Resetting the Table

Straight Talk About the Food We Grow and Eat

By: Robert Paarlberg

Narrated by: Fred Sanders

A bold, science-based corrective to the groundswell of misinformation about food and how it's produced, examining in detail local and organic food, food companies, nutrition labeling, ethical treatment of animals, environmental impact, and every other aspect from farm to table

Consumers want to know more about their food - including the farm from which it came, the chemicals used in its production, its nutritional value, how the animals were treated, and the costs to the environment. They are being told that buying organic foods, unprocessed and sourced from small local farms, is the most healthful and sustainable option. Now, Robert Paarlberg reviews the evidence and finds abundant reason to disagree. He delineates the ways in which global food markets have in fact improved our diet, and how "industrial" farming has recently turned green, thanks to GPS-guided precision methods that cut energy use and chemical pollution.

He makes clear that America's serious obesity crisis does not come from farms, or from food deserts, but instead from "food swamps" created by food companies, retailers, and restaurant chains. And he explains how, though animal welfare is lagging behind, progress can be made through continued advocacy, more progressive regulations, and perhaps plant-based imitation meat. He finds solutions that can make sense for farmers and consumers alike and provides a road map through the rapidly changing worlds of food and farming, laying out a practical path to bring the two together.

©2020 Robert Paarlberg (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"A provocative book.... [Paarlberg] isn’t ideological and throws cold water on widely held progressive and conservative beliefs alike. He is skeptical of the emphasis on locally grown food and argues that food deserts aren’t so much of a problem as the way food companies have figured out to market unhealthy foods so that we will buy them. He’s making me think, always a good thing.” (Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times)

“Chapter by chapter, Resetting the Table demolishes the preconceived beliefs of smart eaters raised on progressive, post-1960s culinary social movements.... Through a mix of history, science and reportage, [Paarlberg] makes a convincing case.... Resetting the Table is sure to be controversial, and should be widely read and debated.” (Rien Fertel, The Wall Street Journal)

“Paarlberg pushes back against fashionable trends touted by the likes of Michael Pollan and Alice Waters, arguing that locavore and pre-industrial practices require a lot of dough, and won’t work for society writ-large.... A compelling take for anyone interested in food and its future.” (Nina MacLaughlin, The Boston Globe)

Data Rich and fascinating, but Dem biased

Fascinating thesis or study backed by data. But heavily biased toward American Dem party.

Great Book!

Thoroughly enjoyed reading his book. Great information provided though out. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in this subject.

flawed and biased

Very biased View, wondering where the funding came from to write this book. i could understand if it was published 20 years ago but as of today seriously lacking in reality and research. and as with most views and agendas these days, does not give any viable solutions to curve problems although they are out there.