A Garden of Unearthly Delights: Bioengineering and the Future of Food [Hardcover]

Robin Mather (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1995

Explaining the complex and controversial possibilities of bioengineering in the food industry, a guide to help the American consumer make informed choices in food buying explores the conflicting theories of food production--the near-utopian vs. the organic. 15,000 first printing. Tour.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In chatty journalistic interview style, Mather, food editor at the Detroit News, explores the tensions between industrial and traditional agriculture. Despite the book's subtitle, its treatment of bioengineering itself is perfunctory and related mainly to more general issues of economic structure in food provision. Mather pays specific attention to contrasting viewpoints regarding vegetable, dairy and poultry production, striving to treat controversial topics evenhandedly while indicating her own enthusiasms for sustainable practices, local supply and initiatives such as community-shared agriculture. The book is a relatively quick read, with lots of human-interest angles and earthy information to enlighten and occasionally distress the consumer. Contrasting food "producers" with "growers," businesses with farms and engineered with natural foods, Mather touches upon profound issues and notes the conflicts of human values and perspectives as well as the real economic factors at work. Deeper consideration of these conflicts is left to the reader.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Mather, the food editor of the Detroit News, has written a book about two possible futures regarding how food will be produced, processed, distributed, and consumed in this country. One of those futures, the bioengineered one, is already upon us. A growth hormone for dairy cows and a genetically engineered tomato have already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and hundreds of other bioengineered foods are waiting for approval. A second possible future lies in sustainable agriculture, which involves, among other things, environmentally friendly small- to medium-sized operations growing crops and raising livestock for local or regional consumption. Mather contrasts the visions of biotechnology and sustainability by visiting dairy, chicken, and vegetable operations that emphasize one or the other of these approaches. She strives for fairness by letting the proponents of these two views speak for themselves but leaves no doubt with readers that she has high hopes for sustainable agriculture. An engaging book on an important topic; highly recommended for both public and academic libraries.?William H. Wiese, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult; 1ST edition (June 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525938648
• ISBN-13: 978-0525938644
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,596,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

What do you do when your world collapses? In my case, you write a book.

My second book, The Feast Nearby, is due from Ten Speed Press in May 2011. It details my locavore year on just $40 a week for groceries. I was driven to the experiment by losing both a marriage and a career in the span of 7 days, and I'm pleased to say that living well is, indeed, the best revenge.

My first book, A Garden of Unearthly Delights: Bioengineering and the Future of Food (Dutton, 1995) was published far ahead of the curve. In it, I cheerfully advocated for sustainability in our food supply, after visiting farms both industrially and sustainably minded.

With more than 30 years of writing about food for publications ranging from the Detroit News and Chicago Tribune to Cooking Light magazine, my knowledge of food runs both broad and deep.

A Michigan native, I now live in southwest Michigan with an aging standard poodle, an African Grey parrot and a pestilential cat. Oh, and two laying hens.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Think twice before you bite!, January 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Garden of Unearthly Delights: Bioengineering and the Future of Food (Mass Market Paperback)

To paraphrase our guru Oprah, this book stopped me cold before eating another(chicken)burger. Mather has a feminine, conversational writing style that befits the subject and offers great insight into the aspects of bio-engineered foodstuffs. We are getting so far away from the basics as taught by our farming forefathers. Is it worth it? Or are we ensuring that there will be no future farmers in America? A big thank you to Robin Mather for going into the barns and labs to set the table of doubt for us.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Garden of Unearthly Delights: Bioengineering and the Future of Food, February 3, 2012

By 

thejimmer - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Garden of Unearthly Delights: Bioengineering and the Future of Food (Hardcover)

This book may have been ahead of it's time but it is still very timely. It is a well balanced approach to food production and the challenges in feeding the country as well as ourselves. This issue was not yet on my radar screen when it was written and although I have read much on this subject over the past 3 years I had not even heard of this book until I came across Robin Mather's new book "A Feast Nearby". Both books are written in a straight forward clear style which made for compelling reading.