Crunch: An Ode to Crisps

by Natalie Whittle

We are a nation of crisp obsessives. Squashed into sandwiches on our lunch breaks and torn-open as centrepieces on pub tables, we buy tens of millions of packets every single day. But how did the humble potato snack become a national dish?

CRUNCH: AN ODE TO CRISPS is journalist Natalie Whittle's love letter to the salty siren. She traces their evolution from the simplicity of salt sachets in the early 20th century, to 80s childhood favourites such as Hula Hoops, to the popularity of 'hand-cooked' gourmet flavours today.

Along the way, Natalie will get to the heart of her own lifelong passion for crisps - exploring why they are bound up in ideas of childhood, nostalgia and comfort. Featuring crisp collectors, potato growers, flavour wizards and more, CRUNCH is a moreish read spanning 150 years of crisp history.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

288 pages, Hardcover

Published October 10, 2024

Reviews

[Jenn Morgans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I LOVED this. And also ate so many crisps while reading it.

[Jacob Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't sure what to expect from this, it was a joke Christmas gift, but genuinely a really great social history of crisps. Thought a lot of it was fantastic and learnt some great stuff (heat your crisps in the oven people!). I now want to eat a million, mostly Japanese, crisps.

[Poppy Sookunah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely enjoyable and nerdy history of, and ode to, the humble crisp. Must be read with a steady supply of crisps, of course.

[Farah Mendlesohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly academic sounding book for one with a popular market. At times I wondered why.

But overall I loved it. I did regret that I no longer eat crisps in quantity (type 2 diabetes) because really what one needs with this book is for it to start with a list of recommended crisps to purchase and then munch on while you read.

I have now learned the following:
The history of crisps is surprisingly gendered.
There is a crisp festival in Dublin and my basset hound would be welcome.
Why I don't like US potato chips and to avoid 'kettle chips' at all costs.
Walkers reign supreme for me and the right colour for cheese and onion is blue!!!
That my joy in Prawn Cocktail crisps is one shared by many.

And that from now on, every where I go I will taste the local flavours.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Ode to Crisps is journalist Natalie Whittle’s love letter to crisps.

My best friend bought us both a copy of this book as we love crisps, and this book didn’t disappoint. Filled with nougats of information, as well as the history of crisps, makes this a 4 star read for me.

I found the reference to the Crisp Packet Project making blankets for the homeless from empty crisp packets interesting. I also like the fact that the book cover actually resembled a crisp packet, with indentations along the top and bottom of the book mimicking seals.

If you love crisps and don’t mind a very personal style of writing, then this one is definitely for you!

[Igo Lubczański · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how to tell you this with a straight face... but this book about crisps truly met my 5 star requirements.

As a (shameful) crisps addict it couldn't have been a better read. The UK is truly a crisp wonderland. You can find so many flavors in the corner shops all around the country.

The book has a structured narration, very interesting stories from the author and her relation with crisp eating and presents the reader with a well fact-checked book giving the overall look on how crisps came to be and what they are now.

[my.bookshelf.87 · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lifelong crisp addict, I couldn't resist this book when I saw it in my local book shop. At over 200 pages long, I wondered just how much could be written about the humble crisp. It was actually a fascinating delve into its history; its integration into pop culture, changes throughout time etc.

I highly recommend this read if you're a crisp coineusseur yourself!

[Maureen Myant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I once went for over a year without eating crisps. I lost weight. The pandemic put an end to that with me munching on what Natalie Whittle calls 'misery crisps.' These are 'unwise quantities of whatever is there'. And Tesco Express was near enough to allow me to buy packets and packets of crisps to alleviate the misery of that time.

When I was a child, my mother went through various phases of cooking things. She wasn't a great cook by her own admission but two things stand out from that time. Freshly made doughnuts which fortunately, shop bought doughnuts cannot compete with . Otherwise I'd be struggling to get through my front door. The other thing was crisps. They were amazing. She had some sort of slicer to cut the potatoes really thin. I don't remember what they were fried in but this was the sixties so I suspect it was lard. I've never tasted crisps like them. They were sublime.

