This is where I plant out about exo- and endo- cannibals (i kind eats his enemies, the other kind eats his friends), and the French Fourteenths (did a dinner guest cancel leaving you with an unlucky xiii guests? Recollect a Fourteenth!), and so much more than swell cocktail party fodder. One of the more fascinating books I recall I've ever read, backed by a convincing argument that we'd all eat each other given the take chances. This is where I found out about exo- and endo- cannibals (one kind eats his enemies, the other kind eats his friends), and the French Fourteenths (did a dinner invitee cancel leaving y'all with an unlucky 13 guests? Recall a Fourteenth!), and and then much more than smashing cocktail political party provender. I of the more fascinating books I recall I've ever read, backed by a convincing argument that we'd all eat each other given the adventure. ...more
Fascinating survey of manners, etiquette, and polite behavior from across the earth. More of an anthropological venture than a directly history. If y'all're not exceedingly interested in the query of why we do the things that we do, this probably isn't the book for you. Fascinating survey of manners, etiquette, and polite behavior from across the earth. More than of an anthropological venture than a straight history. If you're not exceedingly interested in the query of why nosotros do the things that we do, this probably isn't the book for you. ...more than
Perhaps a bit dated (kickoff published in 1991), this sweeping overview of the history of tabular array manners, beyond cultures and across fourth dimension, nevertheless retains amuse and insight. It catches your attention with an opening affiliate on the cultural rules of cannibalism in the different societies that adept it. This is followed past a chapter on how children and novitiates are socialized into correct etiquette in all cultures, and and then the basic steps of all feasting or dinner gatherings are overviewe Perhaps a bit dated (first published in 1991), this sweeping overview of the history of table manners, across cultures and across fourth dimension, nevertheless retains charm and insight. It catches your attention with an opening chapter on the cultural rules of cannibalism in the different societies that good it. This is followed by a chapter on how children and novitiates are socialized into correct etiquette in all cultures, and then the basic steps of all feasting or dinner gatherings are overviewed in turn: the invitation procedure, the presentation and serving of the meal, the appropriate way to consume it, the fashion of formally finishing the procedure and bidding the hosts cheerio. The Canadian author draws heavily on Classical and European history with a target focus on late 20th century North American dinner manners, just certainly brings in many examples and anecdotes from the About East, the Far East, Africa, and Oceania besides. She has a tendency to frequently bear witness how the etymological origin of words and terms associated with food and dining are related to archetypes, myths, and earlier traditions, and she seems fluent and knowledgable in many unlike languages past and present, and so those interested in linguistics or cultural anthropology will especially savour this book. As the postscript reveals and her very diverse collection of evidence substantiates, a driving component of so much of dining etiquette in all cultures is related to perceptions of gender office distinctions, binary duality fundamentals of belief systems, and basic fears of loneliness and decease existence assuaged past the ceremony of civilization.
You probably won't retain all the bits of knowledge hither--but you're jump to find some intriguing explanations for many things you lot take taken for granted in your ain code of etiquette or have wondered near in the behaviors of other cultures y'all have experienced. Plus, you lot'll be well armed with all kinds of small talk trivia from history and anthropology the next time you discover yourself seated across from a dining companion and struggling to come up with a conversation starter. So, Cheers...and bon appetit!
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Visser starts with cannibalism, and from there, follows the development of meals and their accoutrements, as well as the social behaviours that let us to eat together. Visser writes with both detail and touches of sense of humor, providing a very sound basis for exploring the topic further. An extensive notes & bibliography section is provided, every bit well as an alphabetize.Overall, a wonderfully detailed look at how and why we eat, in terms of folklore & human relationships.
I read the majority of this in a m
Visser starts with cannibalism, and from there, follows the evolution of meals and their accoutrements, as well as the social behaviours that allow us to eat together. Visser writes with both detail and touches of sense of humour, providing a very audio footing for exploring the topic further. An all-encompassing notes & bibliography section is provided, every bit well as an index.Overall, a wonderfully detailed look at how and why we eat, in terms of folklore & human relationships.
