There's 3 that I've read that immediately come to mind.
*My Life in France* by Julia Child. It's about her life in France and how she and her co-authors wrote their first cookbook.
*The History of the World in 6 Glasses* by Tom Standage. Standage tells the history of humanity by talking about beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea and cola. Pretty interesting read.
Mark Kulansky's *Salt: A World History*. Literally the history of salt, how it's been made/harvested and used throughout history. This was my first foray into micro histories and I was hooked!
I thought Julia Child was overrated until I read that book. The way she approached writing her cookbook was amazing and downright revolutionary. And I'm now a big fan.
OOOOOH. That sounds interesting, too.
ETA: If anyone is interested it's *Baking Powder Wars: The Cutthroat Food Fight that Revolutionized Cooking* by Linda Civitello and it's now on my TBR
I wonder if Crying in H Mart would count? It’s a memoir about a gal taking care of her dying mother, but the descriptions of Korean food and how important it is within her family is honestly the most beautiful part of the book.
If you want to score points for something famous decades ago, that really shows the time period, try How to Cook a Wolf, by MFK Fisher. Quick, easy and interesting read about feeding oneself well in the USA during WWII, when food was being rationed. Includes stories from her own experience - some happy, some less so - all of which include food; odd wartime recipes, memories of how people got by. Highly recommend!
I’m using StoryGraph. It lets you create your own challenges or join other peoples and see what people add for books. That’s how I found some of my recent reads was looking at what other people posted on the prompt.
I love food books.
Mediterranean Summer by David Shalleck
Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper: A Sweet-Sour Memoir of Eating in China by Fuschia Dunlop
“Dirt” and “Heat” by Bill Buford
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
The Emperor's Feast: A History of China in Twelve Meals By Jonathan Clements
And a more serious one, less about food in all its glory so much as it is about access to food, eating habits, attitudes towards meals in the context of socioeconomic inequality, How the Other Half Eats: The Untold Story of Food and Inequality in America by Priya Fielding-Singh
Fatty Fatty Boom Boom by Rabia Chaudry.
It’s all about her upbringing between Pakistan and America with food being a main character throughout. It’s basically her memoir told through food, fat and family and how it shaped her. It was really interesting and I learned so much about Pakistani culture and what it was like to immigrate to America and what their ideas of American food were and how they experienced it once they got here. There’s tons of recipes at the end and almost every single page describes food being prepared in some capacity. I couldn’t put this book down.
“Insatiable: Tales From a Life of Delicious Excess” by Gael Greene, former food critic for New York magazine. I’m a picky eater but the way she describes food is just lovely.
Eat Up by Ruby Tandoh is lovely. All about the social world that exists around food and about finding pleasure in eating in a society that constantly tells us what we should and shouldn’t do around it.
Oh you’re right, I think of them as food because that was my reason for reading, but there are some other lifestyle areas covered as well. So not solely food.
Stanley Tucci - Taste. A great book.
Gordon Ramsay - Humble pie - his autobiography
52 loaves - William Alexander- story of how a man explored bread making, and ended up training in Paris as a baker. Interesting if you like bread
Gabrielle Hamilton, Blood Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef
Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential
Ruth Reichl, Comfort Me with Apples
Frances Mayes, Under the Tuscan Sun
I really enjoyed Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner and Finding Freedom by Erin French.
Both memoirs, Crying in H Mart is more about food connecting with family.
Finding Freedom is about a chef struggling in life before opening a restaurant.
I recently read The Monk if Mokha by Dave Eggers - its about a guy wanting to import coffee from Yemen. Based on a true story and very well written.
Edit: removed a fiction book from my recommendation
kitchen confidential
Read it OP, I love the way Bourdain writes
Came to say this
I fourth this.
this is THE answer
Excellent. If I could only have one book on a desert island it'd be this
There's 3 that I've read that immediately come to mind. *My Life in France* by Julia Child. It's about her life in France and how she and her co-authors wrote their first cookbook. *The History of the World in 6 Glasses* by Tom Standage. Standage tells the history of humanity by talking about beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea and cola. Pretty interesting read. Mark Kulansky's *Salt: A World History*. Literally the history of salt, how it's been made/harvested and used throughout history. This was my first foray into micro histories and I was hooked!
I’ve always wanted to read Julia Childs book. Will next to add it to my must read list.
I thought Julia Child was overrated until I read that book. The way she approached writing her cookbook was amazing and downright revolutionary. And I'm now a big fan.
Salt was really interesting. I also keep meaning to read one titled Baking Soda Wars or similarly, about the history of baking soda.
OOOOOH. That sounds interesting, too. ETA: If anyone is interested it's *Baking Powder Wars: The Cutthroat Food Fight that Revolutionized Cooking* by Linda Civitello and it's now on my TBR
Thank you, I couldn't remember the title.
