 | Study Guide
About the Author
Author of the national bestsellers, Fast Food Nation and Reefer Madness, Eric Schlosser investigates the hidden realms of American business and culture and their far-reaching effects on our lives. Heralded as "society’s quiet crusader," he challenges people to think about such critical and often overlooked issues as food safety, workers’ rights, the war on drugs, marketing to children and the epidemic of obesity.
In Fast Food Nation (almost two years on the New York Times bestsellers list), Schlosser uncovers the inner workings of the fast food industry, from the appalling working conditions in American meat-packing plants to the "flavor industry" along the New Jersey Turnpike that gives fast food its taste. Detailing the tremendous growth and success of the industry, Schlosser reveals how fast food has been a revolutionary force in American life, transforming our diet as well as our economy, workforce and popular culture. The San Francisco Chronicle calls it "disturbing as it is irresistible... Exhaustively researched, frighteningly convincing."
Schlosser offers an alternative view of what's happened in the United States in the last 30 years. His intensive library research and field work have established him as one of America's leading cultural critics. "Schlosser has a flair for dazzling scene-setting and an arsenal of startling facts," writes the Los Angeles Times. His intrepid reportage has taken him to the marijuana farms of Indiana, the prisons of New York and the strawberry fields of California. "I feel that a lot of what I write about is what people on some level don't want to hear about," he says. A graduate of Princeton University, Schlosser has been a correspondent for the Atlantic Monthly since 1996. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone and The New Yorker. Both of his books have been on The New York Times Business bestsellers list. Fast Food Nation, translated into more than 20 languages, reached #1 on The Chronicle of Higher Education’s list of "What They’re Reading on College Campuses." His next book will explore the question, "How does the land of the free come to have the largest prison population in the history of the world?"
Courtesy of http://www.roycecarlton.com
Interviews:
Discussion Topics
- Purpose: Why did Eric Schlosser write Fast Food Nation? After reading the book do you think he succeeds in accomplishing what he set out to do? Does he fail in certain sections or reveal a bias that strays from his stated intentions?
- Globalization: In researching the book the author traveled widely to places like Colorado, California, and Germany. In what ways does Schlosser examine the globalization of American culture? What does he discover about our own society and those around the world?
- Business: Much of Fast Food Nation focuses upon aspects of the corporate world including marketing, labor practices, political ties, and the growth of specific industries. How do the points he makes matter in your own life?
- Children: The phrase "from cradle to grave" with respect to purchase decisions and brand loyalty is a particularly interesting, and somewhat disturbing, topic. What are the causes and ramifications of this phrase? What do you think of the way children are such coveted targets of advertisers?
- Science: What is your reaction to the manipulation of artificial and natural flavorings? Do you see it as a positive or negative practice?
- Future: How would you ameliorate some of the problems presented in Fast Food Nation? What do you think the future holds for the topics and themes that Schlosser studies? Will the book change your consumer behavior in anyway?
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