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72 ratings, 4.14 average rating, 38 reviews
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published
March 30th 2008
by Harpercollins Canada
binding
Hardcover
isbn
0002007819
(isbn13: 9780002007818)
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 206)
Read in November, 2008
READ THIS BOOK!
This book changed the way I eat, shop, and work. There are practical and easy seafood listings on the "good" "sometimes" and "never" eating lists - so even if you don't read the book, check out the lists. But if you want to know why I don't eat shrimp anymore or why I think sardines are awesome (and delicious) - then actually read the book. Otherwise you'll continue eating the seafood equivalent of a tiger on the food chain, you'll continue eat...more
This book changed the way I eat, shop, and work. There are practical and easy seafood listings on the "good" "sometimes" and "never" eating lists - so even if you don't read the book, check out the lists. But if you want to know why I don't eat shrimp anymore or why I think sardines are awesome (and delicious) - then actually read the book. Otherwise you'll continue eating the seafood equivalent of a tiger on the food chain, you'll continue eat...more
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"From Publishers Weekly
In this whirlwind, worldwide tour of fisheries, Grescoe (The Devil's Picnic) whiplashes readers from ecological devastation to edible ecstasy and back again. In disturbing detail, he depicts the turbid and murky Chesapeake Bay, where, with overharvested oysters too few to do their filtering job, fish are infested with the cell from hell, a micro-organism that eats their flesh and exposes their guts. He describes how Indian shrimp farms treated with pesticides, antibi...more
In this whirlwind, worldwide tour of fisheries, Grescoe (The Devil's Picnic) whiplashes readers from ecological devastation to edible ecstasy and back again. In disturbing detail, he depicts the turbid and murky Chesapeake Bay, where, with overharvested oysters too few to do their filtering job, fish are infested with the cell from hell, a micro-organism that eats their flesh and exposes their guts. He describes how Indian shrimp farms treated with pesticides, antibi...more
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The wealth of information in this book is astounding. While jumping a bit from issue to issue (bottom-trawling to antibiotics to overfishing) he does a good summary at the end, and the stories he tells of fisherfolk around the world are wonderful.
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Read in November, 2008
It was a good read, (and I guess I'm kinda bragging here) but it didn't really do anything to change my mental map of fish to avoid. But it is really heartbreaking to remember the path of thinking that salmon farming would be what saves wild salmon (even thinking that the terrible taste of farmed salmon was a price I was willing to pay to save wild salmon) only to realize that farmed salmon actually kills wild salmon, and in addition to being terrible tasting is toxic! Luckily for me, my favori...more
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A few years back, Taras Grescoe wrote an entertaining travel/food book called the Devil's Picnic, which described his quest to try prohibited foods and beverages, including absinthe and raw milk cheese. His most recent book, Bottomfeeder, is just as entertaining, but also describes a serious global problem, namely, the devasation to the world's ecosystems caused by man's appetite for seafood.
Grescoe visits the home of many seafoods to show how the market for food is crushing seafood stocks. ...more
Grescoe visits the home of many seafoods to show how the market for food is crushing seafood stocks. ...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
everyone who eats seafood
This book does for the seafood industry what "Fast Food Nation" did for the beef industry. I alternated between feeling disgusted and hungry as I read. The only thing that would have made it better is if it included photographs. Grescoe thoroughly researched the topic, spending a year and a half traveling around the globe to interview fishermen, fish farmers, fishmongers, chefs, scientists, activists, and fellow seafood eaters. Some people may dismiss his claims as alarmist hyperbo...more
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Read in August, 2008
I like the idea of this book, but the subtitle "how to eat ethically in a world of vanishing seafood" is inaccurate. Grescoe is a journalist who likes to travel and write about the people and things he finds. Only the appendix truly addresses the subtitle, and even it screams for more information about all the things we see on menus and at the grocery store. Frankly, the www.seafoodwatch.org website does that much better.
This book is very accessible though and makes you ask questi...more
This book is very accessible though and makes you ask questi...more
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Read in June, 2008
I really enjoyed this book, but had to dock it a star on reconsideration. Grescoe does a great job getting into the social, political, historical, scientific, ethical and culinary aspects of fishing around the world, and in general I like his tone and pacing. But after the first two chapters dragged a bit, I learned that he sometimes went into deeper detail in some sections than I found interesting, e.g. the important dates in the development of a localized fishing alliance. So, as I continued, ...more
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Read in November, 2008
I learned a lot from this book, but didn't really enjoy reading it. It was okay, but really failed compared to some of Grescoe's other books. Still, after reading this book, I feel pretty grossed out by the idea of eating shrimp, and have some pretty strong ideas about ethical seafood. I guess that was the point.
