Libby Audiobook
English language
Published Feb. 6, 2007 by Phoenix Books.
So much of our human body is made up of salt that we'd be dead without it. The fine balance of nature, the trade of salt as a currency of many nations and empires, the theme of a popular Shakespearean play... Salt is best selling author Mark Kurlansky's story of the only rock we eat.
From its single origin, to the other discoveries made because of it, fascinating tales of salt and the people who have been involved with it through the ages are interwoven here. Fifteen recipes are included that will meet with every taste. Mark Kurlansky has produced a kaleidoscope of history, a multi-layered masterpiece that blends economic, scientific, political, religious, and culinary records into a rich and memorable tale.
14½ hours of facts about salt and salt-adjacent things. Iodized salt. Potassium chloride. Mahatma Gandhi's Salt Campaign. Soy sauce. Catsup. Cheshire. San Francisco Bay. Oil exploration. The Dead Sea. The book never dwells too long, and everything is surprisingly, for me at least, interesting.
Been sitting on my shelves for a while; when the library turned up an audio copy, I thought it would be a good time to give it a first read.
Covers the impact of salt through history, touching on science towards the end. I learned a lot about the Basques, Celts, and the names of towns in Europe. The recipes didn't add much, in my opinion. Other people have complained about a lack of references; I'll have to dig up my paper copy to check that. A decent book, a pinch more than 3 stars.
