My Summer Reading List

I have nothing but good intentions. This was supposed to be my summer reading list, but summer is nearly over. Fall is just around the corner, and I’ve yet to finish a single one of these books.

Maybe I should call this my Late Summer Reading List. Whatever the case, it’s a good list and I felt the need to share it. There are 4 food books, and one non-food book. (It can’t be all food all the time. I need a break occasionally, people!)

MY LATE SUMMER READING RECOMMENDS:

1. The Art of Fermentation: An In-Depth Exploration of Essential Concepts and Processes from Around the World.
By Sandor Katz.

I’ve had this book on my shelf for a while now, and I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t devour this book the moment I got it. This book is AMAZING. It contains a wealth of information on the history, practice, and culture of fermentation. It offers a few scattered recipes, but mostly the book gives tips, guidance, historical relevance, and other helpful insights for aspiring fermenters.

A quote from the first chapter: “As my exploration of fermentation unfolds, I keep coming back to the profound significance of the fact that we use the same word – culture – to describe the community of bacteria that transform milk into yogurt, as well as the practice of subsistence itself, language, music, art, literature, science, spiritual practices, belief systems, and all that human beings seek to perpetuate in out varied and overlapping collective existences.”

2. How to Cook a Wolf.
By M.F.K. Fisher.

This book is intriguing to me on so many levels. Written by an American food writer during the height of World War 2 food shortages, this book offers a fascinating glimpse into food culture during a difficult time in America’s history. (The book is also intriguing because my sister bought it for me in a communist bookstore in Minneapolis, which is awesome.)

“Written to inspire courage in those daunted by wartimes shortages, How to Cook a Wolf continues to rally cooks during times of plenty, reminding them that providing sustenance requires more than putting food on the table. M. F. K. Fisher knew that the last thing hungry people needed were hints on cutting back and making do. Instead, she gives her readers license to dream, to experiment, to construct adventurous and delicious meals as a bulwark against a dreary, meager present.”

3. Salted: A Manifesto on the World’s Most Essential Mineral, with Recipes.
By Mark Bitterman.

This book is large, expansive, and beautiful. And the book is entirely about everyone’s favorite mineral: SALT. I’ve been a fan of Bitterman for a long time, and make it a point to stop into The Meadow – his salt/chocolate/bitters/etc shop – whenever I can. I was just given this book last week, and I cannot wait to learn about the wonderful world of salt.

4. Depletion and Abundance: Life on the New Home Front, or One Woman’s Solution to Finding Abundance for Your Family while Coming to Terms with Peak Oil, Climate Change, and Hard Times.
By Sharon Astyk.

I’ll let the subtitle of this book speak for itself: peak oil, climate change, and ‘the new home front’?! It all sounds a little crazy, but I’m into it.

5.Ender’s Shadow.
By Orson Scott Card.

I read Ender’s Game while we were in Europe this summer, and I’m currently in the midst of reading Ender’s Shadow. My husband has begged me to read these books for years, and I dismissed them as nerdy children’s Sci-Fi. I was wrong. This series is fantastic. Read it before the movie comes out, people!

And that, my friends, is my late summer reading list. That being said, I’d love to hear what’s on your reading list this summer (and fall). Is there anything I should add to my list? I’d love to hear your suggestions!

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