Page 59 - Fall2010

All Thumbs Book Reviews

Fad-Free Nutrition that Stare and Whelan would have us believe
By Fredrick J. Stare M.D., Ph.D. & Elizabeth are really of no concern. The short list includes
M. Whelan, Sc.D., MPH fluoride, Olestra, bleached flour, margarine
Hunter House Publishers (trans fats), pesticides, and MSG. Raw milk oc-
cupies the number one spot on the list of most
The authors of this 1999 book, now out dangerous foods. Saturated animal fat like butter
of print, get right to work establishing their is something you should fear inside this box, and
extensive credentials and fact-based approach you don’t really need it anyway if you are over
in an apparent attempt to impress the reader. the age of two.
Unfortunately, I suspect I’ve seen more drivel Their reasoning with pesticides, for ex-
from PhDs than from others probably because ample, is that there are no dangerous pesticides
the PhDs feel more entitled. They lose even more on the market because the EPA wouldn’t allow
credibility when they try—immediately in the it. In this box, the omniscience and infallibility
preface no less—to rationalize their way around of agencies like the EPA and FDA are beyond
the conflict of interest derived from their food question. I guess DDT never happened in their
industry funding. little world.
Reading on, we find implications that sci- I can see these authors in an episode of the
ence is up to a vote, and if you are in the minority, Simpsons being confronted by the infamous
you are wrong. One bullet says, “Any tenet that Dalai Lama-nade with ingredients like mono-
strays too far from accepted wisdom should be sodium poisonate and partially de-weaponized
suspect.” Their general attitude seems to be that plutonium, shrugging their shoulders and saying,
one shouldn’t think outside the box, and if one “If the FDA allows it on the market, it must be
remains obediently inside the box, no thinking okay.”
is required. So just don’t think, period. Wonder Elsewhere in this box we learn that there is
what’s inside the box? Well, let me tell you. no cancer epidemic, it only appears that way be-
There are a number of controversial items cause we are living longer than we did a hundred

THE CALL OF THE LAND – AN AGRARIAN PRIMER FOR THE 21ST CENTuRy
By Steven McFadden
NorLightsPress

We often hear the claim, touted as a well-established fact, that small organic farms cannot feed the world and we
therefore “need” industrial-scale farming. Steven McFadden makes the case that such statements are false. Nearly half the
world’s food already comes from small-scale farms.
Monocultures and chemical-based farming do not produce more per acre. They in fact use more energy to produce
what they do than you can gain from that same produce. Industrial farming may superficially appear to be doing the job
of feeding the world but when you look at the consistent trends, you don’t have to be too smart to see where it’s going.
Industrial methods promote the loss of topsoil, become ever more expensive, and require more inputs, while the
remaining topsoil deteriorates to lifeless dust and food quality declines. Even United Nations’ scientists have concluded
that industrial agriculture has failed.
Industrial agriculture may continue to put on a brave front and act like everything is just fine but its doom is certain.
When that day comes (sooner than later, most likely) we are going to need a whole lot more farmers. McFadden documents
the increasing numbers of people feeling the call to reconnect with the land they abandoned and provides resources to
help those who are looking for a way to do that. THUMBS UP. Review by Tim Boyd

FALL 2010 Wise Traditions 59