Eric Schlosser’s “Fast Food Nation” will impact incomingfreshmen both inside and outside the classrooms this fall with itsdepiction of the “dark side of the All-American meal.”
“Fast Food Nation,” the required text for the University’s firstSummer Reading Program, is a scathing critique of one of thelargest industries in the nation. Schlosser’s book dissects nearlyevery aspect of the fast food industry, which SRP’s organizers hopewill make the book a hot topic on campus in the fall.
Laura Queen, an incoming freshman from Baton Rouge, said she hasalready read half the book. Queen said she does not really like thebook, but it has caused her to think twice before she orders ameal.
“It’s definitely a one-sided story,” Queen said. “It goes into alot of minor details.”
Queen said she has tried to limit her fast-food intake sincereading about factors such as coloring and flavoring of fastfood.
“It makes me think about it a little more,” she said.
Those thoughts are what SRP organizers hoped for when theyselected “Fast Food Nation” for the program’s inaugural summer.
“It’s factual, research-based content that makes you think,”said Teresa Summers, a human ecology professor and member of theSRP steering committee. “You may not agree with everything, but itdoes provide much room for discussion. We hope people will bestanding in line for fast food and discussing this.”
“Fast Food Nation” divulges little-known and often gruesomefacts about every aspect of the fast food industry, includingagricultural practices, labor disputes, corporate workings andhealth costs.
“It cuts across so many disciplines,” said Granger Babcock,assistant to the vice chancellor for Student Life and AcademicServices and SRP steering committee member. “The book talks aboutpolitical science, nutrition, geography, chemistry, biology andtechnology.”
Trey Smith, political science and communications studies junior,said “Fast Food Nation” is a good read, but he continues to eatfast food.
“It is a good look at the industry in general,” Smith said. “Itlooks at it from so many different angles. I think it reallycaptures the spirit of capitalism.”
Summers said she will reference the book’s corporate chapters inher upper-level entrepreneurship class.
“In several ways, it’s fascinating,” she said. “It was greatreading it from my perspective — getting into the background ofmajor entrepreneurs who have made a major contribution to theAmerican way of life.”
Schlosser will greet freshmen this fall at the required academicconvocation on Aug. 20 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. AllUniversity students can attend the convocation, but freshmen willattend “breakout sessions” with faculty members afterward todiscuss the book.
Babcock said he plans to incorporate the text in his fallEnglish 1001 classes and other instructors will do the same. SRPactivities also are in the works for the Honors College anddifferent residential colleges.
Babcock also said University groups could try to supplement”Fast Food Nation” with showings of “Super Size Me,” a documentaryin which director Morgan Spurlock eats only McDonald’s food for anentire month.
Despite the requirement, Chad Walker, an incoming freshman, saidhe had not read the book and did not plan to, “unless they forceme.”
Walker said he did not know of any freshmen who had read thebook, but several people planned to watch “Super Size Me”instead.
Summers said the book was important not only for its content,but for the careful planning and research evident throughout thebook. “Fast Food Nation” contains 100 pages of notes and creditsfor its facts, making it an ideal model for the researchenvironment University administrators are trying to develop, shesaid.
“It is factual and research-based, which directly relates to thecomponents of our quality enhancement plan,” Summer said.
“We are emphasizing that we are a research University and thishelps students to understand that as soon as they are admitted,”she said.
Babcock said the research value of the book made it stand outamong other books the committee considered.
“It embodies the research skills and abilities the facultyexpects students to develop,” Babcock said.
Schlosser reveals shocking truths in “Fast FoodNation”
– In 2001 Americans spent $110 billion on fast food
– McDonald’s has replaced Coca-Cola as the world’s most famousbrand
– A survey of American children found that 96 percent couldidentify Ronald McDonald, a figure second only to Santa Claus
– A survey of citizens of several nations, including the UnitedStates, found that the Golden Arches are more recognizable than theChristian cross
– One out of every eight workers in the United States was atsome point employed by McDonald’s