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magnetarmadda's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. It was a pretty interesting book, but I came out of it wishing for a lot more from it. I also wish it had been a little more chronologically organized, because I’m now left with some confusion about the order of all the cooking and eating implements she talked about.
1katherinerine1's review against another edition
5.0
This book is about forks. Or, more generally, eating utensils, cooking tools, and a history of cooking. And I can say without a doubt that this was one of the best reading experiences I’ve ever had. Books have the wonderful ability of opening up your mind to the world and changing your perception of things, and this book was no exception.This book was split up into chapters based on specific items that all play a contributing role in cooking. For example, knives, spoons, fire, and refrigeration. After reading a chapter on one of these specific examples, I would take a look around me and see things differently. I look at a fork and think about its design. Why does it bend that way? Why do I hold it this way? In its one little way, this book changed my life.
I also enjoyed how it was written. The words were quick and witty, with subtle humor and clever lines. Many non-fiction books are written with the same dry, academic tone. This book, however, sparks with life at every word. At times it was poetic. Here’s one of my favorite paragraphs, the closing anecdote at the end of the chapter on fire, pg 108:
“Those who believe that a microwave cannot be a focus for a home like an old hearth have never seen a group of children, huddled together in silent wonder, waiting for a bag of microwave popcorn to finish popping, like hunter-gathers around a flame.”
This book covers many conversations we have about food today, and even touches on some familiar emotions brought out by the Covid-19 pandemic, despite being written in 2012. For example, there’s a bit about the slow food movement, and how people deliberately draw out the cooking process by using older techniques as a sort of tradition. While these chapters might not have resonated with me before the pandemic, I can now see the appeal.
The chapter on measurements was interesting. While I’m aware that the Imperial system of measurement is difficult to work with, I never really thought about how backward cooking with cups was. Aside from being mildly annoyed when cakes didn’t turn out, it wasn’t something I had considered. Personally, I prefer cooking with ratios now to anything else. Using my own frame of reference makes more sense than trying to use cups and teaspoons and whatnot.
I was impressed by the amount of references and the bibliography. It shows a great amount of research into these topics.
In short, this book was fun and informative. I think it might be one of my favorites.
I also enjoyed how it was written. The words were quick and witty, with subtle humor and clever lines. Many non-fiction books are written with the same dry, academic tone. This book, however, sparks with life at every word. At times it was poetic. Here’s one of my favorite paragraphs, the closing anecdote at the end of the chapter on fire, pg 108:
“Those who believe that a microwave cannot be a focus for a home like an old hearth have never seen a group of children, huddled together in silent wonder, waiting for a bag of microwave popcorn to finish popping, like hunter-gathers around a flame.”
This book covers many conversations we have about food today, and even touches on some familiar emotions brought out by the Covid-19 pandemic, despite being written in 2012. For example, there’s a bit about the slow food movement, and how people deliberately draw out the cooking process by using older techniques as a sort of tradition. While these chapters might not have resonated with me before the pandemic, I can now see the appeal.
The chapter on measurements was interesting. While I’m aware that the Imperial system of measurement is difficult to work with, I never really thought about how backward cooking with cups was. Aside from being mildly annoyed when cakes didn’t turn out, it wasn’t something I had considered. Personally, I prefer cooking with ratios now to anything else. Using my own frame of reference makes more sense than trying to use cups and teaspoons and whatnot.
I was impressed by the amount of references and the bibliography. It shows a great amount of research into these topics.
In short, this book was fun and informative. I think it might be one of my favorites.
jeffmauch's review against another edition
4.0
This book in an interesting look at the history that surrounds many of the things we take for granted in our kitchens and the kitchen itself. The amount of innovation and technology that occurs within the kitchen really is incredible. I don't think many of us realize just how little removed we are from ice boxes, cooking on a spit over open fires, or peeling vegetables without the use of a vegetable peeler. While each of these things seems like no big deal, the difference between now and what was 100 years ago or 300 years ago is astounding and the stories of how we go from there to here are at times humorous and fascinating.
ashley_crookham's review against another edition
So many interesting thoughts. packed with information made easier to take in due to the author's humor
blissfulbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
It's been quite a while since I've rated anything 5 stars, and I'm glad that Consider the Fork: How Technology Transforms the Way We Cook and Eat has broken the dry spell. This book provides an in-depth social history in which cooking, dining, food presentation/storage/cultivation, kitchen tools, techniques, culture, politics, geography, etc... all intersect to tell a fascinating story about one of the most enjoyable and essential of human activities: eating. On top of that, Bee Wilson's writing style is at times cheeky and definitely fun to read. Yet she's certainly done her research as well--There is a lot to learn in this book, and you'll have renewed appreciation for the rich history behind the mundane objects we take for granted in the kitchen, whether it is the fridge, your non-stick skillet, and yes, even the fork.
mashleypotatoes's review against another edition
2.0
This was a neat book with some interesting, quirky information about the history of cooking, utensils, and kitchens. However, my main criticism is that the book lacks a conclusion. It just kind of ends, and not on any sort of strong point. I was also a bit put off by the fact that the chapters have specific titles, but the information included in each chapter isn't strongly connected to the overarching theme. Everything is just sort of thrown together, which really started to irritate me.
Good bits of trivia and history, but hidden in poor writing.
(Note: I read a digital copy, and it was the most error-filled book I've read. So many typos!)
Good bits of trivia and history, but hidden in poor writing.
(Note: I read a digital copy, and it was the most error-filled book I've read. So many typos!)