Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser [218]
The photograph of Nancy Donley’s son Alex speaks much louder than words, and I am grateful to her for allowing me to include it. Eugene Richards is one of the finest documentary photographers, ever. I am indebted to him for letting me use two of his photos. On short notice, Skylar Nielsen and Greg Skinner went out and shot just what I needed. Rob Buchanan hired a small airplane in order to photograph the feedlots of Weld County from above. Though none of his aerial feedlot photos is included here, I applaud the spirit behind that move and thank him for letting me use one of his more prosaic cattle shots. And Mark Mann took a picture that says it all.
Among the hundreds of people I interviewed for this book, a handful deserve special thanks for the help, the insights, and the inspiration they provided.
Dale Lasater, Steve Bjerklie, Kenny and Clara Dobbins, Javier Ramirez, Dave Feamster, and the rancher whom I call Hank spent countless hours speaking with me. I’m grateful for all their time and for all I learned from them.
I would never have become a journalist without the support of William Whitworth and Cullen Murphy at the Atlantic Monthly. Their influence now pervades everything I write. Corby Kummer has demonstrated over the years that prose can have both substance and style. And Amy Meeker has again and again shown me the importance, and the ethical imperative, of being right about every single detail.
I was fortunate to have John McPhee as a teacher long ago. He set a high standard — in seriousness of purpose, and compassion, and dedication to the craft — that his former students have struggled to attain.
A number of friends encouraged me for years to keep writing: Andre Boissier, Eric Borrer, Craig Canine, Michael Clurman, Alex Hendler, Jordan Katz, Lacey and John Williams. They cannot be thanked enough. Jane Rosenthal helped me become a writer by forcing me to write every day — and paying me to do it. Sarah Finnie Cabot played a crucial role in helping me get my first assignment. John Seabrook has been supportive in innumerable ways, finding me fact-checkers, reading manuscripts carefully, and criticizing them well. Katrina vanden Heuvel gave me the final shove that made me write nonfiction, has always been inspiring and engaged in the big issues of the day, always a dear friend.
Tina Bennett played an important role in the creation of this book, from the initial proposal to the final pages. She is a real gem: a terrific editor who also happens to be a terrific agent.
During the writing of this book, my family was often subjected to highly unpleasant details. Lynn and Craig, James and Kyle, Amy and Mark, Andrew, Austin, Hillary, Dylan, Lena, Billy, and George have put up with a lot. I am lucky they will still share a meal with me. My children, Mica and Conor, have put up with even more, and I apologize to them for all the Happy Meals they’ve been denied. I’m deeply grateful to Bob and Lola, who showed great patience and gave tremendous support as I tried to find my way as a writer. I’m deeply grateful to my parents, who have given me more love and support than could ever be measured. Most of all, I’m grateful to my wife, Shauna. Without her, none of these words would have been written.
index
Acheson, David, 221
Acree, Terry, 126
Acuff, Dan S., 45
Adams, Richard, 100
Advertising: awards for, 87;
for children, 40–49, 231, 243, 262, 267;
of cigarettes, 262;
McDonald’s spending on, 4;
in public schools, 51–57;
and television, 45–46
Advertising Age, 241
African-Americans, 156, 251, 268
AIDS, 196
Air Defense Command, U.S., 62
Air Force, U.S., 243
Air Force Academy, 62
Air Force Space Command, 1, 62
Alabama, 16
Alger, Horatio, 13
Alice in Wonderland, 40
Alka-Seltzer, 41
“Alliance for Workplace Safety,