Cod

A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World

De: Mark Kurlansky

Narrado por: Richard M. Davidson

“A charming fish tale and a pretty gift for your favorite seafood cook or fishing monomaniac. But in the last analysis, it’s a bitter ecological fable for our time.”—Los Angeles Times

An unexpected, energetic look at world history via the humble cod fish from the bestselling author of Salt and The Basque History of the World

Cod is the biography of a single species of fish, but it may as well be a world history with this humble fish as its recurring main character. Cod, it turns out, is the reason Europeans set sail across the Atlantic, and it is the only reason they could. What did the Vikings eat in icy Greenland and on the five expeditions to America recorded in the Icelandic sagas? Cod, frozen and dried in the frosty air, then broken into pieces and eaten like hardtack. What was the staple of the medieval diet? Cod again, sold salted by the Basques, an enigmatic people with a mysterious, unlimited supply of cod. As we make our way through the centuries of cod history, we also find a delicious legacy of recipes, and the tragic story of environmental failure, of depleted fishing stocks where once their numbers were legendary. In this lovely, thoughtful history, Mark Kurlansky ponders the question: Is the fish that changed the world forever changed by the world’s folly?

“Every once in a while a writer of particular skill takes a fresh, seemingly improbable idea and turns out a book of pure delight. Such is the case of Mark Kurlansky and the codfish."—David McCullough

©1997 Mark Kurlansky (P)2001 Recorded Books

Brilliant

Excellent book with so many fun facts. Not just about cod, but the shaping of the American and their early (as well as modern) politics. Would recommend to almost anyone.

So much fascinating History

I love this book. every time I listen, I hear something new. The recipes make it fun!

Cod...who knew?!

Very interesting history. Great short read. I skipped the last three chapters because they were all recipes for salt cod dishes.

Not Enough Cod

Wish there were more historical references than recipes for Cod. That said, the way the recipes were written was fun. I enjoyed this book.

Skip the last few chapters

I really enjoyed this except all the recipes (probably better in the written version). I was set to give this audio book 4 starts until I got to the last few chapters. They seem to be entirely recipes. Left me feeling like the book didn't really conclude and I honestly started skipping ahead until I was at the end.