Loading...
72nd out of 82 books
—
8 voters
My rating:
add to my books
Finding Betty Crocker: The Secret Life of America's First Lady of Food
by
Susan Marks
IN 1945, FORTUNE MAGAZINE named Betty Crocker the second most popular American woman, right behind Eleanor Roosevelt, and dubbed Betty America's First Lady of Food. Not bad for a gal who never actually existed.
"Born" in 1921 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to proud corporate parents, Betty Crocker has grown, over eight decades, into one of the most successful b
...moreHardcover, 288 pages
Published
May 11th 2010
by Simon & Schuster
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
sign in »
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
231)
It just could have been better.
While I enjoyed reading parts of this, I have to admit, I skimmed a lot. It was just so dry.
I wanted to feel something. And I just didn't.
The Betty Crocker cookbook was something I escaped into as a child. I would pour over the pictures and menu descriptions and dream about the day that I would entertain and put out such a gorgeous spread. My friends and I would laugh about how Betty suggested making braised celery as a s...more
While I enjoyed reading parts of this, I have to admit, I skimmed a lot. It was just so dry.
I wanted to feel something. And I just didn't.
The Betty Crocker cookbook was something I escaped into as a child. I would pour over the pictures and menu descriptions and dream about the day that I would entertain and put out such a gorgeous spread. My friends and I would laugh about how Betty suggested making braised celery as a s...more
A truly eye-opening look at the making of an American icon. I think we tend today to brush off or mock such kitchen staples as Betty Crocker, but it was amazing to read about the impact a fictional character had on the morale and skills of several generations of cooks, bakers, and homemakers, for good or ill. In some ways, she promoted a Stepford wife-like lifestyle for her followers, yet with the introduction of Betty Crocker's one-step and quick-step baking mixes and other time-saving food m...more
view all 5 comments
This book was incredibly interesting - popular activity always tells the tales history books cannot. So many intriguing aspects of this little gem; over the course of its pages, we see the mutually responsive faces of advertising and the American woman (and her role) over the past century.
I was more impressed by Betty's ever-clever ways to ease the burdens of women than I was distressed to learn of what at times seemed to be the constant bombarding of ads onto housewives. Thi...more
I was more impressed by Betty's ever-clever ways to ease the burdens of women than I was distressed to learn of what at times seemed to be the constant bombarding of ads onto housewives. Thi...more
I had no idea that Betty Crocker had such a career- the radio years, cooking school, and homemaker's league were fascinating to read about- Marjorie Husted (Betty Crocker script writer and voice) could have been my mother!
This book did make me a little hungry. As much as I dislike Cake Mixes, my tummy was rumbling with the description of home-baked white bread made from Gold Medal flour. There are a few recipes in the book, too, which I would like to try
I also enjoyed the samples of ...more
This book did make me a little hungry. As much as I dislike Cake Mixes, my tummy was rumbling with the description of home-baked white bread made from Gold Medal flour. There are a few recipes in the book, too, which I would like to try
I also enjoyed the samples of ...more
Elizabeth
rated it
Recommends it for:
people interested in advertising, company branding, or the business of food
The corporate life of Betty Crocker was surprisingly interesting to me. I collect vintage and antiquarian cookbooks and I own several from Betty Crocker, but when I picked this book up I just wasn't expecting it. The history of this fictitious culinary powerhouse is surprisingly interesting if you happen to have an interest in the business of food or the branding of organizations. I does read dryly so you have to be committed to the subject to get everything out of it. I liked it and it did enli...more
I had no idea Betty Crocker was such an American icon. The first half of the book is the most interesting, with excerpts from letters and Betty's radio shows. Betty was a champion for homemakers, elevating homemaking from drudgery to a noble calling, especially in the 1930s and '40s.
It was disturbing, though, to see how she contributed to the pressure placed on women to be "perfect" homemakers, telling women that they'd risk losing their husbands if their cakes weren't lig...more
It was disturbing, though, to see how she contributed to the pressure placed on women to be "perfect" homemakers, telling women that they'd risk losing their husbands if their cakes weren't lig...more
I'm fascinated by Betty Crocker and everything she represents--in a kitchy sort of way. So I enjoyed this book, although it doesn't give much historical perspective. It cites letters from Betty Crocker fans over the years ("Do you know I think that if women were as eager to learn new ways of fixing new dishes or remodeling the old ones, as they are in new beauty aids and how to make themselves more lovely, they wouldn't have so much trouble in keeping their husbands in good humor") b...more
It’s apparent that this book flowed from an academic paper. It’s factual, a tad dry, peppered with quotations, and contains marvelous illustrations/photographs. Betty has inspired great devotion. General Mills kept tissues at their test kitchens for heartbroken visitors who had expected to finally meet their mentor. Recommended for those interested in women’s history, this book is as light as a slice of Betty’s once famous chiffon cake.
