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A review by 1katherinerine1
Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat by Bee Wilson
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.