What do Americans think of when they think of the hamburger? A robust, succulent spheroid of fresh ground beef, the birthright of red-blooded citizens? Or a Styrofoam-shrouded Big Mac, mass-produced to industrial specifications and served by wage slaves to an obese, brainwashed population? Is it cooking or commodity? An icon of freedom or the quintessence of conformity?
This fast-paced and entertaining book unfolds the immense significance of the hamburger as an American icon. Josh Ozersky shows how the history of the burger is entwined with American business and culture and, unexpectedly, how the burger's story is in many ways the story of the country that invented (and reinvented) it.
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"This may offend my vegan and vegetarian friends, but this book made me hungry for a hamburger. It was one of the books for my "Poetics and Politics of Food" class. It's a great read with historical and political references to an all-American food." — Lori (5 out of 5 stars)
"This may offend my vegan and vegetarian friends, but this book made me hungry for a hamburger. It was one of the books for my "Poetics and Politics of Food" class. It's a great read with historical and political references to an all-American food."
" This wasn't quite what I expected. I was hoping for more about the food; but what the book ended up being was a history of the hamburger industry. The author's voice didn't hit me quite right, either. Interesting, but didn't really grab me. "
" Nice quick read that was very interesting and entertaining. I use some of this trivia in my Business classes. "
" Ozersky is a great writer and this is a worthy topic. I just wanted a little more so it was only okay for me -- if you like his other work and/or the topic, I'd highly recommend it. "
" Ah...it feels good to have one's summer reading chosen and waiting. This voluminous book should keep my synapses firing over the next several months. "
" This book is little, so it can't go into a really comprehensive history, but the bibliography is outstanding and now I want to read a detailed history of McDonald's. And a book just like this, but about pizza instead. "
" The introduction alone took me out - way too "sociologically significant" and "fraught with meaning & import" for me. And the author was in love with his big words, if you know what I mean. "
" the author is clearly nuts but an interesting read none the less. "
" This book was rather disappointing. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't what I got. Some parts dragged on forever, and this is a short book! I could have skipped over this. "
" There are much better books about this topic, such as Fast Food Nation. "
" i don't usually read non fiction. but i enjoyed the story and learned alot. it seemed to come up in several conversations i have had over the last week. "
" Interesting little read but, pun very much intended, there really isn't much meat to it. "
" An interesting look at the history of hamburger in the U.S. I especially enjoyed the emphasis on the symbolic significance of the hamburger throughout time. It walked through some big hamburger moments. Mondale's "Where's the beef?" being one of them. "
" The history of the hamburger and how it became such a part of American life. He calls it an icon and traces how it came about. He also tells a lot about the people who made it happen. It's a pretty good read. "
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