Having enjoyed the last book I read so much (thank you Tony) I thought I might throw open the comments here for some books recommendations. Non-fiction please, and food/drink topics are always welcome. What have you read recently and enjoyed a lot?
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http://tropicalsaloon.com Tim Styles
McGee On Food & Cooking (Harold McGee) is providing a nice challenge, as well as a good insight into both the history and chemistry of milk.
Haven’t had enough time to get properly stuck in, but enjoying it so far.
http://www.jacobgrier.com Jacob Grier
The Brewmaster’s Table by Garrett Oliver is one of the best food/drink books I’ve read in the past year. Oliver is the brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery and has a real love for the history and brewing of beer. The book covers the basics of brewing, the history of major beer styles and regions, brand recommendations, and food pairings. His writing has an infectious enthusiasm. The one negative side effect of reading this book is that it always made me very, very thirsty.
I’m currently reading the one on islam, thought it might be interesting to find out what it’s really about, given all the crap we see in the news these days about islamic extremists, etc..
http://www.backtothegrind.wordpress.com Elliott
I’ll second McGee’s “On Food and Cooking”. Its become quite a bible for some. Phillips’ “Wild Food” is cool if your into that kinda stuff. Dunno though.
I’ve read a fair amount of nautical history lately…. this is a good book about a fascinating guy.
http://coffeerevelation.com m’lissa
One of my favorite books is:
Stiff
The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
by Mary Roach
It’s strange, and dry, and witty. I love it. And to add an additional twist, if you read it know that I, myself, have cadaver bone in me!
http://www.relishfoodanddrink.co.uk Hug
The Omnivores Dilemma. Michael Pollan.
Read it and change the way you eat forever. It’s horrific.
On a lighter note: 1421, the year china discovered the world by Gavin Menzies. It’s intelligent, fascinating and blows the nuts out of most of what you were taught at school about world discovery.
http://www.relishfoodanddrink.co.uk Hug
Darn it, just read your footnotes in the previous article and see you’ve already read The Omnivores Dilemma.
I’ll repeat your recommendation to anyone else watching…. READ IT!
Ron
a quick little read by Andrew Murray, a South African (educated in Scotland), entitled “Humility”. While not directly culinarily related, it does shed light on being more ‘fruitful’. An easy read for the second hour of your transglobal flight :)
Darren
I’ve just finished this and I enjoyed it – easy holiday reading, nothing too stuffy. Nothing new on the coffee front, just a interesting approach to history lessons.
I makes some big leaps though.
as in the chinese discoveries book referenced above, there are lots of interesting and perspective enriching tidbits throughout this book. a fascinating subject.
http://www.pourquality.blogspot.com Luca
Just finished reading “God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything” by Christopher Hitchens. Thumbs up.
http://sparxmind.com sparx
I realize this is an old post.. but maybe you’re still looking for some book suggestions on this topic? :)
I used Ninja Picks and got the following recommendations:
In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto – by Michael Pollan
The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World – by Michael Pollan
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (P.S.) – by Barbara Kingsolver
Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education – by Michael Pollan
Fast Food Nation – by Eric Schlosser
What to Eat – by Marion Nestle
half the suggestions are by Pollan.. but I guess if you like one of his books, you’re more likely to like the rest. I’ve probably had Omnivore’s Dilemma on my bookshelf since you posted this… one of these days I’ll get around to reading it.
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When posting comments please use your name or your initials, please do not use your company name. Please don't link to your company name in the comment text either. This will be considered spam, and will be deleted. Opinion of any kind is welcome, but any personal attacks will also be deleted.