Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Average Customer Rating:

Compulsory Reading

Customer Rating:

Some reviewers have commented that this book is not as good as Felicity Lawrence's 'Not On The Label'. I would recommend both - they complement each other well, dealing with all manner of issues surrounding food production and consumption. Eat Your Heart Out is, of course, more up to date, but it's fair to say that little has really changed since Not On The Label was published and they cover differest aspects of a very big subject. This book ties in so many aspects of a system that we should all know and care about, not least because it depends so heavily on exploitation, messes up the environment, is unsustainable and serves up a food that is simply not very good for us (despite the way it's advertised). If that all sounds a bit left-wing and radical-veggy, then I would add that one of the most shocking apsects is how tax-payers on both sides of the Atlantic are having to fork out for massive (and damaging) subsidies that don't actually seem to help those who really need it. Felicity Lawrence does a great job of tying together the complex issues in a very readable way. Highly recommended - this really will change the way you think about food.

raises important issues but not an enjoyable read for me

Customer Rating:

I bought the book hoping that it would give a serious treatment of the issues surrounding food and big business but was left disappointed. My gripe is that the book presents an uneasy mixture of facts, quasi science, moral issues, the author's opinion, non facts presented as facts and annoying anecdotes. I "heartily" (hhahha hmmmmm sorry) agree with the conclusions reached and would happily recommend the book but my gut feeling is that the author does not present a strong enough argument to counter cynical detractors.

Very good and informative but not as brilliant as the first book

Customer Rating:

I was surprised to see everyone rating this as 5 stars. While Felicity Laurence's last book really was a five star book. This book is less oustanding. I can not really explain why except that it seemed to be a bit less gripping than the last one, but only a bit. For example the description of how margerine was made was so long wordy and complex that it could have done with some diagrams. In the last book that would never have happened. There was one dull chapter where Laurence described a car ride to conference which I even found dull (which is really a rare thing with this author). But that was the only bad chapter. My last gripe was her slightly anti capitalist bent. I would have thought that the government subsidising unhealthy corporate food production is more a description of socialism defined as government intervention rather than "capitalism". I would still recommend this book to others and did enjoy my read. I learned quite a bit and things do make more sense now. She is absolutely right about the crazy domination of a handful of ingredients in so much of our food. After I developed IBS and M.E I had to avoid corn, soya and white sugar, and certain food additives/chemicals. I found that so much in existance had those artificial tiny handful of ingredients - and now I understand why. Don't be put off buying the book from my review because it is a good book. Just don't expect the same level of brilliance as her last book "Not On the Label."

Wake up!

Customer Rating:

I found this book informative, revelatory and utterly compelling. You should definitely read it if you'd like to know more about how our food is adulterated beyond belief by the handful of faceless transnational corporations who control a vast amount of our food chain. The corollary of their unceasing quest to increase the "value added" to their products is that our food is nutrient-depleted to such an extent that we'd be better off eating the packaging their expensive, processed junk comes in. I too found this a better read than "Not On The Label" in that it explained more thoroughly the health implications of moving away from a diet that has evolved naturally over several thousand years to one that was artificially manufactured in the second half of the last century - seemingly not in the best interests of consumers but rather to line the pockets of agribusiness and to further the geo-political aims of successive American and European governments. There's plenty of "and now the science bit" but, whilst being quite detailed, I never found it difficult to follow. Before reading "Eat Your Heart Out" I felt a growing uneasiness about the direction our over-processed, convenience-led food supply was taking us. Now I feel much more informed about the damage that is being done to our health and society. This book will open your eyes and may even radicalize you a little. It really is breathtaking what has happened to our diets in the course of just a few decades. Thankfully, the author remains (just) optomistic that we've not passed the point of no return, and that a deal of the damage can be undone. But that's gonna have to start with individuals changing their buying habits and modifying their lifestyles. "Eat Your Heart Out" explains exactly why you should start today.

Brilliant!

Customer Rating:

Once again Felicity Lawrence has given us a book which should be required reading for everyone who eats. She has outdone herself this time with the detail and scope of her investigations into how food is produced, how it is packaged and shipped, and on the strangle hold that three food corporations and the supermarkets have on what we eat. The section on soya was especially shocking and if you are a vegetarian or vegan you absolutely must read this section. Her first book prompted me to make many changes in how I shop. This book has shocked me into a complete re-evaluation of what I actually eat. Read this book and it will change your life.