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107 reviews for:
A Square Meal: A Culinary History of the Great Depression
Andrew Coe, Jane Ziegelman
3.66 AVERAGE
107 reviews for:
A Square Meal: A Culinary History of the Great Depression
Andrew Coe, Jane Ziegelman
3.66 AVERAGE
Pretty decent and informative. I definitely learned some things from it and it's not nearly as dry as it could be. That said, I think it could be organized a little better and the ending seemed pretty abrupt.
I enjoyed this, but then I really like to read about American food history. The Great Depression is an interesting time to study when it comes to our culinary history, since we were in a terrible place of food anxiety at the time. This book is more about our history around relief programs and other ways we dealt with hungry and unemployed people (hint: not too swell). You read this and then look at us now, in our economic downturn due to a pandemic, and fear we haven't come nearly far enough.
Still, in the 30s, World War II was on the horizon and things began to change. The home economists think the future is glittering and the nostalgic writers already begin to look back at when we "ate real food". As we continue to do now.
If you are interested in the America Eats! writings mentioned at the end of the book, check out Food Of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky. He gets access to the unpublished writings in the Library of Congress and we are able to finally read (some of) them.
Still, in the 30s, World War II was on the horizon and things began to change. The home economists think the future is glittering and the nostalgic writers already begin to look back at when we "ate real food". As we continue to do now.
If you are interested in the America Eats! writings mentioned at the end of the book, check out Food Of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky. He gets access to the unpublished writings in the Library of Congress and we are able to finally read (some of) them.
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Rather interesting look at the incredible transition of American food and cooking culture that occurred mostly around the Great Depression (from WWI through to the start of WWII). From whole, farm-fresh local cooking and preserving - to shelf stable, factory produced nutritionally enhanced agribusiness diets. Much to unpack, and the book tries hard to cover a wide swath of ground.
Very interesting, and a great conversation-starter for our family with my mom, who grew up at the end of the Depression and through WW2.
informative
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Classism
Minor: Death, War
A fascinating and depressing book about diets during the depression. This book demonstrates why we need improved standards of social care, but also demonstrates how far we've come in the last century. At least we have social programs now.
A really good book I think a lot of people should read. It really makes you think about how charity and poverty is treated in America and also in other places, though this book just focuses on America.
It's kind of horrifying. The amount of times I read about how people shouldn't be given food so they can survive because they haven't "earned it" or they might become dependent on handouts? I wanted to hit people. The idea the government isn't responsible for keeping its citizens alive is abhorrent and yet all too familiar.
All the quotes and stuff on the book sold it as just about food and there are a lot of interesting facts on food and what and how people ate at the time, it's just also about how people were treated as well. And how many, many, many people die because the idea of handouts is seen as anti-American.
So, good book. A bit depressing and all too relevant right now.
It's kind of horrifying. The amount of times I read about how people shouldn't be given food so they can survive because they haven't "earned it" or they might become dependent on handouts? I wanted to hit people. The idea the government isn't responsible for keeping its citizens alive is abhorrent and yet all too familiar.
All the quotes and stuff on the book sold it as just about food and there are a lot of interesting facts on food and what and how people ate at the time, it's just also about how people were treated as well. And how many, many, many people die because the idea of handouts is seen as anti-American.
So, good book. A bit depressing and all too relevant right now.
Some interesting information, but the style of writing wasn't really compelling.
I received this book free via Goodread's First Reads.
I was happily surprised abut this book. Not only was it interesting, the author kept me engaged in how people ate during the Depression. There was so much information about how food companies evolved and the governments involvement, or lack thereof, to aid those families that were starving. It was definitely an excellent read for those wanting to learn more about the Depression.
I was happily surprised abut this book. Not only was it interesting, the author kept me engaged in how people ate during the Depression. There was so much information about how food companies evolved and the governments involvement, or lack thereof, to aid those families that were starving. It was definitely an excellent read for those wanting to learn more about the Depression.