HW 7

Fast food nation By Eric Schlosser

Introduction
PRECIS:The expansion of industrialization modernization and the economic boom contributed to the creation of a “fast life” so to speak. Starting with hot dog vendors in California the idea of receiving food faster became nationally known and eventually a way of life. This idea eventually applied to the now dominant clothing companies.

GEMS:
“Better living through chemistry” p.6
“...Hope to shed light not only on the workings of an important industry but also on a distinctively American way of viewing the world.” p. 9

MY THOUGHTS: I was surprised to find out that this book would provide much information about not only the food, but other things such as clothing and from where this fast food nation erupted from. I also thought that it was interesting to see that much of our “taste” comes from the New Jersey Turnpike. I also thought the military base in Cheyenne was funny. The idea of it and what they ordered to eat was weird to me.

Chapter One
PRECIS: The rise of one of the leading figures in the fast food industry Carl  N. Karchers’ story. The food industry used the idea of uniformity and familiarity to dominate in the food industry. Others began to follow their lead, and the automobile became a way of life.

GEMS:
“Worship as you are...in the family car.” p.19
“for every fast food that swept the nation , there were countless others that flourished briefly - or never had a prayer.” p. 23

MY THOUGHTS:
I thought that it was interesting to see that behind all of this marketing and good cheap food there was actually a plan for this, like this chaos is what goes on behind the scenes and we don’t even think about it as we sit and eat our burgers and fries.

Chapter two
PRECIS: Children are now incorporated in the plan to attract more business and expand. Toys inside of meals and playgrounds are added to bring families from their home cooked meals to their restaurants.

GEMS:
“Your trusted friends.”-title of this chapter
“Look it is ridiculous to call this an industry...this is not. This is a rat eat rat. Dog eat dog.I’ll kill ‘ em and I’m going to kill ‘ em before they kill me. You’re talking about the American way of survival of the fittest.” p. 37

MY THOUGHTS:
What would have happened had they not targeted the youth of America, would there be more home cooked meals? More family time? Is it even considered family time if a family eats fast-food all of the time?

Chapter three
PRECIS: Fast food industries began to abuse their power and take advantage of the young and the immigrant workers. The awakening of Colorado Springs, from a sleepy tourist town to the lively inhabited city is has been since the 1990s.

GEMS:
“Every saturday Elisa Zamot gets up at 5:15 in the morning...after seven hours of standing at a cash register, her feet hurt. She’s wiped out. She comes through the front door, flops onto the living room couch, and turns on the TV. And the next morning she gets up at 5:15 again and starts the same routine.” p. 67-68

MY THOUGHTS:
Why are teenagers and like immigrant workers the target for these fast food industries’ employees? Like why not the wealthy? They don’t need the money. and what ever happened to the idea of everything self done?