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Ravenous

By: Henry Dimbleby, Jemima Lewis
Narrated by: Henry Dimbleby
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Summary

You may not be aware of this – not consciously, at least – but you do not control what you eat. Every mouthful you take is informed by the subtle tweaking and nudging of a vast, complex, global system – one so intimately woven into everyday life that you hardly even know it's there.

The food system is no longer simply a means of sustenance. It is one of the most successful, most innovative and most destructive industries on earth. It sustains us, but it is also killing us. Diet-related disease is now the biggest cause of preventable illness and death in the developed world – far worse than smoking. The environmental damage done by the food system is also changing climate patterns and degrading the earth, risking our food security.

Few people know the workings of the food system better than Henry Dimbleby, founder of the Leon restaurant chain, government adviser and author of the radical National Food Strategy. In Ravenous, he takes us behind the scenes to reveal the mechanisms that act together to shape the modern diet – and therefore the world. He explains not just why the food system is leading us into disaster, but what can be done about it.

Longlisted for the André Simon Book Awards

©2023 Henry Dimbleby and Jemima Lewis. (P)2023 Bolinda Publishing
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Critic reviews

"We need a food revolution to ensure children don't go hungry, eat right, and reach their potential." (Tom Kerridge, Michelin-starred chef)

"This is a delicious, highly digestible guide to building a better food system, for the sake of our bodies and our planet." (Prue Leith, judge of The Great British Bake Off)

"Emerging from Dimbleby's work on food supply chains during the pandemic, Ravenous explores the structures of the global food system and how environmental, health and nutritional concerns can harmoniously coexist." (Financial Times)

What listeners say about Ravenous

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Best non-fiction book I’ve read in decades

Dimbleby takes an impartial, non-judgemental and comprehensive look at the food system, it’s health and environmental impacts, and what can be done to improve these. But don’t let the weighty topic put you off! It’s written in a highly engaging style with lots of fun facts and interesting anecdotes. Definitely the most important and interesting non-fiction book I’ve read in decades. (And the only book I’ve ever been moved enough write a review for!) Would recommend for anyone interested in food, health, the environment or government policy.

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A sobering must listen for every Homo sapiens. Especially well told by one of the authors Henry Dimbleby.

A brilliant educational overview of the state of our food supply systems and the consumption of that food and how both are terribly unwell and require action and intervention if we are to survive and thrive as a species.
Our behaviour and habits are making the world and all who live herein sick and some parts of the book are exceptionally hard to listen to especially our treatment of the animals we eat.
But knowledge is power and I believe we will make the changes necessary even if it involves holding our heads in shame that we ever allowed ourselves to get into this appalling state.

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Read this book!!!

An immensely important and profound book that should without doubt be read by all especially the policy makers

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Excellent listen

Really good listen with a balance of arguments and list of recommendations with revealing status updates. Would have liked to hear more on changing behaviours - not just sugar tax given emerging issues with artificial sweeteners - but how we explore more bitter / sour foods with relish rather than disguising them with sugar filled dressings.

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Excellent

Packed with facts, figures and examples, this book exposes the many problems with our global food system for our health and the health of the planet. It offers plenty of solutions and governments really need to listen.

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Insightful, important and pithy

To the point, easy to read, insightful - lots of people should read it. Loved the structure. We need more Henry Dimbleby’s in and advising government.

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Such an important message

This is a fascinating book - so well researched. The reading of this book should be made compulsory reading in schools. Hard to hear in places. I for one am going to adopt the one third vegetarian idea and if we all did, there is a chance we could save the planet. I only wish the government would adopt all his recommendations.

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essential reading

A hugely important book that provides genuine insight and realistic solutions to the issues within the UK's food and farming industries.

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A comprehensive look at the broken food system

Fascinating look at our broken food system with clear, practical suggestions for reform. Required reading for anyone in politics or the food industry.

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Fascinating insight

This audiobook really opened my eyes to my own, and others, habits. I will modify my own diet and that of my family as much as possible. It has been a great conversation starter too.

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