to the use of sugar cane and corn to make ethanol today. He has also written for the Guardian, the New York Times, Wired, and other publications. If you only ever read one book - make it this one. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Doing gender in media, art and culture. The author discusses the amazing role of food, specifically plant food, in the history. Portuguese wanted to cut out Venetian and Florentine traders. As an avid book reader, I always hunger for the next great story, be it based on real events or fantastical fiction. Please try your request again later. Great accompaniment to "A History of the World in 6 Glasses", Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2011, This was the second of Tom Standage's books that I read, after. Communist policy failed because people starved. Throughout history, food has acted as a catalyst of social change, political organization, geopolitical competition, industrial development, military conflict, and economic expansion. With Standage...it's not just one food lifting and guiding history, but what Adam Smith might have called the "invisible fork" of food economics." For me, the thesis chapter felt out of place when the rest of the book relied on historical context. We’d love your help. Welcome back. It has opened up my eyes to appreciate what we have and also the impression that the book gave me was that food has changed over time of course and that most of it was for the better. Whose Place. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Ultimately, a bit dry. Historical facts combined with good writing - what can be a better read! But this shouldn't necessarily be considered a defect; the subject matter is far too broad to be encompassed by any one book. Because the book does not explain the details of all of the historical events mentioned, it is important to have a reasonable background. British soldiers starved, abandoned by their King. An Edible History of Humanity is an account of how food has helped to shape and transform societies around the world, from the emergence of farming in China by 7,500 BCE to today's use of sugar cane and corn to make ethanol. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. The section on spices was better, but it wasn't until the section on food as a weapon that I found myself really intrigued. The book is not nearly comprehensive; the author focuses mainly on the development of the major cereal grains (maize, wheat, rice), plus potatoes and spices; fruits, vegetables, livestock, and dairy are barely mentioned at all. He just has a very linear, progress-driven model of human history. A History of the World in 6 Glasses; While the author of this book may have had a similar goal, his approach is so general and over reaching, that his analysis holds very little substance for me. Berlin airlift was extraordinary 9 month American effort, Germans will never forget. Like many A book about how the foods people eat have affected the development of human civilization. I'll be honest, involving more modern history to me was where I fell off a bit, but that is in part because I already learned some of this in my university studies. Instead of everyone being a hunter-gatherer, … An Edible History of Humanity. Please try again. I love history books which take unconventional perspectives. That section covers a lot of things I felt I SHOULD have already known, but didn't, and I was pretty horrified by it. Food has been a kind of technology, a tool that has changed the course of human progress. 12,000 years of food and its impact on history. There aren't really any new ideas here, and compared to a book such as Charles Mann's "1493", for instance- about the exchange of species between the Old World and the New, and its sometimes catastrophic effects- Standage's effort is rather lightweight. Mao’s ignorance of metallurgy produced only pig iron. A graduate of Oxford University, he has worked as a science and technology writer for The Guardian, as the business editor at The Economist, has been published in Wired, The New York Times, and The Daily Telegraph, and has published five books, including The Victorian Internet[1][2]. I won this book as a First Reads Give Away. 288 pp. Food has been a kind of technology, a tool … An edible History of Humanity was a book filled with lots of detail and described how food has changed technology throughout history. The blurb summarizes this book perfectly. Something went wrong. Napoleon genius at strategy involved food supplies for 3-5 days, then allowed soldiers to take food/forage from countryside, preferably at harvest time. And after reading the amazing piece of work that is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, this one felt lackluster. The book points out how agriculture has had good and bad effects on the environment. It's really more about the history of food production and how that brought about changes in human society. I’ve read other history of foodstuffs books and I am fascinated. I'll start by admitting that I gave up on this piece of trash half way through the audiobook. An Edible History of Humanity was an intriguing title. A graduate of Oxford University, he has worked as a science and technology writer for The Guardian, as the business editor at The Economist, has been published in Wired, The New York Times, and The Daily Telegraph, and has published five books, including The Victorian Internet[1][2]. The book is a bit rambling in places and that led me to only give 4 stars. . Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat, The Story of Food: An Illustrated History of Everything We Eat, The Human Story: Our History, from the Stone Age to Today. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. An Edible History of Humanity was an intriguing title. Stalin after WWII determined to show rest the f world his Communist system was superior, collectivized farms in Ukraine. After 5 hours of horrid narration I did not hear a single fact that was news to me, nor even an interesting interpretation of known facts. An Edible History of Humanity. Starting with Portuguese forays for spices. Very Informative in a Detailed, Sweeping History of Humanity, Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2017. An Edible History of Humanity is a book written by Tom Standage that encompasses the history of the world from prehistory to modern day times through the tracing of foods and agricultural techniques used by man. Tom Standage is business editor at The Economist magazine and the author of four works of history, including A History of the World in 6 Glasses and The Victorian Internet. