The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals

At least for me personally, this was a really, really important book to read. I've been thinking a lot lately about how I want to be in the world–what choices I want to make, where my priorities are. Pollan does a truly stellar job of exploring the complexities of the choices we are confronted with regarding food in this bountiful country, not to mention how to reconcile the industrial with the idealistic in a way that is practical yet honorable. The history of the evolution of humans and domesticated plants and animals was relatively new territory for me, but certainly much appreciated, his general conversational tone never allows the topic to be dumbed-down yet keeps it accessible, and his food writing is often sublime. I think it's rare to read a book and be conscious, after reading it, of having what you learned affect decisions in your day-to-day life. The Omnivore's Dilemma has certainly done that for me, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in thinking a little more deeply about food.