Food Rules: An Eater's Manual - Michael Pollan, 2009

I normally frown on short essays published as overpriced books, and $11 is a little steep for what could easily have been a complete New York Times Magazine story (instead of the extract they ran). But the format might really make more people take these rules seriously--and that could improve, even save, countless lives. The 64 rules are mostly common sense, expressed in a sticky way (#19: "If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don't.") I didn't learn anything new, but I enjoyed it, and felt motivated to continue on the path I've been trying to walk for a few years (for example, avoiding anything with HFCs). As with self-help books, reading something I know again, especially if it's expressed in a pithy or novel way, can be tremendously helpful. I especially liked #39, "Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself," which is an idea I'd sort of stumbled on. The book is a nice size, attractively designed, and not at all intimidating; may it be a huge success!