The History of Sugar

by Kelley Deetz

Call it dextrose, fructose, maltose, or sucrose. Have it powdered or granulated, by the teaspoon or cube, dark brown or light brown, refined or raw. Taste it in a thick slice of birthday cake, a palmful of chocolate candies, or a snifter of dark rum.

Whatever the form, whatever the treat - sugar drives us wild like nothing else. It’s lingered on our tongues for millennia and found its way into almost every household in the world.

Alas, the history of sugar is far from sweet. Long before it was linked to America’s obesity epidemic, sugar was fueling the dark forces of exploitation, colonization, conquest, and slavery. More than just candy and cake, sugar has drastically altered the diets, cultures, and economies of the modern world. How can we love sugar while having a healthy relationship with its bittersweet history?

From the earliest cultivation of sugarcane in Asia, to the brutal conditions on colonial sugar plantations, to the multibillion-dollar industry that dominates our grocery aisles today, The History of Sugar offers you a host of surprising insights into human nature. As historian Kelley Fanto Deetz reveals in her fascinating Audible Original, our relationship to this commodity showcases its incredible capacity to lure, to addict, to transform humans to bow to its sweetness at almost all costs - and still bring us together in moments of undeniably delicious joy and celebration.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Food, Historical

Audible Audio

Published October 14, 2021

Reviews

[Lubna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Very interesting audiobook and possible aid in kicking a sugar habit. The history of sugar production in the world is closely tied to the most brutal and horrific slavery of African peoples in the Caribbean. It’s a very disturbing history. Then, of course, there are the negative effects of sugar consumption on your health (funnily enough, at the precise moment that the audiobook narrator mentioned sticky rice with mango, I was eating a bowl of sweet, creamy, coconutty, sticky rice with a pile of mango chunks on top, I felt a little guilty like a naughty child sneaking candy from the cupboard) and the author goes into some detail about them. There was a lot of information I already knew (who doesn’t know that sugar can cause diabetes? The information is practically everywhere!) but I also learned new things about the history of what is possibly humanity’s number one addiction.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sugar is one of the most important crops currently harvested in the world. Not only is it in just about every modern food, cultivating it was a major motivator for the settlement of the western hemisphere by Europeans. Sugar is one of those commodities for which demand seems to increase the more that is produced. Often called “white gold”, the desire to cultivate sugar “justified” Europeans greatly expanding the slave trade from Africa. The process of turning the cane into sugar was brutal and dangerous contributing to the very high mortality rate of slaves in the Caribbean islands.

This book covers it all, including the production of rum—another product of the sugarcane. The lectures are short, to the point, and interesting, bringing are obsession with this highly addictive substance right up to the present day where the author touches upon the health problems that accompany our overconsumption of this product.

If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 3 out of 5]

The history of sugar was definitely interesting and the professor has a bright and engaging voice. My complaint was the seemingly endless complaints about the slave trade being closely associated with sugar plantations. While I appreciated her mentioning it, it got to be a little too much after mentioning it, moving on, mentioning it again, moving on and mentioning it again. She also seemed to be anti-capitalism because she mentions capitalism in a negative light several times. She has such a bright voice that her harping doesn't seem so harsh as it might with someone else lecturing.

I might listen to this audiobook again some day but not soon.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost spit my tea out a few times with the parallels with sugar and tea - the Wedgewood background blew my mind. On some level, I was aware of this info but did I make the connections with this info...nope. Even the Hawaii sugar info, yup, was aware but lacked full acknowledgment of it. %#^( me.

The health portions always make me just want to lie down and cry....

I wasn't expecting her comparison of the tobacco and sugar industries but at least I had a glimmer of hope - like one grain of sand on a beach...but it's a cheap sliver of optimism.

I'm going to go lie down and cry now

[ConfusedMagpie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has no business being this good. I came here for a history of sugar, left with a super detailed and deep dive account of colonial economics, the evils of slavery and the connection between exploitation, imperialism, slavery and capitalism. 10/10, definite the best of these small courses books

[Elsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short history which is horrible. Good reason to avoid for better health. Probably leads to more death than smoking but just ignored.

[Julian · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you want to learn about sugar, this is not your book. But if you love to read about slavery, and get reminded every two paragraphs that there is no worse slavery than the one perpetrated by white people you will LOVE IT.
My favorite part is when the author says that African enslavers where the second best people in the whole book (right behind the African slaves). Apparently when two African tribes fought POWs were enslaved but in a very cool way and they were super happy and could even end up as prominent figures in their new society. If any of that is true I weep for Africa considering the unbelievable regress in their attitudes towards POWs (just 25 years ago hutus exterminated captured civilian Tutsis in the gruesomest ways).
As a non American, it’s just tiring to witness the self-centered, biased, emotional way in which American liberals and conservatives try to push their agenda at every opportunity. I picked a book about sugar. I understand there should be a chapter about slavery. But I don’t want to be tricked with a whole book about it. Specially one full of inaccuracies disguised as a historical or scientific work, and that forgets to provide enough facts about sugar.

[Liana Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

What an absolute joke of a lecture series disguised as history. This is an anti-capitalist diatribe that centers around implied intent for actions taken hundreds of years ago without bothering to reference primary source documents that completely refute many of the declared intentions given by this farce of a “historian.” I cannot believe how badly this was written. I truly hope people listen and identify all the fallacies and flat-out falsehoods.

