Eating and Being: A History of Ideas About Our Food and Ourselves (Steven Shapin)

In Eating and Being: A History of Ideas About Our Food and Ourselves, author Steven Shapin explores how food and dining have shaped Western social identity. It's less a cookbook or  culinary history and more a deep dive into the cultural anthropology of eating. Shapin meticulously traces the evolution of the human diet and how it is reflected upon and promoted, from ancient symposiums to modern restaurant culture, demonstrating how these rituals have reflected and reinforced social hierarchies, notions of civility, and even scientific understanding. 

Shapin deftly analyzes how the concept of "taste," both literal and metaphorical, has served as a marker of social distinction. He highlights the history of various dining styles and the impact of technological advancements on our relationship with food. He emphasizes that eating is never merely a biological necessity, but a profoundly social act, imbued with meaning and symbolism. The evolution of the philosophy of the human diet from “You are what you eat” to the various strains of Keto, Atkins, and other fad diets gets reasonable, if technical, amounts of discussion. A bit more context about the technical side of this book, it can be a challenging read at times because of its academic-oriented writing style. While the book excels at analyzing the historical context of diets and eating, it occasionally can feel detached and very scientific.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Eating and Being is a valuable contribution to the study of food culture. It offers a thought-provoking and insightful perspective on how our eating habits have shaped, and continue to shape, our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. For those willing to engage with its intellectual demands, Shapin's book provides a rich and rewarding exploration of the social significance of food.

MY RATING: 4

Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell About the End of the World (Dorian Lynskey)

Dorian Lynskey’s Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell About the End of the World explores humanity's enduring fascination with the apocalypse. Lynskey writes about the various ways in which we have imagined the end of the world, from religious prophecies to zombies, and examines the cultural and historical contexts that have shaped these visions.

Lynskey’s book draws on a wide array of sources, from ancient myths to contemporary films. Lynskey also incorporates insights from history, philosophy, and psychology to provide a nuanced understanding of our apocalyptic anxieties. Lynskey’s writing style is engaging and the book is fast-paced and entertaining. He also peppers the text with interesting anecdotes and trivia, which adds to the book's overall appeal.

Everything Must Go is informative, providing valuable insights into our collective imagination of the end times and humanity’s demise. Those with an interest in history, culture, or science fiction will likely find it a rewarding and enjoyable read.

MY RATING: 5

The Celts: A Modern History (Ian Stewart)

In The Celts: A Modern History, author Ian Stewart explores the Celtic identity. Stewart traces the history of the Celts from their ancient origins to their present cultural and multinational identity comprising of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and France’s Brittany region. He examines how the Celts have been perceived and portrayed throughout history, focusing on how their identity has been shaped and reshaped by various cultural, political, and social forces.

The Celts explores a wide range of topics: language (and the significant levels of debate that went into identifying just what language family Celtic languages derived from), art, religion, and social structures. Stewart also examines the role of the Celts in various historical events, such as their interactions with the ancient Greeks, Romans, and their influence on the development of European culture. The Celts also provides significant insight into more modern Celtic identity movements, both at a national (i.e. Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) and international level with the Pan-Celtic movement to create a Celtic confederation in Western Europe.

Stewart's writing style is engaging and intellectual. The Celts is a scholarly historical read with tremendous research and insight, not a book you can quickly read through in a weekend. However, that research and insight yields a book that skillfully weaves together historical evidence, linguistic analysis, and cultural insights to create a rich and nuanced portrait of the Celts. The Celts is a valuable contribution to the field of Celtic studies.

MY RATING: 4.5