Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser

Whew, I will never ever ever ever ever ever eat fast food again, and if you love fast food and don't want to give it up don't read this book.  Okay, this book was totally fascinating.  It was kind of long and I thought it would take me a few weeks to plow through, but it read very easily and was very interesting.  It has loads of information in it.  One of the most interesting parts of the book was the history of fast food and Ray Kroc (McD's founder) and Walt Disney.  The book covers the history of the industries involved with fast food, the workers, the meatpackers, the processors, the ranchers, e coli, advertising to children, and much more.  It has some truly important things to say and will definitely raise the bar on your social awareness.  I really do recommend this book to anyone.  

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver

I read this book last spring and was really inspired. This is a non-fiction book by one of my favorite fiction writers. Barbara Kingsolver and her family decide, in the name of being more environmentally responsible to eat, for a year, only the food they raise or purchase within a 10 mile radius of their home. It is incredible. They opt out of the traditional food chain we all belong to. They eat abundantly and become incredibly self-reliant. I was motivated, to say the least, to try and expand my gardening repetoire and to learn how to can and preserve my food so that I can enjoy my garden year round and be a little more eco-friendly in my eating habits. If nothing else it is a fun read to see how their kitchen is drowning in zucchini and squash and tomatoes around August.