I read the bulk of this in a medical facility waiting room (nothing likewise serious) & it kept my attention in a distracting environs; despite the fussy grandchildren and the socially backwards guy who kept trying to engage anyone & everyone in conversation, Visser led me thru medieval feasting halls, Greek symposia and Japanese tea ceremonies with grace and wit.
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A fascinating look at an endlessly fascinating subject (to me at least!): the origins of dinner table manners. Ane thing that I found especially interesting every bit a mother is the comparison between etiquette and healthy eating. Here, Visser compared the French family table with the American: the American family unit will pressure kids to consume their vegetables "because information technology'south healthy." French children are taught to sample a petty bit of everything only because that is what is polite. It seems to be mor A fascinating await at an endlessly fascinating subject (to me at least!): the origins of dinner table manners. One thing that I found particularly interesting as a mother is the comparing between etiquette and salubrious eating. Here, Visser compared the French family table with the American: the American family will pressure kids to eat their vegetables "because information technology's healthy." French children are taught to sample a piffling bit of everything but because that is what is polite. Information technology seems to be more accessible to learn to exist polite than to learn something as vague as to "eat healthy." French kids end upward sampling a wider multifariousness of foods which in turn is a healthy way to swallow. And it all starts with table manners.There is and so much more I learned from this book I'll take to revisit this review subsequently.
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I picked this volume up at the library book sale, knowing cipher about it, and I am so glad I did. Margaret Visser, a professor at the University of Toronto, provides a delightful tour through the history of table manners, from ancient Greece to 20th-century North America. I particularly loved her meaningful reflections on culture and how we form information technology and how information technology forms us. Her style is meandering, and she seems to detect it hard to focus on one topic, only I liked her vast, wandering approach, and i I picked this volume upward at the library book sale, knowing nothing nearly it, and I am so glad I did. Margaret Visser, a professor at the University of Toronto, provides a delightful tour through the history of table manners, from ancient Hellenic republic to 20th-century N America. I especially loved her meaningful reflections on civilisation and how we form it and how it forms us. Her style is meandering, and she seems to find it difficult to focus on ane topic, just I liked her vast, wandering approach, and information technology seemed plumbing fixtures for the discipline matter. Recommended for casual history buffs and students of human culture. ...more than
There is a wonderful wealth of data here most the evolution and rationale of tabular array manners throughout history. For that I definitely recommend it. 1 particularly not bad aspect being the frequent tidbits about the parallel evolution of linguistics, and idioms in particular. Though it offers a scrap less on contemporary tabular array manners and current differences around the world than one might expect. But the book has some notable bug. I found the constant use of start person pronouns to mak
In that location is a wonderful wealth of information hither about the evolution and rationale of tabular array manners throughout history. For that I definitely recommend information technology. One particularly neat aspect being the frequent tidbits almost the parallel development of linguistics, and idioms in particular. Though it offers a scrap less on contemporary table manners and current differences around the world than 1 might expect. Only the book has some notable problems. I found the constant utilize of beginning person pronouns to make vast generalizations ("nosotros choose", "our disgust", etc.) quite alienating and kept wondering who she was talking to/about, every bit it was never clarified. Is this "we" representative of all humans? That'south fairly easily contradicted, especially within a book focusing on the unlike ways in which cultures approach food. If the "we" refers solely to Western audiences, it seems rather condescending ("we" versus "them"). And fifty-fifty that would make no sense when, over again, even in the "Western world" differences abound betwixt countries and regions and social groups.
The other issue with her writing is a penchant for repetition that makes the first and last few chapters particularly tedious. In those she introduces and concludes the themes of the book but without actually synthesizing and could have really used the assist of an editor to cut out at least fifty pages.
