Kindle singles are fun, and sort of dangerous because they are the perfect bit of magazine-ish length. And this one argues that cooking will save the world. And gives a list of very good reasons to think that.And it is by Mark Bittman whose work has always interested me but I never got around to purchasing before. He writes cleanly and lucidly -- and clearly thinks that those who love cooking -- and in his view everyone who tries it will learn that it is an intrinsically rewarding enterprise -- will move in the direction of better food -- fewer calories, environmentally better, tastier, and eventually not only will they be happier but so will the planet. It feels utopian. It feels just a tad naive. And yet, it is persuasive.
By cooking he does not mean taking processed foods and tossing them into an oven or boiling them in a bag or . . . he means cooking. And yet, he thinks those who start with processed are likely to get sucked in -- a sort of bait and switch. And he thinks those who cook are economically better off than those who head off to casual fast dining. They'll be socially better off too -- taking the time to talk, to build community, to make a better world.
He argues, as he does here, that local food is not elitist. He does so in a chatty way, with bits of evidence, and lots of moral suasion hidden beneath a clear passionate love affair with cooking.
The title: Cooking Solves Everything. And yes, he truly argues that it does. The subtitle is -- how time in teh kitchen can save your health, your budget, and even the planet. Quite amazing.Quick read. Persuasive. Smart. And . . . yes, you shoudl read it.
