Big Chicken

The Incredible Story of How Antibiotics Created Modern Agriculture and Changed the Way the World Eats

By: Maryn McKenna

Narrated by: Xe Sands

In this eye-opening expose, acclaimed health journalist and National Geographic contributor Maryn McKenna documents how antibiotics transformed chicken from local delicacy to industrial commodity - and human health threat - uncovering the ways we can make America's favorite meat safer again.

What you eat matters - for your health, for the environment, and for future generations. In this riveting investigative narrative, McKenna dives deep into the world of modern agriculture by way of chicken: from the farm where it's raised directly to your dinner table. Consumed more than any other meat in the United States, chicken is emblematic of today's mass food-processing practices and their profound influence on our lives and health. Tracing its meteoric rise from scarce treat to ubiquitous global commodity, McKenna reveals the astounding role of antibiotics in industrial farming, documenting how and why "wonder drugs" revolutionized the way the world eats - and not necessarily for the better. Rich with scientific, historical, and cultural insights, this spellbinding cautionary tale shines a light on one of America's favorite foods - and teaches us the way to safer, healthier eating for ourselves and our children.

©2017 Maryn McKenna (P)2018 Tantor

Critic reviews

"In this well-written exposé, McKenna (Superbug) dissects the controversy of the routine use of antibiotics to fatten chicken, which has led to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria.... Throughout, McKenna offers spot-on commentary on the dangerous additives in chickens and concludes on a relatively hopeful note." (Publishers Weekly)

Xe Sands is a great narrator!

Good book, delightful listen! Book was well researched and didn’t try to push the agricultural agenda one way or the other. Successful farms were profiled and I don’t think the author out any excessive embellishments on the narrative (as so happens in writing about rural America and agriculture in general).

Important Reading for all foodies.

Much more interesting than I thought it would be. A few political figures applauded I disagree about. And one observation about the climate that diminished an otherwise very well presented topic.

MUST READ, for carnivores and vegetarians alike

Somehow the author keeps this book completely entertaining while dropping important facts into every story. This is a story that will forever open your eyes to how far greed has gone to poison our food supply.

best book on food i have listened to ever

This is great and explains pandemics can actually have more to do with the way we raise and treat animals with cruel conditions we force them to live. They are crowded and sick and vaccines and antibiotics to artificially make them live in cruel conditions has resulted in super bacteria that crosses over to humans.
I think this could also be applied to viruses crossing over with excessive vaccine use. Basically, we can’t compete with nature: plants and probiotics evolve at the same rate as super bacteria and viruses, and companies can’t patent or compete with nature fast enough. Let’s respect our earth and work with it instead of against it. And China happens to uses the most antibiotics and probably vaccines now on meat.. maybe covid was a result of the meat industry, not created in a super lab but studied in a lab as it already existed in the animals. We are all connected weather we want to believe it or now. Great read, entertaining and informative.