Eating in America: A history [Hardcover]

Waverley Lewis Root (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1976

The story of American eating begins and ends with the fact that American food, by most of the world's standards, is not very good. This is a rather sad note considering the "land of plenty" the first American settlers found, and even sadder considering that with the vast knowledge of food we possess, we have still managed to create things such as the TV dinner and "Finger Lickin' Good" chicken. Nevertheless, America's eating habits, the philosophy behind these habits, and much of the food itself are deliciously fascinating. Waverly Root and Richard de Rochemont, in a style that is rich, tasty, and ironic, chronicle the history of American food and eating customs from the time of the earliest explorers to the present. In writing this chronicle on American food, Root and de Rochemont have in fact created a fresh and commanding history of the United States itself. Eating in America is an erudite, sumptuous, witty, marvelously readable study; truly a book to feast on time and again.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Morrow (1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688030963
• ISBN-13: 978-0688030964
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,143,323 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Have Reference Book, October 5, 2000

By 

Kevin Flynn - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eating In America (Paperback)

I cannot emphasize what an incredible book this is. I have owned three copies: given one as a present, and have kept two (I couldn't find one when I wanted to re-read it, so had to purchase another). I am very pleased to see that this is still in print after 20 years.

If you are interested in how we, as Americans, have inherited our fondness for sweets; or ever wondered why the Pilgrims almost starved, but the Indians didn't; or the fascinating history of refrigerated shipping of foodstuffs, such as bringing lobster from Maine to the midwest during the 19th century; or the background of Heinz, Kellogg, Graham (Crackers) and other 21st century household names; or the unbelievable decadent dinners served during the Gilded Age in the 1890's, like the one that was only for the pet dogs of the rich. This book is a fabulous source book and entertaining history of American taste (and lack of). Highly recommended. A+++

Waverly Root was a journalist and lived as an ex-pat between the wars in Paris. He did NOT hang out with Stein, Hemmingway, or the other more well known types and wrote a rather amusing autobiography which is no longer in print. However, when he retired from journalism, he began a new career as a food writer. Another book that you may enjoy is FOOD, a dictionary. I haven't checked to see if this too is Out of Print, but it is an incredible collection of short descriptions of what we eat. One of my favorites is the tomato, which even up to this century was considered poisonous in many households.

Gripping Stuff!