TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS
PRESENTS

AN EVENING WITH BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, JOURNALIST, AND FOOD ACTIVIST
MICHAEL POLLAN

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2010, 8:00 P.M.
AT BASS CONCERT HALL

PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BOOK PEOPLE AND
EDIBLE AUSTIN EAT LOCAL WEEK

JOIN US FOR A FARM DIRECT SHOWCASE
6:30PM – 8:00PM IN THE BASS CONCERT HALL LOBBY

“In the more than four decades that I have been reading and writing about the findings of nutritional science, I have come across nothing more intelligent, sensible and simple to follow than the 64 principles outlined in a slender, easy-to-digest new book called ‘Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual,’ by Michael Pollan.” – New York Times

In celebration of Edible Austin Eat Local Week (December 3-11), Texas Performing Arts presents a fascinating evening with bestselling author, journalist and food activist Michael Pollan, Friday, December 10 at Bass Concert Hall. For the past twenty years Pollan has written about the places where the human and natural worlds intersect, challenging the way Americans think about eating.
Michael Pollan is the author of four New York Times bestsellers: Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual (2010); In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto (2008); The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (2006) and The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World (2001). The Omnivore’s Dilemma was named one of the ten best books of 2006 by both the New York Times and the Washington Post. It also won the California Book Award, the Northern California Book Award, the James Beard Award, and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. A young readers edition called The Omnivore’s Dilemma: the Secrets Behind What You Eat was published in 2009. The Botany of Desire received the Borders Original Voices Award for the best non-fiction work of 2001, and was recognized as a best book of the year by the American Booksellers Association and Amazon.com. PBS premiered a two-hour special documentary based on The Botany of Desire in fall 2009. Pollan is also the author of A Place of My Own (1997) and Second Nature (1991).

Pollan was named to the 2010 TIME 100, the magazine’s annual list of the world’s 100 most influential people. In 2009, he was named by Newsweek as one of the top 10 “New Thought Leaders.” A contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine since 1987, his writing has received numerous awards: he was a finalist for the National Magazine Award in 2009 for best essay; he received the James Beard Award for best magazine series in 2003; the John Burroughs prize in 1997 for best natural history essay; the QPB New Vision Award for his first book, Second Nature; the 2000 Reuters-I.U.C.N. Global Award for Environmental Journalism for his reporting on genetically modified crops; the 2003 Humane Society of the United States’ Genesis Award for his writing on animal agriculture; the 2008 Truth in Agricultural Journalism Award from the American Corngrowers Association; the 2009 President’s Citation Award from the American Institute of Biological Sciences, and the 2009 Voices of Nature Award from the Natural Resources Defense Council. His essays have appeared in many anthologies, including Best American Essays (1990 and 2003), Best American Science Writing (2004), the Norton Book of Nature Writing, and The New Kings of Non-Fiction, edited by Ira Glass. In addition to publishing regularly in The New York Times Magazine, his articles have appeared in Harper’s Magazine (where he served as executive editor from 1984 to 1994), National Geographic, Mother Jones, The Nation, The New York Review of Books, Vogue, Travel + Leisure, Gourmet, House & Garden and Gardens Illustrated, among others. In 2009, he appeared in a two-hour PBS special based on The Botany of Desire as well as in the documentary, Food Inc., which received an Academy Award nomination.

In 2003, Pollan was appointed the John S. and James L. Knight Professor of Journalism at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, and the director of the Knight Program in Science and Environmental Journalism. In addition to teaching, he lectures widely on food, agriculture, health and the environment.

Campus & Community Engagement Event:

Farm Direct Showcase
Friday, December 10, 2010, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Bass Concert Hall Lobby

Join us in the Bass Concert Hall lobby for a showcase featuring local growers, producers, food artisans, non-profits, and businesses.

CALENDAR LISTING

Friday, December 10, 2010, 8:00 pm –Texas Performing Arts presents Michael Pollan at Bass Concert Hall (E. 23rd St. and Robert Dedman Dr). A map of the campus: TexasPerformingArts.org/visit/maps_directions. Tickets ($26 – $42 / Limited $10 student tickets / discounted tickets available for UT faculty & staff, seniors and Military) are on sale now at authorized ticket outlets, which include the Bass Concert Hall Box Office, most H-E-B stores and all Texas Box Office outlets, online at TexasPerformingArts.org, or by calling (512) 477-6060 or (800) 982-BEVO (2386).

PRESS CONTACT:
Gene Bartholomew
512.471.0632 gbartholomew@TexasPerformingArts.org

Download the Michael Pollan press release – PDF 109 KB