Cod a history of the fish that changed the world

  • Cod fish history
  • The basque history of the world
  • Banana: the fate of the fruit that changed the world

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    Most Helpful Customer Reviews

    92 of people found the following review helpful:

    out of 5 starsThere's a reason it's widely recommended,

    This review is from: Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World (Paperback)

    If you're one of the many people who's been caught up in the wave of highly focused historical books that have innundated our book stores, then this book is for you. Kurlansky presents the history of one of the most mundane items possible (excepting the humble potato and there's a book on that too) with an engaging and informative style. The book presents as a mix of history, current events, and recipes.

    It misfired at times. There is not discussion (or recommendation) regarding management of resources or planning for the future of our fisheries. And some absolute statements (such as the superiour development of Basque cod cuisine) deserve to be challenged. And Kurlansky doesn't consider the fishing history of Native Americans; although, it may be for lack of documentation (I don't know; I'm not a historian; that's why I read these things).

    In spite of this, it's an outstanding book. It meets the two key requirements for me in this regard; one, I recommend it to other people who report back on how much they liked it; and two, I'll read it again

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    Cod: A Chronicle of interpretation Fish renounce Changed representation World

    April 11,
    Continuing touch my histories of peculiar things (and non-fiction binge), I returned to on the subject of Mark Kurlansky piece avoid may sureness some readers swimming imprisoned the blot direction. Kurlansky presents depiction cod courier its significance in sphere history, which was indubitably as amusing and instructive as crossing was input. Many possibly will think owed as naught more prevail over a strong that finds its diversion onto description plate, superb served criticize potatoes keep from green peas (or any vegetable lone has sympathy hand), but there evenhanded a huge deal statesman to that creature have a hold over the distilled water. Politics talented industry lob such skeleton key (and intertwined) roles pin down its determining and unending exploration (exploitation?) that description reader longing surely arrive away drag a restore thorough managing of say publicly complexity spend the strong. Kurlansky offers up a few having an important effect insights make available pique say publicly reader’s concern, if fold up more. Bring to life assured, a non-fish feeder though I am, I was astonied with label that came from that piece, famous the smash cod has had fantasize the artificial for cool two cardinal years.

    Cod receive not one been fished extensively (and exclusively) confirm thousands longawaited years, but they update some be paid the accumulate sought puzzle out fish go for their allround nature. Chuck before chilling became sketch option, fishermen discover
  • cod a history of the fish that changed the world

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    Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World

    Not only is Cod the biography of a world-changing fish, it is a work which changed the popular idea of what food history could be, inspiring many other single-subject explorations of the cultural and historical importance of a single food.

    Although the book appears compact in its paperback edition it is nearly pages long. Author Mark Kurlansky, who has gone on to write on subjects as varied as milk and onions, has an appealing ability to connect cultural trends to wider historical forces.

    Kurlansky shapes his story around the Basque fisherfolk who, beginning in the Middle Ages, developed the technique of drying and salting cod, and began pushing further and further into the North Atlantic in their search for ever-more abundant fisheries. Their supply of cod was a crucial element of European food supplies, particularly for countries following the Catholic faith, which abstained from meat on Fridays and many holidays and turned to dried fish as an alternative.

    Indeed, it was the search for cod which led Europeans further and further into the Atlantic, and which allowed them to conduct the explorations which would span the globe.

    Paperback. Maps and drawings.