Apple: A Global History

Edible

by Erika Janik

Gravenstein, Coe’s Golden Drop, Cox’s Orange Pippin: the names sound like something from Tolkien or the ingredients of a magic potion. But as befits their magical appellations, apples have transfixed and beguiled humans for thousands of years. Erika Janik explores the importance of a fruit, born in the mountains of Kazakhstan, which has became a favourite almost everywhere. Apples have played their part in starting the Trojan War, the discovery of gravity and the settling of America, and you can even use them to predict the future. Apples also make for good drinking, and Janik relates the history of cider in Europe and America. From the Garden of Eden and the wicked queen’s apple in the story of Snow White to Johnny Appleseed and the Apple computer, apples have been a universal source of sustenance, health and legend from ancient times to the present. Food and history lovers will devour this surprising history of one of the world’s most loved and prolific fruits.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Food, Food and Drink, Food History, Cooking, Microhistory

136 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 15, 2011

About the author

Erika Janik is a freelance writer and a radio producer at Wisconsin Public Radio. She is the author of Apple: A Global History, Madison: A History of a Model City, A Short History of Wisconsin, and Odd Wisconsin: Amusing, Perplexing and Unlikely Stories from Wisconsin’s Past.

Interested in nearly everything, Erika writes on local food and drink, Wisconsin history, medical history, and green living, among other things. Her work has appeared on Smithsonian.com, Mental Floss, Midwest Living, Isthmus, the Wisconsin Magazine of History, the Wisconsin State Journal, The Onion, MyMidwest, Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine, and in the book Renewing the Countryside: Wisconsin (University of Wisconsin Press, 2007). Her essays have also been featured on Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Wisconsin Life.”

Originally from Redmond, Washington, Erika now knows more about Wisconsin history than she ever thought possible. She has a BA in history from Linfield College (2002), an MA in American history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2004), and an MA in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2006).

Reviews

[Madhulika Liddle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apples are, after bananas, the most consumed fruit in the world. They are made into desserts, added to savoury dishes, drunk in the form of juice and cider and similar beverages. They are celebrated in idiom and proverb (though, as Erika Janik points out, the “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” adage was coined only in 1904 by a JT Stinson, a Missouri fruit specialist). Art depicts them, one of the world’s best tech companies was named after them.

Apple: A Global History examines this very familiar fruit, and discusses the not-so-familiar aspects of it: how it evolved, how it spread across the world, and how people have, through the ages, regarded apples. There are interesting glimpses into apples in myth and legend, popular perceptions, and folk culture. Some major apple varieties are discussed, and there are recipes (including an unusual one, a traditional Mexican apple omelette, which I intend to try out one of these days). There are pictures depicting apples in art, sculpture, and more.

Though short, this is an interesting, entertaining book. It certainly made me look at apples with a little more respect than before.

[Zoë]

Very cute and fun (not sure whether these are the words I‘m supposed to use to describe a book as this one but I am using them) but I wish it were longer and more detailed.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edible books try to cover nearly every aspect of a food in about 100 pages. Some are more successful than others. Janik tries, but there's simply too much information about apples to get anything like decent coverage in so few pages. But it's still a fairly interesting read, and especially suited for those who aren't going to be bothered by how briefly nearly every topic is covered.

[TheManSG · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a classic example of a good book in this series. Start from the origin, the spread to other regions, and weave in historical/mythical anecdotes. The only thing missing is how modern apples are produce but that will need an extra 50 pages. Entertaining with a clear flow of direction

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apples are fascinating. Lots of “did you knows” in this book that will make you appreciate apples, the part they have played in the history of the world, and the sheer number of variety (14,000 named varieties alone in the United States, at least according to this book). Strong writing make this little book about apples a delight to read.

[Des · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐
As someone who is always curious about the history of ingredients in food or a particular dish, this book was extremely interesting and added more random fun facts to my unlimited collection. Will be reading more books in the edible series!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best installments in the Edible series so far - clear, concise, informative, and wonderfully entertaining.

[Luke Mohamed · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for those who eat an apple every day.

[Kevin Revolinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clear, concise summary of the apple, its history and place in culture, and its value as a food.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my bookclub reads. Learned a lot, didn't know my favorite Honeycrisp apple is from Minnesota! Interesting but a bit dry since it is a high level overview.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

What's a hungry writer wannabie to do? Write on spec. This is the opposite of The New Book of Apples: The Definitive Guide to Over 2,000 Varieties. Some information. Some legend. And some recipes to fill up the space between the covers.