Finally, there is an attempt to get in seem as if this is an exhaustive look at global rituals around food just more once subjects are introduced then dropped with no caption, with paragraphs similar these serving equally placeholders: "Toothpicks, adequately successfully banished in England and America, have never been entirely rejected from the European Continent; it would be interesting to know merely who uses them today, when, and what the strictures are." Well, aye, now that you bring it upwardly, it WOULD be interesting! But immediately after that sentence she segues into other subjects leaving that ridiculous "wouldn't information technology be slap-up if someone actually looked into this" dangling in that location with no further follow-upwardly. No book can comprehend every particular and this one goes into interesting depth on a lot of topics but this kind of writing makes information technology feel incomplete despite the huge corporeality of information it DOES contain.
Information technology is still worth reading despite the stylistic flaws. It'due south just not equally enjoyable every bit it could take been. My last impression was that if a better author had taken this exact information and done a improve job of actually writing it, I could have given this book an enthusiastic v stars.
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Visser's The Rituals of Dinner is definitely one of the almost scholarly works I've read on food and eating. Information technology is, quite simply, a sweeping survey of the rules and customs that govern our behaviour at the tabular array - from why we have rituals and customs in the beginning place, the different rules that govern what we consume, when nosotros eat, how nosotros eat, with whom we consume, etc. Information technology's challenging to give a sense of how broad the scope of Visser's book is; it's all in here - from cannibalism to chopsticks, etching (t Visser's The Rituals of Dinner is definitely 1 of the well-nigh scholarly works I've read on food and eating. Information technology is, quite simply, a sweeping survey of the rules and customs that govern our behaviour at the table - from why we have rituals and customs in the beginning place, the different rules that govern what we consume, when we swallow, how we swallow, with whom we swallow, etc. It's challenging to requite a sense of how wide the scope of Visser's book is; information technology'due south all in here - from cannibalism to chopsticks, carving (that section was a bang-up bargain of fun to read) to vomiting, the dinner service to the dinner sequence.At 357 pages, information technology took me a while to make information technology through the book. The scholarly approach makes information technology heavy going in some parts merely the book is scattered with interesting nuggets that brand the journey worthwhile. Like: "for much of history, scent was idea essential to festivity (partly merely by no means entirely because crowds of people speedily odour rank), and incense and perfume were especially appreciated at dinner. Ancient Egyptian frescoes show the states dinner guests with large cones of scented fat stock-still to the tops of their heads; these were designed to melt during the feast, and drizzle deliciously down over the diners' faces and bodies" (!!)
Or: "Confusing as it seems to us at beginning sight, the words "host" and "invitee" originally mean the aforementioned thing. They both derive from Indo-European ghosts, "stranger". This is the origin of the Latin hosts, which meant "stranger" and therefore "enemy"; from information technology English derives the word "hostile"...What this single term refers to is non so much the individual people, the host and the guest, as the bond that unites them"
Or: "The phrase "pot luck" was originally used when inviting someone to a very informal family dinner, on the spur of the moment. The visitor was to wait nothing especially prepared, merely only what the family would have eaten that twenty-four hours in any case. The guest's "luck" lay in what day he or she happened to arrive and what meal had been prepared for the family. The phrase has changed its meaning with the increasing popularity of meals or parties where the guests come with contributions of nutrient: the "luck" now lies in the uncertainty near what everyone will bring"
For anyone who'due south interested in a more substantive look at the food nosotros swallow and the civilization surrounding it.
