Potato: A History of the Propitious Esculent by John Reader

Review: I received this book as a Christmas present from my sister who said she expected to see it on my blog at some point. So, here it is. Now I know that an entire book about potatoes might seem incredibly boring at first glance, but I happen to love both learning new things and potatoes. This book is a vindication of my often expressed feeling that potatoes are the perfect food. Mr. Reader goes into detail about the history of wild and domesticated potatoes and how potato cultivation played a large role in world history. Potatoes are a hardier crop than most grains making them easier to grow in harsh and colder climates. Yet, they are also a very efficient source of protein, vitamins and slow-carbohydrates. I have just one complaint about this book and that is I felt that some of the history sections veered too far into general history having nothing to do with potatoes. I felt those sections while somewhat interesting were unnecessary. However, in general, the book is well-researched and very informative without being too dry. And now, I need to go find something potato to eat…