This is Why You're Fat by Jessica Amason and Richard Blakely [book]

 

This is Why You're Fat: Where Dreams Become Heart Attacks by Jessica Amason and Richard Blakely [book]

Publisher: Harper Perennial; 2009
Language: English
Paperback: 144 pages
ISBN: 0061936634

Plot Summary:
Happy Meal Pizza and Gravy Pizza. This book has over 100 pages of decadent fatty food creations that were pulled from the creator's Tumblr and previous website. The pages feature the recipe for these heart attack inducing carnival food montrosities, and pictures of the creation process as well as the final project. This book is the antithesis to healthy eating and it's humorous type and look on the sub-American culture of eating will make you laugh out loud. Individual people and restaurants alike have submitted these concoctions that will either make your mouth water or make you want to run away screaming.

Critical Evaluation:
I thought that they had alot of meat dishes and pizza dishes, and I had hopes that it would be a little more diverse in the crazy foods that they showed. They did not provide all of the recipes in great length, but I did enjoy the book for it's humor. The authors make a joke out of the crazy food escapades that have become very popular and they continue the book through their tumblr. The only negative thing about following their tumblr is that if you are looking for the pictures that they feature currently, they will not be in this book because it was made in 2009. None the less it is a funny play on the food habits in American society, it is easy to follow, and fun to look at.

Reader's Annotation:
Carnival foods and fatty food creation photos and recipes grace the pages of this book in a hilarious display of indulgence to the highest degree.

Websites to look Into:
http://thisiswhyyourefat.tumblr.com/
http://about.me/jessicaamason
http://richardblakeley.com/

Similar Books:
"Eat This, Not That!" by David Zinczenko

Booktalking Ideas:
Comparing this book with Youtube's "Epic Meal Time"
Discussing the importance of eating right

Genre:
Non- Fiction

Interest Age:
13+

Challenge Issues:
Eating Poorly
The challenge issue in this would be that this book is providing recipes of foods that are extremely bad for people. I would combat it by saying that it is almost satirical with the food that it displays; they are outrageous and they market them that way. A health warning has also been placed on the book as well.

Why this Book?
This book is fun and outrageous and is good for a shock factor. Looking at the recipes and the pictures of the food is horrifying and hilarious, and it started as a blog so it is something that they can continue to look into.