Consider the Fork

A History of How We Cook and Eat

By: Bee Wilson

Narrated by: Alison Larkin

Length: 11 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Since prehistory, humans have braved the business ends of knives, scrapers, and mashers, all in the name of creating something delicious - or at least edible. In Consider the Fork, award-winning food writer and historian Bee Wilson traces the ancient lineage of our modern culinary tools, revealing the startling history of objects we often take for granted. Charting the evolution of technologies from the knife and fork to the gas range and the sous-vide cooker, Wilson offers unprecedented insights into how we've prepared and consumed food over the centuries - and how those basic acts have changed our societies, our diets, and our very selves.

©2012 Bee Wilson (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Wilson is erudite and whip-smart, but she always grounds her exploration of technological change in the perspective of the eternal harried cook - she's been one - struggling to put a meal on the table. This is mouthwatering history: broad in scope, rich in detail, stuffed with savory food for thought." ( Publishers Weekly)

Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Ea

If you could sum up Consider the Fork in three words, what would they be?

Little known facts

What did you like best about this story?

The depth of the information

Did Alison Larkin do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Her accent was 'cute' but not what I would have expected from a book that delved into the history of the subject matter.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was slightly annoyed by having to try to figure out the different meanings that are different between british and american. Words have different meanings and connotations, and sometimes I was taken aback by being unfamiliar with the differences...

Any additional comments?

I liked the info, but just slightly less due to the way it was presented.

European-centric

There are some interesting historical facts about cooking methods and utensils. I found the writing style to be dull. Also, the content is European-centric. The author shouldn't have bother with the few sections on Asian and Middle Eastern cultures. It is so sparse, it shows an incomplete and inaccurate picture.

One of my favorite books

What did you love best about Consider the Fork?

I listened to this book a while ago, but I still find myself repeating anecdotes and explaining things I learned. It kicked off a real interest in food history, and is a fun and enjoyable read. I've recommended it to friends who have enjoyed it as well. One of my favorite books ever. The narration is alright, not particularly memorable but sometimes that's a good thing--less grating than Larkin's narration of Wilson's next book.

Like being stuck next to a blowhard on a plane

I had high hopes for this book - I have enjoyed many others in the same genre. I won't discuss the narrator - her shortcomings are discussed by other reviewers - but will just say that I may have been less irritated with the book if it had a different narrator.

The author takes a dogmatic tone and it is clear that if you do not agree with her opinions, you are simply wrong. Is a food processor the best thing since sliced bread? Not really, and no, you can not make quenelles in 10 minutes with a food processor as the shaping and poaching are the real time consuming steps and the last time I checked, my food processor does not help with that at all. What cook considers 8" to be the ideal length for tongs? One who likes to burn his or her fingers - tongs are ideal for getting you away from the heat! A seasoned cast iron pan does not lose its seasoning and force you to start over from scratch. Why would anyone want flank steak with the texture of a mousse? yuck! You get the idea.

Every ten minutes or so I wanted to yell at the book "wrong wrong wrong." But it did have some interesting history of the evolution of cooking buried in the foolishness. I just wish it had been more fun. Will someone please write that book for me?

If you want a better listen that covers a similar topic but in a different manner, try the Great Courses Food: A Cultural History, available on Audible.

A story of evolution

Very much enjoyed this listen. Not so much a story, but rather a collection of stories, each talking about the evolution of utensils and practices that help us eat. The fork, yes, but also the knife - and how it was used and evolved in different cultures, and shaped the way people ate. The spoon, which had its own evolution in terms of design, and of use. Just the fact that these utensils came along at different times in our history, and followed different paths in different cultures is interesting in itself. Fire, ovens, stoves, pots, and pans. Chop sticks? They're covered here too.

The book is full of interesting facts - like the impact of fuel on the culture of eating. For example the abundance of trees in ancient Britain allowing large fires for roasting meats on a spit (and the various ways that evolved for those spits to be turned), as opposed to the lack of fuel in China that led to cutting up food into small pieces that could be cooked up quickly using the least possible amount of scarce fuel. And thus how knives were used in Chinese kitchens to cut the food before it was cooked, but not at the table, as was common practice in Britain.

One of the most interesting chapters for me was about food preservation, from salting, to the harvesting and then commercial production of ice, and then mechanical refrigeration, and how it utterly changed our way of life - affecting not only our ability to grab a cool drink from the fridge, but to preserve food, ship it, and allow us to have shop, cook, and live so differently from before.

The book is chock-a-block with interesting and obscure facts and details. Anyone who enjoys cooking, or eating, is likely to find this book interesting, because it tells how many of our accepted cultural norms for cooking and eating came about.

If you would enjoy knowing about cultural roots, and why you use the tools and utensils you do, you'll love this book. It flows smoothly from topic to topic. The narration is easy on the ears, and pleasant to listen to.

Consider the fork - the next time you sit down to enjoy a meal.

Eleven and a half hours well spent.

Alison Larkin creates a powerful interest

Would you listen to Consider the Fork again? Why?

I was surprised by what a powerful interest in this subject the narrator Alison Larkin was able to create. I had never thought I would be so interested in forks or other ways we eat before! Alison Larkin brought a clarity and engaging tone to this information that made me want to hear every word!

I believe I would like to hear this book again, and will certainly suggest that my friends listen to it. It is a rare example of sharing facts in a way that the talented narrator makes you eager to hear.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I think my favorite part of the story was discussing breakfast, and how all the different ways of preparing coffee had changed over the years. Once again, Alison Larkin delivered this information in a way that gave it wit and life and made me smile as I learned.

What does Alison Larkin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Alison Larkin brings a tone of excitement to even the smallest facts so that I found myself eagerly listening for more. She also brings a voice that is both melodic and clear, and she is able to strike a variety of notes that keeps one interested in the writing.

Most of all Alison Larkin seems to be enjoying the book and the information she shares so that I as a listener was also caught up in her enthusiasm for the subject.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were several places that I laughed out loud. I never cried, but was almost always smiling at the wit with which the narrator read.

Any additional comments?

To me, this information packed book was enhanced by having a narrator in Alison Larkin who could bring it alive in a most enjoyable way.

Great content, poor editing

This book has some awesome stuff in it. I learned so much about the history of cooking equipment, which is oddly interesting to me. But the book is not edited very well. The author is a bit repetitive, and there seems to be no structure or flow whatsoever.

Who should read this? Anyone who enjoys cooking, learning about cooking, or odd facets of history.

Absolutely fascinating

This is my favorite audio book so far, hands down nothing else is close. Firstly what could be a dull subject is made absolutely fascinating and the author provides surprising insight into the cultural and philosophical perspectives embedded into the most mundane of kitchen items. And secondly, the author should take a career narrating audio books. She is a joy to listen to, well paced with no irritating verbal tics, and a very good range of accents that brings even more life to a cracking good story. Loved every second of it.

Took a bit to get hook

But it has a lot of interesting historical tidbits that are fun to relate to friends and family.

Interesting

The book is interesting, but I would suggest reading it instead of listening to it. The narrator's natrual voice is nice and very listenable, but she does various accents when quoting people from France, USA, etc. They aren't particularly good accents, and it is really a distraction from the listening experience.