Monday, August 27, 2007

Most important books: Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma, recently told Newsweek about his five most important books.

He also addressed two other book-related issues:

A book you want to share with your child:

Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1. I've got a 15-year-old son and I think this is definitely one of those great books about becoming an adult.

A classic that, upon rereading, disappointed:

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair.I say this even though I assign this to my students. I teach a course on food writing [at Berkeley] and this book is an important influence, but it's very unreadable and just so over-the-top and overwritten.

Read about Pollan's most important books.

--Marshal Zeringue