Extra Virginity

The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil

By: Tom Mueller

Narrated by: Peter Ganim

Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

For millennia, fresh olive oil has been a necessity - for food, medicine, beauty, and religion. Today's researchers continue to confirm the remarkable, life-giving properties of true extra-virgin, and "extra-virgin Italian" has become the highest standard of quality. But what if this symbol of purity has become deeply corrupt?

Starting with an explosive article in The New Yorker, Tom Mueller has become the world's expert on olive oil and olive oil fraud - a story of globalization, deception, and crime from ancient times to the present, and a powerful indictment of today's lax protections against fake and even toxic food products in the United States. Extra Virginity is an inspiring account of the people who are defending the extraordinary oils that truly deserve the name "extra-virgin".

©2012 Tom Mueller (P)2011 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Quite an Eye Opener

I have often wondered what "Extra Virgin" meant. Like the word "unique" which means one of a kind and therefore there can be no degrees of uniqueness how can there be degrees of virginity. One is either a virgin or a non virgin.

This reading, or in my case this listening, has answered more questions than I would have ever have thought could be asked. I will definitely have to listen to this book many more times taking notes as I go before I feel even a little confident in tasting or buying any olive (or other oil for that matter) regardless of where, or how it is produced, bottled, advertised, or marketed. Quite a though provoking work.

Excelente

I have always had an interest in olive oil. My family for many generations farmed olives in Palestine. I've tasted excellent extra virgin oil, and lampante oil. But I never really understood the history, the marketplace, and the details in which the author goes into. I highly recommend this read, if you have any interest at all in olive oil, which you should :).

Wow! Who knew?!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Who knoew there was so much politicking going on in the world of olive oil? While I may not go out and start drinking shot glasses full to measure quality, I definitely want to try different flavors on the higher end stuff. Maybe hit an olive-oil bar in CA... Great listen!

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the apparent curiosity of the main character and how this was inflected by the narrator.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

The bit on food law both domestically and internationally.

An absolutely wonderful book :)

The mind blowing truth about the world of Olive Oil and beyond. Absolutely wonderful, a book that I will always treasure. I am grateful for the information found in this book... it opened my eyes and changed my life.

Interesting and informative - get the word out!

A little dry for the average reader, I found this book very enjoyable and informative unfortunately, a lot of the story is a bit disturbing in terms of the state of the olive oil industry. A must read for the serious foodie, though. I learned a lot about olive oil, it's quality, it's history, and the industry. Hopefully more will read it resulting in improved olive oil quality everywhere.
Excellent narration as well.

Great story; not so great narrator

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, with the caveat that the narrator reads rather slowly (not terrible), but his impersonation of the voices was TERRIBLE. I was cringing by the end of the book and just wanted him to quit trying. Just read!!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Extra Virginity?

The story of the olive oil industry! Fraud in the industry goes back to the Romans. But what surprised me most is that Mark Twain actually commented on it in his book, Life on the Mississippi!!

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Let me count the ways!! I enjoy the flexibility of Audible but it is the RARE reader who adds to a book being read. More often, it is readers like the one narrating this book, that totally detract from the reading experience. The narrator had such a fake, sappy voice for most of the characters he impersonated. It would have been FAR better if he had just read the book straight without trying to make individual characters voices.

If you could give Extra Virginity a new subtitle, what would it be?

Food Fraud from Roman to Modern times

Any additional comments?

How does Audible choose its narrators? Seriously, I think I could do a better job than many of the ones I've heard.

Like School

What did you like best about Extra Virginity? What did you like least?

I got a lot of knowledge from this book and the narrator was great, but I wasn't really enertained. It was like a college course on olive oil.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I know that the author switched subjects and places, but it seemed like the same story over and over.

Which character – as performed by Peter Ganim – was your favorite?

He did a great job with all characters. One of my favorite narrators

Was Extra Virginity worth the listening time?

It was interesting. I learned a few things. I never sat in my garage at home, because I couldn't turn off the book though

olive or fake

Gives an overview of the olive industry and how it has become mix of those who love the olive and those who love money more than quality. You will want to research any olive oil source before you buy. Much needs to be done to clean up the industry and get the true product to consumers.

Great story; ok performance

The title certainly leads one to know what to expect, & the story itself was fantastic.

Through the 1st 1/2 of the book especially, however, the reader's performance of various accents and personalities felt very forced.

What are we buying?

Every oil user should read about the complicated world of olive oil. Be a better consumer.