Corny Joke
Author Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma, The Botany of Desire) recently talked with Bill Maher on his show Amazon Fishbowl. (Look for his name under 'guests' in the lefthand navigation). You may remember that Maher was the headline entertainer at the Sierra Summit last year, so we like to check in every so often and make sure we didn't damage his career too badly. Apparently, he's doing okay. Pollan has been interviewed by Sierra magazine and his best-selling books have been popular with environmentalists.
The two sat down to discuss Pollan's latest work in which he examines how Americans eat and declares us the 'Children of the Corn.' Corn is everywhere in our diet, Pollan says -- in our soft drinks, in wine, in yogurt, in our beef, you name it. One thing he doesn't mention here, but which is interesting to consider: Corn is also in our gas tanks. I'm not talking about the advent of E85. Corn ethanol has been part of the refining mix for some time -- purportedly to reduce smog, although the National Academies long ago dismissed the claim. The real reason it's in the mix, say some outspoken critics, is the corn lobby. Whatever the case may be, Pollan is probably correct in his assessment that we are the corniest nation on earth.
5 Comments:
I almost forgot: My colleague Tom Valtin had a really excellent interview with Maher, preparatory to the Summit. If you haven't read it, you should. Here's a teaser:
Maher: There's no substitute for a president making something an issue. And the sad thing about this president is that he's actually good at making something an issue. He's a very willful person. Nobody was asking for tax cuts when he ran for president. Nobody was thinking that we should invade Iraq when he proposed that. Nobody was asking that social security be put on the table right now. These are all issues that came out of this president's singular mind, and his willful mindset. If he turned that willful mindset toward the environment, toward conservation, toward asking people to make a sacrifice, the momentum that would bring to the table would be incalculable. But obviously it's not what he feels is important. Or he's just such a corrupt #&*%@! that he doesn't care.
Of those out there who have read a lot of Pollan, do any feel that he sometimes over-reaches in his conclusions, or pushes his ideas a little farther than the science or evidence warrants? I think he's a fine writer with interesting ideas, but I have to say I don't trust him to scrutinize those ideas very well. For example, has research really shown a definitive link between high fructose corn syrup and obesity? Pollan seems to think so.
I'd be interested in what others think.
Ramirez, I agree with you. The strength of Pollan's writing is the mix of clear prose and compelling ideas. I'd group him with Malcolm Gladwell and perhaps Jared Diamond in that respect -- stimulating thinkers who sometimes become captive to their own ideas. It's up to their readers to supply the scrutiny.
If you ask me, Pollan's a genius. Gladwell and Diamond are too. I don't know what you're talking about.
Hello Everyone:
If interested Organically Speaking a Seattle base website has released a podcast (audio conversation) with Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals.
We our introducing a new audio comment system today, you can now leave an audio comment on any of our posts. You will find an "Insert Audio Comment" link at the bottom of the usual "Add Comment" space. All you need is a microphone.
Try it out and let Michael and John know what you think about the show!
http://OrganicallySpeaking.org/
All the best,
-Ricardo
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