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published Who knew food had so much affect on the way we've evolved into our modern-day selves. An Edible History of Humanity provides an amazing twist on the history we know, Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2016. The first half of the book felt like very familiar ground--not much that you wouldn't find in a Michael Pollan book or in your middle school history classes. By TOM STANDAGE Walker & Company. In An Edible History of Humanity, by Tom Standage, Standage focuses on how food has had an impact of food from when hunter-gatherers were around, to the present day. and THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN FOOD PRODUCTION. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. I thought of other books which have used salt, or some other seemingly mundane item, to provide a different perspective of human connections, exchanges, and developments. Standage looks at food from a geopolitical, anthropological and ethical point of view. Although i would like to know more foods, I would recommend this book to any student because Standage goes into to great detail on how the transportation of food caused the development of technology and how people would make religious sacrifices for their Gods. and THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN FOOD PRODUCTION. An Edible History of Humanity is a pithy, entertaining account of how a series of changes---caused, enabled, or influenced by food---has helped to shape and transform societies around the world. Author. - Financial Times"Cogent, informative and insightful. Thanks for taking Well, it’s hard for me to rate and review this book. which is a trap that could be avoided by not viewing history as linear, but as cyclical. He begins by taking things as far back as possible, with a focus on man’s creation myths tied to corn or maize, which were essential parts of the early diet of those who roamed the earth. This book SUCKS. It's an interesting book, but definitely nothing I haven't read in other books about food history. Recommended reference books; for small and medium-sized libraries and media centers, v.29, 2009 ed. Local leaders made up numbers that would please Mao. Without food the army cannot move. More than simply sustenance, food historically has been a kind of technology, changing the course of human progress by helping to build empires, promote industrialization, and decide the outcomes of wars. No, it's not comprehensive - as the intro states, it selectively covers pivotal intersections. I've learned a lot of variations of history but never encountered one through a food lense. How do you give an "edible history of humanity" without talking in-depth about SLAVERY. Tom Standage presents this book to explain how food has helped shape and influence major events in history, using a number of great examples while keeping the reader entertained. The following material is a summer assignment for all students entering the course this coming school year. Tom Standage presents this book to explain how food has helped shape and influence major events in history, using a number of great examples while keeping the reader entertained. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. AP World History Review : Interesting story and a great read, Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2018. More from the same. My dudes, this book's grammar was atrocious. - Kirkus. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. May 19th 2009 You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges, Or get 4-5 business-day shipping on this item for $5.99 The first civilizations were built on barley and wheat in the Near East, … The first half of the book felt like very familiar ground--not much that you wouldn't find in a Michael Pollan book or in your middle school history classes. Enough that I'm still going to give it 5 stars. Food has been a kind of technology, a tool that has changed the course of human progress. An Edible History of Humanity is a pithy, entertaining account of how a series of changes –caused, enabled or influence by food –has helped to shape and transform societies around the world. The book approaches history in a different way altogether: as a sequence of changes caused, influenced or enabled by food. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. To see what your friends thought of this book. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2015, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 5, 2018, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2019. An Edible History of Humanity is a pithy, entertaining account of how a series of changes---caused, enabled, or influenced by food---has helped to shape and transform societies around the world. In the American Revolutionary War, the British assumed loyalist Americans would feed and house British troops. Fantastic, informative, and fascinating. What an interesting read! Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. The only time he tries to speak for the lower classes is when he's railing against communism. The story changed my view on the world and how we all vary even in the states with food. The bestselling author of A History of the World in 6 Glasses charts the enlightening history of humanity through the foods we eat.More than simply sustenance, food historically has been a kind of technology, changing the course of human progress by helping to build empires, promote industrialization, and decide the outcomes of wars. Author Tom Standage doesn't think food is history's central motivating force. Honors World History is a highly challenging course that begins preparation for Advanced Placement history courses that commence in junior year. When Portuguese discovered spices in India, Muslim rulers were shocked to discover the Portuguese willing to massacre and level cities and ships with innocent families. The first civilizations were built on barley and wheat in the Near East, … The Muslims were a trading culture, not a military culture. I thought of other books which have used salt, or some other seemingly mundane item, to provide a different perspective of human connections, exchanges, and developments. While the author of this book may have had a similar goal, his approach is so general and over reaching, that his analysis holds very little substance. Throughout history, food has acted as a catalyst of social change, political organization, geopolitical competition, industrial development, military conflict, and economic expansion. This is because the development of the telegraph essentially mirrored the development of the Internet. