Ebook Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner

Ebook Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner

The factor of lots of people selects this Spice: The History Of A Temptation, By Jack Turner as the reference exposes due to the demands in this day. We have some certain methods exactly how guides exist. Beginning with the words selections, attached topic, and also easy-carried language style, how the writer makes this Spice: The History Of A Temptation, By Jack Turner is really straightforward. But, it showcases the businesslike that could affect you less complicated.

Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner

Ebook Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner

Be one of the fortunate people that obtain the book from a well-known author now. Please welcome Spice: The History Of A Temptation, By Jack Turner Yeah, this is a type of popular publication to be best seller as well as updated now. When you have take care of this sort of topic, you should get it as your resource. This is not just a publication that you require, yet also a book that is so fascinating.

As known, we are the most effective publication site that always detail lots of points of publications from various nations. Naturally, you could locate and also appreciate browsing the title by search from the nation and other countries worldwide. It suggests that you can take into consideration numerous things while locate the intriguing publication to check out. Related to the Spice: The History Of A Temptation, By Jack Turner that we overcome now, we are not doubt any more. Lots of people have actually verified it; confirm that this book offers excellent influences for you.

Guide is a book that can help you finding the reality in doing this life. Moreover, the suggested Spice: The History Of A Temptation, By Jack Turner is likewise composed by the expert author. Every word that is offered will not burden you to think roughly. The means you like reading might be started by another book. Yet, the method you have to read publication repeatedly can be begun with this preferred book. As recommendation this book likewise serves a much better idea of how to draw in individuals to check out.

Many individuals might have various need to review some books. For this publication is additionally being that so. You might find that your factors are different with others. Some could read this book for their deadline tasks. Some will certainly read it to boost the understanding. So, what kind of reason of you to read this amazing Spice: The History Of A Temptation, By Jack Turner It will certainly rely on how you gaze and also think of it. Simply get this publication currently and also be one of the impressive viewers of this book.

From The New Yorker

Turner arranges his history of spices thematically, in a series of lively essays on their role in different aspects of human endeavor, such as exploration (Columbus was looking for cinnamon when he discovered America) and love (a fifteenth-century tract prescribes an ointment of honey and ginger for "Increasing the Dimension of Small Members and Making Them Splendid"). Turner's sedulous research is manifest on every page, as he follows spices across cultures and eras, with allusions that range from St. Augustine to the Spice Girls. The book's unlikely hero is the peppercorn, which has linked East and West since the time of the Romans and which typifies the way that spices, although no longer the luxury items they once were, have become quietly ubiquitous. Cinnamon and nutmeg are rumored to be the key to "capitalism's most closely guarded secret," the formula for Coca-Cola. Copyright © 2005 The New Yorker

Read more

Review

“Spice is an erudite and engaging account of how foodstuffs can change the flow of history.” – New York Times Book Review "Jack Turner handles his subject with discernment and confidence, his style appropriately brisk and animated. . . . Impressive and reassuring is his combination of sympathetic understanding and tough-minded rationalism. Although he never condescends to the past, neither does he ever blur the line that separates fascinating lore from the objective truths of science." – Los Angeles Times “A nifty grab bag of a book. Entertaining and informative.” –San Jose Mercury News “A hugely enjoyable book, written with erudition, style and wit.” –New Scientist“Spice is deliciously rich in odors, savors, and stories. Jack Turner quickens history with almost bardic magic, pouring his personality into his narrative without sacrifice of scholarship.” –Felipe Fernandez-Armesto"Based on research that is broad and deep, Turner succeeds remarkably well in capturing the evanescent attractions of spice." –Orlando Sentinel “Stimulating. . . . Spice is stuffed with memorable details. . . .Turner writes with pace and intelligence.” –New Statesman“Jack Turner possesses the two ingredients most essential for the great historian–scholarly detachment allied to a passionate obsession with his subject. He also writes uncommonly well. A splendid book.” –Philip Ziegler“Turner’s banquet É is, as he admits, a ramble, but it is a fascinating one — urbane, anecdotal and easily digestible.” –Scotsman“Sumptuous...Turner quotes well and widely from literature, and has a flair for anecdote.” –The Guardian“Turner brings serious scholarship to bear on his subject, quoting from all manner of obscure texts in ancient languages. But his gentle, ironic wit makes him a light-hearted companion. . . . The book shimmers with life, with real people springing from every page, some of them millennia old. . . . Turner’s enthusiasm carries it all forward with terrific momentum.” –The Tablet“A fascinating and scholarly book that can help you improve both your cooking and your sex life. An excellent piece of work.” –Peter Mayle

Read more

See all Editorial Reviews

Product details

Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Vintage; unknown edition (August 9, 2005)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0375707050

ISBN-13: 978-0375707056

Product Dimensions:

5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches

Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review:

4.1 out of 5 stars

66 customer reviews

Amazon Best Sellers Rank:

#670,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Biggest problem is the organization - I can't say I really understand it, most chapters had some unifying theme like religious use, sexuality, etc, but the way the chapters fit together is very disjointed. There are huge time jumps back and forth across continents. I learned a few interesting tidbits, but I couldn't stay interested. Sometimes it was so dense it seemed that any piece of information acquired was stuffed in no matter how useless it was to the story. If you super love spices go for it, if you want a nice microhistory this isn't it. Doesn't read well.

