Twain's Feast

by Nick Offerman, Andrew Beahrs

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published November 1, 2018

About the author

Nick Offerman is an American actor, writer, and carpenter who is best known for his breakout role as Ron Swanson in the acclaimed NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. For his work on Parks and Recreation, he received the Television Critics Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy.

Reviews

[ThatBookish_deviant · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

Nick Offerman could read a garbage disposal operating manual and it would still get 4 stars from me. Not only does he have a stellar voice but he’s clever, funny as hell, and by all accounts a decent human. The fact that he’s charitable and supports causes I believe in is a plus. Oh, and he makes cool shit outta trees and can grow a wicked-fierce beard. Love him.

[Agris Fakingsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

..neesmu daudz Marku Tvenu lasījis, kaut gribētu, un arī ēst cenšos atmest. tomēr šī grāmata, ja tā to var nosaukt, bija meistarīgi nostrādāta. ieskats Tvena dzīvē, viņa paradumos, bet galvenokārt – tajā, kas viņam garšoja. veselas komandas darbs. šķiet, papīra formātā šo pat būtu grūti iedabūt, kaut Māra Oltes "Ēst ir tavā dabā", piemēram, ir ne tikai skatāms labums, bet arī lasāms.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting tour of Mark Twain’s life, highlighted by an enormous list of American food items he longed for while visiting Europe. The style is a la NPR, with lots of interviews with various experts, field trips, and in the background, a multi course meal set in Twain’s Hartford home. One star off for uneven sound quality and a bit too much editorializing.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never imagined that trying to recreate Mark Twain’s favorite cuisine into a modern-day meal would spark a dialogue of history of food and persons!

The novel 'Twain's Feast: Searching for America's Lost Foods in the Footsteps of Samuel Clemens" by Andrew Beahrs is the genesis for Nick Offerman's podcast.

But Offerman sets up his quest with these notables: comedian Wanda Sykes, Laura Trumble, Top Chef contestant Tyler Anderson, New York University Professor Christine Greer, musician Jeff Tweedy, and author Andrew Beahrs. It was held at Mark Twain's house in Hartford, CT.

One of the best “food for thought” discussions came from Professor Greer about post-civil war US, that in hindsight, the possibilities exist which white southerners had to learn survival from former slaves and it’s likely that foods/traditions that were once performed only by African Americans were adopted and since classified as “southern”.

Good insight from Professor Greer and an enjoyable banter on how food influences people who, in this case, were a subset of establishing a fledgling country.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nick Offerman uses a list of foods served by Mark Twain to his friends to offer an exploration of both Twain's life, and at the United States in the 19th century, using the foodstuffs to comment on various issues like race, river ecology, etc. Varies in interest throughout, but if you like Nick Offerman and Mark Twain, it's mostly worth your while. I didn't realize what a varied life Twain had led, including prospecting and accidentally starting wildfires.

[Cynthia Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Hearing about how travel and where he lived influenced Mark Twain’s dietary preferences, and then recreating those recipes today, was very interesting to me. It is a bit sobering to realize that foods that were popular at the time of Mark Twain are no longer easily come by. It was also interesting to me on how Nick Offerman’s team accomplished replicating these delicacies.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The overlay of current culture as better truth for overlay on another’s culture of a time gone by diminishes both. It was hard to keep listening to opinion spoken as more of important than actual facts from an era gone by. The recitation of Mark Twain’s life from a perspective of favorite foods was lost in the conversation over dinner.

[Iwona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting to learn how people in US used to eat and Mark Twains attitude towards food.

[Chambers Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every Twain fan will love this.
Nick is a great guide!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned lots about Twain. I didn’t know Twain really didn’t consider American Indians people. I have loved his books and I have decided to read more.

[Maximillian Chow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Club. Really warmed up to it