Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky ISBN: 0-8027-1373-4 Publisher: Walker & Co Pub. Date: January, 2002 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $28.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.82 (38 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Worth his Salt
Comment: Yes, Kurlansky is worth his salt as a writer, researcher and uncoverer of unknown facts about odd subjects. As he did with his previous non fiction books he has woven strands of information into an interesting tapestry, equal parts - enthralling history lesson and cultural voyage. The only problem is - at 450 pages and 26 chapters, with numerous visits to different cultures, countries, eras and rulers in an attempt to cover as many of the 14,000 uses that salt is known for - finishing SALT: A WORLD HISTORY leaves you in a brine of facts, but also very thirsty for a unifying theme or story and a more memorable read.
Certainly my knowledge of historical trivia is now seasoned with tidbits such as: the Anglo-Saxon word for saltworks being 'wich' means that places such as Norwich, Greenwich, etc, in England were once ancient salt mines; Ghandi's independence movement in India began with his defying the British salt laws, and the French levied taxes on salt until as recently as 1946.
A common theme in Kurlansky's books is that food is seen as a topic of historical interest. Here we learn about the role salt played in preserving cod, whale, ham, herring, caviar, pastrami, salami and sausage, and as it was with COD and THE BASQUE HISTORY OF THE WORLD this book is sprinkled throughout with recipes.
Salt is certainly an interesting subject; cultural history buffs will love this book and Kurlansky still has a humorous, easy, and very readable writing style; it's just that he probably could have salted away some of the facts without us missing much and he should have developed a flowing theme rather than one that was so saltatory.
Rating: 5
Summary: Salt shook up my thinking...
Comment: Mark Kurlansky's SALT: A World History shook up the way I viewed this seemingly ordinary condiment. Incredibly well researched and at times, quite humorous, SALT took me on a wild journey from the ancient brine wells of China to cheese-making in France and Italy. I encountered early Celtic salt miners in Austria and accompanied Gandhi on his historic "salt march" to India's independence. Mr. Kurlansky sprinkles this delightful narrative with customs, folklore, even some ancient recipes. SALT is terrific and lots of fun to read!
Rating: 4
Summary: An off-beat look at history
Comment: Where would we be without salt? Certainly our french fries would be blander, but actually salt has had a critical role in our history as Kurlansky describes in this uneven but generally good book.
In a roundabout way, we are taken from ancient times to the present and throughout the world to see how salt has had an impact on our civilization. At one time so valuable that people were paid with it (from which we get the salt-based word salary), salt was essential for preserving food in an era before refrigeration. It was a cause of wars and a factor in victory and defeat.
The book's biggest flaw is that it is not well-organized. Although generally moving from past to present, Kurlansky skips back and forth in time and place in a somewhat aggravating manner. In a non-fiction work, the reader should have a better sense of direction. In addition, at times Kurlansky overstates the importance of salt: certainly, salt helped dictate where cities would be located, but it is not the dominant factor he makes it out to be; other items such as water and wood also played a role.
Overall, however, this is a decently written and informative book, an off-beat way to look at history. Even if it meanders a little too much, it does eventually get to its destination and you will be educated and entertained in the process.
 |
Title: Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky ISBN: 0140275010 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: January, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
 |
Title: Coal: A Human History by Barbara Freese ISBN: 0738204005 Publisher: Perseus Publishing Pub. Date: 07 January, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
 |
Title: The Potato : How the Humble Spud Rescued the Western World by Larry Zuckerman ISBN: 0865475784 Publisher: North Point Press Pub. Date: 25 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
 |
Title: The Basque History of the World by Mark Kurlansky ISBN: 0140298517 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: February, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
 |
Title: Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky ISBN: 0142001619 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: 28 January, 2003 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
