What the World Eats

by: Faith D'Aluisio; Photographs by Peter Menzel

Published by: Tricycle Press

Reviewed by Barbara Broom

What the World Eats is simply the best book I’ve read thus far in 2008.

Eating is necessary and is done by everyone. Tricycle Press has published a fascinating book that takes a look at food/eating around the world. The eating habits of 21 countries and 25 families are chronicled through the written word and photographs.

Follow author D’Aluisio and photographer Menzel as they show the reader how mealtime is changing in homes around the world. They provide facts about the individual countries, stunning photographs of a family in their home surrounded by one week of groceries. They break down the cost of each item and tell the families’ story.

Much is learned about family life, eating habits and who is well fed and who is underfed and how companies like Kraft, Nestle and McDonalds have and are impacting the world.

This is not the sort of book I normally enjoy. However, once I started reading I couldn’t stop. It is that compelling. Now that I’ve finished reading, I find myself returning to certain countries and rereading. This book is a keeper and should be in every library and in every school.

The author did a wonderful job of telling each family’s story in a simple and readable way and I found only one instance of what I would refer to as global warning propaganda (I personally believe the jury is still out as 33,000 scientists disagree with Al Gore). Without that, the book would be just about perfect.

Armchair Interviews says: A must read.