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aimee2meee_no's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book as a reference for writing an English paper on the cultural history of the potato. It was all I could’ve asked for, but it did have a couple errors in it. Other than that, it’s an amazing resource. It really immerses you into the world of potatoes and its affects on society. Be aware if you’re looking for a book on the potato industry or potato biology, you won’t find much in here. But it is absolutely worth reading if you’re interested in the cultural aspects of the potato.
shanaqui's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.0
An enjoyable look at potatoes, what they mean to people, what they do for us, etc. It mostly discusses white potatoes rather than sweet potatoes (though they're briefly mentioned), and there's a fair number of references to Ireland (as you might expect), with nods to Heaney's poetry.
It wasn't too surprising for me, but interesting enough.
It wasn't too surprising for me, but interesting enough.
aqilahreads's review against another edition
3.0
who would have thought that i would actually read about potatoes one day??????
i honestly love potatoes sO MUCH so this was a fascinating read lmaooo. love me some potato facts
i honestly love potatoes sO MUCH so this was a fascinating read lmaooo. love me some potato facts
donutcome4me's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent little number on the nature of the potato in society.
triumphal_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Sometimes there is much more than meets the eye with everyday objects that have become mundane to the point that we never really examine or think about them. Bloomsbury Academic's series Object Lessons is on its way to addressing that issue and Rebecca Earle's Potato does a fine job of critically looking at the potato. From its global importance as an important food crop to sustaining an ever increasing population to its role and use in changing political philosophy from earlier centuries, this book covers many interesting facets and nuances of the history of potatoes that are easily overlooked.
Due to the nature of the book, the structure is a little disjointed as there isn't much of a coherent line of narrative weaving the book together. The topics jump around quite a bit, even within chapters. Some of the topics covered also seemed a little out of place or only tangentially related to potatoes, such as some the fine art dealing with potatoes. While it wasn't a problem per se, I felt that it did take away time and space a little bit from the other topics leaving less room for some of the more important aspects of the potato.. However, overall, Ia am glad that some of the cultural aspects of the potato were included.
Part of the reason I decided to read this book is that the area I live in is known for its potatoes (pretty much one of the only things its known for) and potatoes are everywhere. I live almost within sight of a potato field and have worked for farmers that grew potatoes as a teenager. This book definitely has allowed me to look at these potatoes in a new light with a rich cultural and historical background. The book does cover some history of the potato from its original cultivation in the new world to its transmission to Europe and beyond during the Columbian Exchange. It was interesting to see how some countries readily adopted the potato crop and allowed it to become an important cultural item, such as in Ireland. One of the interesting aspects of the book that really stood out to me was some primary source material of early professional chefs describing recipes using the new ingredient of potatoes and how one should go about to the market to look for a desirable potato. Other parts of the book that I really enjoyed included the use of the potato in political and philosophical circles to empower (at least in theory) the individual in society and raise them up to a greater state than before the potato was widely grown. Also, the current usage and cultivation of potatoes around the world as a global staple crop was discussed in depth and was interesting to learn about.
Overall Potato by Rebecca Earle does a great job illuminating the secret life of potatoes and demonstrates that even the mundane food staple of the potato has a rich backstory and cultural history. The book makes you wonder about other everyday foodstuffs and mundane items and what their history might possibly be, encouraging the reader to think about the world around them. And thinking about the world around you in a critical way is always a good thing.
4 out of 5 stars.
Due to the nature of the book, the structure is a little disjointed as there isn't much of a coherent line of narrative weaving the book together. The topics jump around quite a bit, even within chapters. Some of the topics covered also seemed a little out of place or only tangentially related to potatoes, such as some the fine art dealing with potatoes. While it wasn't a problem per se, I felt that it did take away time and space a little bit from the other topics leaving less room for some of the more important aspects of the potato.. However, overall, Ia am glad that some of the cultural aspects of the potato were included.
Part of the reason I decided to read this book is that the area I live in is known for its potatoes (pretty much one of the only things its known for) and potatoes are everywhere. I live almost within sight of a potato field and have worked for farmers that grew potatoes as a teenager. This book definitely has allowed me to look at these potatoes in a new light with a rich cultural and historical background. The book does cover some history of the potato from its original cultivation in the new world to its transmission to Europe and beyond during the Columbian Exchange. It was interesting to see how some countries readily adopted the potato crop and allowed it to become an important cultural item, such as in Ireland. One of the interesting aspects of the book that really stood out to me was some primary source material of early professional chefs describing recipes using the new ingredient of potatoes and how one should go about to the market to look for a desirable potato. Other parts of the book that I really enjoyed included the use of the potato in political and philosophical circles to empower (at least in theory) the individual in society and raise them up to a greater state than before the potato was widely grown. Also, the current usage and cultivation of potatoes around the world as a global staple crop was discussed in depth and was interesting to learn about.