This book is also sublime. The history of crisp-making and our relationship with this ubiquitous snack is outlined in detail and it is fascinating. I'm old enough to remember the little blue packet in Smith's crisps and the outcry that happened when they changed from the twist to a sealed little packet of salt. I also remember favouring the ready salted kind as my childish hands never managed to distribute the salt evenly.

One of my favourite parts of the book is where Natalie looks at crisps around the world, especially when they're used in other recipes. I desperately want that recipe of Adria's for a crisp omelette starter. The description of it as shortcut to 'a light Spanish tortilla' immediately won me over.

This book is a must for all crisp lovers. The research done is impressing and revealing. Who would have thought there was so much history behind the simple potato snack?

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's rare for me to pick up a non fiction book so they have to really grab my interest. I was in from the beginning with this. so much great history and fun facts. I will say structurally it was a bit all over the place but I got past that. bonus points for committing the aesthetic with the foil like end papers

[Alan Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like crisps this book covers everything you ever wondered and more. It's relatable and easy to follow, but doesn't shy away from getting into the nuts and bolts of the production, politics and farming. So depending on where you interests (beyond eating crisps) lie, this book has a chapter or four for you. Made me hungry.

[Joakim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly informative and interesting throughout about all things crisps. If you enjoy this style of biography, in that it is quite personal in its portrayal of a subject, you’ll have a blast with this one - I did.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating study of crisps. It looks at the history, business, and personal preference aspects of these essential snacks. The author’s favourite flavour is Prawn Cocktail! Despite this shocking lack of discernment, this is a great read. If you love crisps, you will love this book!

[Lee Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining and informative book on the greatest food. Incorporating personal history with the development and business of crisps, the author provides great balance a la Tyrell’s Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar crisps.

[stephanie]

gestopt na 90 pagina’s want het was echt ontzettend saai en miste een overkoepelend narratief waardoor alles een heel hoog “boeiend!”-karakter had. tip voor mezelf: misschien niet meer impulsief een boek kopen omdat je van chips houdt 😋

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fun crisp facts but lacked narrative for me

[Alistair Leadbetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining insight into the wonderful world of crisps. Also features a fair few quotes from a former colleague, which was a nice surprise.

[Rebecca Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this made me crave crisps a LOT.

[Diana Clough · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me wanting to lick my fingers with every turn of the page.

Crunch delves into the history of the crisp and why these crunchy slices of heaven have such a chokehold on us. From the potato’s beginnings in Latin America as the cradle of the Solnaceae nightshade family, to their introduction to the UK when they were first seen as subsistence rather than enjoyment, we get to know all the obstacles that have faced crisp production and how our changing society has provided the boom for on-the-go snacks like crisps.

I found this book so fascinating, such as how unique flavours are created to coat these slices of heaven, marking a significant step for the humble potato. Crisps are more than a salty treat; national identity is represented in our crisp of choice, whether that’s cheese and onion or pickled fish (which perhaps might be the only crisp flavour I don’t want to try).

This book is expertly researched, which is good news if like me you love imparting random knowledge to others. Case in point… self-service grocery stores brought about opportunities for brands to compete and be recognised on the shelves. And, there’s no doubt why crisps are paired with alcohol in supermarkets (my usual Friday night Co-op run).

Crunch’s author, Whittle, is a journalist which is exactly why this book is as moreish as a sharing bag of Doritos. Being able to communicate non-fiction in an accessible way is a huge tick and so don’t pass this book up if you’re not a non-fiction reader — it doesn’t matter when it’s crisps.

Thank you to the publisher for the proof. Warning that when you read this, you will need to turn the pages with one hand as the other will be coated with grease or salted dust from eating crisps at the same time x