This is not the most well-written book (the author writes and produces corporate videos) but it was very interesting -- I really liked how women's letters to Betty Crocker reflected the concerns of their day. I never knew that Betty Crocker had an immensely popular radio show and was the second most popular woman in America in her day (right behind Eleanor Roosevelt).
A solid, quick, fun tour through the "life" of Betty Crocker. The excerpts from letters written to her were my favorite part - I love hearing the voices of the women and men who send her letters, questions, and simply felt they could tell her their story.
If you enjoyed My Life in France, you might like this book which details Betty Crocker’s history and includes touching excerpts from listeners of her earliest radio broadcasts dating back to the 1920s.
This is really fantastic. And interesting. And AMAZING. I mean... Betty Crocker, as a campaign, is wildly successful- and it has shaped so many people's lives! It's incredible. To think that all those recipes, radio shows, Hollywood appearances and connections, and millions of letters were all oriented around one carefully managed, fictional woman.... aaaaah @____@
I also simply enjoyed looking at the Betty Crocker recipes, adverts, and pictures speckled throughout the book, as w...more
I also simply enjoyed looking at the Betty Crocker recipes, adverts, and pictures speckled throughout the book, as w...more
Ehn. This one mostly just pissed me off about corporate intrusion on life and the role of women in the U.S. in the 20th century. But at least there were lots of pictures...
nonfiction- It was interesting at first then it started being very repetitive. I skimmed some but still felt I learned alot about women and the roles they played from 1930's on. I was glad to be finished!
A look at the social history of America seen from the kitchen. An sometimes fascinating read. The section on the Betty Crocker portraits was especially interesting.
Very enjoyable look at an icon. This is a well writen look at the history behind one of the most recognizable brands in the world.
When this corporate persona was first created in the 1920s, people believed she was a real person and wrote to her with baking questions, relationship problems, and even marriage proposals. Some were heartbroken when they toured the Betty Crocker Kitchens and were told she wasn't a real person. "Betty" wrote letters, had a radio show, hobnobbed with movie stars, and went through many makeovers. I was especially interested in how she gave advice on cheap meal planning during the Depress...more
I used this book while writing my senior thesis. Very informational and insightful into the fictional life of Betty Crocker.
a good start
This book reflects Minnesota history of home cooking and baking.
Tori
added it
2005
Very interesting. It gave a lot of insight into the changes that our grandmothers went through. As technology entered the kitchen and the women left the home life changed. Betty Crocker wasn't a person, but an idea. The things done in Betty's name make me like the brand better and make me understand more where my grandma came from.
Highly enlightening, historically valuable, and on a side most history books completely ignore.
Highly enlightening, historically valuable, and on a side most history books completely ignore.
Through a bit of a quirk I have been reading a lot on the history of homemaking and home economics. This book was a really fascinating history - and not just for what it said about Betty Crocker (though that was great, too). How things have changed since our grandmothers and great-grandmothers were baking! This book is based on the MS thesis of the author, and has some very enjoyable research behind it.
This book is ok, but it is bacially a book about marketing which i am not terribly interested in. It's got some interesting parts, but when i was waiting in the disaster food stamp line, instead of reading i spent time staring into space... so not a very compelling read. i have a bunch of books from the library i want to read so i am going to bring this one back to the library.
When electric refrigerators first came on the market, they cost more than a car. This was a fun, interesting, light read but that's about the only big new thing I learned. Simply because I've been reading so much 20th century food history lately. There's lots of info in here, however. And why in the world aren't peanut butter cake and frosting mixes common any longer?
Loved this book was fun to read about the history of Betty Crocker. Also alot more then just cooking, the history of women and housekeeping. Amazing how much has changed, and not. I just toured the General Mills HQ and saw the Betty Crocker kitchen so was pretty cool to read about it and then actually see.
This was a fairly interesting overview of one of the most successful brand marketing campaigns of the past century. Which is interesting if you work in brand marketing, like me, or if you just really like cake.
Very entertaining for anyone who has an interest in 20th Century history and the Betty Crocker brand. The book is short so its a fast read. A MUST read for anyone who collects cookbooks.
This could have been so much better! I was hoping for some kind of cultural insight; unfortunately, the author only provides straight history with a minimum of insight or social commentary.
This is a very interesting book which lets you into the secret world of Betty Crocker who (gasp!) is not a real person! It is well written and enjoyable for those who like to cook.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
