Comments on: Book recommendations please?

By: sparx

sparx — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:44:31 +0000

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.

By: Luca

Luca — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:56:32 +0000

Just finished reading “God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything” by Christopher Hitchens. Thumbs up.

By: aaron

aaron — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 23:57:46 +0000

ah, speaking of year/date books, you may wish to check out 1491 by charles mann.

http://www.amazon.com/1491-Revelations-Americas-Before-Columbus/dp/140004006X

as in the chinese discoveries book referenced above, there are lots of interesting and perspective enriching tidbits throughout this book. a fascinating subject.

By: Darren

Darren — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 09:11:34 +0000

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.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/History-World-6-Glasses/dp/1843545950/ref=sr_1_1/203-1967375-0188736?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184922315&sr=8-1

By: Ron

Ron — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:02:29 +0000

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 :)

By: Hug

Hug — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:34:51 +0000

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!

By: Hug

Hug — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:27:02 +0000

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.

By: m'lissa

m'lissa — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:49:12 +0000

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!

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:18:46 +0000

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pirate-Exquisite-Mind-William-Dampier/dp/0552772100/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/202-8073169-4861407?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184670887&sr=8-2

A pirate of exquisite mind.

I’ve read a fair amount of nautical history lately…. this is a good book about a fascinating guy.

By: Elliott

Elliott — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 07:56:00 +0000

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.