Cover of Feeding the People: The Politics of the Potato

Feeding the People: The Politics of the Potato

by Rebecca Earle

3.86(57 ratings)

Almost no one knew what a potato was in 1500. Today, they are the world's fourth most important food crop. Feeding the People traces the global journey of this popular foodstu…

Reviews

Jeff Sexton@bookanon.com

Remarkably Well Researched. This is a history likely unlike any you've ever read - a look at the changing philosophies of government as they relate to the rise and fall of the potato. This is certainly one of the more novel histories I've read, and perhaps because of the author being aware of such novelty and the criticism it can often engender, is also the singular most well documented book I've ever read - literally 42% of the edition I read was bibliography and index. (More normal in my experience is closer to 25-30% even on the more complete side.) Certainly a very interesting approach, filled with various bits of history I had not known and/ or considered in such detail. Very much recommended.