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The Food Explorer
- The True Adventures of the Globe-Trotting Botanist Who Transformed What America Eats
- Narrated by: Daniel Stone
- Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 02-20-18
- Language: English
- Publisher: Penguin Audio
- Whispersync for Voice-ready
Regular price: $28.00
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We live in a world of seeds. From our morning toast to the cotton in our clothes, they are quite literally the stuff and staff of life, supporting diets, economies, and civilizations around the globe. Just as the search for nutmeg and the humble peppercorn drove the Age of Discovery, so did coffee beans help fuel the Enlightenment and cottonseed help spark the Industrial Revolution. And from the fall of Rome to the Arab Spring, the fate of nations continues to hinge on the seeds of a Middle Eastern grass known as wheat.
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Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was an intrepid explorer and the most famous scientist of his age. His restless life was packed with adventure and discovery, whether climbing the highest volcanoes in the world or racing through anthrax-infested Siberia. He came up with a radical vision of nature, that it was a complex and interconnected global force and did not exist for man's use alone. Ironically, his ideas have become so accepted and widespread that he has been nearly forgotten.
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4 out of 5 stars
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The United States boasts a culturally and ethnically diverse population which makes for a continually changing culinary landscape. But a young historical gastronomist named Sarah Lohman discovered that American food is united by eight flavors: black pepper, vanilla, curry powder, chili powder, soy sauce, garlic, MSG, and Sriracha. In Eight Flavors, Lohman sets out to explore how these influential ingredients made their way to the American table.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Yummy
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Cooked
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In Cooked, Michael Pollan explores the previously uncharted territory of his own kitchen. Here, he discovers the enduring power of the four classical elements - fire, water, air, and earth - to transform the stuff of nature into delicious things to eat and drink. Apprenticing himself to a succession of culinary masters, Pollan learns how to grill with fire, cook with liquid, bake bread, and ferment everything from cheese to beer. In the course of his journey, he discovers that the cook occupies a special place in the world....
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4 out of 5 stars
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A bit bland
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Publisher's Summary
The true adventures of David Fairchild, a late 19th-century food explorer who traveled the globe and introduced diverse crops like avocados, mangoes, seedless grapes - and thousands more - to the American plate
In the 19th century, American meals were about subsistence, not enjoyment. But as a new century approached, appetites broadened, and David Fairchild, a young botanist with an insatiable lust to explore and experience the world, set out in search of foods that would enrich the American farmer and enchant the American eater.
Kale from Croatia, mangoes from India, and hops from Bavaria. Peaches from China, avocados from Chile, and pomegranates from Malta. Fairchild's finds weren't just limited to food: From Egypt he sent back a variety of cotton that revolutionized an industry, and via Japan he introduced the cherry blossom tree, forever brightening America's capital. Along the way, he was arrested, caught diseases, and bargained with island tribes. But his culinary ambition came during a formative era, and through him, America transformed into the most diverse food system ever created.
What members say
Average Customer Ratings
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gennady Gelman
- 04-15-18
Captivating
A thrilling story of a great explorer. spiced with fascinating tidbits and stories. highly recommended.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Andy
- Westport, CT, United States
- 03-27-18
what you eat probably came from someplace else
This is a great story about the efforts of a few key people that resulted in the bounty of fruits and vegetables we enjoy today. These people included scientists, travelers, politicians and strangers in faraway lands. Daniel Stone does a great job bringing it all to life.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Robert Brummett
- 02-25-18
Good book, but would like more detail.
I enjoyed the book, but would have liked more detail about Fairchild's life and education. Also wanted to hear about how what he collected was propagated, maintained, and distributed by the USDA as well as how he got farmers and consumers to adopt them.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jessica
- 08-22-18
so interesting! and such a great find!
I'm so glad I found this book! it's full of facts and anecdotes and keeps your attention to the very end. definitely recommend
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Byron
- 08-19-18
Perfectly Written - Amazing Perspective
Stone did a fantastic job putting into perspective the lifestyle, difficulties, and change that set forth after the “transportation” of the foods that we eat today. This book isn’t just about that! It’s a history lesson told as a non-fiction story. Stone makes you feel, wonder, and appreciate what it took to get the foods that we eat today into our major department stores.
Well done.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JD
- California
- 08-10-18
Fascinating true story of, arguably, our countries' best botanist. The scope of his expeditions and volume of fruits and vegetables that he brought here (despite opposition in some cases), including cherry trees in Washington DC is eye opening.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Tanya M. Spiegel
- Miami, Florida
- 07-24-18
Excellent
What an unexpected treat! Our book club chose this book and I thought it would be boring. But surprisingly it is packed full of interesting information on numerous facts. Great surprise.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Breana
- 07-18-18
AMAZING!!!!
So well researched and a facinating tale! so many interesting tidbits about an American hero you may never have heard of.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joyce D Friedenberg
- 07-12-18
Fascinating
wish my high school history teacher had read this to spice up class a bit
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Claus
- Vancouver, BC
- 06-13-18
Excellent and incredibly informative
I learned so much and it didn't even feel like learning as it was so very interesting. I love food and this really opened my eyes as to where many of the ingredients I use daily come from.