Don't Eat This Book is the follow up to Morgan Spurlock's award-nominated documentary, Super Size Me. I'd seen Super Size Me a few years ago, and enjoyed it. It was one of those enlightening moments in life where you think "Holy crap! What have I been doing to myself?!" I made a decision after seeing the film to reduce the amount of fast-food that I ate. I didn't really stick to it, though. It's so convenient, and easy to go grab a burger, or a taco, or whatever.
This book gives a little bit of back-ground on why Spurlock made the film to begin with, but mainly focuses on the legion ways that the food industry tries to get us to consume. I know that we are becoming slaves to marketing and advertising, but I didn't know just how shameless and insidious that marketing has become. For that reason, if nothing else, I am glad that I read this book. It's apparent that people, animals, life, health, happiness and freedom are no longer important in corporate America. That's one of those things that you don't want to think about, really. That your gov't would not only allow, but condone and sometimes even participate in causing the people harm--because junk food IS harmful--is really unbelievable.
I've read other books, and I've seen other documentaries, and in general tried to inform myself. But I still didn't want to believe. Even so, I made myself a new New Year's resolution to drastically cut-down on the crap I eat. Just a sort of all-encompassing "eat better" motto. But the book did assault me with the kinds of statistics that I need to see to change my bad habits, for good.
After 30 days of eating McDonalds, Spurlock's cholesterol, blood-pressure and weight sky-rocketed. He had signs of liver damage and warning signs for heart disease and diabetes. After ONLY 30 DAYS. I really have to be more conscious of what I eat, and why, or I could end up with diabetes by 30. And I'm 26. That's scary.
It also showcased how corporate marketing firms and lobbyists are all for freedom of choice, as long as that choice benefits what they are selling. They don't want you to know what's really in the food you eat, or the cigarette you're smoking, because then you'd choose not to eat or smoke it. Shameful. We're nothing but dollar signs. This book didn't single-handedly make the case for all of those things I mentioned above. But it did put another weight on the side of the scale marked "Believe it".
But that isn't an unknown fact. We all know it, deep down, somewhere. We just don't want to admit it. I will be taking Morgan's advice, and from now on, I will be more conscious of the power of my fork. :)
I am all for people making their own decisions. Educate yourself, and decide for yourself what is best for you. Don't let some corporation make the decision for you.