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Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World
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Categories Seafood   Aquaculture   Fish & Sharks   Fisheries & Aquaculture   Marine Life   History of Technology   General   Hardcover   Printed Books  

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Description
A history of the fish this has led to wars, stirred revolutions, sustained economies and diets, and helped in the settlement of North America features photographs, drawings, and recipes, as well as the natural history of this much sought afterwards fish."
You probably enjoy eating codfish, but reading concerning them? Mark Kurlansky has written a fabulous book--well worth your time--concerning a fish this probably has mattered extra in human history than any other. The cod helped inspire the discovery and exploration of North America. It had a profound impact upon the economic development of New England and eastern Canada from the earliest times. Today, however, overfishing is a constant threat. Kurlansky sprinkles his well-written and occasionally humorous history together with interesting asides on the possible origin of the word codpiece and dozens of fish recipes. Sometimes a book on an offbeat or neglected subject really makes the grade. This is one of them.

Customer Reviews
Customer rating is 5 of 5  An insightful view of Cod's role in human history   2010-03-08
By JOSE FERREIRA PINTO (Macau)
Another astonishing achievement by Mark Kurlansky: after "Salt" I became addicted to foodwriting and engaged on this compelling way of seeing the world through the eyes of food. This book shares an interesting view of the role codfish played in our lives from its role as food to its prescription as a medicine and its role for the dispute settlement on fishing grounds and the role of maritime law.
Customer rating is 5 of 5  Got this for my son in law   2010-02-26
By S. Fox (Tukwila, WA)
This was a birthday present. The second by this author that my son in law has read. He really enjoys the author, his knowledge and style of writing.
Customer rating is 1 of 5  This fish just isn't enough   2010-02-05
By C. Callahan
I didn't like this book at all. It was sooo boring. It would have made an interesting magazine article. But a full length book? Umm, no.
Customer rating is 4 of 5  Fine, intriguing history, but getting a bit dated   2010-01-05
By Dennis Waters (Mercer County, NJ)
History is all about contingencies. So it is not unusual for a historian to argue backwards and make a reasonable claim that "X was crucial and changed the course of history," where X can be almost any fact, event, or thing. Mark Kurlansky has given us a fine example of this genre with Cod (as he apparently did earlier with Salt, which I have not read).

Whether the cod was "the fish that changed the world" is beside the point. Kurlansky deploys the formula skillfully. He is a fine writer, and he has mustered an excellent history of the fish, the North Atlantic fisheries, and the fishermen, merchants, and monarchs who earned their livings and built their empires around and upon it. And he is relentless in documenting the ignorance and callousness that led to the collapse of one of the ocean's great resources. Peppered throughout are interesting facts and interpretations, such as the notion that the Basques were routinely fishing off Newfoundland long before Columbus made his first voyage. It even has recipes!

I will offer two caveats. First, any history book with an expansive geographic scope should include maps. Amazingly, Cod does not. So despite the fact that I have just finished reading 275 pages on cod fishing, if you sat me down, showed me a map of the North Atlantic, and asked me to point out the locations of the Grand Banks and the Georges Bank, I couldn't do it.

Secondly, the book was published in 1997 and this comment in 2010, so recent developments in our understanding and management of fisheries are obviously absent. For example, the fishermen of Gloucester are experimenting with the notion of community-supported fisheries (like community-supported agriculture), which may provide a better economic model for depressed fisheries. If you read Cod, take a few minutes when you finish to bring yourself up to date. Perhaps things are not quite so bleak.
Customer rating is 5 of 5  Historical Perspective with a mix of Nurtrition   2009-12-31
By Todd Weiss (Port Washington, NY)
Who would think a mundane topic about Cod Fish would be so interesting and thought provoking. This book address how a simple yet important food source has impacted our diet, cultural development, historical expansion, economic development, and the environment. All from a lackluster, bland tasting fish that has unfortunately been hunted to near extinction. Sound familiar? Not only does it provide intriguing insight, it addresses the important issue as to how we impact our planet. I highly recommend the book.


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