Cheeseburger in Paradise

Cheeseburger In Paradise

In a world filled with so much death and so much cruelty, in an era fraught with difficulties, in a time of intense economical and social struggle, a little bit of light-heartedness goes a long way. And we have all seen the violent behavior, both physical and emotional, that can come with such times. We have all witnessed the arguments, the debates. We have all experienced the tirades of certain activists who are just trying to prove a point. But how much progress have we really made over the last century with this negative approach? In Brian Wansink's book, Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think, Wansink uses a completely different set of tactics to convey his point about the issues within today's food industry. Whereas others may resort to a very serious manner when discussing our nation's eating habits, Wansink cannot help but take a lighter approach to the subject. And guess what, it works! He spends an entire chapter enlightening the world, or anyone who will listen, about the secrets and common misconceptions regarding the food we eat. And amidst all of the frightening facts and serious issues discussed, one cannot help but "put a smile on".

Some say, "Laughter is the best medicine". While this phrase usually refers to physical and emotional ailments, why can it not be used for the ailments of the world? By sprinkling bits of humor throughout the chapter, "Fast Food Fever", Wansink effectively wins over the trust of his audience. Who would you rather listen to, someone who makes you feel like the issue at hand is of the gravest importance or someone who is able to poke fun at the problems of today's society? Most people are drawn to the latter because they automatically feel comfortable with the atmosphere the author has created with light sarcasm and humor. An audience is able to trust an author who has a sense of humor about a situation more than one who makes the reader feel like he is solely responsible for getting the world back on track. Wansink writes, "Your sandwich wrapper at Burger King . . . says, ‘You have the right to have things your way. You have the right to scarf, wolf, or hork down this hamburger . . . You have the right to order another. You have the right to it being as good as the first one.' I don't know how you ‘hork' down a hamburger, but I'm sure it's a constitutional freedom" (183). After explaining how Subway wrappers promote their selection of "seven grams of fat or lower" sandwiches, the author takes the subject of fast food's convenience and value and almost turns it into stand-up material. If Wansink had come right out and said, "you have to be aware of how easy it is to sacrifice health concerns for fast food at low prices", you may understand the point he is trying to make, but his to-the-point