by Alice Waters
First published 2021
Alice Waters presents her case for transforming how Americans approach food and eating. The chef who founded Chez Panisse in 1971 connects our current food system to widespread problems including poor health, social disconnection, and environmental damage. Waters traces her own journey from serving locally sourced meals during political upheaval to understanding how industrial farming harms workers, communities, and ecosystems. She argues that fast food culture prioritizes speed and cheapness over human values. Through decades of collaboration with regional farmers, Waters learned how seasons and geography shape ingredients while witnessing the dangers of pesticides and industrial agriculture. The book presents slow food philosophy as a solution to problems ranging from illness to economic inequality. Waters contends that individual food choices create ripple effects through families, communities, and the environment. She advocates for eating practices that emphasize biodiversity, seasonal ingredients, environmental stewardship, and finding joy in food preparation. The book offers readers a framework for personal and collective change through conscious eating decisions.
Genres: agriculture, non-fiction, food, activism, food-writing, food-history
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: call-to-action, personal-journey
208 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Press