Horsemen of the Esophagus: Competitive Eating and the Big Fat American Dream

America. Land of big shoulders and big stomachs. Land of plenty, which is never enough. What kind of sublime statement does the "sport" of competitive eating (maybe those quoatation marks are not deserved?) make about the heart, the soul, and the gastrointestinal tract of the American Empire? Does say anything at all? Or is competitive yet another manifestation of Americans' obsession with...more

America. Land of big shoulders and big stomachs. Land of plenty, which is never enough. What kind of sublime statement does the "sport" of competitive eating (maybe those quoatation marks are not deserved?) make about the heart, the soul, and the gastrointestinal tract of the American Empire? Does say anything at all? Or is competitive yet another manifestation of Americans' obsession with fame at any cost? Author Fagone goes on "the circuit" for over a year, gets close with a few of the Eaters, and gives us a ringside seat for the spectacle. In the end, it is us, the readers, who must make up their own minds.   hide