A review by amberzieg
Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork and What You Can Do about It by Anna Lappé
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.