num_pages: 216
description: From the author of Ten Restaurants That Changed America  an exploration of foods cultural importance and its crucial role throughout human historyA rich and fascinating narrative that reaches deep into the historical and cultural larder of societal experience powerfully illustrating the myriad ways that food matters as an essential condiment for humanity.Danny Meyer founder of Union Square Hospitality Group and Shake ShackWhy does food matter? Historically food has not always been considered a serious subject on par with for instance a performance art like opera or a humanities discipline like philosophy. Necessity ubiquity and repetition contribute to the apparent banality of food but these attributes dont capture foods emotional and cultural range from the quotidian to the exquisite. In this short passionate book Paul Freedman makes the case for foods vital importance stressing its crucial role in the evolution of human identity and human civilizations. Freedman presents a highly readable and illuminating account of foods unique role in our lives. It is a way to express community and celebration but it can also be divisive. This wide-ranging book is a must-read for food lovers and all those interested in how cultures and identities are formed and maintained.
language: English
title: Why Food Matters
publisher: Yale University Press