribute to him. Most narrators introduce themselves..one, Grover Gardner introduced the narrator. Authors narrating their own books is almost always a recipe for disaster. (edited) 7y
Graywacke Like @Kaye I‘ve only come across it once. Sometimes the author will read parts, like maybe the introduction, but there typically isn‘t any verbal acknowledgement of a switch except the change in voice. I agree it would be nice. (edited) 7y
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Dogearedcopy Generally, no because authors don‘t work with the narrators at the bigger production houses. The rights for the audio are sold separately from the print rights (though they can bundled) much like film rights. Sometimes an author may get a consultation or approval, but it‘s generally best when writers write and casting agents cast and narrators read out loud... 7y
Dogearedcopy Pat Conroy did a tribute to the late Frank Muller (FM died as a result of brain trauma from a motorcycle accident at a relatively young age.) I‘m not sure what Grover Gardner did, though I know Ken Burns did an audio intro about Shelby Foote‘s Civil War Trilogy which GG narrated. (edited) 7y
RaimeyGallant @Dogearedcopy Great info! I'm just talking about a preference though, mine, to the extent possible, to hear authors say a quick hey at the beginning and end of the narration. Audio narration is still a pretty young industry though, so we may see changes. Love that you're so involved in it. :) 7y
Chelleo I prefer memoirs, and to a much lesser extent, non-fiction with first person accounts, to be read by the author. I recently listened to We Were Eight Years In Power, personal narrative essays, that was read by a narrator and it irked me to no end. (edited) 7y
RaimeyGallant @Chelleo Off to find that in Libby, fingers crossed. 7y
wanderlustforwords Audible states the narrators name before every book, but I haven‘t heard an author talk about the narrator. 7y
117 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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RaimeyGallant
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"You are what what you eat eats too."

MrsSpencer Oh goodness... I should@probably invest this one !! 7y
88 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Jacobwakeup
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I hit a brick wall with every other book I was reading. I‘m flying through this gem to build momentum. This is a “fun” read for me.

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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate! May your shared meals be delicious and fun! 🧡💛🧡💛

#quotsynov17 #family

RebelReader I love Micheal Pollan's philosophy and his books. Another good one is Mark Bittman. Happy Thanksgiving! ❤️ 7y
Cinfhen Thanks, friend 😘 7y
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Reviewsbylola 🦃 🦃 🦃 7y
Dolly Michael Pollan is my hero 👏. I agree that cooking our own food is paramount. 7y
TricksyTails Happy Thanksgiving! ♥️ 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Reviewsbylola That‘s a lot of turkey! 😍 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Dolly He is awesome! 🙂 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @TricksyTails Thanks - right back to you!! 🧡 7y
kspenmoll Happy Thanksgiving- 🦃❤️📚 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @kspenmoll Thank you! Hope yours was lovely! (edited) 7y
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jessamyngrace

But I no longer think it's possible to separate our bodily health from the health of the environment from which we eat or the environment in which we eat or from the health of our general outlook about food and health. If my explorations of the food chain have taught me anything, it's that it is a food chain, and all the links are linked: the health of the soil to the health of the plants & animals we eat to the health of the food culture & us.

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jessamyngrace
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jessamyngrace

Today these 4 crops [corn, soy, wheat and rice] account for two thirds of the calories we eat. When you consider that humankind has historically consumed some 80,000 edible species, and that 3,000 of these have been in widespread use, this represents a radical simplification of the human diet. Why should this concern us? Because humans are omnivores, requiring somewhere between 50 and 100 different chemical compounds and elements to be healthy.

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jessamyngrace
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But who knows what else is going on from in the soul of a carrot?

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jessamyngrace

Indeed, to look at the chemical composition of any common food plant is to realize just how much complexity lurks within it.

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jessamyngrace

"One of the most troubling features of nutritionism is... 'If foods are understood only in terms of the various quantities of nutrients they contain,' Gyorgy Scrinis wrote, then 'even processed foods may be considered to be "healthier" for you than whole foods if they contain appropriate quantities of some nutrients.'

How convenient."

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Jaimelire

Just listening to this on audiobook. Anyone read it? What did you think? I find his views rather interesting. 🥗

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janeycanuck
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This is lurking on my TBR, along with a few other Michael Pollan books I picked up after watching Cooked on Netflix. He's definitely a fan of #vegetables and I love his philosophy for how to eat. Chocolate is a plant, right? #junebookbugs

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jpmcwisemorgan

Now I'm watching the PBS documentary on Netflix because the Talk Green to Me book club decided to watch documentaries and have a free-for-all discussion. If you're not up to reading a nonfiction movie, I recommend the show. Both are eye opening and not preachy.

LibrarianRyan You might try a Place at the Table. It's a book and documentary about food insecurity in the us. 7y
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Lynnsoprano
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#maybookflowers There's a lot of #truth in this book.

