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viaggiatrice13's review against another edition
4.0
Really, really good. Who knew a history of kitchen implements could be so fascinating?
andreadmw's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating
Such an interesting book. We spend so much time looking at history of leaders and wars. We focus on technology of computers, travel. But we never look at domestic life. How the way we cooked, the tools we invented furthered humanity. Obviously major inventions like the refrigerator or the stove but the fork, ice, the veggie peeler!
I can’t say this was the best written book I ever read but if you want to nerd out on where the wooden spoon came from this book is for you.
Such an interesting book. We spend so much time looking at history of leaders and wars. We focus on technology of computers, travel. But we never look at domestic life. How the way we cooked, the tools we invented furthered humanity. Obviously major inventions like the refrigerator or the stove but the fork, ice, the veggie peeler!
I can’t say this was the best written book I ever read but if you want to nerd out on where the wooden spoon came from this book is for you.
shawn_cernik's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed listening to the audio version while working, but I never would have sat idle to read a physical copy of the book.
justinermd's review against another edition
3.0
I love the topic and a lot of the history was fascinating. Some parts were more dry than others, though, and the chapters could have been more connected with each other (besides just being a history of certain items).
poojbooj's review
informative
medium-paced
3.5
there were some statements here and there that made me laugh but overall very informative and not really the type of nonfiction i've been reaching for (more witty and doesn't feel like nonfiction). this feels a lot like a straight up history book.
kisjdmls's review against another edition
4.0
There's a lot of trivia here. I'm not sure there's much of a larger theme, but it's really interesting.
lesliepallotta's review against another edition
4.0
Takes the mundane and makes it fascinating. Be prepared to look at your kitchen appliances in a whole new light.
karathagan's review against another edition
5.0
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. As an archaeologist, the evolution and backstory of everyday instruments holds special meaning. While informative, this book manages to be witty, clever, and engaging throughout. The author delivers surprising levels of detail in a well-paced and creatively crafted story of humanity and our relationship with food and tools for food use. I found this to be a page turner, and I came away daily with new morsels of information that I hope to retain. Among them, origin of the term "curfew", meaning and history of sous vide, development of the overbite, how recently the modern vegetable peeler came about, and what a voiding knife is.