Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Salt: A World History
Book Review: Enlightening but repetitve and drawn out near the end
Summary: 3 Stars
I found the first 2/3 of this book fascinating. But the last 1/3 was repetitive and drawn out; it felt like the author had exhausted his enthusiasm and was just going through the motions.Book Review: Entertaining stories
Summary: 2 Stars
Salt is a collection of stories with one thing in common: salt. However, it is not a book of history, needless to say it is not a book of world history, as the title claims. It is more a compilation of readable stories about events in history that are more or less related to salt and fish.Book Review: Excellent History Book
Summary: 5 Stars
Excellent history of civilization. Almost every ancient war was fought over the possession of Salt. I highly recommend this well written book.Book Review: Excellent first third and then it gets kind of dull
Summary: 3 Stars
The history of salt sounds less than amazing until you realize it shadows all human development and you learn why. Civilization depended on the ability to find, eat, process, secure and sell it. About 1/3 of the way through the book that is pretty fully explained and it is quite fascinatin and then the story moves on to the more mundane aspects of the industrial revoloution and salt used mroe and more in food etc etc.
Overall a good read and quite informative.
Book Review: Excellent for those who like a little food with their history lesson.
Summary: 4 Stars
At first glace this book may look uninteresting, I mean who would read a book about salt? I, unfortunately, didn't have a choice, I had to read it for a school assignment. Then after a few chapters I actually found myself drawn in by the information.
Using salt as the common focal point Mark Kurlansky gives an interesting retelling a of history starting with the most ancient of civilizations and through up to the present day. There are three part to this book. In the first part he goes through a little ancient history starting with the early days of China all the way to the deterioration of the great roman empire. The second part focuses mostly on European history, the conquest of new land, and the desperate attempts made by the many European powers to control the salt trade.. The last part has to do with a little more modern history, talking a little bit more about post-civil war America, England during the 1800's to today, and the discovery that there existed different types of salts that could used in different industries.
All throughout this book there are also different recipes for those who want to try the food being described in the book. All in all this is a really interesting book, and prefect for people that like a little food with their history lesson.