This book is a professional academic book, mainly through the practical theory of sociology, ** "eating" this phenomenon of daily life. After reading it, you will suddenly find that there are still many aspects to be explored and thought about in "eating", which seems to be accustomed to and without thinking.
This book is an academic book and does not arouse much interest. Many of the theories and terms cited and evaluated in it are unfamiliar or even difficult to understand for readers who are not familiar with sociology. However, the final conclusion is still easy to understand and can enlighten those who are willing to think. Therefore, people who are willing to understand sociology and like to think about social issues can read slowly and gain something with patience. But for professionals, this book is valuable.
The structure of the book is clear and concise. The introduction goes straight to the topic and introduces the objectives and structure of the book. Then, the sociological theories of food consumption are reviewed, and the aspects of "eating" that this book intends to analyze are proposed, and the practical theories on which the analysis is based. Subsequently, the practical theory is introduced in detail, and some basic concepts of "eating" are introduced. Then, the practical theory is used to analyze the process of "eating". Finally, the book summarizes the ideas of the book and illustrates the specific impact of dietary analysis through the example of "eating out".
If you want to choose a research topic on diet, the chapter "Towards a Sociological Theory of Diet" in this book is of reference value. It provides an understanding of the current perspectives of British academic research, the theories used, historical developments, and the obstacles faced.
If you want to understand the theory of practice, the chapter "Elements of Theory of Practice" in this book can also provide a reference. The perspectives and analytical ideas provided in each chapter of this book are even more instructive.
If one is to understand the author's conclusions, the final chapter is clear: insights into current eating behaviours – obesity, eating disorders, eating disorders, dietary specialization, eating out, and "foodie attention" – can be generated through performances that are seen as exhibiting procedures, embodied by actors, using devices, subject to collective and conventional standards, activated and driven by the environment (people, infrastructure, symbols, collective practices), and constantly monitored when disturbed.
From this conclusion, it can be seen that even if the process of "eating", which seems to be an individual's independent decision, is not entirely up to oneself, it will be subject to potential restrictions and influences. The process of eating is repeated all the time, and decisions are not made after too much deliberation, so this restriction and influence is not self-aware without thinking about and analyzing. This can also be seen in the characteristics of sociology, which "defamiliarize familiar things".
Through the author's analysis of "eating" using practical theory, we can also understand how the role of repetitive, similar performances of individuals and groups of people should be explained. As the authors conclude: a convincing and concise explanation will focus on propensity (understanding and norms), control over procedures (mainly embodied and involving the use of material artifacts), and cues about conventions and customs in the public cultural environment that serve as triggers for behavior and guarantees of continued behavior.
In this way, we can establish a framework for thinking about and analyzing everyday phenomena such as "eating". Even if you are not professional, at least you will not end up in the world and live in vain in this world. It may be more interesting and meaningful to yourself.