Salt: A World History

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Salt: A World History

Editorial Review

Mark Kurlansky, the bestselling author of Cod and The Basque History of the World, here turns his attention to a common household item with a long and intriguing history: salt. The only rock we eat, salt has shaped civilization from the very beginning, and its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of humankind. A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt has influenced the establishment of trade routes and cities, provoked and financed wars, secured empires, and inspired revolutions. Populated by colorful characters and filled with an unending series of fascinating details, Kurlansky's kaleidoscopic history is a supremely entertaining, multi-layered masterpiece.

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
• A superb history of an essential commodity
  Salt comes from the only family of rocks eaten by humans. Chloride is essentisal for digestion and respiration. Sodium, which the body, we learn, cannot manufacture, is necessary for the body to to transport nutrients and move muscles, such as the heart.
  Mark Kurlansky has written the definitive history of salt, laden with recipes, many of which are repulsive to the modern American taste, but were once a staple part of the diet.
  Salt is essential to human and animal life. Wrs hsve been fought over... more info
• Salt
  A very interesting and in depth review of the "World of Salt" as only Mark Kurlansky can depict.....
• Good Read
  A fascinating book that's a quick read. Some of the historical assertions seem a bit of a stretch to me,(the American and French Revolutions fought over salt?)but I'm not an historian, and the book makes good arguments for its case. I have totally enjoyed it and have bought 2 more copies for gifts to foodie friends.
• Pleasurable read about historys most important mineral
  I am a geologist and this book was a great pleasure to read. Salt aka Halite is a important mineral to a geologist. This was a fun book to see how important is is to history.

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