A review by zuomiriam
An Edible History of Humanity by Tom Standage

4.0

As someone who doesn't know a lot about history, much less the history of food, I got a lot out of this book. It moves quickly through large swaths of time, slowing down every down and then to explain the significance of critical junctures (e.g. the Neolithic Revolution, the spice trade, the green revolution). Standage's writing, though perhaps not as engaging as a typical novel, conveys information clearly and concisely while maintaining engagement with the reader. I feel like I now have a 10000 mile bird's eye view of history and have gained a better idea of the particular areas that interest me the most. Still, if you've already spent quite a bit of time on big picture history (i.e. from the start of humankind), this book may not have the depth that you're looking for.