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Title: Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky ISBN: 0-14-027501-0 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: January, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.36 (74 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Fascinating history of a formerly ubiquitous fish
Comment: So you thought the spice trade was important in the history of exploration and discovery? It may run a close second to the cod. Kurlansky writes a compelling history of the role that cod has played in everything from the American revolution to European wars between trawlers and coast guard vessels to the 50s Friday evening fishsticks.
At the same time, Kurlansky also uses the cod to describe how our increasingly "efficient" exploitation of fishing resources is rebounding against us. These methods have nearly killed off a tough, prolific breeder that eats almost anything. The days of hunting fish may be behind us; fish farms may be all that we have in our future.
The book is also filled with interesting recipes from the past and the present, including ways of restoring dried, salted cod to succulence. Hammers, lye and slow soaking all make an appearance. On the side of fresh cod, everything from eastern Canadian fishcakes to Daniel Webster's address to Congress on how to make a proper chowder are included.
Rating: 4
Summary: Thoroughly enjoyable journalism, pretty good history.
Comment: Though this book is sold as a history book, Kurlansky is not primarily a historian. His background is in journalism, which is evident from his writing style and his use of source material. While the narrative is lively and full of poetic prose, it is also severely lacking in documentation. But this only really matters if you're reading the book for hard history. After all, the New York Times doesn't use footnotes either.
Kurlansky succeeds in demonstrating the preeminence of cod to the history, culture, and especially the economy of the North Atlantic. The book makes a strong case that cod is the unsung hero of American history, and played an integral part in shaping the nation (at least in the north). The author may overemphasize cod's importance in a few instances (his claim that the American Revolution was fought primarily over cod comes to mind), but for the most part, he's on solid ground.
The best parts of the book are the last 2 sections, which deftly demonstrate how greed, combined with ignorance, has led to the near commercial extinction of codfish. He balances his sympathy for the plight of the modern fisherman with an honest portrayal of the denial and blame-shifting that goes on in fishing communities. He makes a great case for conservation, regulation, and an end to the use of trawlers in order to allow the cod to repopulate the waters and restore the fishing industry.
In all, the book is extremely well-written, compellingly told, and often convicting. The author's wit and style make up in large part for his minor shortcomings as a historian. And if his agenda is sometimes a bit transparent, it is a good agenda. Buy this book and read it. You'll never think of commodities the same way again.
Rating: 3
Summary: A Cod piece
Comment: Overall, I thought Cod to be an "ok" read. It's strongest points were the inclusion of historic references to cod, images, and recipes - a novel approach for a non-fiction work. I also found the stories of contemporary cod fishermen (who aren't allowed to fish!) quite compassionate and the history of Basque fishers-of-cod both enlightening and surprising.
However, Kurlansky was often repetitive with his cod anecdotes, and I found his writing style to be a bit cumbersome and slow. I'm a big fan of John McPhee's work, which exemplifies the essay as poetry, and I had hoped that Kurlansky might offer a new, strong voice in the non-fiction, natural history essay. I was a bit disappointed that the central text read much like an undergrad research paper. I do plan to read his recent book Salt because I find the subject premise intriguing.
If you like eating fish or fishing, are interested in how natural and human history intertwine, or are simply a fan of nature writing, I would recommend giving Cod a try.
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Title: Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky ISBN: 0142001619 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: 28 January, 2003 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: The Basque History of the World by Mark Kurlansky ISBN: 0140298517 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: February, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: The Potato : How the Humble Spud Rescued the Western World by Larry Zuckerman ISBN: 0865475784 Publisher: North Point Press Pub. Date: 25 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky ISBN: 0802713734 Publisher: Walker & Co Pub. Date: January, 2002 List Price(USD): $28.00 |
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Title: Coal: A Human History by Barbara Freese ISBN: 0738204005 Publisher: Perseus Publishing Pub. Date: 07 January, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
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