Richard ManningCritiques

First edition

Cut this one off early. There were at least two or three scientific errors and at least one sexist reference in the first two chapters. Did not deem it worth going on, though I do agree in general with the overall thesis (though I suspect he overstates it, I can't judge since I did not finish the book).

"Against the Grain: How Agriculture Has Hijacked Civilization" provides a historical outline of the socio-economic effects that agriculture has had on civilization, from the hunter-gatherer society to commercial industrial commodities agriculture. The book is a combination of documented history, anecdotes and the author's personal observations, written in a clear and easily understood style. I found this book rather interesting, especially the details on grain growing and hybridization, and how grain for food eventually became grain for "stuff" (aka commodities).

I wasn't sure what I would get with this book when I picked it up. I figured it would probably tie in with the paleo kick that has been around for some time now. I was actually surprised I liked the ideas they laid out here. Essentially these two researched and developed a way to get back into what humans through the millennium did and thrived on. Today with our lifestyle so geared to artificiality and sedentary ways we have strayed far from the course with resultant consequences. They cover four principles that can lead us back to discovery and benefit from our healthy roots, and it does make sense. Easy written style made the book also entertaining as well as interesting.

Manning tells us agriculture and especially corn is bad. Using ten thousand different methods. Looking at the entire course of history.

Honestly, it was a relatively interesting book -- but I also think a lot of what I found interesting was derivative. I recognized maybe a half dozen books that I've read that he referenced (including a laudatory reference to "philosopher Robert Pirsig", ha ha ha! how random in an agriculture book, and how quaint!). Much of the book read like he was rebutting or reiterating everyone else who has ever written about agriculture, or the agricultural machinery. As a result, it probably isn't worth reading for anyone who is familiar with a lot of the pop literature on these issues.

In truth, I found his connections between money and reality one of the strongest parts of the book, starting from very early on when he notes that picking up the check at business dinners is a way of proving that "I Am Better Than You". He has a fascinating approach to the role of money in the world (most of which is indeed tied more closely to agriculture). However, I can't recommend reading Against the Grain on the basis of his commentary on the role of money in forming society, either, since it's distributed throughout the book and not a focus.

So, all told, not much new to be found in this book if you've already read a bit on the subject of our horrible modern agricultural complex.

Themes: food, culture, agriculture and farming, evolution, sociology, poverty, family, human nature

This one sure didn't impress me at first - see message 76 - but it was ultimately worth reading. Manning ranged far and wide in his condemnation of agriculture. From mankind's origin as hunter-gatherers, to the widespread problem of poverty and malnutrition, to modern agribusiness and how it is ruining the ecology of the earth as a whole, he gave me a lot to think about. I really knew almost nothing about the history of farm policy in the United States, so I found that part informative and even startling. Overall, it was a rather depressing look at how our planet is doomed. I did resolve to try harder to eat locally grown and produced food. 3 stars.

His essay "The Oil We Eat" is an outstanding summary see http://bachlab.balbach.net/coolreading/TheOilWeEat.txt½

though provoking rant about how maize and wheat are really running the world for their own benefit, and we are just their pawns. Corn syruo bad, heirloom veggies (and sex, and venison, and vintage guitars) good. The author is clearly a nut-case of the kind that are fun to sit aruond and get drunk with every now and then.

-grasslands, more important than most of us realize