Very entertaining and very educating

This is a fascinating book for all those interested in flavour, nutrition and real food. I think everybody should read it, but I doubt most well! There are two main themes – the first is just describing how the flavour industry works in all its dubious glory, and the second far more fascinating and amazing and wonderful is how flavour is Hal food advertises its nutrition. And uplifting and rewarding book and the narrator is fabulous! Is it the author?

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An interesting listen

I initially read a few sample chapters of this book, then decided to listen to the rest. It's an interesting overview of the evolution of food production, but I thought it strayed off into a few too many personal anecdotes after a while, and I grew a bit tired if the narration.

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very good book

informative and well put together. also a compelling human element in the writers quest for flavor

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Informative but disappointing

Listened to this following a recommendation made in "Ultra Processed People". Whilst the written content was interesting, the performance left so much to be desired. The performance felt more suitable for a holiday romance novel than a work trying to outline the reasons for a public health crisis. Would suggest reading rather than listening to this one.

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Interesting book but chapter lengths far too short

The premise of this book is interesting and commonsense - that we have evolved to be sensitive to, and enjoy, foods containing nutrients essential for life and health; and that modern farming methods have resulted in produce (and livestock) which are plump, fast-growing, bland and nutritionally inferior. I'd honestly never considered that there might be an alternative to the watery fruit and vegetables at my local supermarket, but I'm going to make an effort to find better produce in future.

The book did ramble in parts. I was mainly reading it for the science, and didn't really care for prolonged anecdotes about the difficulties of sourcing the perfect tomato. But my main gripe is not with the book itself, or the narrator, but that for some reason the chapters are 5-6 minute chunks which often did not even correspond to the end of a section, never mind a chapter.

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Engaging and informative

A rarity for a pop nutrition book in that it is not just out to make sensationalist claims, rely on emotional persuasion rather than evidence, and/or try and sell you something.

It makes you think, and it might (probably should) make you reconsider your food choices. I would imagine the book could also be of great value for those who are trying to lose weight yet failing (e.g., it covers why low fat and low sugar foods may not be in our best interests).

I’ve listened to the author’s other book on audible, which is also very good, so I was a little reluctant initially this would cover much of the same ground. Happily, I found they compliment each other well, without a lot of overlap

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The food movement is creeping out of inertia

Most informative. Well researched & adding power to the poor, unprotected, unsuspecting consumer of industralised food. But why knock the authenticity of the sugar problem (at the beginning of the book?). The author knows what he is talking about, but industrial chemicals are not the only problem. You do not have to knock other scientifically proven issues to expound your own findings. But mainly a most excellent book.

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1 person found this helpful

Too much about farm animals

I hated this book. It was awful.
I believe the reason for my reaction is because I am vegan and most of this book seems to talk about chickens and farm animals and how they are fed and killed. So it was very hard going.
I managed 40% before I gave up. It was just too awful.
In that time, I didn't find anything of interest at all - but I have to qualify that comment and say that I listen to a lot of books, so there was nothing new in this one and it was written some time ago.
Not for me.

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4 people found this helpful

I was so excited for this after reading ultra processed foods

This was more of a history of food, rather than a current educational story. I had to stop listening 1/2 way through. Very disappointed.

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