Since his New York Times op-ed column debuted in 2011, Mark Bittman
has emerged as one of our most impassioned and opinionated observers of
the food landscape. The Times' only dedicated opinion columnist
covering the food beat, Bittman routinely makes readers think twice
about how the food we eat is produced, distributed, and cooked, and
shines a bright light on the profound impact that diet--both good and
bad--can have on our health and that of the planet.
In A Bone to Pick, Mark's most memorable and thought-provoking columns
are compiled into a single volume for the first time. As abundant and
safe as the American food supply appears to be, the state of our health
reveals the presence of staggering deficiencies in both the system that
produces food and the forces that regulate it. Bittman leaves no issue
unexamined; agricultural practices, government legislation, fad diets,
and corporate greed all come under scrutiny and show that the issues
governing what ends up in our market basket and on our tables are both
complex and often deliberately confusing. Unabashedly opinionated and
invariably thought provoking, Bittman's columns have helped readers
decipher arcane policy, unpack scientific studies, and deflate affronts
to common sense when it comes to determining what "eating well" truly
means. As urgent as the situation is, Mark contends that we can be
optimistic about the future of our food and its impact on our health, as
slow-food movements, better school-lunch programs, and even "healthy
fast food" become part of the norm.
At once inspiring, enraging, and enlightening, A Bone to Pick is an
essential resource for every reader eager to understand not only the
complexities inherent in the American food system, but also the many
opportunities that exist to improve it.
