Business Opportunities that Capitalism Brings
In Michael Pollan's latest book, In Defense of Food, he argues that capitalism is able to turn the problems it creates into new business opportunities. "The food industry needs theories so it can better redesign specific processed foods; a new theory means a new line of products," Pollan says (141). He convinces his readers to believe what he is trying to prove through his organizational techniques. Pollan presents his argument not only in his personal guide to what he believes people should eat, but also in the first half of the book where he gives the facts on the Western diet today.
Throughout the beginning of the book, he states his opinion on different facts given about food. However, to draw the readers in on how these food problems create business opportunities, Pollan starts off by giving examples on how the average American thinks. For example, Pollan discusses the deceiving food labels that are placed on certain foods. He then explains how the average person trusts the food labels and starts worrying about his or her health. By discussing a real life situation that many readers can relate to, Pollan draws the reader into believing that what he is saying is true. He proves that Americans are obsessed with the healthiness of the food that they are eating and as a result buy food products that have false food labels, such as "Fat-free" or "Great Supply of Vitamin C." Once the customer reads the food label, they buy the product and in turn the business makes a profit. Using real life situations like these, makes Pollan's point very realistic and believable.
Pollan also organizes his thoughts by using examples and statistics to encourage the reader to believe that his argument is logical. For instance, he explains how nutrition and the creation of different medications such as diet pills as well as heart bypass operations that treat many of the problematic foods bring business opportunities to doctors. By listing common medications used to "fix" health problems, the readers can see that the medications they are using today fall in line with the industry's ability to make a profit off of the average person's health concerns.
Finally, Michael Pollan organizes his novel so that his rules about eating, which is the most interesting part, come last in the novel. He introduces his three rules that he came up with, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants," and maps out exactly how he plans on explaining each rule to the reader. He allows the reader to see that he has fully thought about and researched his guide in eating, which enhances his logic. After explaining how he is going to present his information, Pollan does exactly what he says he is going to do. Each rule is subtitled and a legitimate explanation is given. At the end of each rule, he introduces the next rule by tying information about the two rules together. In the context of the rules, he breaks down exactly how the industry makes certain artificial products to make a profit and warns you about which ones to watch out for. "I propose some practical ways to separate, and defend, real food from the cascade of foodlike products that now surround and confound us, especially in the supermarket" (146). Giving the reader personal warnings on the techniques businesses use to make money shows that he has first hand experience on how the industry uses nutritionism to create a profit.
Through Pollan's organizational skills, it is clear that he has done thorough research and is prepared to argue that the problematic Western diet has lead the industry to sell more "enhanced" processed foods. His systematic approach with organizing his book definitely convinces the readers that his argument is logical and just.
Throughout the beginning of the book, he states his opinion on different facts given about food. However, to draw the readers in on how these food problems create business opportunities, Pollan starts off by giving examples on how the average American thinks. For example, Pollan discusses the deceiving food labels that are placed on certain foods. He then explains how the average person trusts the food labels and starts worrying about his or her health. By discussing a real life situation that many readers can relate to, Pollan draws the reader into believing that what he is saying is true. He proves that Americans are obsessed with the healthiness of the food that they are eating and as a result buy food products that have false food labels, such as "Fat-free" or "Great Supply of Vitamin C." Once the customer reads the food label, they buy the product and in turn the business makes a profit. Using real life situations like these, makes Pollan's point very realistic and believable.
Pollan also organizes his thoughts by using examples and statistics to encourage the reader to believe that his argument is logical. For instance, he explains how nutrition and the creation of different medications such as diet pills as well as heart bypass operations that treat many of the problematic foods bring business opportunities to doctors. By listing common medications used to "fix" health problems, the readers can see that the medications they are using today fall in line with the industry's ability to make a profit off of the average person's health concerns.
Finally, Michael Pollan organizes his novel so that his rules about eating, which is the most interesting part, come last in the novel. He introduces his three rules that he came up with, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants," and maps out exactly how he plans on explaining each rule to the reader. He allows the reader to see that he has fully thought about and researched his guide in eating, which enhances his logic. After explaining how he is going to present his information, Pollan does exactly what he says he is going to do. Each rule is subtitled and a legitimate explanation is given. At the end of each rule, he introduces the next rule by tying information about the two rules together. In the context of the rules, he breaks down exactly how the industry makes certain artificial products to make a profit and warns you about which ones to watch out for. "I propose some practical ways to separate, and defend, real food from the cascade of foodlike products that now surround and confound us, especially in the supermarket" (146). Giving the reader personal warnings on the techniques businesses use to make money shows that he has first hand experience on how the industry uses nutritionism to create a profit.
Through Pollan's organizational skills, it is clear that he has done thorough research and is prepared to argue that the problematic Western diet has lead the industry to sell more "enhanced" processed foods. His systematic approach with organizing his book definitely convinces the readers that his argument is logical and just.
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