
The Secret History of Food
Strange but True Stories About the Origins of Everything We Eat
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Narrated by:
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Roger Wayne
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By:
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Matt Siegel
An irreverent, surprising, and entirely entertaining look at the little-known history surrounding the foods we know and love.
Is Italian olive oil really Italian, or are we dipping our bread in lamp oil? Why are we masochistically drawn to foods that can hurt us, like hot peppers? Far from being a classic American dish, is apple pie actually...English?
“As a species, we’re hardwired to obsess over food”, Matt Siegel explains as he sets out “to uncover the hidden side of everything we put in our mouths”. Siegel also probes subjects ranging from the myths - and realities - of food as aphrodisiac, to how one of the rarest and most exotic spices in all the world (vanilla) became a synonym for uninspired sexual proclivities, to the role of food in fairy and morality tales. He even makes a well-argued case for how ice cream helped defeat the Nazis.
The Secret History of Food is a rich and satisfying exploration of the historical, cultural, scientific, sexual, and, yes, culinary subcultures of this most essential realm. Siegel is an armchair Anthony Bourdain, armed not with a chef’s knife but with knowledge derived from medieval food-related manuscripts, ancient Chinese scrolls, and obscure culinary journals. Funny and fascinating, The Secret History of Food is essential listening for all foodies.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2021 Matt Siegel (P)2021 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...




















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Seems we are being cheated or are food is trying to kill us. Even vitamins are suspect.
Food not as labeled
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Entertaining and Informative
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Interesting
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I, unfortunately, was eating lunch as listened to the section on honey. Quaffing honey from a container found in an Egyptian grave might be silly to start with, then being unfamiliar with their practice of coating body parts in it for preservation can only lead to, well, vomiting: for the participant and the listener!!! Yikes!
Roger Wayne brilliantly delivers this material with charm and, well, gusto, as required.
George Young
Montreal, Canada
Listen before or long after dinner
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If you’re a foodie, it’s dull
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Anyway, this is a fun, easy listen if you want to learn about a few random foods as well as food culture of the past and of today.
Interesting information, wish it was longer
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The narration is terrific. Some little side comments come off well, instigating an out loud laugh here and there. Some of the points are thought provoking - such as why almost unlimited choices aren't always a good thing.
The section on olive oil is a little disheartening, because it quantifies the amount of fraud and adulteration that goes on in that "healthy" business.
The book probably won't change your life. It might not even impact your shopping or eating habits. But I found a lot of interesting facts and stories "within its covers." Roger Wayne made it even more interesting as narrator (and tour guide).
The pdf file that comes with the book is merely a list of citations/references.
Tasty Treat
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Seigel's book is Brain Food
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Not quite what I was expecting, but a good listen nonetheless
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Really interesting! Little darker than I thought…
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