THE OMNIVORE’S DILEMMA: A NATURAL HISTORY OF FOUR MEALS by Michael Pollan



A bunch of grapes, an egg, a ham bone, and a curiously shaped mushroom spotlighted against a black background: this dramatic still-life, coupled with austere gold lettering and the words “natural history,” succeeds in making this food look as plastic and unappetizing as humanly possible.



STEALING BUDDHA’S DINNER: A MEMOIR by Bich Mihn Nguyen



With cute pastel pink lettering and a tantalizing candy dish containing a Nestle’s Drumstick, Skittles, a candy necklace, and some strategically placed Pringles, this memoir promises to be a tasty treat. Cultural anxiety, the struggle to assimilate to American culture, bridging gaps between the generations—all these are ingredients for a touching bildungsroman. Spring rolls, anyone?



CONSUMED: HOW MARKETS CORRUPT CHILDREN, INFANTILIZE ADULTS, AND SWALLOW CITIZENS WHOLE by Benjamin R. Barber



This eye-catching cover features a mouthwatering picture of a life-size AstroPop just beginning to melt. However, the juicy photo is about as colorful and interesting as the book is going to get. The subtitle reveals the disappointing truth that this book is, in fact, about our fascinating global economy. Suddenly, the symbolism of the melting red, white, and blue popsicle becomes painfully obvious. Damn, and I thought this was about food.