A very interesting read covering the basics and staples of our diet. It really is a perfect read for anyone who eats food! Makes you think the next time you walk around the supermarket doing the weekly shop.

A fascinating look at some of the world's most influential foodstuffs, including bread, salt, soy and cocoa. A great companion to BBC Radio 4's The Food Programme, showing how something we might take for granted is at the centre of various complex systems.

Absolutely fascinating read, and really well written.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

If you breathe and love food, this book is for you. Well researched and detailed in nature, this books brings up history and the present of the food in each of its chapter, this becoming a quintessential part of investigative journalism, research and interviews. I loved reading this book and if you love food, so will you.

I have not listened to The Food Programme, but having read this marvellous book, I have started listening to the podcasts.
The book is a fascinating read, covering 13 foods such as spices, bread, fat and peppers. Its content is a great mix of investigative journalism, interviews, nutritional and cookery information, presented in such a way that it is an easy and compulsive read.
Some information will make you rethink what you eat (horror stories of mass farming chickens, for one!) and other tidbits about cooking techniques (great detail on roasting potatoes and frying chips) are very useful for all home cooks. Each chapter also details the history of the food, including the various forms of slavery, that are still happening in food production today. There is also very relevant information on the affect on the environment in the production of each of the 13 staples, and the true cost of food to future generations.
I think it is a must read for everyone who is interested in what we eat, where it comes from and how our ever increasing need for cheap food is altering the world.

I really enjoy The Food Programme on Radio 4 so knew that this book would be engaging and informative. It focuses on 13 different foods e.g. Salt, Bread etc and goes into the history of these foods, their cultural impact and their importance to human civilisation. A book of this kind could end up being quite dull to those not strictly interested in food or history but I really think even non-foodies would enjoy having a read through this book. The historical detail is informative without being turgid and the length of the chapters is ideal. I'm a fast reader and got through the entire book in a few hours so it works well to dip in and out of as well. Would be a nice gift for anyone interested in food or history.

I also couldn't help but read it in my head in the voice of Sheila Dillon which really only added to the experience!

It's an informative and well written book that made me learn more about something fundamental as food.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

In some ways very interesting although certainly not read all in one go. For others, extremely worrying, not only for how we are reducing the planet, but also ourselves. I admit that I would have gladly done without some of the information....

Per certi versi molto interessante anche se certo non si legge tutto d'un fiato. Per altri, estremamente preoccupante, non solo per come stiamo riducendo il pianeta, ma anche noi stessi. Ammetto che avrei fatto volentieri a meno di alcune informazioni....

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

Alex writes so beautifully. This is a book for any food lover. He writes with humour. I frequently found myself exclaiming out loud as I discovered a fascinating fact. It's a book to dip into and perfect as a present for a fellow foodies.

This was fascinating. I love listening to the food programme and this is just like that in book form. Full of interesting facts and stories surrounding the foods we eat everyday. Made me think.