Food is a topic that has pretty much been tackled by every angle. Photos of food are everywhere, TV shows and movies that surround the culinary world are more popular than ever, and it's even made its way into music ("Scenes From An Italian Restaurant," anyone?). However, there's nothing quite like a great food book. Not a cookbook, that gives recipes and tips, but a book about food. If your New Year's Resolution is to read more or to eat better or both, give any or all of these picks a shot and you'll absolutely accomplish both.


"In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan's motto has become a war cry for real-food evangelists all over the world: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." This book breaks down the motto and shows, with extensive examples and explanations, why we need to get back to eating real food. One crucial lesson, as repeated by Pollan on WebMD, is that when shopping at a typical grocery store, it's best to avoid the aisles and shop the perimeter. That's where you'll find the fresh produce, dairy, meat, eggs, and fresh breads - the aisles are engineered to make us buy junk food that's bad for us and bad for the environment.

"The Man Who Ate Everything" by Jeffrey Steingarten
This book is a collection of essays by the stern-faced Steingarten whom you might know from his time as an "Iron Chef" judge, but who also is the food critic for Vogue. Reading along as he abolishes any food-related prejudices that he holds is entertaining and educational for any foodie. He breathes life and insight into any topic, even Jello, as seen in this article in Vogue.

"The Good Food Revolution: Growing Healthy Food, People, and Communities" by Will Allen
Will Allen is an urban farmer and MacArthur Genius who has an unlikely background story for an activist: he was a professional basketball player turned KFC executive when he decided to give it all up and buy a massive plot of land in an area that was devoid of real food, just outside of Milwaukee's housing projects. He overcame enormous difficulties and built an urban farm and food education center that now brings real food to thousands and employs at-risk youth. Read more about him at The Huffington Post.

"Kitchen Confidential" by Anthony Bourdain
This is the food memoir that started the genre and opened the kitchen doors to the public. It was originally written as a love letter to his pirate crew of cooks, but its reach went much farther. Though Bourdain now admits that the book is a bit heavy-handed on the testosterone, it's a compelling read that would make any 9-to-5er want to throw their laptop out the window and get cooking professionally.