coverspy:

Salt: A World History, Mark Kurlansky (F, 20s, coral necklace, clanky gold bracelets, pattern skirt, 6 train) http://bit.ly/9n5E8d

This book is incredible. I don’t know how Mark Kurlansky does it, but he turns the history of salt into a sprawling, enthralling epic. I couldn’t put it down. From its Amazon page:

The only rock we eat, salt has shaped civilization from the very beginning, and its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of humankind. A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt has influenced the establishment of trade routes and cities, provoked and financed wars, secured empires, and inspired revolutions. Populated by colorful characters and filled with an unending series of fascinating details, Kurlansky’s kaleidoscopic history is a supremely entertaining, multi-layered masterpiece.

It is a must read. If I ever end up teaching an Advanced World History class, I could definitely see myself using selected excerpts from this book throughout the school year with students. Most don’t understand the importance of salt and the role it has played in the survival of mankind. Like fire and agriculture, it has been key to the rise of civilization.

Unfortunately, we are now addicted to salt as a society - the average American consumes three times the daily recommended amount - which can result in high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke. So, now the wars over salt have turned to the war on salt - which I am totally cool with. Heinz, Kraft, General Mills, Sara Lee, Campbells have all vowed to cut the sodium in their staple foods by 10% or more. It’s a start - as if it were heroin, we are so addicted to salt and our taste buds are so accustomed to it, we need to gradually ween ourselves off it - but it also needs to comes with us being a little more educated on long-term effects of having too much salt in our diets and also being a little more careful with what we eat.

And yes, I am totally aware that my book recommendation and historical examination somehow turned into discussion on health. I have no idea how that happens.