Good to Eat: Riddles of Food and CultureWhy are human food habits so diverse? Why do Americans recoil at the thought of dog meat? Jews and Moslems, pork? Hindus, beef? Why do Asians abhor milk? In Good to Eat, best-selling author Marvin Harris leads readers on an informative detective adventure to solve the worlds major food puzzles. He explains the diversity of the worlds gastronomic customs, demonstrating that what appear at first glance to be irrational food tastes turn out really to have been shaped by practical, economic, or political necessity. In addition, his smart and spirited treatment sheds wisdom on such topics as why there has been an explosion in fast food, why history indicates that its bad to eat people but good to kill them, and why children universally reject spinach. Good to Eat is more than an intellectual adventure in food for thought. It is a highly readable, scientifically accurate, and fascinating work that demystifies the causes of myriad human cultural differences. |
From inside the book
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... societies in which people eat rats. Confronted with the diversity of food traditions in their farflung empire, the ancient Romans shrugged their shoulders and went back to eating their favorite putrid fish sauces. “There's no disputing ...
... societies, animal foods are more critical for sound nutrition than plant foods. I don't mean to say that animal foods are so good to eat that we can dispense with plant foods altogether. We are best off when we consume both kinds ...
... consumption of grain by livestock is rising twice as fast as the consumption of grain by people. Within most societies, developed as well as underdeveloped, the higher the income bracket, the greater the proportion of 24.
... to it. Meat hunger can be a powerfully disruptive as well as harmonious force. In band and village societies, especially those which do not possess significant domesticated sources of animal flesh, eggs, or milk, lack MEAT HUNGER 27.
... societies. It is no accident that chiefs and heroes the world over celebrate their victories by hosting feasts and bestowing large portions of meat on followers and guests. Nor is it an accident that priestly castes such as those ...
Contents
13 | |
19 | |
The Riddle of the Sacred Cow
| 47 |
The Abominable Pig
| 67 |
Hippophagy
| 88 |
Holy Beef USA
| 109 |
Lactophiles and Lactophobes Milk Lovers and Milk Haters
| 130 |
Small Things
| 154 |
Dogs Cats Dingoes and Other Pets
| 175 |
People Eating
| 199 |
Better to Eat
| 235 |
References | 249 |
Bibliography | 258 |
Index | 275 |