An Economist Gets Lunch, Tyler Cowen
An Economist Gets Lunch, Tyler Cowen
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An Economist Gets Lunch
New Rules for Everyday Foodies

Author: Tyler Cowen

Narrator: Stephen Hoye

Unabridged: 10 hr 24 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/17/2012


Synopsis

One of the most influential economists of the decade-and the New York Times bestselling author of The Great Stagnation-boldly argues that just about everything you've heard about food is wrong.

Food snobbery is killing entrepreneurship and innovation, says economist, preeminent social commentator, and maverick dining guide blogger Tyler Cowen. Americans are becoming angry that our agricultural practices have led to global warming-but while food snobs are right that local food tastes better, they're wrong that it is better for the environment, and they are wrong that cheap food is bad food. The food world needs to know that you don't have to spend more to eat healthy, green, exciting meals. At last, some good news from an economist!

Tyler Cowen discusses everything from slow food to fast food, from agriculture to gourmet culture, from modernist cuisine to how to pick the best street vendor. He shows why airplane food is bad but airport food is good; why restaurants full of happy, attractive people serve mediocre meals; and why American food has improved as Americans drink more wine. And most important of all, he shows how to get good, cheap eats just about anywhere.

Just as The Great Stagnation was Cowen's response to all the fashionable thinking about the economic crisis, An Economist Gets Lunch is his response to all the fashionable thinking about food. Provocative, incisive, and as enjoyable as a juicy, grass-fed burger, it will influence what you'll choose to eat today and how we're going to feed the world tomorrow.

About The Author

Tyler Cowen is an economist, academic, and writer. He is co-author, with Alex Tabarrok, of the economics blog Marginal Revolution.


Reviews

Goodreads review by David

This is a fun book that is everything about food and its enjoyment. It covers agriculture, restaurants, gourmet culture, food vendors, airplane food, airport food, ethnic food, and finding good food in other countries. Much of what Tyler Cowen writes is different from commonly held ideas. For exampl......more

Goodreads review by DeAnna

Bleah. I had such high hopes for this. Food! and Economics! Yay! But it was illogical, poorly edited, and a general waste of time. The book splits into two general areas: tips on how to deal with food from a personal basis (like - if you want good Chinese food, go to the kind of place where large tabl......more

Goodreads review by Zach

I really enjoyed this book. It is breezy, informative, and occasionally provocative. Roughly 70% of the book is devoted to stories about his food travels, discussion of different cuisines, and advice to the reader. Everyone should enjoy this material. More controversial will be the handful of chapter......more

Goodreads review by Joe

Consider this book the highlights of a unique food blog, where an economist living in the suburb puts a great deal of thought into what he eats, where he eats it, and why. The best parts of this book read like smart New York Magazine pieces. For instance, Cowen only shops at an Asian grocery store f......more


Quotes

"A perfect marriage of economics and food. Tyler Cowen is my newest guilty pleasure."
-Rocco DiSpirito, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Now Eat This!

"Tyler Cowen's latest book is a real treat, probably my favorite thing he's ever written. It does a fantastic job exploring the economics, culture, esthetics, and realities of food, and delivers a mountain of compelling facts. Most of all it's encouraging--not a screed, despite its occasionally serious arguments--and brings the fun back to eating. Delicious!"
-Stephen J. Dubner, author of Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics

"A gastronomic , economic and philosophical feast from one of the world's most creative economists. Tyler Cowen offers the thinking person's guide to American food culture, and your relationship with food will be hugely enriched by the result."
-Tim Hartford, author of The Undercover Economist and Adapt.

“A fun and informative book that environmentalists, economists, and (most of all) foodies will enjoy."
-Library Journal

"Cowen writes like your favorite wised-up food maven...a breezy, conversational style; the result is mouth-watering food for thought."
-Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Economist reveals how to find great food."
-Seattle Weekly

"Tips on eating food that's better for you, your wallet, and the environment."
-Fast Company

“Tyler Cowen explains with great authority why good food doesn't have to be expensive and why expensive food isn't inevitably good. Cowen makes an argument for affordable food that results in both economic and sensory benefits. He espouses a fascinating new discipline I couldn’t help but think of as ‘Foodienomics.’”
—Barb Stuckey, author of Taste What You’re Missing

"An Economist Gets Lunch is a mind-bending book for non-economists."
-USA Today