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Read in October, 2008
recommended to Laurie by:
Matthew
Not just a fascinating book about seafood, but an excellent piece of food writing, and a detailed look at the lives and work of people around the world. Grescoe sketches memorable portraits of fishing regions from New England to India, the South of France to British Columbia. While some of what he shares is horrifying, the book left me with a strong desire to eat MORE seafood, especially the small fish he recommends. I've also started taking fish oil capsules, to make me smart. Recommended.
M...more
M...more
Read in August, 2008
I read this just after reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Vegetable Miracle. It felt very similar in the sense that it asks us to think about where our food comes from because these choices have environmental, cultural, and health impacts. This book was rich with information and detail but it flowed nicely. It brought to life the back stories for different sea food entrees. I actively avoid shrimp and salmon now and I'm interested in trying sardines (something that has never tempted me before!)...more
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Read in November, 2008
I liked this book although I found at times the author spent a little too much time on details, some of which I found to be more tangents than relative details. Overall it was interesting especially when I just skipped to the last couple of chapters to get to the bottom line. Worth checking out if you're interesting in understanding where the fish we eat comes from and how our environment and breeding practices impact its nutrition.
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I've only read about 2 chapters so far, and some of the information I've already read elsewhere (such as Aubudon magazine, Defenders of Wildlife magazine, Eating Well magazine, Environmental Defense newsletter), but it is very well written and once I get into the parts where he tries these different seafood delicacies from around the world, it should get exciting since I'm a bit of a foodie. :) But, I think others should read it for the eye-opening info on why certain sea life populations are ...more
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When Taras Grescoe declares he will try anything on his voyage around the world in search of ethical seafood, he means it. He eats poisonous pufferfish, morally questionable shark fin soup, and potentially dangerous oysters during months without r's. He even samples fishmeal (yuck). After 18 months of eating his way up and down the marine food chain, Grescoe exits a bottom-feeder -- committed to consuming fish lower on the marine food web, with the exception of...
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This is a very timly book which I believe those people who love to eat seafood should read and act on.
BTW: The book I read was Bottomfeeder: How To Eat Ethically in a World of Vanishing Seafood. (Taras Grescoe)
BTW: The book I read was Bottomfeeder: How To Eat Ethically in a World of Vanishing Seafood. (Taras Grescoe)
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Read in August, 2008
Searing indictment of the seafood industry. Well-written, informative but not without hope. There are also fascinating descriptions of strange and wonderful foods the author has eaten- including the pellets fed to farmed salmon (not very tasty, believe it or not).
I found that much of what I thought I knew about seafood was wrong, especially farmed fish.
If you eat any sort of fish at all, you really ought to read this book.
I found that much of what I thought I knew about seafood was wrong, especially farmed fish.
If you eat any sort of fish at all, you really ought to read this book.
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While the American version has a different subtitle (How to eat ethically in a world of vanishing seafood) I think this book is just essential. First of all, Grescoe is probably the best writer around these days. His similes and metaphors are so careful. It's like he spent weeks choosing every word of this text. A beautiful book that makes me care about seafood and is altering the way I shop and eat.
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Read in July, 2008
recommended to Suzanna by:
Salon
This book was amazing. I'm kind of obsessed with following food to it's source now anyway, and this book really filled that need nicely. Informative, well written, entertaining, delicious (not all, of course). I recommend it highly, it changed the way I look at seafood. But it left me pissed off too. There has to be a better way?
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Read in July, 2008
Just finished. Outstanding, eye-opening, disturbing, sickening, constructive, valuable. If you can't bear to have your stomach and conscience turned by learning the impact of your current seafood eating habits, at least read the appendix for sources of valuable information on how to shop for sustainably fished or farmed seafood.
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Read in September, 2008
Great overview of how to eat seafood sustainably. He doesn't just preach about what you shouldn't eat but also provides actual guidelines for eating sustainably and how the problem of overfishing can be solved...other than just not fishing at all. I highly recommend this for anyone who eats seafood.
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