Salt: A World History

A whole lot of history, and oh yeah, it's about history, too!

I LOVED this book! I learned a lot about history, from ancient civilizations all the way to the origins of common everyday products that we take for granted every day in the 20th and 21st centuries. Loaded with details, ancient recipes, and new revelations in practically every sentence on every page, I walk away from this book with a renewed sense of awe that civilization ever got this far. Not for the timid reader, details can be overwhelming at times, but never boring. Not if you like history and the "untold story", as I do.

5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

The secret world of salt

Salt: A World History By Mark Kurlansky Review By Crazy Edward. Salt, its a commodity most people just accept as something that is available in their everyday lives. Think about it, we all use salt every day, yet we don¿t realize how the fate of an empire rests on salt. Mark Kurlansky starts out by diving into ancient China and their exploitation of salt. As Kurlansky reports, the Chinese first start using salt when they found salt rocks on the ground. When it rained, a brine soaked into the area around the rock and when the sun came out, the soil produced salt crystals. This is a very interesting read for any food lover or historian. Mark Kurlansky identifies the rise and fall of civilization, and what salt has to do with them. From the ancient Romans and their salt works and fish sauces, to United States struggle to find enough salt to maintain the needs of their country, Kurlansky writes about them all. As an added bonus for all food lovers, Kurlansky publishes recipes for salt and salt-based products. If you love food, or if you just find the rise and fall of civilizations interesting, Salt: A World History is a must have. Salt. You don¿t know how much it really means until you read this book.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

great

I liked this book. Read it within 24 hours.Unusual but very interesting history on salt

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

AP World History Student: Informational but Somewhat Repetitive

Kurlansky shows how Venice came to be as profitable by trading in salt rather than attempting to manufacture it, which later formed a foudation for Venice during the Renaissance. The French Monarchy did as many other empires at the time and since the trade of salt, a tax was placed upon the rock. These are but a few topics discussed in Kurlanky's Salt, but inbetween are some tasty tid-bits 'o information and surprising history as far up as the Civil war and Pickett's Charge. Although Salt tends top be of a repitive nature in expressing views, but this helps to re-convey his theories so that you will know how he wishes his 'novel' to be interpreted. Overall, I would reccomend this book to anyone with a sense of humour (it is an entire book about salt, of course) or anyone wishing to gain a new perspective in viewing world history through a common element--Sodium Chloride, the good old NaCl.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Common Substance, Uncommon Book

Who'd -a thunk it? A book about salt being utterly engrossing? That it is. Smart and funny, full of wonderful trivia and a way of seeing world history through this most common yet complex of substances. You need not be a foodie to enjoy.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

No Spice

I love non-fiction as much as fiction and I thought this book would be a interesting since it is an under-written about topic. Some of the facts were fascinating. But on the whole, it was one of the most boring books I have ever read. I could not finish it, although I read well into it. I hate abandoning a book but it became a chore plowing through it.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Fabulous Read!!

You'll find yourself wondering about other commodities.....like cod and coffee and beer. Did they influence people in unexpected ways?

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

From one Salt Lover to Another

I love salt, and have always felt like a nerd for being strangely fascinated with its history. Not only does this book include a historical aspect of the mineral, but also entails palatable facts and a very in-depth view into salt's naturally unassumed importance through the ages. I do not feel alone in saying that this is the book I have been waiting for!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Truly Definitive Work on Salt!

I never thought I could read an entire book about SALT! However, I was immediately intrigued and after promising myself to give the first 30 pages a chance, I found myself reading the entire book. It is oftentimes funny and always educational. I have amazed my family and friends with my command of salt facts and trivia. Not recommended for those on a salt free diet.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Saltstar

I will. Salt star meowed

The only rock humans willingly eat

Informative but dull at points.

Calla

ERAAAAAASSSSSE IIIIIIIIT!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Tor

Bleeeeeeep.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I give your newspaper

Five stars. You guys are good and i am graciously donatingg two cameras to you for your greatness. Take them or leave them-the sharing

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The warriors newspaper

FROUNT PAGE: an investagetor has made a discovery. Ballstar has never gotten his nine lives. Ballclaw has killed kits stolen kits and done ther unknown things. Investagators will find more soon. CAT OF THE DAY: mistypool a gray tom with onyx eyes NEW CLAN: horseclan at david parkins horse. Writer snowstream editor no investagator sunnybreaze

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Salt...the final frontier

No, not really. Lots of interesting stories about salt, though. I was surprised at the research that has gone into this book! It's pretty amazing...if a bit salty.
har har

A Different Perspective on History

Mr. Kurlansky takes us back through time and all over the world to show how access to salt has been a driving factor in so many pivotal developments in history. From the ancient Celts to the Pharoahs to the European Rennaisance to Ghandi - salt played a role. This book is worth reading.

There are better micro-histories

First let me say that I learned a lot about salt, and I didn't dislike this. But I got this book because I loved Banana and History of the World in 6 Glasses. This one is not nearly as engaging and entertaining as those. He spends too much time seemingly trying to impress with this or that minute detail from what is clearly in depth historical research and not enough weaving a srory of salt. I also felt it wasn't particularly well organized. Not a linear chronology, nor is it strictly regional. It just kind of jumped around. And not much on the impact of current trends.

Enjoyable book for history buffs.

A good history of something we all use, but don't know much about.

A very good read.

This author presents a long and complex history in a rapid fire manner. The book is full of historical items that take the reader on a trail into world history and back to America. The only drawback is that there are some detailed explanations in the chemical makeup of salt that are dry and can be bypassed.