American fast food has come to symbolize runaway capitalism, point less pop culture, and callous globalization. Thus far in the book, schlosser has focused on specific people in specific locations colorado springs, greeley, etc. The fast food nation community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Based on the text you are reading, answer the following questions in complete sentences in a reading journal. Eric schlosser begins his account of the american fast food industry by focusing on one region of the united states in particular. Fast food is certainly ripe for this perspective because it is a chief american export.
In some ways it reminds me of upton sinclairs the jungle. Reading guide for fast food nation by eric schlosser. In the book, fast food nation, eric schlosser studies the effect that fast food has had on our nation as well as the world. Eric matthew schlosser born august 17, 1959 is an american journalist and author known for his investigative journalism, such as in his books fast food nation 2001, reefer madness 2003, and command and control. He vows to trace the impact of fast food companies both. I found the book seminal, eyeopening, lifechanging. The dark side of the allamerican meal, is a thoughtprovoking, researchbased account of the rise of the fast food industry and the resulting consequences of the drive for lowcost, rapidly prepared meals.
Coli, food production processes and distribution can spread such food poisoning throughout the country and world. It thoroughly explains what happens at the slaughterhouses all over the country. Schlosser explores the creation of the industry and how it created a new american landscape, both physically and in the job market, in the pursuit of the ultimate cheap and quick meal. Every day in the united states, 200, 000 people are sickened by a food borne disease.
The fast food nation lesson plan is downloadable in pdf and word. Often lowwage workers, relegated to kitchenless hotel rooms have limited food options. Fast food nation chapter 10 study guide thebestnotes. Aug 24, 2008 the book is a work of nonfiction with chapters that cover the dangers of the fast food economy, from slaughterhouse conditions to health issues to environmental devastation. Fast food nation by eric schlosser mcdonalds the fast food industry has been driven by fundamental changes in human society.
Find summaries for every chapter, including a fast food nation chapter summary chart to help you understand the book. Prior to the rise of large meatpacking plants, people would become ill from bad food in small, localized arenas. The jungle is a book about the lives of immigrant workers in the u. I couldnt resist sharing two powerful quotes found toward the end of the book something to keep in mind if you tend to hit the fast food joints on the weekend as an easy out to making something at home.
That is one of the main reasons people buy fast food. Colorados front range, or a group of cities including denver, colorado. Only by reading the entire book will you get the whole picture. Why the fries taste good rhetorical strategies sarcasm analogies schlosser uses sarcasm when discussing a chemical plant that manufactures both natural and artificial flavors.
From outbreaks of minor food poisoning to infections from deadly e. The dark side of the allamerican meal is a 2001 book written by investigative journalist eric schlosser that examines the local and global. Fast food nation can be connected to the book the jungle by upton sinclair. Mar, 2012 fast food nation is the kind of book that you hope young people read because it demonstrates far better than any social studies class the need for government regulation, the unchecked power of multinational corporations and the importance of our everyday decisions.
Moreover, there is a classelement at stake in fastfood consumption. For more on the relationship between lowwage workers and the fastfood industry see barbara ehrenreichs nickel and dimed. May 01, 2009 ive been juggling several books and have just now finished eric schlossers fast food nation, which i blogged about a while back. Most reports about the fast food industry refer to nothing more than the food. In an age when ronald mcdonald is the second most identifiable fictional character to young children after santa claus, fast food embodies a number of modern american characteristics. These citations may not conform precisely to your selected citation style. The reason i chose this book because it uncovers the horrors behind fast food. Specifically, fast food nation talks about the use of advertising to children, chemical additives, food adulteration, worker safety issues, law suits, unions, and most importantly diseases. Since the 1970s, a decline in income adjusted for inflation and the rise of the twoincome family have triggered a change in spending from 75% of family food budgets going to inhome meals to more than half being spent at restaurants. Fast food nation is a book by eric schlosser, which uncovers the fast food industrys greed, unsanitary conditions, and almost. Fast food nation is an informational book that lets readers in on the actual food process. Schlosser clearly demonstrates that this industry alone has been. Fast food nation is the kind of book that you hope young people read because it.
