From the award-winning and bestselling author of Cod comes the dramatic, human story of a simple substance, an element almost as vital as water, that has created fortunes, provoked revolutions, directed economies and enlivened our recipes. Salt is common, easy to obtain and inexpensive. It is the stuff of kitchens and cooking. Yet trade routes were established, alliances built and empires secured - all for something that filled the oceans, bubbled up from springs, formed crusts in lake beds, and thickly veined a large ...
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From the award-winning and bestselling author of Cod comes the dramatic, human story of a simple substance, an element almost as vital as water, that has created fortunes, provoked revolutions, directed economies and enlivened our recipes. Salt is common, easy to obtain and inexpensive. It is the stuff of kitchens and cooking. Yet trade routes were established, alliances built and empires secured - all for something that filled the oceans, bubbled up from springs, formed crusts in lake beds, and thickly veined a large part of the Earth's rock fairly close to the surface. From pre-history until just a century ago - when the mysteries of salt were revealed by modern chemistry and geology - no one knew that salt was virtually everywhere. Accordingly, it was one of the most sought-after commodities in human history. Even today, salt is a major industry. Canada, Kurlansky tells us, is the world's sixth largest salt producer, with salt works in Ontario playing a major role in satisfying the Americans' insatiable demand. As he did in his highly acclaimed Cod , Mark Kurlansky once again illuminates the big picture by focusing on one seemingly modest detail. In the process, the world is revealed as never before.
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Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used textbooks may not include companion materials such as access codes, etc. May have some wear or writing/highlighting. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Fair. Item in acceptable condition including possible liquid damage. As well answers may be filled in. May be missing DVDs, CDs, Access code, etc. 100%Money-Back Guarantee! Ship within 24 hours! !
Although I was History major, my attention was never drawn to the importance of Salt on the everyday lives of the world's inhabitants, until I read this book.
I had no idea that so much of what we consider important history was influenced by the universal need for salt or salted products. and how much of that information was left out by my innumerable teachers, professors and textbooks.
If you love History, You'll love SALT.
Thomas K
Aug 22, 2013
NaCl rewites history
NaCl rewrites history. An amazing , factual account of how salt shaped the migration and development of civilization.
Havinganicknameisstupid
Feb 21, 2013
A fine, fine book. Cod, The Big Oyster, and finally this. Our histories, indeed, unfold on our bellies.
suetutt
Jun 7, 2007
Salt - highly recommended
This should be a compulsory textbook in all schools all over the planet to give us all a perspective on the interaction between politics , economics and our survival. Particularly helpful to understand how oil is today's salt. Quite apart from its informative value it is an excellent read: a lively style, well-researched, but not jargon-ridden.
