Drive-Thru Dreams: A Journey Through the Heart of America's Fast-Food Kingdom

Fast food has come to dominate the American food landscape. There is a regional flair, with chains like Whataburger and In-N-Out in their local market. There are also big international players like McDonalds and KFC. This book traces the history of fast food. 

White Castle started in Kansas and was one of the first fast food restaurants. McDonalds started in southern California and introduced some economization in fast food. However, it was Ray Kroc's purchase of the chain that helped it to become what it is today. Colonel Sanders is not a military colonel. However, he did have the owner bestowed on him by a state government. He started the growth of the chain, but it was after selling that it became what it is today.

After the backlash of the term "fast food", restaurant chains now consider themselves "quick service restaurants". There are also "in-between" restaurants that offer a fast-casual sit-down experience. They are faster than traditional restaurants, yet slower than fast food. Drive thrus have also taken off to speed up the food consumption process. Cup-holders have now become ubiquitous in cars, thus allowing for even easier consumption on the run.