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It has been my experience that reading about modern industrial agriculture can be incredibly overwhelming if an author takes on the entire system without focusing on a single element – pigs, milk, tomatoes. Therefore, it’s also harder to change consumers’ habits when they feel overwhelmed and cannot figure out which item(s) to change. I was so intrigued when I heard about Estabrook’s book because it focuses on a single item that I use in almost every meal I eat.
I heard many people express disgust over how tasteless commercial tomatoes are but, honestly, I really have never noticed that much of a difference between my garden tomatoes and the tomatoes we purchase at the grocery story. I have noticed a difference in the texture as the seasons change and marveled over how the tomatoes at the grocery store always look the exact same no matter if it’s the dead of winter or the middle of summer. If you think you’re getting variety by purchasing grape or cheery tomatoes instead of slicing tomatoes think again – they are all from the same type of tomato and only differ in appearance.
At the halfway point of Estabrook’s book I was ready to decree no more tomatoes for my family other than those we grow in our garden during the summer because, if you’ve had a tomato from Florida, you’ve had a tomato picked by a slave. If that wasn’t bad enough, Estabrook explains how tomatoes are flavorless because of when they picked and the pesticides, fungicides, and fertilizers used are poisoning both the land and the people who pick them. Yikes!
The book ends on a bit of a high note so please don’t think it is a depressing slog through the tomato fields of Florida. It’s actually a very informative, eye-opening read, especially if you enjoy tomatoes in your salad no matter the time of year.
Book Mentioned:
- Estabrook, Barry. Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit. Riverside, NJ: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2011. Print. 224 pgs. ISBN: 9781449401092. Source: Library.
The Honors Project:
I read this book for The Honors Project, my own personal challenge to read more books about economics, food, and/or geography in preparation for writing my honors thesis. My goal for this project is to learn as much as I can about these topics so I can formulate better questions and, in turn, produce a better honors thesis. You can find out more information by checking out my introductory post, project post, or spreadsheet of titles.
Bradley Chalkers is the biggest liar anyone at his school has ever met. No one wants to sit next to him until the new kid Jeff arrives and tells Bradley he’s not so bad. Bradley’s response? Give me a dollar or I’ll spit on you. It’s not until Carla Davis, the new school counselor, arrives and convinces Bradley that he can change, if only he wasn’t afraid to try.
Although the title of this book is very memorable, I remembered nothing of the book when I pick up the book recently for a reread. I also forgot the title really had nothing to do with Bradley. The character development is very strong despite its short length. The story is quite good, a reminder not to assume someone is a terrible person and that everyone can change.
Book Mentioned:
- Sachar, Louis. There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom. New York: Scholastic, 1997. Originally published 1987. Print. 195 pgs. ISBN: 9780590590891. Source: Purchased.
One morning, young Fern wakes up to find her father heading out to kill the runt of a recent litter of pigs. Fern immediately protests the injustice and becomes the proud mama of a pig named Wilber. But Fern is forced to sell Wilber to her uncle after the pig becomes too large and soon Wilber finds himself without friends and suddenly very lonely. That is, until he meets Charlotte the spider and her wonderful web.
Named a Newbery Honor book, there isn’t much more I can say about White’s wonderful tale that hasn’t already been said. I remember the animated film version of the book more than the actual novel but it is a story that I loved as a child. Regardless of form, the story is a wonderfully charming tale that celebrates life and friendship. Such a comforting reread.
Others’ Thoughts:
Book Mentioned:
- White, E.B. Charlotte’s Web. New York: Scholastic Trade, 1974. Originally published 1952. Print. 184 pgs. ISBN: 9780590302715. Source: Purchased.
This book, the second in the series, follows the Ingalls family as they move from Wisconsin to the wide-open prairie of the Kansas Territories. Pa is frustrated with how populated Wisconsin has become and decides the family needs to move away to area less populated.
I continue to be surprised at the issues I overlooked while reading the Little House series as a kid. I also never noticed how selfish Charles comes across as he decides to relocate his whole family. Caroline, Laura’s Ma, seems incredibly unhappy with the decision to move to Kansas, and I could not shake the feeling that Pa wasn’t as perfect as I thought he was a child.
At one point in this novel Charles (Pa) makes the comment that the Indians must move off the land in order to make way for white settlers who have an inherent right to the land. Never mind the fact that he is squatting on Native American land legally closed to non-Native Americans. There were also moments where Ma would grumble that “the only good Indian is a dead Indian”. Throughout the novel Indians are portrayed at savages while hard-working, white families are presented as having a superseding right to land Native Americans have called home for generations. I know their comments are historical accurate and reflect the prevailing sentiments of the time but I was surprised at how little the prejudices of the characters registered with me as a child.
But one can still appreciate classic literature through modern eyes. Despite its offensive portrayal, I in no way think this book should be banished from shelves. It provides an entertaining and informative tale of the prevailing sentiments of the day as well as life as a pioneer during the 1870s.
Others’ Thoughts:
- Laura’s Reviews
- A Literary Odyssey (Books 1 through 5)
- A Room of One’s Own
Book Mentioned:
- Wilder, Laura Ingalls. Little House on the Prairie. New York: Scholastic, 1963. Originally published 1935. Print. 335 pgs. ISBN: 9780590488181. Source: Purchased.
Pomeranz and Topik attempt to dispute the idea that intense globalization and interactions across cultures is a relatively new phenomenon. According to Pomeranz and Topik, the world has been interacting across national boundaries long before the invention of the airplane and the computer. Trading amongst and with indigenous groups across the group knitted small societies to the larger society established by exploring Europeans since the 1400s. Never mind the fact that this trading involved humans trafficking, people being forced to hand over commodities, and the exploitation of indigenous groups as large labor pools.
This was my second attempt at reading Pomeranz and Topik’s book on “Culture, Society and the World Economy, 1400 to the Present”. The first attempt occurred during my sophomore year of high school for my class on world history. I found the book to be incredibly dry and difficult to understand and ended up abandoning the book. Now, five years later, I still find this book to be dry and hard to read and while I did not end up abandoning the book, I did struggle to finish it.
(Note: The cover at right is of the second edition of the book, published in 2005. I read the first edition.)
Book Mentioned:
- Pomeranz, Kenneth and Steven Topik. The World That Trade Created: Culture, Society and the World Economy, 1400 to the Present. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2000. Print. 280 pgs. ISBN: 9780765602503. Source: Purchased.
The Honors Project:
I read this book for The Honors Project, my own personal challenge to read more books about economics, food, and/or geography in preparation for writing my honors thesis. My goal for this project is to learn as much as I can about these topics so I can formulate better questions and, in turn, produce a better honors thesis. You can find out more information by checking out my introductory post, project post, or spreadsheet of titles.
