Salt: A World History

An unlikely world history from the bestselling author of Cod and The Basque History of the World

In his fifth work of nonfiction, Mark Kurlansky turns his attention to a common household item with a long and intriguing history: salt. The only rock we eat, salt has shaped civilization from the very beginning, and its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of humankind. A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt has influenced the establishment of trade routes and cities, provoked and financed wars, secured empires, and inspired revolutions.  Populated by colorful characters and filled with an unending series of fascinating details, Salt is a supremely entertaining, multi-layered masterpiece.

• Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World
• Paper: Paging Through History
• The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell
• Milk!: A 10,000-Year Food Fracas
• An Edible History of Humanity
• A History of the World in 6 Glasses
• The Silk Roads: A New History of the World
• Butter: A Rich History
• Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat
• Empire of Cotton: A Global History