Ravenous cover art

Ravenous

How to Get Ourselves and Our Planet into Shape

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Ravenous

By: Henry Dimbleby, Jemima Lewis
Narrated by: Henry Dimbleby
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About this listen

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 Aging & Longevity Personal Development Politics & Government Thought-Provoking Capitalism

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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)
All stars
Most relevant
What a brilliant piece of writing on such a complex subject
Essential reading / listening for anyone wanting to live well and healthily on this planet and improve our world
Superb

Devoured it !

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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.

Best non-fiction book I’ve read in decades

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It follows on beautifully from Ultra Processed People. A must read. Audible now require fifteen more words for a review, so here they are!

Excellent!

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This was possibly the best big-picture look at the food system that I've read. It covers everything from human behaviour and nutrition to global supply chains, landuse change and domestic policy. A truly excellent read.

An excellent all-encompassing read

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

A comprehensive look at the broken food system

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