Una Storia Commestibile Dell'umanità (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
Quite an interesting book. It reads like a textbook and took me a month to get through. It's like a series of miniature history lessons. Some topics I knew a little about, such as the Spice Route and European exploration. Others were completely new information, for example, the worst famines in history in Russia and China during the establishment of Communism, the seed bank in Norway, the synthesis of nitrogen that began the green revolution. Fascinating stuff. As other reviews stated, badly needs an editor. I think the books Rabid and Salt took me down the path of reading books that follow one subject throughout history, I have to say that this book does it better than any I’ve read so far. For me the mark of a good book is if it changes my perception for the better, and his book has. Sam Standage’s prose presents complex interconnections, such as, the genetic development of corn, from a harsh grass to a staple crop and the civilizations that developed with it, in a way that’s understandable and enjoyable to read.I’ve learned so much from this book, from how and why farming arose, to why pepper appears on our dinner table.
What do You think about Una Storia Commestibile Dell'umanità (2009)?
Enjoyable look at food's impact on history, from hunter-gatherer cultures to today.
—Jcody22
Not great. Recommend Michael Pollan or Jared Diamond.
—Emily
