Big Kids Books
Our book recommendations for food-related books and resources for adults. If you have any recommendations, please contact us with the title, author, and a brief 1-2 sentence description about the book and why you liked it!
Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin
Claire Danes got props for playing the renowned Temple Grandin, an autistic woman credited for making animal slaughterhouses more humane. This book is in her own words and a fascinating read.
Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery
On his deathbed, France’s premier food critic reflects upon a lifetime of dining in hopes of reliving an idyllic final meal. Barbery captures this hunt with a collection of tantalizing food vignettes that recount much more than just the past feasts of this purported gastronome.
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
Pollan’s easy-to-read tome: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
Poisoned by Jeff Benedict
One of the MUST read books. Could not stop reading this gripping story by Jeff Benedict, who follows the Jack in the Box E.Coli case in the 1990s. After this, you can’t help but become a fan of Bill Marler.
Food Matters by Mark Bittman
A fantastic read about how food has an impact not just on us, but the environment, and what to do about it. Includes fantastic recipes, Bittman-style
Tomatoland by Barry Estabrook
Based on his James Beard Award-winning article, “The Price of Tomatoes,” James Beard Society-winning Barry Estabrook of Politics of the Plate book: Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit examines the huge human and environmental cost of the $5 billion fresh tomato industry.
Aphrodite by Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende weaves facts, story, and tempting recipes about the sensuality of food and food as aphrodisiac. It’s enthralling and enticing.
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
The classic mystical realism book about a turn-of-the-century Mexican family and all the heart, emotion, and soul that are translated through food – with recipes.
This Organic Life by Joan Gussow
Groundbreaker Joan Gussow who has spoken up about local food for decades writes about her growing all her food in her New York home (I’ve been there and it’s amazing!)
Eaarth by Bill McKibben
McKibben raises serious alarms that we can no longer expect that the Earth we know today will be the same, even in our near future.
