The Compleat Squash

by Amy Goldman, Victor Schrager (Photographer)

Part gardening book, part "encounters with remarkable vegetables," Amy Goldman's The Compleat Squash unearths the personalities—yes, personalities—of the pumpkin and the squash. They are members in good standing in the horticultural hall of fame, and Goldman lovingly ponders their case histories and culinary merits both with common and uncommon varieties. She gets glorious help from award-winning photographer Victor Schrager, who brings out their eclectic beauty in more than 150 luminous color portraits. Growing, harvesting, and seed-saving instructions are included for the gardener, and for the cook a selection of recipes that show off the unique, lovely flavors of these versatile vegetables.

Genres: Gardening, Food, Nonfiction, Plants, Cooking, Cookbooks

216 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2004

Reviews

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Compleat Squash is certainly a beautiful book, with richly colored photographs of carefully lit and arranged fruits. Beyond that, it serves as little more than a very, very basic overview of the cultivated varieties of squashes and Goldman's assessment of them. This was useful to me in picking out storage squashes to grow for our CSA next year, but beyond that the book had little information of value. I had hoped, for instance, that Goldman might discuss some environmental history - the wild ancestors of squashes, how and where they were domesticated and by whom and for what purposes; how the varieties fit into the cuisines it was a part of, how it was an essential subsistence post for Native Americans. Oh well.

[Kai Metcalfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the photography and the catalog nature of the book, but wish it was more... Methodical. I wish I could have seen the insides of each squash, the seeds of squash, a key to the different colors and tastes and fiberousness and so much more. It was ok for gaining familiarity with squash but very superficial.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures and an excellent resource for gardeners who love the squash family. The photographs in this are all works of art.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Squash, my squash, you can forget it. I am not hand pollinating you. Just be normal and take what you can get from the bees.


Gorgeous pictures of every kind of squash I've ever seen and some I need never see again. Cheese pumpkin, you are a cruel trick:
I urge you to grow the Cheese Pumpkin for its sheer long-lasting loveliness...Use it as a paperweight, a doorstop, or even a soup container. But whatever you do, don't eat it. Cheese Pumpkins are strictly bottom of the barrel, unsavory and coarse.

And Curcurbita Pepo, crookneck:
long, narrow necks, slightly to the very curved, depending on the angle of the dangle on the plant; broad at the blossom end. Yellow varieties predominate and become intensely orange, lignified, and warty when mature. Well.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful book with lyrical writing and gorgeous photographs which I urge everyone to read. Run to your library and find a copy. The first part covers a bit about growing squash. The second includes the squash families with gorgeous photos. The last a few recipes. That said I don't think it is good enough to be part of your gardening library. A pretty book without enough systematic information. For example she neglects to provide "days to maturity" making it impossible for a gardener to understand if they can grow it in their climate. The result is you will need to jot down the varieties that maybe of interest to you and later study other resources. But I am glad my library had it for me to read!

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one! I found my pumpkin in here and other pumpkins and squashes I want to try. Has recipes at the end of the book. The photos are just wonderful- makes one want to grow everything and try them all! Or even frame!

[jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really intensely about squash - delicata, buttercups, zucchini, pumpkins, acorn, decorative, every kind of squash you've ever heard of and many you haven't. I like squash a lot. I'm growing seven or so varieties of it this year. But my enthusiasm pales in the shadow of Amy Goldman's squash fanaticism. I like it when people who are passionate about things they love. I learned a lot from this book, and identified one of the mystery squash in my garden... I think. Several of the recipes look good, although I wished for more vegetarian main courses. But you know, I didn't check this book out for the recipes, so the "rustic zucchini crust pizza" was bonus enough for me. This is would be a good read for someone who appreciates beautiful food photography and has an interest in the mind-boggling variety of food we take for granted.

Chapters include:
How to grow squash
Harvesting squash
Pollinating squash
Saving seeds
Squash family portraits with lush squash from all corners of the globe
Seed sources (10 pages!)
Squash advocacy groups

[Joni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanting to find recipes for the wonderful squash dishes I've eaten in Europe and the South Pacific, I found this beautiful book!
And learned of heirloom squashes from all over the globe.
In our country, we just buy them to let them rot on the porch in the hopes of decoration.
But people!! You are MISSING OUT ON YUMMY STUFF HERE!!
Trader Joe's sells great ones, such as Marina de Chioggia (Italy-green and bumply);Buttercup (flavor of roasted chestnuts in green or red), Hubbard (red, blue or green); Musquee de Provence (French, deep orange, fleshsoft orange outside, "addictive as chocolate"); Triamble (blue/celadon, wonderful taste), Kabocha

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful and informative book by Goldman. This one includes recipes. I was going to give it 4 stars because I wasn't as fascinated by this as her melon book, but then I decided I couldn't let my prejudiced palate take away a star. I will try a couple of these squashes next year. I don't know where I will find the space, I may have to do some guerrilla gardening, but I must take a chance to grow Winter Luxury Pumpkin. Anyone who likes to garden should make this and her melon book must reads.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the most beautifully done gardening/food books out there. Great information (of course, it is a little subjective based on the author's preferences) on tons of squashes plus a nice little recipe section in the back with the best chow chow recipe I've tasted. A wonderful gift book for a gardener or a foodie.

[Stephani Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

If anyone can make the boring squash look scrumptious, it's Amy Goldman. There was so much about squash I never knew. This book was eye-opening to the number of squashes out there, the ones I'd miscategorized, and the squash I'd someday like to plant.

[Sherry Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am ridiculously taken by Goldman's series of beautiful books on heirloom vegetables--so much so that, even though I don't particularly like squash and grow very little of it, I had to buy this book.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have gone 'squash' crazy. Beautiful book showcasing squash and pumpkins that are more than just yellow crookneck or round and orange. Great 'plant porn' for those of us who can spend hours looking through a seed catalog.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love gardening books, so this one fit right in. It showed me a bunch of squash varieties I now want to try in my own garden. I wish it had given more ideas about what to do with the squash; perhaps a recipe or two, but overall I really liked it.

[Khristiey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Total food porno! This book is amazing . . . from the very delicious photos to the historical information of each species. Hubba Hubba!

[M. H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to know all about the different varieties there are of squash this is the book to get.

[Tarn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pumpkin porn. Really fanatical detail, amazing photographs, and excellent information about the natural history of squashes.