The Food Programme: 13 Foods that Shape Our World: How Our Hunger has Changed the Past, Present and Future

by Alex Renton, Sheila Dillon (Foreword)

Vital stories for hungry minds.In the first official book from BBC Radio 4's hit series The Food Programme, award-winning writer Alex Renton tells the stories of 13 key staples such as spice, oil, cocoa, bread and tomatoes, exploring their history, evolution and how our ever-growing hunger for them continues to alter our world. Look at food in a new light - as a weapon, an art form, a tool of revolution, but also a bringer of pure happiness.Discover a kaleidoscope of fascinating facts and curiosities, including the forgotten joys of lard, the secret to perfect chips and how our love of pepper led to piracy.

Genres: Food, Nonfiction

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Sougeitu · Rating 4 out of 5]

優秀的飲食史書籍很多，但是我願意稱該本具有「偉大」的特質。
本書我共花費5小時讀完，沒有感覺自己有一分鐘是浪費的。

與從學者角度出發的飲食史研究書籍不同，本書作者Alex Renton乃是一名記者兼broadcaster，他創作本書的原因應該是來源於其曾深度參與過的The Food Programme電視節目。由於其記者的身份，本書真正側重的並非食物的歷史，而是其在我們現代社會生活中的位置以及產業並不常被提起的那一面。
以科普研究為主的飲食史書籍可能會告訴你麵包是如何被製作的，葡萄酒又是如何完成了從貴族到大家都喝得起的演變過程，但是本書不僅簡單提到了這些，而且還說了一些從古就存在的飲食問題現今被轉換成了什麼形式。如果你認為曾經英國人以為白麵包比黑麵包更好就往其中摻入明礬很蠢，那麼現今為了讓雞產出更多肉而改造其品種使它們幾乎無法活動也並沒有好到哪裡去。正是這種犀利且明確的文筆，如同手術刀一般剖開了社會飲食中的癥結——我們餐盤中的每一種食物都有變成今天這般模樣的原因。
在Renton的編撰書寫中，這些內容總是帶有自省與思考，讓我們知其然還要知其所以然。古話說民以食為天，飲食史從來都不只是顧著餐盤裡的美味而忘記其背後的社會背景與源流，而本書清晰地提醒了我們這一點。

（以上內容並不代表鄙認可所有作者敘述的觀點，僅為讚同其寫作態度）

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

In some ways very interesting although certainly not read all in one go. For others, extremely worrying, not only for how we are reducing the planet, but also ourselves. I admit that I would have gladly done without some of the information....

Per certi versi molto interessante anche se certo non si legge tutto d'un fiato. Per altri, estremamente preoccupante, non solo per come stiamo riducendo il pianeta, ma anche noi stessi. Ammetto che avrei fatto volentieri a meno di alcune informazioni....

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

[L A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy The Food Programme on Radio 4 so knew that this book would be engaging and informative. It focuses on 13 different foods e.g. Salt, Bread etc and goes into the history of these foods, their cultural impact and their importance to human civilisation. A book of this kind could end up being quite dull to those not strictly interested in food or history but I really think even non-foodies would enjoy having a read through this book. The historical detail is informative without being turgid and the length of the chapters is ideal. I'm a fast reader and got through the entire book in a few hours so it works well to dip in and out of as well. Would be a nice gift for anyone interested in food or history.

I also couldn't help but read it in my head in the voice of Sheila Dillon which really only added to the experience!

[Ellen Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, and at times challenging, insight into our foods. The tone is varied as the chapters tackle different ingredients- at times it reads like a history, at times a call to arms. Some of those calls may change the way you see those foods from a health, climate change, animal welfare or fair trade perspective. I know I’ll never look at a loaf of sliced white bread in the same way again. It may not have enough detail/debate/nuance or offer enough solutions for its critics but it’s a useful jumping off point for those interested in food and its effect on health, and how consumption and consumerism affects the world around us. If nothing else, an easy read and filled with interesting snippety facts so a good book even for someone not looking for the heavy life-changing messages stuff. Now I’m off to buy some artisanal sourdough and a Chocolonely bar…

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an informative and well written book that made me learn more about something fundamental as food.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look at some of the world's most influential foodstuffs, including bread, salt, soy and cocoa. A great companion to BBC Radio 4's The Food Programme, showing how something we might take for granted is at the centre of various complex systems.

[Jeneva Izorion · Rating 4 out of 5]

ไม่ได้ออกมาอย่างที่คิดเท่าไหร่ ออกแนวพูดถึงผลกระทบปัจจุบันเยอะ ส่วนใหญ่ก็คือปัญหา climate change การปล่อยคาร์บอน หรือปัญหาการผลิตสินค้าที่ไม่ดี เช่น ใช้ยาปฏิชีวนะ ใช้แรงงานเด็ก มีสารพิษ อะไรพวกนั้น ไม่ได้ออกแนวประวัติศาสตร์มาก หลายบทมีสูตรอาหารด้วย แต่นี่ไม่เข้าครัวเลยไม่ได้สนใจ

[Mrs Karen Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book well written
Full of very interesting information
Well worth reading very surprising how good this book is

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating read, and really well written.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

[Lara Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aninteresting look at 13 foods their history use and impacts.

[Daniel Sáenz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molt interessant. No és el que esperava i es concentra massa al Regne Unit, però s'apren molt.

[Yunling · Rating 5 out of 5]

BBC food program 關鍵1979年開始，至今還在播新的food 專輯。