Salt: A World History
by Mark Kurlansky

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Book Reviews of Salt: A World History

Book Review: *A Pinch of Salt, and a Heaping Tablespoon of World History*
Summary: 4 Stars

You have to appreciate studying history to really enjoy this book. If you do, "Salt" is a wonderfully written modern historical narrative. Twenty-six separate chapters take you all over the world and throughout time, showing salt as a simple material necessary for survival, to a commodity controlled by the powerful, to the chemical that allows for better food storage and preservation, thus helping to feed more and more of civilization. Some chapters demonstrate how important different commodities are on culture. Until I read this book, I had no idea that the 20th Century Gandhi-inspired revolution in India was rooted in protest over British ownership of Indian salt rights. Each section averages fifteen pages bringing an interesting collection of salt related facts and reports.

Lots of salt history revolves around food. When you studied history as a youngster, you didn't think about how feeding civilization was the critical factor is what happened out in the world. If food could be preserved longer when abundant, if it tasted better when eaten, and had all the nutrients needed for survival, the quality of life improved and civilization would likely expand. When armies moved forth, they had to be fed too, so more food was needed as human expansion continued. Time and time again salt played a large role in what peoples went where, what they did, and why they stayed or moved on.

The book seems long, but reads quickly; it is easy to pick up and put down at frequent intervals. The chapters are short and each one weaves smaller story segments into the chapter's theme. There are opportunities to learn new facts, as well as different interpretations of familiar historical events to be absorbed. I most accurately rate this book at 4.20 stars out of 5.00, rounded down to 4 stars; it was an enjoyable and fun book.

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