amberzieg's review against another edition
4.0
As an introduction to the science of climate change as affected by the global industrial food system, Diet for a Hot Planet excels at informing and entertaining. I have to admit I was hesitant when I started reading it and was sure it was going to be a chore to get through, but I really enjoyed it. Lappe writes in a way that is straight forward and easy to understand, which is a quite feat considering the volume of information included in the book.
In fact, that would be my only qualm, at least with the first section. It is intensely information heavy, with little anecdotal relief. One concept after another is thrown at the reader, with little chance to actually absorb any of it. All of the information is entirely relevant to the rest of the book, however, which is obvious in the number of references Lappe makes to information she's already introduced. And when she does reference something she's gone over before, Lappe does tend to review it, which is a great relief, at least for me.
The notes and bibliography are extensive, and throughout the different sections there are a lot of suggestions for further reading and research. It gives the impression of "Don't just take my word for it" and gives the reader the opportunity to actually go out and learn from more than just one source. While Lappe's worldviews are obvious and assumed to be correct, which could be abrasive to someone who sees the world and issues differently, the assumptions made in the book do seem to be scientifically valid, and everything she references is well cited. Overall, the book is very well researched. I especially appreciated the attention she gave to soil health, something that often is overlooked when discussing the health of an ecosystem.
The last three parts of the book are very easily followed, full of personality and wit as well as convincing arguments and biased or not, a whole lot of science. Lappe writes with a voice that is personable and not at all condescending. In the introduction she says she doesn't want to create cynics of her readers, and I would have to say that that definitely shows. The anecdotes and stories she chooses to express the hope that she's learned to see in the world really do illustrate it.
It's an incredibly effective book. I honestly think I will read it again.
In fact, that would be my only qualm, at least with the first section. It is intensely information heavy, with little anecdotal relief. One concept after another is thrown at the reader, with little chance to actually absorb any of it. All of the information is entirely relevant to the rest of the book, however, which is obvious in the number of references Lappe makes to information she's already introduced. And when she does reference something she's gone over before, Lappe does tend to review it, which is a great relief, at least for me.
The notes and bibliography are extensive, and throughout the different sections there are a lot of suggestions for further reading and research. It gives the impression of "Don't just take my word for it" and gives the reader the opportunity to actually go out and learn from more than just one source. While Lappe's worldviews are obvious and assumed to be correct, which could be abrasive to someone who sees the world and issues differently, the assumptions made in the book do seem to be scientifically valid, and everything she references is well cited. Overall, the book is very well researched. I especially appreciated the attention she gave to soil health, something that often is overlooked when discussing the health of an ecosystem.
The last three parts of the book are very easily followed, full of personality and wit as well as convincing arguments and biased or not, a whole lot of science. Lappe writes with a voice that is personable and not at all condescending. In the introduction she says she doesn't want to create cynics of her readers, and I would have to say that that definitely shows. The anecdotes and stories she chooses to express the hope that she's learned to see in the world really do illustrate it.
It's an incredibly effective book. I honestly think I will read it again.
ashleyozery's review against another edition
2.0
Some good facts but unfortunately my copy seemed dated (DC hadn't yet levied its plastic bag tax, for example). More background on the full effect of modern agriculture (e.g. fertilizers, transportation, negative effects of distributed gen even on a cattle farm) than just diet.
punkitgirl's review against another edition
4.0
very good just a little simplistic for me personally. great for someone who wanted to be introduced to the topic
jbosio's review against another edition
4.0
I've read some reviews that Lappe's book doesn't really offer anything new. I disagree. I felt this book did an excellent job of covering not only how our agricultural system impacts climate change, but what steps we can take as concerned citizens to change it. The bibliography and list of resources is also quite useful.
nrajtak's review against another edition
2.0
I read Diet for a Hot Planet by Anna Lappé for a Chemistry of Food class at my university. The book’s purpose is to raise awareness on how intertwined our dietary habits are with climate change and what we can do to mitigate this. Unfortunately, I had a very hard time taking the book seriously. Firstly, to get it out of the way, the book is written in such a manner that even I (a soon to be sophomore STEM major) found even the most basic chemistry and biology topics incomprehensible. I found myself unable to contribute to our class discussion because I simply didn’t understand what she was saying. Secondly, the author seems to be very heavily biased, particularly on the topics of veganism and genetically modified food. While I myself am a vegetarian, I strongly disagreed with how she promoted it. It seemed very much like a guilt trip and it was presented the same way you would expect a stereotypical militant vegan to do it. She additionally didn’t mention (or if she did, it was a fleeting sentence) any of the downsides of being vegan such as cost. When it came to GMO’s, she seemed to present all the same things I have learned in my class but come to the opposite conclusion that GMOs should be avoided at all costs. I’m not sure I would recommend this book and I give it 2.5 stars. Points given because I really enjoyed her two chapters describing alternative farming methods.
cransell's review
5.0
This was an interesting and thought-provoking read on the ways in which the food we eat (and the process by which that food is grown, processed and shipped) contributes to the climate crisis. Lappe starts by explaining the ways in which food and farming affect the planet and then explains how to have a "climate-friendly" diet. If you like reading about food and sustainability, this is a good book to add to your to-read list.
alhara's review
4.0
Yet another book on eating right for the environment? Yes! But this one covered topics that have been so far in my readings left out of other books, such as, for one example, an in-depth discussion of 'greenwashing' metehods and how to recognize them.
When I got this book I really wasn't in the mood to delve into a dry, lengthy non-fiction so I planned to browse it out of order. Well I looked into the 'how to read this book' section and it encouraged me to do just that.
I actually read the summary diet advice at the end first and found it to be really good advice. I felt it really gave you a good set of guidelines to make better choices.
Then I read through various topics as I was interested, and thought it had a lot of great info.
When I got this book I really wasn't in the mood to delve into a dry, lengthy non-fiction so I planned to browse it out of order. Well I looked into the 'how to read this book' section and it encouraged me to do just that.
I actually read the summary diet advice at the end first and found it to be really good advice. I felt it really gave you a good set of guidelines to make better choices.
Then I read through various topics as I was interested, and thought it had a lot of great info.
jenniferclaire's review
4.0
This book included a lot of data and facts but the author put in enough anecdotal stories to make it an enjoyable read. There are plenty of resources given to the reader to help implement change. The author does a good job of motivating the reader to take control without being too pushy. Overall a very interesting and important read for this time in history.