Winter Break Book Reviews

Here's what I've been reading for fun before classes start.

The Omnivore's Dilemma - Michael Pollan

There have been many recent exposes of the food industry, but Michael Pollan's is by far the best. It's not a polemic (although I hear he's written those too). It's a surprisingly balanced and realistic, admitting that its ideals are also difficult and impractical. Pollan takes us through "a natural history of four meals" that exemplify four means of food production. We see a McDonald's meal produced by conventional farming; organic roast chicken and vegetables from a Whole Foods; a chicken dinner dinner all grown on a sustainable small farm; and a pork/mushroom that resulted from training as a hunter/gatherer. Along the way we learn about FDA regulations, food subsidies, the evolution of the corn genome, and Peter Singer's persuasive but flawed writings on animal rights.

It's appropriate that I read this book on my epic airport adventure, being herded like cattle through security gates. While I don't always buy organic or free-range food, I feel like knowing is half the battle. We can still understand our food even if we never visit farms or slaughterhouses.My food restrictions require me to pay close attention, but that's also why I do goofy things like photograph my salads. Pausing to thank God for a meal couldn't hurt either. 

Pollan frequently invokes the natural balance evolution has determined, making his account is also an unwitting testament to the complex beauty of God's creation. Could it be that we have tried to circumvent God's wisdom with our chemical fertilizers and synthetic vitamin supplements? The book's very title points to the blessing and curse of human nature. When you can eat or do anything, how do you determine what you should? Pollan's dilemma is one that we've been struggling with even before we left Eden.

Girl Meets God - Lauren Winner

Raised by a Jewish father and lapsed Baptist mother, Lauren Winner went through two conversion processes. Her freshman year at Columbia she became an Orthodox Jew. Still, a fascination with Jesus persisted, and she entered the Anglican church while studying for her master's at Cambridge. This book reflects on the process of both conversions, and the challenges of building a meaningful life in one's new religion. Following the course of  a liturgical year, the story celebrates aspects of both Judaism and Christianity, showing how they are connected. There is some typical new convert fervor - she covers her bedroom wall with images of Christ - but there is also  family tension and continuing catechesis.

True confession - part of me wanted to hate Lauren Winner. (Self-deprecating envy is one of my congenital vices, Lord help me.) In all of our close similarities she surpassed me: more advanced degrees in America religious history, more publications, more devoted bookworm, more abundant social life, more historic Virginia hometown.  Luckily some Googling dug up video of a sermon Winner gave at Duke. Her very nerdy voice and glasses assured me that book deals do not guarantee celebrity hotttness.Just because no one is publishing my spiritual memoirs does not make me a loser (pun intended.)

Phew, now that is off my chest, I can say this was an excellent book. Winner's story was approachable and relate-able. It made me appreciate my own faith, and even inspired me to pray more! Winner's reflections on the Incarnation and scripture study were especially good. Of course, her experiences as a religious person in academia were especially encouraging to me. Go pick up this memoir if you want an intelligent discussion of faith that blends modernity and tradition.

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