Schlosser is skilled at finding and constructing analogies, such that the book is linked by a chain of arguments from fast food products to food. What began as a twopart article for the magazine turned into a groundbreaking book. Eric schlossers expose revealed how the fast food industry has altered the landscape of america, widened the gap between. Fast food nation by eric schlosser, introductionchapter 4. The dark side of the allamerican meal startlingly unmasks the disquieting effects of the fast food industry on global food production and societies rampantly becoming more obese. Nuclear weapons, the damascus accident, and the illusion of safety 20. On page 127 he says, calling any of these flavors natural requires a. This comprehensive lesson plan includes 30 daily lessons, 180 multiple choice questions, 20 essay questions, 20 fun activities, and more everything you need to teach fast food nation. He begins by recounting the birth of fast food right here in america. In this twopart journey we discover the history behind fast food, the big names who helped create this fast food culture, how this food was created, and what affect it can have on our bodies. The movie presents these same issues in the context of a story. Jan 17, 2001 fast food nation is a fascinating and very readable book.
Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in fast food nation, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Fast food nation points the way but, to resurrect an old fast food slogan, the choice is yours. Its not only a critique of fast food, the chemicals we are ingesting and the health problems we are facing, it is also critical of a system that allows exploitation of young, old and immigrant workers, and of the suburban sprawl. Inside youll find 30 daily lessons, 20 fun activities, 180 multiple choice questions, 60 short essay questions, 20 essay questions, quizzeshomework assignments, tests, and more. Have it your way critical reading questions directions. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. In considering the effect fast food has had abroad, schlosser emphasizes the significance of his research. One of the book s most important points is the fact that the usda has no real power over anything slaughterhouses, ranchers, meatpackers, renderers, or. Eric schlosser wrote fast food nation to reveal the dark truth about the food that americans consume on a daily basis. What are the differences between fast food nation the book.
Nobody in the united states is forced to buy fast food, writes schlosser. Eric investigates on the different locations where food is prcessed and learns how everything started in the business or in the world. Include any vocabulary terms you needed to look up and define. Fast food nation the groundbreaking work of investigation and cultural history that has changed the way america thinks about the way it eats and spent nearly four months on the new york times bestseller list now available on cassette. The purpose of this book, about the fast food industry, is best summarized by the. To a degree both engrossing and alarming, the story of fast food is the story of postwar america.
He has received a national magazine award and a sidney hillman foundation award for reporting. The word file is viewable with any pc or mac and can be further adjusted if you want to mix questions around andor add your own headers for things like name, period, and date. Aug 10, 2001 fast food nation ends with a call for consumers to demand better treatment of workers and more healthful, safer food. Fast food has hastened the malling of our landscape, widened the chasm between rich. But, if youre a fast food fanatic you might want to pass on reading it for fear of. During my research for the book, i ate an enormous amount of fast food.
Main ideas and takeaways about eric schlossers fast food nation. The book succeeds in taking a complex industry, introducing the reader to its history in the context of american industrial development, and disassembling it out by its major components. Eric schlossers expose revealed how the fast food industry has altered the landscape of america, widened the gap between rich and poor, fueled an epidemic of obesity, and transformed food production throughout the world. Introduction next to death and taxes, fast food might be the most unavoidable experience for americans. Schlosser comments on how fast food chains have spread to every corner of our country and are currently popping up all over the world. This study guide for fast food nation by eric schlosser looks at the key concepts and main ideas to help you get a deeper understanding of fast food nation.
Fast food nation ends with a call for consumers to demand better treatment of workers and more healthful, safer food. Now, because meat is distributed all over the nation, an outbreak of food poisoning in one town may indicate nation wide epidemic. Apr 04, 2015 for the 1st paragraph kindly give an overview of the book and a reading reaction. In this expose, awardwinning journalist eric schlosser explores the effects of the american fast food industry on global health, labor conditions, and the environment. The american way the first part, takes a historical view of the fast food business by analyzing its beginnings within postworld war ii america while meat and potatoes examines the specific mechanisms of the fastfood industry within a modern context as well as its influence. Most important connections appeal fast food nation audience occasion texttotext. A preeminent scientist and the worlds most prominent atheist asserts the irrationality of belief in god, and the grievous harm religion has inflicted on society, from the crusades to 911. Immediately download the fast food nation summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more. The fast food nation lesson plan contains a variety of teaching materials that cater to all learning styles. The dark side of the allamerican meal eric schlosser on.
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