Hmm.

I wanted to keep track of, and share, this paragraph from The Omnivore's Dilemma, rife with factoids about obesity in the United States.

"The Alcoholic Republic has long since given way to the Republic of Fat; we're eating today much the way we drank then, and for some of the same reasons. According to the surgeon general, obesity today is officially an epidemic; it is arguably the most pressing public health problem we face, costing the health care system an estimated $90 billion a year. Three of five Americans are overweight; one of every five is obese. The disease formerly known as adult-onset diabetes has had to be renamed Type II diabetes since it now occurs so frequently in children. A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association predicts that a child born in 2000 has a one-in-three chance of deceloping diabetes. (An African American child's chances are two in five.) Because of diabetes and all the other health problems that accompany obesity, today's children may turn out to be the first generation of Americans whose life expectancy will actually by shorter than that of their parents."

-Pollan, pp. 101-102

Jeez. Makes me feel bad for having blown off my daily run this morning (it's okay, though, I'm going with my sister tonight when I'm home from work).

In perspective,

Allie.

Currently Reading

Title: The Omivore's Dilemma

Author: Michael Pollan

Start date: 13 June 2010

Non-fiction. I'm only about forty pages in, because I read slowly, but I'm really liking it already. All about food/sort of about nutrition. So far, I have only read about how corn IS the food industry, but I am under the impression that I will also read about factory-farming and advertising; organic farming; and the pureness of the antiquated Hunter-Gathering lifestyle.

Already I can tell it is written in an engaging style, which is my first requirement when it comes to books. I cannot enjoy a book if I am so busy critiquing the writer's vocabulary/style (although I have already come across one instance of "comprised of" -- my biggest pet peeve in writing!); in addition, it is difficult to write to engage in a book that is not a story. Or rather, to make a book that is intended to present facts into a story, the latter of which Pollan has done. Can't wait to sit down later tonight with a glass of wine and read more!

Nutritiously,

Allie.

I think the next book I read needs to be The Omnivore's Dilemma, after having a long discussion today about nutrition, and being somebody who cares a lot about the topic itself.

Anybody agree, disagree?

-Allie.

Finished: The Soloist

Title: The Soloist

Author: Steve Lopez

Start Date: 26 May 2010

End Date: 2 June 2010

What I Liked About It: All the talk about music. Each reference to a specific orchestra piece or string quartet held specific meaning and, often, nostalgia for me. The descriptions of Mr. Ayers' life as a "youngster," studying music in high school and college all felt especially relevant to me, as I am and was the same.

What I Didn't Like About It: Author Steve Lopez's tired cliches and apparent self-righteousness about "what [he has] done" for Mr. Ayers. He constantly refers to how much money he has spent on instruments and sheet music, etc., for the man.

Somebody asked me, while I was reading the book, whether it was sad. But, in fact, until that point I never would have thought of it as sad. To me, it portrayed the simplicity in Mr. Ayers' life, living in a tunnel on Skid Row, playing violin all day everyday. In reality, of course, life in such a situation would not be so simple but all he needed was his music, and he could forget about everything else.

Would I recommend it? Honestly, what I liked about it mostly was that it was about a musician to whom I could relate, at least in terms of how he feels about music. But I don't know that I would have appreciated it otherwise. It's an easy read, so if you're looking for a story that is purely told for the story's sake, then go ahead, give it a shot.

-A.