TOW #16 - The Omnivore's Dilemma #2

In the book, The Omnivore's Dilemma; A Natural History of Four Meals, Michael Pollan deeply investigates the mysterious, immense world of food. Pollan, a Berkeley Professor and successful author and activist, changes the way his audience perceives eating and all of its intricacies. Throughout the text, he uses imagery and humor in order to describe some of his personal experiences while researching and to make the extremely informative book more enjoyable. Pollan spent 7 days on Joel Salatin's farm, while researching the importance of grass and he vividly describes certain things he encountered. On page 208, he says, "When I stepped out of the trailer into the warm early morning mist, I could make out two figures - the interns probably - moving around up on the broad shoulder of hill to the east, where a phalanx of portable chicken pens formed a checkerboard pattern on the grass." This detailed description serves to help the reader picture certain aspects of farms, in order for them to gain a better understanding. While using imagery, he also uses humor, in order to make his text more relatable and enjoyable. Continuing onto page 209, Pollan describes, "Directly behind each pen was a perfectly square patch of closely cropped grass resembling a really awful Jackson Pollock painting, thickly splattered with chicken crap in pigments of white, brown and green. " This funny quote, comparing chicken pens to the artwork of Jackson Pollock, increases the audiences enjoyment of the book. I believe that Michael Pollan did an excellent job in achieving his purpose. With his strategic use of imagery, I really understood where he was, and how it related to his research. I often felt as though I was there next to him, studying the chickens or the grass. The humor he incorporated also made the book more enjoyable and I really thought it enhanced his overall writing skills. I highly recommend The Omnivore's Dilemma to anyone who is interested in the world of food, due to Michael Pollan's deep knowledge of the topic.