There is nothing about cuisine in this book that has not already been written about before in other publications. The author re-hashes New World foods, which already are widely known. For over 500 years it was common knowledge that maize, manioc, tomatoes, potatoes and corn were "Discoverd" by Columbus. The author of this book acts as though he is the first person to ever realize this. Everything in the book is old news - and I don't think it is worth the price of the book - even used, to purchase information that is already widely disseminated for the last 500 years.
I am uncomfortable with the authors preface introduction to this book which blithely glides over the genocide, horrific oppression of indigenious peoples - the author rationalizes it and justifies it because "Columbus is responsible for discovering all these wonderful New World foods". The author posits that the genocide against indigenous people of the Americas was justified, because the diet of Western culture was improved. I don't care for the authors smug and self congratulatory tone which rationalizes and justifies genocide against indigenous people all so he can enjoy a wider selection of foods and cuisine.
In the preface introduction, the author makes racist statetments about Muslims in Spain - alleging they are "notorious Anti-Semites." It is a historical fact that in medieval Muslim Spain, the Moors made a point of practicing religious tolerance and Christans AND Jews were given freedom of religion during the Moors rule of Spain. The author is clearly racist agains Muslims and historically innacurate - you can confirm my statement that Muslims in Moorish Spain practiced considerable religious tolerance both towards Christains and Muslims for the several hundred years the Muslims ruled Spain. Check this out in any history book or Wikkipedia.
Moors did not destroy synagogues in Muslim Spain - it was the Vatican, Catholic Church that created the Spanish Inquistion - in fact, the Vatican Catholic Church instigated horrendous persecution against BOTH Muslims and Jews. At that point in time, around 1492 - there was actually quite a bit of solidarity and feelings of alliance between Muslims and Jews who were BOTH expelled from Spain by the Catholic Church!
How the author managed to ignore this historical fact and publish rubbish against Muslims is beyond my comprehension. The author plays fast and loose with historical facts.
Anyone with a high school education and basic knowledge of history understands that anti-semitism in Spain began with the Fall of the Caliphate of Alhambra in 1492. When the Moors/Muslims lost rule of Spain, the Catholic Church in collusion with the crypto-facist Spanish Royal Crown began the anti-semetic diaspora which enforced an edict expelling Muslims and Jews from Catholic Spain.
And just for the record - I was raised Catholic so please don't think I am trying to "bash" the Vatican - my sole intent is purely to set the record straight and post historical accuracy which documents the author of this book lies and fudges about historical facts.
There are dozens of other books which all wrote about the cuisine of the New World and all the new foods which resulted in the improvement of Europeans diet. This book just re-hashes information already previously published in a plethora of books over the last 500 years. I wouldn't waste your money on this book. You can read the introduction online on the Amazon site and you can see for yourself the racist tone of the author that justifies genocide against indiegenous people and the racist remark the author makes against Moslems.
If you want to read truly fantastic book about cuisine - please read Michael Pollans book "The Omnivores Dilmena" it is an incredible book and much better written than this book. I wanted to end my review with something POSITIVE and a constructive recommendation for "foodies" and folks who are interested in the history of cuisine.
