Six Thousand Years of Bread: Its Holy and Unholy History

“In a colossal epic tale, Mr. Jacob has sketched world history—its folkways, its religion, its superstition, and its plagues, all in terms of bread.” —Wall Street Journal

From ancient Egypt to modern times, bread has been the essential food, the very symbol of fundamental well-being. First published in 1944 and the result of more two decades’ research, Six Thousand Years of Bread is a thought-provoking journey through bread’s role in politics, religion, technology, war, civilization, and beyond. A cult favorite among bakers and foodies, this beautiful new seventieth anniversary edition will fascinate philosophers, historians, and bakers alike.

The fascinating voyage begins with bread in prehistoric times and continues with an exploration of the plow, the discovery of baking, the Greek passion for seed corn and reverence for the bread goddess Demeter, the significance of the Bible’s many references to bread, and how bread contributed to the outcome of World War I. In a poignant conclusion, Jacob describes his own experiences subsisting on bread made of sawdust in a Nazi concentration camp. Six Thousand Years of Bread is a brilliant celebration of bread and the remarkable role it has played throughout human history.