Official Review: Consumer's Guide To Fruits & Veg...

[L_Therese]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Consumer's Guide To Fruits & Vegetables" by Mae Gardner.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Consumer’s Guide to Fruits & Vegetables: A to Z by Mae Gardner is an informational work apparently intended to help readers improve their personal nutrition through incorporating fruits and vegetables into their diets. In the first pages, Ms. Gardner lists several vital nutrients that all adults should be sure to consume as well as fruits and vegetables that can serve as sources for these nutrients. The next section, which is the main section, briefly explains some of the nutritional qualities of 26 produce items - one for each letter of the alphabet. After this is a small selection of recipes. Finally, Ms. Gardner offers the reader a series of images that may help identify edible and useful plants that often grow in the wild.

For such a short work, there is a lot of excellent information included in Ms. Gardner’s Consumer’s Guide to Fruits & Vegetables. To begin with, there are several fruits and vegetables that are not usually found in grocery stores. Such entries surely contain new information. As for the fruits and vegetables are already commonly consumed, the nutritional information probably contains details that the average person would not know. Furthermore, many of the entries also contain short notes on origins or important roles that the plant has played in history. For example, did anyone know that rent could often be paid in onions during the Middle Ages or that radishes serve as effective “decoys” for insects in a vegetable garden because the leaves can be attacked without any consequences for the edible root?

As I’ve mentioned, this book is very short. If I were trying to purchase a guide to fruits and vegetables, I would probably be looking for one that is longer and more comprehensive. There are only 26 items listed in Ms. Gardner’s book. I would be much more likely to purchase something encyclopedic so that I can research any produce item that interested me. In addition, if I were choosing an informational tool about food items, I would want it to include certain information not found in Ms. Gardner’s book. For example, I would appreciate notes on the flavor, season, and maybe common usage of the produce item. That way, if I stumble across something I had never used before while in the grocery store, I have an idea of how to prepare it in a meal.

Regardless of the ways that it might be made more thorough, Ms. Gardner’s book surely has plenty of merit. Rather than think of it as a reference, it is helpful to think of it as a teaser to a reference. Ms. Gardner provides tidbits of good information on her subject. It is just enough to encourage the reader to start thinking about the fruits and vegetables he or she eats or maybe would like to try. Consumer’s Guide to Fruits & Vegetables may be inspirational to readers.

With these thoughts in mind, I am rating Mae Gardner’s book Consumer’s Guide to Fruits & Vegetables: A to Z 4 out of 4 stars. This rating stems from regard for the way that Ms. Gardner interests her audience in her subject matter and achieves the goal she set for herself. Her book is designed to be short, and its brevity limits its scope. However, the content that is there is very good, and that should be appreciated.

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Consumer's Guide To Fruits & Vegetables
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Like L_Therese's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Tanaya]

Awesome review with great suggestions that could have made it more comprehensive. Even so, sounds like an interesting book with those little tidbits that you mentioned. I wish we could still pay rent with onions.

[Rachaelamb1]

Great review! I love your suggestions. I think I would want a book that is longer as well. Sounds like the author is off to a great start though!

[Jesska6029]

Sounds like a great book! Nice review!

[peprica21]

Great review! I am always looking for new fruits and veggies, so this short reference seems like a perfect resource.

[j p gilbert]

It sounds like a very interesting read. As a foody, it sounds like it might be right up my street.