Michael Pollan
I had never heard of Michael Pollan until yesterday. In fact, when I ran across his website while reading an article on urban farming at Lime.com, my first thought was, "Ohmigod. I think I just responded to an ad on the Los Angleles craigslist to be this guy's assistant!" So then I really start to read all about him. I remember the ad said public speaker, writer, educator and so he is- Michael Pollan, the biologist and multi-award winning book author of In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto and The Botany of Desire: A Plant's Eye View of the World and The Omnivore's Dilema: A Natural History of Four Meals- who are all familiar with living in the top 10 of the New York Times and Washinton Post bestsellers lists.
Michael Pollan is a virtual hero of health food and food in general, growing your own food, breaking it all down with biology. He makes a case for the slow, homegrown and homemade foods, pointing to how and why the overprocessed junk is responsible for the obesity and illness of mainstream America. He writes regulary for The New York Times and every other respectable magazine you can think of, winning awards for his journalism in addition to the awards for his delectable books. And to boot, also a Knight Professor of Environmental Journalism at UC Berkely, word up! whatever the Knight part means... sounds cool.
I do have dilemas as an omnivore, no doubt. Talk to me, Michael. Has food ever had a manifesto written for it before? Sonnets, yes but... oh, and this Botany of Desire.... are we talking PG-13 or rated R? Cause I can't wait to find out! Don't tell me! I love surprises! (I hope its a little dirty!)
So then I check out the toolbox he's packing on his "Linkings" page.... dear sweet lord of useful url's... I'm telling you, I spent hours going over those links thoroughly and enjoyed every minute of it!
Also, be sure to check out the new movie Michael is in called, Food, Inc. It should be a real thriller and I can't wait to see it! Its all about the mechanized underbelly of America's food production system. Sick! Are you ready for this? Find out how the relationship of science to American food, is what better and worse represents in that most sanctified ceremony of matrimony that let's everyone know, this could go either way. How is the marriage between science and agriculture these days? And as hungry Americans, which way did it go for us? Bon appetit!
p.s. If Michael Pollan reads this, do you need an assistant? I think I totally emailed you already.