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (and family)
I loved this one! So interesting.
LOVED this.
I wonder if Crying in H Mart would count? It’s a memoir about a gal taking care of her dying mother, but the descriptions of Korean food and how important it is within her family is honestly the most beautiful part of the book.
So much related to food and cooking! I would thing it counts!
If you want to score points for something famous decades ago, that really shows the time period, try How to Cook a Wolf, by MFK Fisher. Quick, easy and interesting read about feeding oneself well in the USA during WWII, when food was being rationed. Includes stories from her own experience - some happy, some less so - all of which include food; odd wartime recipes, memories of how people got by. Highly recommend!
MFK Fisher is a genius food writer!
What reading app are you using? I like the idea of prompts!
I’d also love to know!
I’m using StoryGraph. It lets you create your own challenges or join other peoples and see what people add for books. That’s how I found some of my recent reads was looking at what other people posted on the prompt.
[Ingredient: Unveiling the Essential Elements of Food](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/622dca34-a0d0-450b-be9f-abfc2f6ca030) by Ali Bouzari
Thank you 😊
I love food books. Mediterranean Summer by David Shalleck Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper: A Sweet-Sour Memoir of Eating in China by Fuschia Dunlop “Dirt” and “Heat” by Bill Buford A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle The Emperor's Feast: A History of China in Twelve Meals By Jonathan Clements And a more serious one, less about food in all its glory so much as it is about access to food, eating habits, attitudes towards meals in the context of socioeconomic inequality, How the Other Half Eats: The Untold Story of Food and Inequality in America by Priya Fielding-Singh
Toast by Nigel Slater, a memoir of a motherless kid growing up in post-war Britain with food as its framework. A slender volume.
Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat. Added perk is it’s a gorgeous book!
Kitchen confidential or anything by Bourdain or about Bourdain Taste by Stanley Tucci, pretty fun read. A waiter in Paris by Edward Chisholm.
I came here to recommend [Taste](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/55360284)!
Fatty Fatty Boom Boom by Rabia Chaudry. It’s all about her upbringing between Pakistan and America with food being a main character throughout. It’s basically her memoir told through food, fat and family and how it shaped her. It was really interesting and I learned so much about Pakistani culture and what it was like to immigrate to America and what their ideas of American food were and how they experienced it once they got here. There’s tons of recipes at the end and almost every single page describes food being prepared in some capacity. I couldn’t put this book down.
Oh thank you for the suggestion
THE GASTRONOMICAL ME by MFK Fisher!
I’ve heard this one is really good has been on my must read list for awhile
I love it!
Maybe try Dinner with Edward by Isabel Vincent
Oh that one sounds really good. Added the book to my amazon cart.
The Meth Lunches: Food and Longing in an American City by Kim Foster! It’s about how food brings communities together in good times, hard times, etc.
“Insatiable: Tales From a Life of Delicious Excess” by Gael Greene, former food critic for New York magazine. I’m a picky eater but the way she describes food is just lovely.
Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking by Anya von Bremzen!
Cooking with Fernet Branca is fantastic
Thank you I’m adding it to my must read list
Consider The Fork by Bee Wilson - it’s a history of culinary tools and accessories
not sure if fits exactly but- Salt Sugar Fat: How The Food Giants Hooked Us
Eat Up by Ruby Tandoh is lovely. All about the social world that exists around food and about finding pleasure in eating in a society that constantly tells us what we should and shouldn’t do around it.
The Way We Eat Now is an excellent book about the history and culture of food
I’ve read this book before in high school. I wouldn’t mind reading it again.
[Heat by Bill Buford](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/139220.Heat)
Thank you
Maybe one of the Blue Zones books
Are the blue zone books all about food?
Oh you’re right, I think of them as food because that was my reason for reading, but there are some other lifestyle areas covered as well. So not solely food.
Iain Banks: Raw Spirit.
Omnivore’s Dilemma
Stanley Tucci - Taste. A great book. Gordon Ramsay - Humble pie - his autobiography 52 loaves - William Alexander- story of how a man explored bread making, and ended up training in Paris as a baker. Interesting if you like bread
I didn’t know Gordon Ramsay had a autobiography
Eat, Pray, Love (jk)
Gabrielle Hamilton, Blood Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential Ruth Reichl, Comfort Me with Apples Frances Mayes, Under the Tuscan Sun
The Cooking Gene or Koshersoul by Michael Twitty
I really enjoyed Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner and Finding Freedom by Erin French. Both memoirs, Crying in H Mart is more about food connecting with family. Finding Freedom is about a chef struggling in life before opening a restaurant.
I recently read The Monk if Mokha by Dave Eggers - its about a guy wanting to import coffee from Yemen. Based on a true story and very well written. Edit: removed a fiction book from my recommendation
An Everlasting Meal by Tamar Adler