Overall Potato by Rebecca Earle does a great job illuminating the secret life of potatoes and demonstrates that even the mundane food staple of the potato has a rich backstory and cultural history. The book makes you wonder about other everyday foodstuffs and mundane items and what their history might possibly be, encouraging the reader to think about the world around them. And thinking about the world around you in a critical way is always a good thing.
4 out of 5 stars.
uncommonlybound's review against another edition
4.0
This is a delightful little microhistory about one of my all-time favorite foods. I loved tracing the potato from its Andean roots to its dominance as one of the world’s most eaten foods. Sprinkled throughout its pages are images of potato artwork through the ages, ads for potato-related goods, and even a couple heirloom potato recipes.
raoionna's review against another edition
4.0
Informative ~ Surprising ~ Enjoyable
tl; dr: Potatoes changed people and civilization.
I am a sucker for this genre, where an author takes something ubiquitous to reframe everything you know. Potatoes win, in general. But, Earle didn't rest on the natural appeal of her subject. She did a wonderful job of subvert commonly held beliefs. Her book is fabulously transgressive, in aspects. Her prose is appealing. Overall an ideal read for a food lover who wants a non-fiction book or for a history lover with a carb addiction.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
tl; dr: Potatoes changed people and civilization.
I am a sucker for this genre, where an author takes something ubiquitous to reframe everything you know. Potatoes win, in general. But, Earle didn't rest on the natural appeal of her subject. She did a wonderful job of subvert commonly held beliefs. Her book is fabulously transgressive, in aspects. Her prose is appealing. Overall an ideal read for a food lover who wants a non-fiction book or for a history lover with a carb addiction.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
alyssaarch's review against another edition
4.0
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I wholeheartedly admit that potatoes are my favorite food, so I was very interested to read about the history behind them and the connotations that we give them. This is a short, fast read full of intriguing facts about potatoes and how this one food has traveled globally to become one of the most recognized foods in every culture.
I enjoyed that Earle featured art inspired by potatoes in this and that we got to learn a little more about how each culture views potatoes. I especially thought the history of it and the politics behind it was incredibly interesting. There are a couple of recipes included in this, but mostly, this is a book about where the potato comes from and what sort of meaning we’ve given to it within our current lives.
This would be a great coffee table book for people to peruse, or if you’re like me and are obsessed with food, this is a great nonfiction/history read.
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
I wholeheartedly admit that potatoes are my favorite food, so I was very interested to read about the history behind them and the connotations that we give them. This is a short, fast read full of intriguing facts about potatoes and how this one food has traveled globally to become one of the most recognized foods in every culture.
I enjoyed that Earle featured art inspired by potatoes in this and that we got to learn a little more about how each culture views potatoes. I especially thought the history of it and the politics behind it was incredibly interesting. There are a couple of recipes included in this, but mostly, this is a book about where the potato comes from and what sort of meaning we’ve given to it within our current lives.
This would be a great coffee table book for people to peruse, or if you’re like me and are obsessed with food, this is a great nonfiction/history read.
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
etienne02's review against another edition
3.0
Well... you will learn about the potato. Not a bad books, you will seriously learn stuff, but let's be honest this is for a very specific public. You have to be obsessed with the potato to read that (or you just read way too many book on anything (that's me)). If you love this vegetables and want to know more!!
easyqueenie's review against another edition
3.0
One of the odder books Sophie has read over the last few years has to be Potato by Rebecca Earle. This short book is part of the Object Lessons series, a collection of titles about the “hidden lives of ordinary things.” The book looks at the way the potato has spread across the planet going from a crop only grown in one region of the Americas, to one of the most-consumed foodstuffs across the globe. Looking at the journey of the potato allows us to see the movements of ordinary people throughout history.
Potato also shows us how intertwined potatoes are with politics. Not the most obvious connection you may have made, but a true one. Potatoes allow individuals to be self-sustaining far more than some governments have been happy with, and the book shows us that there is far more to the connection between potatoes and Ireland than you may have learned about in the odd history lesson about the Irish potato famine.
A strange yet compelling book, Potato will give you plenty of interesting anecdotes to drop into the conversation next time you’re hanging out in someone’s kitchen while they peel a fresh batch of spuds.
Potato also shows us how intertwined potatoes are with politics. Not the most obvious connection you may have made, but a true one. Potatoes allow individuals to be self-sustaining far more than some governments have been happy with, and the book shows us that there is far more to the connection between potatoes and Ireland than you may have learned about in the odd history lesson about the Irish potato famine.
A strange yet compelling book, Potato will give you plenty of interesting anecdotes to drop into the conversation next time you’re hanging out in someone’s kitchen while they peel a fresh batch of spuds.