Who Would Like This Book:
If you're fascinated by how food has shaped the world far beyond the kitchen table, this book is a feast. Tom Standage blends sweeping history and quirky factoids to show how staples like wheat, rice, and corn helped topple empires, launch wars, and inspire global trade. His clear, accessible writing makes big ideas digestible, even for readers new to social history. Anyone who enjoyed "Guns, Germs and Steel," or Michael Pollan's deep dives into food culture will find this a tasty read. It's also great for the "I-never-knew!" trivia fans and those curious about the strange ways food tugs at the strings of civilization.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you’re looking for rich stories about food’s flavor or recipes, steer clear – this isn’t a book about eating, but about food’s role in history. Readers who want deep academic rigor, footnotes galore, or a balanced debate on organic vs. industrial agriculture might be frustrated by Standage’s clear pro-industry lean. Some may find his broad brushstrokes and confident conclusions a bit reductive, overlooking nuanced human stories and complex ecological arguments. If you dislike when a history book wears its opinions on its sleeve, or prefer micro-histories over sweeping surveys, this might not satisfy.
About:
An Edible History of Humanity by Tom Standage delves into the transformative role of food throughout history, exploring how food production technologies have influenced the course of civilizations. The book covers a wide range of topics, from the move from hunting and gathering to agriculture, the impact of the spice trade, the role of food in military history, to the green revolution of the sixties and seventies. Standage provides a broad, breezy overview of the history of food agriculture, shedding light on how food has shaped cultures, economies, and key historical events.
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From The Publisher:
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. 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. to the use of sugar cane and corn to make ethanol today. An Edible History of Humanity is a fully satisfying account of human history.
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An Edible History of Humanity?
About the Author:
Tom Standage is digital editor at the Economist and editor-in-chief of its website, Economist.com. He is the author of six history books, including An Edible History of Humanity, the New York Times bestseller A History of the World in Six Glasses and The Victorian Internet. His writing has also appeared in the Daily Telegraph, the New York Times and Wired. He lives in London.
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