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I love cooking, and love cooking for others. This is a fascinating exploration of how and why we share food with one another. Visser digs into many of the rituals, traditions and taboos we have for granted and examines their underpinnings and development. It made me think a lot of almost why I similar sharing food with others, and how we separate people based on food choice and table manners.I besides honey gathering trivia, and this book is Excellent for that. Do you lot know the difference between meals ser
I love cooking, and love cooking for others. This is a fascinating exploration of how and why we share food with one another. Visser digs into many of the rituals, traditions and taboos we take for granted and examines their underpinnings and development. It made me call back a lot of almost why I similar sharing food with others, and how we carve up people based on nutrient choice and table manners.I also dear gathering trivia, and this book is EXCELLENT for that. Do y'all know the difference between meals served a la francaise and a la russe? Did you know that people used to keep dogs for the purpose of eating the bones and waste material food thrown on the flooring? Did y'all know that 1 civilisation used to irrevocably divorce by breaking the family cooking pots? Did you know the difference betwixt endo and ex0-cannibalism?
I'm giving this iv stars because I might take wished for a slightly stronger through line statement or conclusion, but this was fascinating and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes to cook and consume in groups, or is interested in why we practise the things nosotros take for granted at the tabular array.
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This volume was recommended to me by a friend, and it looked similar it covered an interesting topic. It does. I felt like I learned quite a bit from it. The only problem is that it was just written and then boringly, possibly academic, I don't know. I slogged through it. I wanted to learn more than, but I just had the worst time getting through information technology. It could accept used a better editor considering there were several tidbits in information technology that while interesting but increased the length of an already really long book. This book was recommended to me past a friend, and it looked like it covered an interesting topic. Information technology does. I felt like I learned quite a scrap from information technology. The only trouble is that it was merely written so boringly, maybe academic, I don't know. I slogged through information technology. I wanted to larn more, but I simply had the worst fourth dimension getting through it. It could have used a meliorate editor because there were several tidbits in it that while interesting just increased the length of an already really long book. ...more
Didn't brand it by folio 30 of this tiresome repetitive book. Didn't make it past page thirty of this deadening repetitive book. ...more
It took me a while, merely I finished! Quirky book literally near all the rituals and rules well-nigh eating in diversity of cultures at a variety of times. I institute the commentary on ritual sacrifice aforetime proficient interesting (ie biblical people seem less weird now). Little tidbits funny/interesting. Probably a lot more detailed study than the average person wants.
I read a skillful portion of this book whilst eating - either a snack subsequently in the evening or during lunchtime at work. It occasionally led to moment of internal hilarity, due to the juxtaposition of my current mannerisms and the book's text on what was non "washed." For a particular instance, I was reading a section on the evolution of napkins, and how polite society today deems an extremely soiled napkin as something rather revolting . . . while enjoying that day's work café special, a meatball sub, I read a adept portion of this book whilst eating - either a snack after in the evening or during lunchtime at work. It occasionally led to moment of internal hilarity, due to the juxtaposition of my current mannerisms and the book'southward text on what was not "washed." For a detail example, I was reading a section on the evolution of napkins, and how polite society today deems an extremely soiled napkin equally something rather revolting . . . while enjoying that day's work café special, a meatball sub, liberally coated with marinara sauce. Dabbing at the lips and perhaps the fingertips is the limit of a napkin's function, supposedly; by meal'south end, I had no less than three, spotted all over with orange-y leavings. This book was a fascinating look into table manners throughout the ages. Rather than a chronological book, Visser takes the reader through the various aspects of a repast, from invitation through taking one's go out at the end. She has an engaging writing style and a copious source list should y'all wish to read more. Her earlier book, Much Depends on Dinner, is on my to-read list equally well, and I am definitely interested in checking information technology out.
