Lappé et al.'s "World Hunger: Twelve Myths", a production of the Institute for Food and Development Policy, does exactly what it promises: it mentions and then subsequently refutes twelve often held false beliefs about global food issues and worldwide hunger.
Although most of the material in this book will be familiar to anyone who has made some study of development issues, economic theory, and Third World politics, it is nonetheless an excellent primer for those who do not. The accessible and simple writing style, the useful examples, the systematic approach to all the relevant issues in food policy, and the historical awareness in the book all combine to make it the best introduction to the world problematic of agriculture that one could give to family, friends and so forth.
The twelve myths addressed are familiar: that the world is overpopulated, that hunger is caused by absolute lack of food, that food production cannot be both efficient and good for the environment, that biotechnology will solve the problem for us (or has), that free trade or free markets will solve the food issue, that foreign aid is the best way to address it, and so forth. Though the authors of the book shy away from any too radical conclusions in their refutations of the above, and they are sometimes quite naive in their appeal to people's interests (particularly in the part where they argue that the American working class has broadly the same interests as the Third World poor), nonetheless their facts and arguments are correct and to the point, and the conclusions the authors do not wish to draw are no less obvious for that. Lappé et al. can even help refute misconceptions about food widely held among the left, such as a distaste for organic production as inefficient or elitist, or the idea that as long as you eat vegetarian, you're not contributing to food or environmental problems.
In summary, although one should not take all the conclusions the authors draw at face value, this book is an excellent primer and introduction to global agriculture issues when it comes to the facts.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Follow the Authors
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
There is a newer edition of this item:
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
