This week, I read the second half of
my IRB, “Fast Food Nation,” by Eric Schlosser. This book shows readers what
goes on behind the curtain in the world of processed food. This text aims to
inform readers about how fast food is made, by displaying both the good and the
bad. Eric Schlosser is a credible source because he spent two years conducting
research for this book. In addition to that, he coproduced the documentary Food, Inc.
The audience for Schlosser’s “Fast
Food Nation” is the average American. Eric Schlosser wanted to inform readers
of the effects that fast food production has had on workers. This book asks
readers to take a closer look at the demand in fast food production and how it
harms production workers. While fast food is not exclusive to America,
Schlosser believes that the problem that is fast food is getting out of hand.
After workers continued to be severely harmed in the production of fast food
products, Schlosser’s research brought light to a subject that was previously
being brushed under the rug.
Schlosser uses a lot of anecdotes to
further his points. He shares stories about different ways different workers
have been injured while working to create fast food products. He also informs
readers how big companies that employ these workers who get injured brush their
injuries (and sometimes deaths) under the rug, and inspire fear of reporting
said injuries. These anecdotes further Schlosser’s purpose of showing how
terrible fast food is in America, and how it does more harm than good in a
multitude of ways.
I think that Schlosser does not
achieve his purpose. I feel horrified, but I don’t think I will begin a fast
food boycott, and I don’t think anyone else will either. Also, Schlosser writes
in such an uninteresting way, that I had to take a nap after reading just
one-fifth of the second half of the book. I honestly would only recommend this
book to an insomniac.
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