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Similar any book past Margaret Visser, this is comprehensively researched. I admire the breadth of her reading and cognition; the book covers societies ranging in time from the cannibalistic to ancient Greece to the politesse of France and the laxer modernistic day, and it ranges geographically from Red china to Inuit or Nigerian society. It'due south full of recondite and fascinating details; the amount 1 drinks in some contexts might be determined by the number of buttons on a waistcoat. Or an Elizabethan practic Like whatsoever volume by Margaret Visser, this is comprehensively researched. I adore the breadth of her reading and knowledge; the book covers societies ranging in fourth dimension from the cannibalistic to ancient Greece to the politesse of France and the laxer modernistic 24-hour interval, and it ranges geographically from Prc to Inuit or Nigerian society. It's full of recondite and fascinating details; the amount one drinks in some contexts might be adamant by the number of buttons on a waistcoat. Or an Elizabethan practical joke for afterwards dinner is described. Alternatively the reader learns nearly the origin of the word 'soppy', which is related to the word 'soup' and thus the soggy bread that is put in the bottom of the bowl.The rules virtually what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour change all the time, and indeed since this book was written I would suspect that the tendency towards informality has become much more marked. We sympathize a civilization largely through how it eats and therefore this has to be a study that is about much more than superficial patterns of eating.
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A very interesting and thorough read about table manners, and other rituals surrounding food and eating. Visser's expertise on the field of study really shines through, as she compares eating rituals across fourth dimension and locations and draws valuable insights from both what is common and what is unlike among them. There was a bunch of interesting stuff here - including information of different type of cannibalism that exist - just I was most impressed by Visser'south analysis of what nosotros see equally mundane - our ow
A very interesting and thorough read about table manners, and other rituals surrounding food and eating. Visser's expertise on the subject really shines through, as she compares eating rituals across time and locations and draws valuable insights from both what is common and what is different among them. There was a bunch of interesting stuff here - including data of different type of cannibalism that be - but I was most impressed by Visser'south analysis of what nosotros run across as mundane - our own modern habits, manners of fast-nutrient, the assumptions underlying our formulation of 'casual' among many others. I would exist very happy to encounter an updated version of this book (or related) where she shares her thought on the final decade.
I was recommended this book saying that information technology would change the manner I look at my own table and palate. Happy to say, it was highly successful.
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Visser presents a remarkably comprehensive business relationship of table manners. The research was impressive, incorporating both fourth dimension and space, from aboriginal Greece to modern Japan and everywhere and time in between. By organizing her chapters effectually a typical dinner party she was able to discuss many topics without losing sight of the overarching theme of the book.
My only criticism is that some sections were long-winded, such that examples from diverse cultures seemed virtually similar lists that connected on l Visser presents a remarkably comprehensive business relationship of table manners. The enquiry was impressive, incorporating both time and space, from aboriginal Greece to modernistic Nihon and everywhere and time in betwixt. Past organizing her chapters around a typical dinner party she was able to hash out many topics without losing sight of the overarching theme of the volume.
My only criticism is that some sections were long-winded, such that examples from various cultures seemed nigh similar lists that continued on long after she had made her bespeak, as if to demonstrate how much enquiry had been done. Additionally, a few chapters (including, unfortunately, the final chapter and postscript) concluded very abruptly without whatever strong decision.
Overall, an interesting book well-nigh what nosotros do, why we do it, and how we differ from those who came before us. ...more
I very much enjoyed Visser's previous volume, "Much Depends on Dinner". This one is like in its anecdotal delving into the minutiae of ordinary human preoccupations and behaviour. I heard Visser speak on the radio a few times, some years agone, and she was a charming and enthusiastic speaker; some of that infused the get-go book, somewhat less in this longer tome.I found this one a bit overlong and somewhat disorganized. The latter chapters in particular gave something of an impression of having b
I very much enjoyed Visser's previous book, "Much Depends on Dinner". This i is similar in its anecdotal delving into the minutiae of ordinary human preoccupations and behaviour. I heard Visser speak on the radio a few times, some years agone, and she was a mannerly and enthusiastic speaker; some of that infused the offset volume, somewhat less in this longer tome.I establish this one a scrap overlong and somewhat disorganized. The latter capacity in particular gave something of an impression of having been hurried along - possibly the publisher was getting impatient?
The volume is so packed with tidbits of historical/anthropological interest that one cannot hope to retain most of them, at to the lowest degree non without re-reading the volume, probably repeatedly. Only I do enjoy such tidbits and, overall, found the book rewarding.
