Journalist. Mind-opener. Activist. Truther.
Call him what you will, Michael
Pollan is not your average author. He’s managed what a remarkable few are able
to do: tell Americans what they should eat and
actually get them to listen. What makes his advice so appetizing? Perhaps most noticeable is his level of engagement.
With this, Pollan leaves the reader
at a thoughtful place at the end of the introduction to The Omnivore’s Dilemma, a book addressing the US’s turbulent
relationship with food and fads. Aware that turning the pages means embarking
on a journey that’ll at the very least shift their perspective, if not initiate
an entire change in lifestyle, the reader accepts responsibility over their
decision to proceed. Pollan removes himself from the position to force-feed
this the reader a change in consciousness, and instead assumes the role of
educator. How he chooses to present information reveals why his books are both
convincing and popular.
Both Pollan’s writing style and his
approach make the material he produces incredibly easy to digest. He immerses
himself in his journalistic-style writing by personally engaging with the
topics he covers, and he reports more than comments. In Omnivore’s Dilemma, Pollan isn’t pushing his own plant-based agenda
– as a lifelong meat-eater, he was completely out of his comfort zone as he
searched for the morally and scientifically correct way to eat. The novice
perspective made sure to wash out any and all traces of obnoxiousness in his
writing, and it allows his informative message to reach even the most skeptical
of ears. By following his route towards gaining a better understanding of the
food industry and its effect on human (and ecological) health, the readers themselves
gradually come to grips with the current state of affairs and decides on their
own actions to take. 
Pollan addresses an even more radical notion than healthy
diets in How to Change Your Mind, a
book that attempts to dispel stigmas against the use of psychadelic drugs for
medical purposes. Pollan approaches the use of mind-altering substances for therapy
and spiritual growth with an even-tempered, unpolarizing style. He makes his
minimal knowledge of psychedelics painfully apparent with a series of humbling
personal anecdotes, and embraces his outsider status.
His
creativity is nearly unquestionable. Pollan possesses several factors that of Sternberg’s
psychometric analysis claimed were typical of creatives: lack of
conventionality, and integration, and perspicacity. He specifically set out to
debunk societal stigmas and myths with science and honest truth, and due to his
engaging approach, is exceedingly successful. Pollan’s message remain impactful
long after his books are put down. He’s proven himself a creator whose ideas can
never truly be shelved.
References
I found it very interesting how Pollan was able to step so far out of his comfort zone and write a book from a completely opposite and unknown point of view. It's clear that he had a tremendous amount of motivation, somewhere, that allowed him to be so creative and successful. I think that he was able to get his point across with his creative writing rather than having to force it on readers.
ReplyDeleteI think that Pollan is such a unique figure in journalism because of his ability to become so engrossed in the topic he is writing on. For instance, when researching for his book, How to Change Your Mind, Pollan experimented with many of the psychedelic substances that were discussed in the book in order to develop a better understanding how they can potentially be used to treat a variety of illnesses. This unique approach to research and writing just goes to show how genuinely passionate he is about his work.
ReplyDeleteI think what is really interesting is how Pollan takes it upon himself to practice these ideas that he shares. Whether it is his diet or the use of drugs, Pollan isn't afraid to shake up his very foundations of living in order to find something new. That is the level of creativity people aspire to.
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