[Sean Klingler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not at all what I expected. More like a history of slavery in the Carribean. Horrible, I agree. But I was set for sugar information.

[erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m not sure this counts as a book, but it’s on goodreads so im counting it.

Single sentence summary: “here are all the possible ways sugar is evil, so maybe just eat dark chocolate instead, okay?”

[Hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bitter history of sugar ought to cause deeper reflection on the excruciating pain and suffering mankind has and continues to endure because of this sweet addiction. It has a twisted back story on one of the most craved substances on the planet. The most abhorrent forms of slavery were built and funded by the near universal demand for it. Sugar plantations across the Caribbean, Louisiana and South America were long the source of some of the very worst examples of human cruelty and depravity.

It's hard to even come to grips with the apparent contradiction of a substance that is often seen as benign and the cause of so much pleasure having such a dark cruel shadow just out of sight. From slavery to diabetes it continues to wreck lives slowly and almost imperceptibly.

[Alfia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an informative history of sugar, mostly in the European/Western sphere, but also touching on its use in cultures around the world. The sugar industry's development alongside the institutionalized abuse of human beings, especially Africans, is chronicled in some detail. It is important that we know this history. The author also talks about sugar in rituals around the world, and the eventual creep of sugar into virtually all processed foods, and thus its deleterious impact on our health. I enjoyed the information and hope that it galvanizes me to eat less sugar!

[Gregory Eakins · Rating 2 out of 5]

The History of Sugar is a quick look at the history, production, and consumption of sugar throughout human history.

The history is brief and not particularly revealing if you're even vaguely familiar with history and nutrition. Sugar causes diabetes and drove some of the events in the New World. Nothing surprising here.

The author did seem to have a strange fixation on the role of slavery in sugar production. The number of times it was brought up made the whole lecture feel like it was pushing an agenda rather than information.

[Cristiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

As usual, authors struggle to write popular science that is neither too academic nor too mundane. The first section about the history of sugar is excellent and the quotations from historical sources extremely interesting. Then the lectures become rather banal and mediocre. It is as the author addressed two different audiences with different backgrounds in the same series of lectures. The first part deserves 5 stars, the second a generous 2.

[Shani · Rating 4 out of 5]

ngl this book made me really sad but it’s something i think everyone should read. i went into this thinking it would just talk about plants and stuff not actually racism and the brutality of white people towards poc. i would love to know and learn more of the struggles we (white people) created for poc.

[Xerxia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable ten-part series about the history of sugar. Heavy on the impact that sugar had on slavery (and that slavery had on sugar production), which was fascinating, and light on the current impact of sugar on health, particularly for the impoverished, which is unfortunate. But still an interesting listen/

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is sad to learn how much of a role sugar plantations (more so than tobacco plantations) played in creating the slavery trade. About half of the book is about sugar cultivation, slavery, and trade. There are some interesting historical facts about sugar, like the advancement of dinnerware and utensils to showcase and handle sugar.

[Yelena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - unlikely through that is going to make me give up my sneakers or mars bars...

But the historical aspect was utterly fascinating...

Sugar is white, but really should be red - as it is awash with the blood of many slaves...

Some depravity described is disturbing and robed of the faith in humanity...

Some passages were of no interest to me...

Overall a fantastic read!

[Niniane · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Great Course so far. It explains the history of sugar production, which used crueler slavery than cotton and other products.

It also discussed how sugar was addictive, and Europeans used sugar-holding ceramics as a status symbol. One ceramic maker Wedgewood created a line of "free-labor sugar" to make abolition a positive status symbol.

[Gemington · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW: slavery, colonization, abuse, suffering, torture, death

These very digestible lectures on the history of sugar are interesting and grim. If you are looking for a moral reason to abstain or restrict your sugar consumption, this may help. Sugar production has been inhumane and unethical and has remained so. It’s so hard to kick the habit but talks like this are a good reminder.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a random subject but I couldn’t stop listening ! The list of things I learned is embarrassing long ! Amazing how something as simple as sugar truly impacted the entire world ! The author did a fantastic job writing and reading this for audible. Who knew that sugar’s history was anything but sweet??!?

[RA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great Courses lectures on the History of Sugar, with a major focus on the relationship between the rise of sugar cane production and slavery. More details about some of the historical development and use of sugar products, and the impact sugar plays on our health.

[Jody · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very little to do with sugar and a bunch of preaching (preaching, not educating) about slavery, white supremacy, and racism.
The writer should have been honest about the title, she was not.
If you want a book about sugar, this is not it.

[Pascale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating… but the vocal fry is really distracting!

[Connitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super interesting and informative

[Arthur Ratliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent summary, I've never heard it put so well. How can anyone add surgar to their food after reading this? I loved the historical perspective

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, good coverage.
Mostly replicates " Sweetness and Power" but has some nice coverage of recipe development.

[Mathew Benham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 4hr long audio book, this was a well studied project that told the more realistic side of where our food comes from in the past and should make one self think of where our food comes from now.

[Rebee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very interesting and at many times depressing as you would expect by the topic. It was well researched and I find no fault in it but it was kinda boring at times and slow.

[Asami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great audiobook! Very informative. Really shows you how deeply the history of sugar is entrenched in slavery and racism.