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Tons and tons of interesting factoids, but overall it was a fleck drier than I expected. And I retrieve information technology would accept fabricated more sense to organize it in chronological order of history, rather than by theme. It was hard to really grasp all the facts being presented when you are jumping from the Greeks to the Victorians from Togo to Canada in the bridge of a few short paragraphs. This volume is also pretty dated in some ways, some of the ideas about gender roles and the progress society has made seem pretty
Tons and tons of interesting factoids, only overall it was a bit drier than I expected. And I think it would take fabricated more than sense to organize it in chronological social club of history, rather than by theme. It was hard to really grasp all the facts beingness presented when you are jumping from the Greeks to the Victorians from Togo to Canada in the span of a few short paragraphs. This book is also pretty dated in some means, some of the ideas about gender roles and the progress gild has made seem pretty naive. The author presents things as being pretty darn good at the time of publication. The volume was published in the early on 1990s, and near xxx years afterward I think nosotros still have a long way to get in freeing people from traditional gender roles.
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Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz … deplorable, I think I brutal asleep over again trying to write almost this book that information technology took me over a year to stop. Honestly information technology'due south total of some lovely facts and tidbits, and I recall really enjoying some sections… merely I can't retrieve a unmarried fact from the book. Not a i. It was just So dry and textbook-like. I really did go along falling comatose trying to read it, which I never practise.
It made mode too many assumptions about the reader as well being a middle-course American or European, and near the
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz … distressing, I think I fell asleep again trying to write about this volume that it took me over a year to end. Honestly it'due south full of some lovely facts and tidbits, and I recall really enjoying some sections… simply I can't remember a single fact from the book. Not a one. It was simply And then dry and textbook-like. I really did keep falling asleep trying to read it, which I never do.
It fabricated manner also many assumptions about the reader also being a middle-form American or European, and nearly the terminate, came off as super judgmental about modern fast food (not that I don't disagree, just that's not what this volume was nigh). Non certain I recommend this one to most people, unless y'all're about to host or attend a nutrient-themed trivia night.
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This is not a book nearly where the forks and spoons go (though there is some of that, too). Information technology's a grand overview of how we treat people in our lives and how the evolution of how nosotros eat at table reflects the changing view of our neighbors, friends, enemies, children, women, animals and ourselves. I highly recommend it, peculiarly if yous call up having a sit-down dinner with family and friends is simply as well difficult for your schedule. You might observe a new appreciation for manners and what they tin t This is not a book about where the forks and spoons go (though there is some of that, too). It'south a grand overview of how we treat people in our lives and how the evolution of how we swallow at table reflects the changing view of our neighbors, friends, enemies, children, women, animals and ourselves. I highly recommend it, especially if you retrieve having a sit-downward dinner with family and friends is but too difficult for your schedule. Y'all might find a new appreciation for manners and what they tin teach us about being human. ...more than
Despite being a book entirely virtually etiquette, and very specific nutrient-related etiquette at that, this book manages to exist a scintillating wander through etymology, ritual and meanings beyond a variety of areas merely slightly soiled by its predisposition to a hugely anglo-axial lens and a correspondingly noticeable amount of Orientalism when it comes to talking near people who utilise chopsticks and other related matters. (Excusable since it was originally published in '91, I suppose, but still a mi Despite existence a book entirely almost etiquette, and very specific nutrient-related etiquette at that, this book manages to exist a scintillating wander through etymology, ritual and meanings beyond a variety of areas only slightly soiled by its predisposition to a hugely anglo-centric lens and a correspondingly noticeable corporeality of Orientalism when it comes to talking about people who use chopsticks and other related matters. (Excusable since it was originally published in '91, I suppose, just still a mite disquieting) ...more
One sometimes takes for granted how central and necessary food is to our lives, and how that leads to ritualistic behavior plus linguistic and cultural connections of which we are ofttimes unaware. This detail book covers just virtually every food behavior yous can call back of, from tabular array manners around the world through history to a cursory but amazingly perceptive description of the depths of Eucharistic purpose and behavior, and similar ceremonies in some religious practices originating from a distanc I sometimes takes for granted how central and necessary food is to our lives, and how that leads to ritualistic behavior plus linguistic and cultural connections of which we are often unaware. This particular book covers just most every food behavior you can retrieve of, from tabular array manners around the earth through history to a brief simply amazingly perceptive description of the depths of Eucharistic purpose and behavior, and similar ceremonies in some religious practices originating from a distance in space and time. ...more
This is a worthy book, simply iii stars due to historic period (the book was published nearly 30 years agone). However, the history is quite readable and interesting. In that location is something hither for you if you like history, history of eating/nutrient, cultural comparisons, and even theology (the department on the importance of meals in different cultures). This is a great read if you lot find information technology in the library or second hand shop to take on a flight, or read over a lazy weekend.