Spice is a well researched and well written book of how spice affected the world through the ages covering fact, myth, legend, religion, politics, trade discovery, eating habits and more. Although the book is easy to read and understand, it also challenged me as I learned new things and prompted me to further research some subject matter that caught my attention. This is the type of work that I enjoy. Packed with useful information and history. I will try working with aromatics, perfumes, and the making of incense with the information from this book. I recommend this book to readers that are interested in spice and how spice shaped the world. This book will certainly take its place in the reference section of my library.

This is not the fastest easiest read, but it is fascinating and informative. It has some very interesting recipes too...I titled this review the way I did because I constantly come up with little facts remembered from this book constantly in the grocery store, watching TV, talking with friends, seeing anything to do with food or history.It's not all inclusive, but it is a big topic and what is there is definitely enlightening. Another reviewer mentioned that the book contained errors...I don't know if this is true, but the highlights of what I picked up appear to be true.It's also a fascinating look at how foods spread throughout the world. For instance I did not know that the potato, tomato, and pepper were all New World foods...that right, no Irish potatoes, Italian tomatoes, or Asian peppers before the 13th century! And did you know that for most of human history nutmeg and cloves came from 2 little islands to be traded across all of Asia, Africa and Europe?The book also does a good job of treating non-culinary roles including in religion, medicine, and social displays. It has led me to try burning cinnamon and I am strongly considering asking that cinnamon be burned at my funeral both for the historical significance, the tribute to immortality (the phoenix's nest), and for the lovely scent.The social aspect of spices and the psychological importance and significance is explored in detail. They are important because for so long they were of the unknown and exotic and this book treats that very well.And hey, it is because of this book that I just had to go find some galengal (turns out that I could not find a single store in Tucson that had it -- though I still need to try the Asian markets -- but that's what the internet is for, right?)I'd definitely recommend for the amateur food historian.

I found this book very enjoyable to read, with a wealth of information and a liberal sprinkling of humor. Turner provides insightful information on the historical value of spices and their many applications, dividing his monograph into thematic sections. My only complaint is with the somewhat shoddy physical construction of the book...it split down the middle after one reading and is separating from the spine, and I've noticed that my classmates are having the same issue. This, of course, does not reflect on the content of the book, but it is something I feel buyers should be aware of. I'll edit this later with a photo of the book and a link to my upcoming, much more thorough, review on WordPress.

This book starts with the exciting stories of Columbus and Vasco da Gama and their far-flung voyages to find the Indies. Of course, now we understand that Columbus gravely underestimated the westerly distance to Asia and instead bumped into the unknown (to Europeans) continent of America. Probably Columbus's main motivation was to discover the source of Eastern spices. Whoever controlled this trade could earn a huge fortune because Europeans paid astronomical values for them. Vast fortunes were to be made by anyone who could cut out the Arabs and Venetians - the classic middle-men of the spice trade to Europe.The book starts from this point and proceeds to try and answer the question: why were spices so incredibly valuable to Europeans? Aside from their rarity, beautiful smells and taste, there was something other-worldly about them, something exotic and unobtainable. The book is a very comprehensive analysis of this question and does very well at answering it. Along the way, there is a potted guide to Middle Age Europe, eating habits and hygiene, sexual mores, feasts, trade, and lots more beside.While I enjoyed the first half of the book immensely, I found it tough going by the middle. I loved the chapters on explorations and the fight for control of the spice islands themselves, but found myself wanting more. However, the book is well-written and well-researched, and is a joy to read.

This book contains a tremendous amount of interesting information...but I think it's poorly organized and thus repetitive. The author riffs on this or that aspect of his subject, and his trajectory pulls him to tell the same story over and over again in slightly different words. I think the book could have been much tighter and stronger. (I prefer Kurlansky's history of salt and the book about the history of the world in six drinks.) But Spice does contain a tremendous amount of interesting information.

Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner PDF
Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner EPub
Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner Doc
Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner iBooks
Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner rtf
Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner Mobipocket
Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner Kindle

Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner PDF

Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner PDF

Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner PDF

Spice: The History of a Temptation, by Jack Turner PDF