Melissa Gibb

Robyn Roberson

English 1A

6/10/2022, revised 6/13/2022

Rhetorical Analysis Essay: "Would You Like Lies with That?"

In "Would You Like Lies with That?", a chapter from his 2005 book "Do Not Eat This

Book", Morgan Spurlock, an American documentary film maker and author, argues that the food

industry has fallen into the ways of consumerism, comparing the techniques in marketing to the

tobacco, automotive, retail, and pharmaceutical industries. Mr. Spurlock has been vocal about

problems in how our nation consumes for years, creating documentaries such as "Super-Size

Me" (2004) to demonstrate the unhealthy practices of eating fast food. Spurlock utilizes literary

appeals, compelling facts, and a lighthearted demeanor to motivate readers to think about their

choices, and to reconsider before falling for new manipulation tactics through advertising.

Spurlock opens the chapter by immediately capturing his audience's attention with a

metaphor about eating his book, comparing its pages to a sandwich, in reference to how we turn

everything into food (37). He then discusses how marketers are now expected to put warning

labels on everything, for the clientele's safety and their own. He states the labels prevent

industrious companies from being sued, and in theory prevent anyone from eating silica gel, etc.

(37). Spurlock then begins to describe the tobacco industry and its long and sordid history of

dishonest marketing strategies and their methods of getting, and keeping, customers addicted. He

effectively summarizes the dishonest way that tobacco companies denied claims and fought

responsibility. After the surgeon general announced the connection between smoking and cancer

in 1974, the tobacco industry did everything in its power to hook new addicts young, spending
billions to make cigarettes cool, hip, and sexy (38). Spurlock then reveals the fact that most

smokers are not able to entirely take responsibility for their choice, because they have been

deceived by dishonest marketing. He begins to connect with the audience by asking the reader; If

the marketing is too powerful, will we disregard our own well-being (40)?

Mr. Spurlock again revisits his claim of rampant consumerism by discussing the

automotive industry and how we are addicted to vehicles and the ease they offer. Most

Americans drive much more than they walk, and Spurlock comments on the stigma of not having

a vehicle and the suspicions it raises in citizens and police alike. He quotes the Department of
Transportation that in 2001, only 24% of people would walk to a destination of under one mile,

and that we have more cars than drivers in America. He demonstrates the absurdity of these facts

with bemused language. He briefly touches on the retail industry and is clear in his disapproval

of the large amount of money Americans spend on nonessential things (40). After a brief but

powerful sharing of the statistics of money spent on caloric rich fast food, Spurlock addresses the

pharmaceutical drug industry. He effectively implies that the desire is never satisfied, leaving us

wanting and insecure. He states that the pharmaceutical companies rely on and exploit our

insecurities, causing us to consume more drugs to feel better. These insecurities cause us to want

increasingly more, creating a self-perpetrating cycle of consumerism (41). Morgan Spurlock

warns of us the dangers of over consuming, and how we must be watchful of new manipulation

tactics in advertisement, however blatant or subtle. The marketer will do anything to persuade

you to buy their products, with no consideration of morality or ethics. Mr. Spurlock alludes to

qualified experts in different fields.

Spulock demonstrates ethos by discussing smoking, and how people still do it regardless

of the surgeon general's warning (39). He calls attention to the fact that the surgeon general is a

reliable source due to being a licensed physician. If someone who has graduated medical school

and has spent fifteen years minimum in their field warns you are seriously damaging your health,

and you continue with the habit anyway, that is convincing information for Spurlock's argument.
It also lends an air of authority to his credibility. He further displays his ethos by mentioning the

government agency the Department of Transportation, causing the audience to assume they have

verified knowledge about vehicles. Spurlock states "In fact, according to the Department of

Transportation, there are now, for the first time in history, more cars than drivers in America."

(40). The reader is forced to acknowledge the author's points of contention and is left with the

idea that his statements are reliable and trustworthy. This strategy creates clear sides to the

argument and convinces the reader to be on Spurlock's side.

Spurlock implements his logos strategy by providing multiple statistics, which appeal to
the reader's sense of rationality. To further establish his credibility, Mr. Spurlock has a

background in documentation and documentary making about the food industry, and the

consumerism within it. "We spend more on ourselves than the entire gross national product of

any nation of the world."(40). Staggering statistics overwhelm the reader, causing high emotions

and a stronger reaction to the writing. With this strategy the reader cannot deny the facts of the

argument. This allows the author's attempt at appealing to the reader's desires and insecurities

more effective.

He uses his pathos throughout his writing, with sprinkled anecdotes to cause a sense of

familiarity, and establishes an emotional connection to the reader while discussing the overuse of

pharmaceutical drugs. "What does all that consumption do for us? Does it make us happy? You

tell me. If we were all so happy, would we be on so many drugs?" (41). He tells us that because

advertisers' prey on our insecurities, we are all to an extent caught in the cycle of manipulative

consumerism. Seeking to provide a disconnect between corporations and the audience, he states

"We've got drugs in America we can take for anything: if we're feeling too bad, too good, too

skinny, too fat, too sleepy, too wide awake, too unmanly." (41). It causes a sense of outrage,

betrayal, and the feeling of being used by advertisers and industries in the reader. Spurlock's

pathos allows the reader to feel the injustice that his writing strives to convey and deepens the

sense of being on the same side of the argument.

consistent argument throughout this writing. Consumerism is horrifically rampant in our country,

our world, and it has only increased exponentially since this piece's publication in 2005. The

truth is we are owned by brands, we are dulled by drugs, we are even more dissatisfied in a

world where you can buy things with a click of a button. Many people interact with ads more

than they do people. We should think of the facts in this writing next time we are about to eat

because we are bored, buy something because we are sad, or do something dangerous for

influence or image. We must stop killing ourselves to put more money the pockets of the
wealthy.

Spurlock, Morgan. "Do You Want Lies with That?" The Eater Reader, edited by James Miller,

Pearson, 2011, 36-42.