Food Rules: An Eater's Manual

Michael Pollan

Dec 2009 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

#1 New York Times Bestseller

"A useful and funny purse-sized manual that could easily replace all the diet books on your bookshelf." —Tara Parker-Pope, The New York Times

A definitive compendium of food wisdom

Eating doesn’t have to be so complicated. In this age of ever-more elaborate diets and conflicting health advice, Food Rules brings welcome simplicity to our daily decisions about food. Written with clarity, concision, and wit that has become bestselling author Michael Pollan’s trademark, this indispensable handbook lays out a set of straightforward, memorable rules for eating wisely, one per page, accompanied by a concise explanation. It’s an easy-to-use guide that draws from a variety of traditions, suggesting how different cultures through the ages have arrived at the same enduring wisdom about food. Whether at the supermarket or an all-you-can-eat buffet, this is the perfect guide for anyone who ever wondered, “What should I eat?”

"In the more than four decades that I have been reading and writing about the findings of nutritional science, I have come across nothing more intelligent, sensible and simple to follow than the 64 principles outlined in a slender, easy-to-digest new book called Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual, by Michael Pollan." —Jane Brody, The New York Times

"It doesn't get much easier than this. Each page has a simple rule, sometimes with a short explanation, sometimes without, that promotes Pollan's back-to-the-basics-of-food (and-food-enjoyment) philosophy." —The Los Angeles Times

Ratings and reviews

If you are looking for a list of foods to eat, a miracle diet, or a new fad, this is not it. This book is simple and straightforward, and it will be hard to follow since we are so used to eating fast food and processed foods. But if you the everything to heart, it's talking about a lifestyle change, a holistic approach to food, and chock full of adages I'm sure we've all heard before but most likely just thought our moms and grandmothers were nagging us. But if course, they're always right.

It seems to be one of Mr. Pollan's shorter books but is well written and concise. The language used is simple so anyone should be able to finish this.

Interesting, informative, memorable. Also a quick and easy read. Highly recommended.

About the author

Michael Pollan is the author of six previous books, including Cooked, In Defense of Food, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and The Botany of Desire, all New York Times bestsellers. He lives in Berkeley, California.

Maira Kalman is the author of And the Pursuit of Happiness and The Principles of Uncertainty, and she illustrated the bestselling edition of The Elements of Style. She lives in New York City.