Salt

A World History

By: Mark Kurlansky

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

So much of our human body is made up of salt that we'd be dead without it. The fine balance of nature, the trade of salt as a currency of many nations and empires, the theme of a popular Shakespearean play... Salt is best selling author Mark Kurlansky's story of the only rock we eat.

From its single origin, to the other discoveries made because of it, fascinating tales of salt and the people who have been involved with it through the ages are interwoven here. Fifteen recipes are included that will meet with every taste. Mark Kurlansky has produced a kaleidoscope of history, a multi-layered masterpiece that blends economic, scientific, political, religious, and culinary records into a rich and memorable tale.

Enjoy Mark Kurlansky's books? Listen to an interview with the author on To the Best of Our Knowlege.

©2002 Mark Kurlansky (P)2002 New Millenium Audio, All Rights Reserved

Critic reviews

"A piquant blend of the historic, political, commercial, scientific and culinary, the book is sure to entertain as well as educate." (Publishers Weekly)
"Kurlansky continues to prove himself remarkably adept at taking a most unlikely candidate and telling its tale with epic grandeur." (Los Angeles Times Book Review)

Couldn't finish

The narration was one of the worst I have listened to. Such a promising book but the read reads like a 4th grader at best.

Worth it's weight in Salt.

A wonderfully engrossing book! At first I thought it was a joke. (Which is why I got it...I mean come on a 13-hour book on salt!) But I could not stop listening to it. Be warned that this is not a "background book? You need to kind of pay attention at all times, as allot can happen in a few sentences. I really enjoyed the background on cultures and foods.

Who Knew?!

This is my favourite audible book that I have and I have about 30. The reader was excellent, clear and easy to understand. I was shocked and delighted by the content. I learned so incredibly much about history and the drive of history based around a single necessary resource. Did you know that a major reason that the South struggled in the Civil War was a lack of salt resources? or that the Great Wall of China was built entirely using the taxes from iron and salt? I felt that the author gave just the right amount of time to each topic and that his shifts from topic to topic were strategically placed to keep the reader interested and aware of when and where the stories were from. I loved it!

History buff read

I enjoyed the incredible journey of salt through the ages. Think if I I had retained more from my history classes it would have been a better read.

Love it!

Anyone who likes history, strategy, world travel, or just plain wondered about the impact of salt on the world will enjoy this book. It's a wonderful sprinkling of knowledge that will appeal to anyone who likes to pull a "did you know..." out of their pocket during random conversation. I've had a great deal of fun finding ways to recall stories from this book in everyday conversations with friends and collegues to show how salt continues to shape their lives in amazing ways. (In fact I got a fake book called the History of Pepper as a gift) If you love history or technical reading this is an incredible book. To date it is my favorite and has topped my list for several years. I found the recipe section interesting, though I admit a little dry. However the wealth of other fascinating impacts of salt on world history kept me riveted. I was delighted to see the book in audio form so that I can enjoy it again during commutes. It's got everything. Stories about everyday man, ruling bodies, ancient and modern trade routes, waring factions, and usurping politicians. It honors the contributions of many cultures and beautifully illustrates the impact salt had on those civilizations. Well Done! Highly recommended.

Salt and So Much More

In an age of plug-in refrigeration, it's easy to forget just how vital salt was to the preservation of food in a pre-electricity world. Thankfully, Kurlansky explains it all. The author paints with a big brush here (history, economics, nutrition, engineering, chemistry, sociology), so if you download, prepare yourself for an epic ride through all things salt, and on every level. The recipes do get a bit tiresome, but Kurlansky always has a point, even if he seems to be going off on a tangent. In the end, he'll tell you a lot of things you didn't know, and some things you never suspected. Great structure, amazing research, excellent Scott Brick narration. I'm just waiting for the sequel on Pepper. If Kurlansky can bring life to a substance as staid as salt, just think of what he could do with something that has a little more kick to it.

A wonderful explained story across the centuries!

Well done.... linking the great stories into a historical tale of our history & food.... a multitude of times I said "Heck, is that why?".... enjoyed

What a fascinating tour de force!

I could probably listen to this the or for more times and still not get all the information packed into this spectacular tour of the globe and history of humanity through the lens of salt and salt production. Excellent content and excellent reader as well!

Very interesting history

Clear chronology. Interesting details with good segues To next historical piece. And Scott Brick is always awesome to listen to.

So much salt it made me thirsty...

Wow! I never imagined there could be so much written about salt! Which shows my ignorance of the importance it has played in our history. Overall the book was good but be prepared for many details that will demand your attention to get through...specifically the detailed recipes for salted fish and other things scattered throughout the book.