Who would have thought it? A book about salt? What? Yes. A book about the history of salt titled, guess this…Salt: a world history, proves quite an interesting read.
Even to this day, we all need salt to survive. Well, think about a time when it was also used as currency much like spices on the Silk Road. So, is it grabbing you yet? Don’t worry. Salt was used as a preservative especially for meats and fish which could spoil on long journeys. When the Pope decided Catholics could only eat fish on Holy days and Friday, well, salt was there to save the day.
In the book, Kurlansky even quotes de Gaulle who said, “nobody can easily bring together a nation that has 265 kinds of cheese.” Isn’t that the truth. Who wants to deal with stinky cheese? Or who has the stinkiest cheese? Eek.
Before modern refrigeration, nations depended on salt and it continues to reveal its major economic impact throughout history. Other experimenters learned to use salt and its derivatives for new inventions and expanding into new industries. In this book, Kurlansky provides history and cultural antidotes as well as recipes.
Librarian a la mode 