I have tried to digest this book called Salt, especially as a food reviewer, and a history buff in training, but I think I will throw it over my left shoulder as I can't get past the taste of the endless first chapter on ancient Asian governments.

The book is pretty well written and full of great pictures and interesting salty tid-bits, but maybe its a bit too ambitious to try to tell the history of the world through a pure salt perspective?!

The value of the mineral, and the elaborate way it was mined in ancient times, is truly fascinating, but Kurlansky can go four-plus bland pages of minutia of Asian emperor names, follies, and dates of reign, without even a dash of the word SALT!!!

Some treats for you: Salt is the only rock we eat! Salt is a necessary component to functioning, makes ice cream freeze, removes rust, makes things taste good, seals cracks, removes spots on coals, preserves food, puts out grease fires, treats sore throats, and ear aches. The average adult human being has about three or four salt shaker in her body! My friend Clare actually actually snacks on sea salt because she finds it satisfies her craving without having to eat heavy junk foods. A substance so valuable, salt served as money, influenced trade routes, inspired wars. Without taking away the power of salt, the same could also be said about different foods, including beer, which I actually enjoyed reading the history of. (See my Fermenting Revolution review)

On the other hand, my friend, who can stomach more hardcore history than I, enjoyed me reading to him aloud from Salt. Also, my uncle gives many kudos to the book Cod by the same author--

Someday I may get a craving to explore some of these choice jems of chapters, like maybe Nordic salt dreams (which includes recipes), and American salt wars, but for now I am in search of food writing with better narrative flow--