Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System - Revised and Updated

You probably have no accurate idea about how your food is produced and by whom - - around the world. Michael Pollen changed how we think about food itself in his Omnivore 's Dilemma. Joel Salatin and many others have shown how it should be grown. Now, Patel lays out the economics of the food industry under which both the people who physically do the farming and those who buy food suffer, while all is controlled by a very few corporations that reap the big profits and government agencies that help them do it.Patel argues for a return to the beauty of locally and/or personally grown food (animal and vegetable), it's loving preparation in the kitchen, and it's return to being a means of gathering family and community together. We need to slow down a bit.When you learn the true costs of the food you are eating I hope you might rethink some of your choices.Stuffed and Starved is not long - - and well worth your time to read it.

This is an excellent book, logical, full of information and clearly written. For years, I have had serious doubts and alternative thoughts about our modern society, and wondered how it is that most people seem to see it quite differently than I do. It was such a pleasure to read this book and have my thoughts expressed so well, and those doubts and questions answered. I never thought I could read a book about economics and not go to sleep or give up in disgust, but I practically swallowed this one in one gulp and wished for more.My only criticism of the book is that there are a few typos and bungled sentences.

Very interesting book. Provides very interesting insight into how our culture suffers from both extremes of hunger and obesity. That income inequality one of the major factors, giving control to a few large gives less control to the growers and consumers.

I would recommend this book to anyone who cares about the slaves who under gird our food supply. There is not a one of us who doesn't have a slew of slaves supporting our lifestyle.You can find sites of Raj Patel telling how it is on the Internet. But basically, farmers worldwide commit suicide at ever increasing rates. Find out how Monsanto controls farmers, And how the IMF determines from whom a country must purchase its rice or other basic staples.We need more activists to change the way our Farm Bill rewards corporate farmers at the expense of subsistence and small farms worldwide. How do our everyday purchases affect our health, our environment, and farmers worldwide?Everything from the ubiquity of high fructose corn syrup to tasteless produce contributes to overeating and the high incidence of chronic disease evident in the USA and in every country that adopts the US standard American diet.I recommend Stuffed and Starved to anyone who wants to know about those nameless persons who grow and harvest our food.

This books highly analyze how the food system is organized and the reason why a common farmer in a developing world will find it hard to compete with big corporations. Got me understanding why the packaged food is more preferred in the developed world than natural foods and why pricing matter. For those who have questions regarding where their food comes from, read the book and you will find amazing revelations. For those who wonder why the developing countries have problems in penetrating international markets, you will find amazing insights. If you are a developmental conscious person, you will be challenged on your status quot. Have it as one of your library reference which actually prepare you to reason with others who have concerns on how our food is grown.

Raj Patel's book reflects the production and distribution of food in the world and their impact on the consumer. It is well researched, documented and each paragraph is filled with salient information related to issues and the food industry. There are surprises too. Especially, well known companies manipulating the market for their benefit. The trade agreements between countries are promoted as a benefit for the consumer. In reality, many trade agreements destroy the small producer. The research on suicide is an eye-opener. Raj Patel's book is a must reading for anyone concerned with "soil", consumption, and how distribution is controlled at the expense of the producer and consumer.Respectfully Submitted on 1 December, 2014Dr. William H. Stotler