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AlwaysBeReading
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It's all a scam! Capitalism is the real evil.

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MarticaMustRead
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Pickpick

🌟🌟🌟🌟
This slim yet very informative ‘food manifesto' made me reexamine my habits in relationship to food. Not only what I consider as food, but also where it comes from & how I select it. If we really want a change in our health, it has to start close to home; be it by buying local at farmer‘s markets, eating seasonally whenever possible, or better yet from our own garden! But we have to actively make the choice & effort to choose quality.👍💪

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MarticaMustRead
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🍞🍅🦃🍏🍫🐄 #CurrentRead

Lunchtime reading😋.....kind of a perfect pairing, don't cha think? 😉😁

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MarticaMustRead
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???❤ #Bookmarks #CurrentReads

Brand new bookmarks that my wonderful thoughtful beau surprised me with- "just because"?!
He knows me so well!??

......ok, now back to reading?

BookishFeminist Love them all! 8y
35 likes2 comments
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Cobscook
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Reading this engaging nonfiction as I wait for my daughter to emerge from basketball practice.

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courtney
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What's a birthday celebration without some book buying? My husband and I survived 3 different breweries AND dinner tonight. Can I also just say that now that it's getting cold, I'm excited to see what Litsy's first winter is like? I know everyone on this app knows how to get cozy AF with a good book and I can't wait to see how we all evolve in the winter months. Cheers!

saresmoore 🍻🎉 8y
BibliOphelia Is today the actual day? It's mine! 8y
Zelma 😂 I totally understand your excitement. Litsy is going to make this winter even cozier! 8y
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britt_brooke Happy birthday! 8y
Texreader Happy birthday 🎉🎂🎁!!! 8y
James Happy Birthday 🎂 8y
Soubhiville Happy birthday!🎁🎂🎊 8y
courtney @BibliOphelia @britt_brooke @Texreader @james @Soubhiville thanks guys! It was my husband @Pete 's birthday on the 19th, we just celebrated yesterday ☺️@Zelma seriously! There's going to be so many cuddly animals, beautiful snow pictures, nice looking blankets and warm beverages and I CANT WAIT 8y
courtney @Zelma for some reason the tag didn't work in my comment up there! 👆🏻 8y
rachellayown Happy birthday! 🎉 🎂 📚 🎉 8y
Zelma @courtney 😆 yes, there are going to be amazing pictures this winter!!! 👍 8y
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rachellayown
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Sometimes popcorn, but always my home brewed kombucha. #readingsnacks

Alfoster Love Kombucha! 8y
rachellayown Me too @Alfoster ! Do you make it? 8y
Alfoster No, my daughters do, though, I get it at Costco. Would love to make my own! 8y
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Alfoster How hard is it?? 8y
rachellayown It's actually really easy! I was intimidated to try it, but I love doing it now. 8y
rachellayown If your daughters make it then maybe you can get a scooby (starter) from them? Let me know if you try it or have questions! 8y
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jpmcwisemorgan
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Look what I found in the wild - if you call Jamba Juice the wild! Michael Pollan's work is well-done. He puts effort into his research and writes to a general public so it's not stuffy.

SoniaC I've read several of his books and always enjoy them. 8y
jpmcwisemorgan @SoniaC Audible was running a special on a particular narrator's work and one of the books was something by Pollan. I think the special is still on and because you already like Pollan you might enjoy an audio version of his work. Could be another good choice for your foray into audio. 8y
SoniaC Awesome I'll look into it. 8y
BookBabe Mmmmm, Jamba Juice. 😋 8y
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Jaimie
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Bailedbailed

I gave up on this one. I really liked a couple of his other books, but this one didn't really have a narrative like those, and it's a bit preachy. I totally agree with him, but I don't think I need to read the rest of a book that I've been slogging through to know that.

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AliReads
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Reading about rising obesity while listening to the sound of rain and fireworks is honestly the most American thing I've done today. #oops

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AliReads
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It's late, after long hours of packing, but gotta read while you can.

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Jaimie
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Seems like appropriate breakfast reading.

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Kluckleesie
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Pickpick

In an age where food is processed ingredients and a meal is a burger in the car stuck in traffic, Michael Pollan and this book serve to remind us that real food is worth slowing down for. Grow food, cook and revel in the pleasure of eating. And absolutely read this book.

Dolly Michael Pollan's books have changed my life. This and The Omnivore's Dilemma are on my top ten all time list. A must read for anyone who eats! 8y
Kluckleesie @Dolly my hubby got this one for me. It's his first that I have read and I loved it. We try to grow as much of our own food as we can and we raise our own meat. And we love to eat. Haha so Pollan definitely speaks my language. 8y
BarbaraTheBibliophage This book made me chuckle and still taught me a tremendous amount. 🍇🍒🍆🌶🍵 8y
Kluckleesie @BarbaraTheBibliophage I just ordered another one of his. This is the most excited about nonfiction I get. Haha 8y
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