I knew before I read it that it would change my life, particularly my eating and buying habits, and it did. What I did not realize was what an amazing piece of writing this is.  A friend who teaches English has used this book as an example of persuasive writing and that totally makes sense, as this book manages not only to convince you that fast food companies do not have the interests of their employees — and sometimes their customers — in mind when making decisions, but also explains every important issue involving fast food, without coming off as redundant or preachy.  

Reading that book, and this one, you don't feel you are being lectured so much as educated. Reading these books — along with watching Super Size Me -- made me a much more educated consumer. 

When I heard about the book Chew On This: Everything You Don’t Want To Know About Fast Food, I was delighted. The idea was to take some of the content from Fast Food Nation and rewrite it for a younger audience. The book was co-written by Charles Wilson and Eric Schlosser. 

I was excited to ask Wilson some of the questions about the book and the fast food industry. This is my first two-part interview, done because the material is so important and interesting. 

I will publish the second part next week. 

Scott Butki: How'd this book come about? 

Charles Wilson: I have a friend who is a children's book editor at a New York publishing house; she mentioned to me casually that it might be a good idea to try to adapt Fast Food Nation for a younger audience. These were the people that the fast food companies were targeting most heavily with their advertising, she said, and it would be nice to present a message different than the one they get every day in fast food ads. I talked to Eric about it. He thought it was a good idea and asked me if I'd be willing to write it with him. 

Who is the target audience - kids, parents or both?

We wrote it with middle-school readers in mind. At the same time, we hope it is a book that adults can also read as well as their children - and that people of both ages might get something out of it. We tried hard to create a narrative voice that was simple and direct without being glib or condescending. 

If someone has already read Fast Food Nation, will there be new information for them in this book or is it just presented in a different fashion, like a bookish value meal?