I was fascinated throughout this book which I appropriately digested in seize with teeth size pieces every evening. Every page independent at least one piece of information that surprised me and the writing was engaging making dining and food a subject field that constantly interested me even as the data became more than and more in depth. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book just don't wolf it down in 1 sitting as it may give you mental indigestion!! I was fascinated throughout this volume which I appropriately digested in bite size pieces every evening. Every page contained at least one piece of information that surprised me and the writing was engaging making dining and food a discipline that constantly interested me even as the data became more and more than in depth. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book but don't wolf it down in one sitting as it may give yous mental indigestion!! ...more
An enjoyable book, except for the somewhat graphic descriptions of cannibalism and ritual sacrifice of humans at the beginning of the book. An updated edition of this book would exist welcome (not to edit that out, merely to expand how the world has changed in the by twenty years). For example, at the time of publication, the author pointed out how, in the West, mealtime shared amid families was on the reject. Trends like this would be more than interesting today, both pre-pandemic and electric current.
I wanted to like this more than I did. This was a book that I really wanted to similar. The information was interesting, I beloved food culture and nevertheless the book left me... bored. Topics were frequently redundant in various sections, writing was incredibly dry at times. I learned a lot and I liked that, just I wish the book was better written and more engaging.
I loved Visser'due south The Geometry of Dearest, and started this with high hopes. However, I bogged down near halfway through. In that location's only so much I desire to know about seating positions at table, and fifty-fifty Visser's lovely prose wasn't plenty to printing forward this time. Maybe I'll come back to this later. I loved Visser's The Geometry of Love, and started this with high hopes. However, I bogged downwardly nearly halfway through. At that place's only and then much I want to know about seating positions at table, and even Visser'southward lovely prose wasn't enough to press forrard this time. Maybe I'll come up dorsum to this later. ...more
This is a history of our eating habits, tabular array manners, social order up to the mid 1990s. Today food and eating and preparing food has been replaced with beingness clean. Perhaps this is easier to mange than being able to follow the many and complex rules of eating to be socially acceptable. I enjoyed this book. Margaret Visser writes in a informal, informative and fast paced manner.
This is an manifestly extremely meticulously well researched book. However, it is too very slow. While I did learn many interesting facts I tin can pull out at formal dinner parties, I as well roughshod comatose while reading this as it is like reading a textbook.
2022 reading challenge-a book with a theme of food or drink
This could be just me, just this was way too broad for me to enjoy. Information technology's very thoughtful and can exist a dainty read if yous're looking for something lightly theoretical and philosophical, but it was then broad and extensive I didn't feel like I actually learned annihilation. This could be just me, but this was style too broad for me to savor. It's very thoughtful and can be a nice read if y'all're looking for something lightly theoretical and philosophical, simply information technology was then broad and all-encompassing I didn't experience similar I actually learned annihilation. ...more than
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