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. “An Edible History of Humanity” by Tom Standage, 269 pages, copyright 2009, Epilogue, Acknowledgements, Notes, Sources, Index, ISBN-10: 0-8027-1588-5 “Introduction” “But the staple crops that supported the first civilizations—barley and wheat in the Near East, millet and rice in Asia, and maize and potatoes in the Americas—were not simply discovered by chance.” (p.ix) “Part I… I also noted very early on that Standage is pro-"biotech" aka GMOs, which are destroying not only crop diversity and the environment, but indigenous knowledges and sovereignty as well. Although I certainly can and do consider Tom Standage’s. The timing of these discoveries in the history of the world leads me to reevaluate the role played by military action and political survival. Strongly recommend if you are into enhancing books. For me it held the promise of using food as a way of approaching world history. But I love this subject matter. I'd never actually read a book that traced major changes in human history to food, but it felt...somewhat obvious, I guess, once I started reading. There aren't really any new ideas here, and compared to a book such as Charles Mann's "1493", for instance- about the exchange of species between the Old World and the New, and its sometimes catastrophic effects- Standage's effort is rather lightweight. In my mind some of the negative reviews below come from people with minimal background in history or people who were expecting a one line take-home message from the book. "Standage succeeds in underscoring the crucial role that food continues to play in our lives." I mostly read fiction. I read this book for a book review project and for a project it was a good read. $26 July 12, 2009 . All in all, I enjoyed it, but it felt a little too general to be a scholarly history book, and a little too dry for a popular one. I also noted very early on that Standag. Portuguese wanted to cut out Venetian and Florentine traders. The author Tom Standage goes to the side of saying that agriculture has had more bad effects on environment with the example of climate change. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Sounds simple but depending on the century the answer is more important that military planning (just look at Napoleon in Russia). Starting with Portuguese forays for spices. - New Scientist"Standage's examples are pretty powerful: In his view of the world, the British lost the Revolutionary War in large part because they failed to provide adequate food for their troops; the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 because the regime could not feed its people; and the reason we say someone is a family's "breadwinner" is because of food's practically ancient association with wealth." Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. As plants are grown and modified by selection new sources of food are created. That section covers a lot of things I felt I SHOULD have already known, but didn't, and I was pretty horrified by it. Tom Standage's. “Food has a unique political power, for several reasons: food links the world’s richest consumers with its poorest farmers; food choices have always been a potent means of social signaling; modern shoppers must make dozens of food choices every week, providing far more opportunities for political expression than electoral politics; and food is a product you consume, so eating something implies a deeply personal endorsement of it. Ultimately, a bit dry. And, I did read it when I was having a hard time reading and was probably more in the mood for a good novel. Tom Standage goes into detail of how new innovations have been created due to food but he only includes a small handful of foods such as maize and potatoes. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime. Significant historical events all covered from food impact perspective. This book explores the historical development of the telegrap. He is married and has two children. Well you made it! I wish that he would have included more foods because overall it would have given me a better understanding of how foods have impacted technology over the course of history. influence on history can similarly be likened to an invisible fork that has, at several crucial points in history, prodded humanity and altered its destiny, even though people were generally unaware of its influence at the time. This is really a history book showing how food in general has shaped world history. An Edible History of Humanity provides an amazing twist on the history we know. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 11, 2015. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2018. Tom Standage draws on archaeology, anthropology, and economics to reveal how food has helped shape and transform societies around the world, from the emergence of farming in China by 7500 b.c. Throughout history, food has acted as a catalyst of social change, political organization, geopolitical competition, industrial development, military conflict, and economic expansion. An Edible History of Humanity by Tom Standage. - Gourmet"An extraordinary and well-told story, a much neglected dimension of history." Book report on an edible history of humanity by Tom Standage. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. I highly recommend the audiobook. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Tom Standage An Edible History of Humanity. This was an interesting book but it turned out to be not quite what I was expecting. Mao determined he was going to one-up Russia, not only in food production but steel manufacturing. When Portuguese discovered spices in India, Muslim rulers were shocked to discover the Portuguese willing to massacre and level cities and ships with innocent families. From prehistoric times, to how farming lead to the rise of cities and social hierachies, to the desire for spices leading to exploration, to the Berlin food drops. that was my first reaction. It would be more accurate if he called the book, "An Edible History of European Humanity: The Only Humanity Worth Noting" or "An Edible Ignorance of the Dehumanization of Most of Humanity." An Edible History of Huma... Interesting, but not mind blowing. And I know there is a lot of debate on Standage's claim that genetically modified food is the way of the future. An Edible History of Humanity is a pithy, entertaining account of how a series of changes---caused, enabled, or influenced by food---has helped to shape and transform societies around the world. This book SUCKS. 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