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)

Well Salted

"Salt" is the kind of history I wanted from "Catching Fire"; an anecdotal recounting of the uses and abuses of salt across history and around the world: its use a money, political fodder, tax-base and the cause and excuse for riot and revolution. I had no idea how varied the types of salt mining and the many different kinds of salt there were and are.

good breadth

An excellent overview, with global scope. The book gives enough detail to excite your interest and imagination, while allowing plenty of room for reading in greater depth. For example, folks interested in American salt trade before Europeans might want to read Ian Brown's study of prehistoric Indian salt production in prehistory, while folks intrigued by the economics of salt in the ancien regime may want to look more broadly at the role of physiocrats or Thomas McStay Adams' Bureaucrats and Beggars, and finally folks intrigued by the role of government management of economics in 16th-18th century China may want to read Pierre-Etienne Will's study Bureaucracy and Famine in 18th Century China. Or you could try the same author's book on cod.

The book itself strikes the right balance of detail vs. generality for an audiobook, and is well read by the narrator.

Recommended.

An unexpected pleasure

What made the experience of listening to Salt the most enjoyable?

Mark Kurlansky has given us a wonderful history a most common and important condiment complete with surprising facts, cases of intrigue, and ancient and modern recipes. I listen to audiobooks on my commute and found myself impatient for the day to be over so I could get to the next chapter.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Salt?

The picture of the heat and damp and darker than night dark inside a salt mine will stay with me for a long time. Our family refers to work as going to the salt mines but my job is a walk in the park compared to the real ones.

Have you listened to any of Scott Brick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I look for Scott Brick's performances. He always reads in a clear and interesting voice and gets most foreign words correctly...except maybe French: but which of us doesn't have imperfections?

Any additional comments?

The title may seem a bit dry, but this is a wonderful adventure.

One of the few books I keep recommending...

One of the few books I keep recommending to friends who are interested in world history. I thank my friend who recommended it to me.

I had same inital reaction when I suggest this book: how can salt be interesting? it is!

Great Book

I loved everything about this book. The information was incredible. I found myself repeatedly rewinding to take notes here and there, and that doesn't even include the recipes. This reading would've suffered with any other narrator. His voice and inflection is perfectly suited for this read.

Not as fascinating as hoped, loved the narrator!

This book was OK. It's a great idea to explore the role of salt in history, because it is an essential commodity that is now so cheap that we have forgotten how vital and central it was. But the book doesn't fully live up to its promise. The narrator has a great style.

Interesting look at History

This is a good book in small doses. Not the most engaging story line but it gives a fascinating and different view of many events in history. People who enjoy history and/or cooking would find the book interesting. Recipes from different eras and countries are given as well as how it was mined or created by different groups.

Salt- It's Not Dull At All

I read the author's book on Cod and found it fascinating. This book is no different.

desultory dream read

This book is so well written and informative that I listened to it twice in a row. I especially loved the historic recipes scattered throughout. The depth Kurlansky achieves in historical reference and record is lovingly offset by mounds of trivia, personal accounts, and anecdotes. I would need to listen to it a dozen times before I could devise - what would undoubtedly be petty complaints. Brick's narrating skill is highlighted by the spectrum of emotion he can draw from such a seemingly sterile subject. This compliment is owed just as much to the Kurlansky's treatment of the subject as Brick's narrating, but to detract from either for the skill of the other would be a crime. This is a perfect match, and I anticipate listening to Kurlansky's other books with the same engrossing effect.

Fascinating

What did you love best about Salt?

I learned so much. As a chef instructor I am lecturing about salt all the time.
I had not realized that so much history was hinged on salt.

What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?

He did a great job - very easy to listen too.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No it is no long - I listened to it while I was cooking and working around the house.