Food: A Cultural Culinary History
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo first 3 months
Amazon Prime member exclusive: get any 2 titles with your free trial. Terms apply.
Food: A Cultural Culinary History
Buy Now for $6.99
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Ken Albala
-
Written by:
-
Ken Albala
-
The Great Courses
About this listen
Eating is an indispensable human activity. As a result, whether we realize it or not, the drive to obtain food has been a major catalyst across all of history, from prehistoric times to the present. Epicure Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said it best: "Gastronomy governs the whole life of man."
In fact, civilization itself began in the quest for food. Humanity's transition to agriculture was not only the greatest social revolution in history, but it directly produced the structures and institutions we call "civilization."
In 36 fascinating lectures, award-winning Professor Albala puts this extraordinary subject on the table, taking you on an enthralling journey into the human relationship to food. With this innovative course, you'll travel the world discovering fascinating food lore and culture of all regions and eras - as an eye-opening lesson in history as well as a unique window on what we eat today.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2013 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2013 The Great CoursesYou may also enjoy...
-
Thinking Like an Economist: A Guide to Rational Decision Making
- Written by: Randall Bartlett, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Randall Bartlett
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 68
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 56
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 54
Economic forces are everywhere around you. But that doesn't mean you need to passively accept whatever outcome those forces might press upon you. Instead, with these 12 fast-moving and crystal clear lectures, you can learn how to use a small handful of basic nuts-and-bolts principles to turn those same forces to your own advantage.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Informative, Concise and Useful wisdom
- By B on 2018-06-11
Written by: Randall Bartlett, and others
-
A Day's Read
- Written by: The Great Courses, Emily Allen, Grant L. Voth, and others
- Narrated by: Arnold Weinstein, Emily Allen, Grant L. Voth
- Length: 18 hrs and 25 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 8
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6
Join three literary scholars and award-winning professors as they introduce you to dozens of short masterpieces that you can finish - and engage with - in a day or less. Perfect for people with busy lives who still want to discover-or rediscover-just how transformative an act of reading can be, these 36 lectures range from short stories of fewer than 10 pages to novellas and novels of around 200 pages. Despite their short length, these works are powerful examinations of the same subjects and themes that longer "great books" discuss.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
341
- By John McDougall on 2020-07-19
Written by: The Great Courses, and others
-
The American Civil War
- Written by: Gary W. Gallagher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary W. Gallagher
- Length: 24 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 79
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 70
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 70
Between 1861 and 1865, the clash of the greatest armies the Western hemisphere had ever seen turned small towns, little-known streams, and obscure meadows in the American countryside into names we will always remember. In those great battles, those streams ran red with blood-and the United States was truly born.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent and well written
- By L. on 2019-09-08
Written by: Gary W. Gallagher, and others
-
The Story of Human Language
- Written by: John McWhorter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 322
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 275
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 271
Language defines us as a species, placing humans head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators. But it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries, allowing us to ponder why different languages emerged, why there isn't simply a single language, how languages change over time and whether that's good or bad, and how languages die out and become extinct.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Pretentious, Inaccurate, and Self-Absorbed.
- By Anonymous User on 2021-03-03
Written by: John McWhorter, and others
-
The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
- Written by: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 436
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 379
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 375
Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Loved it!
- By Trent T on 2018-10-29
Written by: Robert Garland, and others
-
Ancient Civilizations of North America
- Written by: Edwin Barnhart, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Edwin Barnhart
- Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 150
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 130
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 129
For the past few hundred years, most of what we’ve been taught about the native cultures of North America came from reports authored by the conquerors and colonizers who destroyed them. Now - with the technological advances of modern archaeology and a new perspective on world history - we are finally able to piece together their compelling true stories. In Ancient Civilizations of North America, Professor Edwin Barnhart, Director of the Maya Exploration Center, will open your eyes to a fascinating world you never knew existed - even though you’ve been living right next to it, or even on top of it.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Most of Canada is left out, as usual
- By Amazon Customer on 2022-03-14
Written by: Edwin Barnhart, and others
-
Thinking Like an Economist: A Guide to Rational Decision Making
- Written by: Randall Bartlett, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Randall Bartlett
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 68
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 56
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 54
Economic forces are everywhere around you. But that doesn't mean you need to passively accept whatever outcome those forces might press upon you. Instead, with these 12 fast-moving and crystal clear lectures, you can learn how to use a small handful of basic nuts-and-bolts principles to turn those same forces to your own advantage.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Informative, Concise and Useful wisdom
- By B on 2018-06-11
Written by: Randall Bartlett, and others
-
A Day's Read
- Written by: The Great Courses, Emily Allen, Grant L. Voth, and others
- Narrated by: Arnold Weinstein, Emily Allen, Grant L. Voth
- Length: 18 hrs and 25 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 8
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6
Join three literary scholars and award-winning professors as they introduce you to dozens of short masterpieces that you can finish - and engage with - in a day or less. Perfect for people with busy lives who still want to discover-or rediscover-just how transformative an act of reading can be, these 36 lectures range from short stories of fewer than 10 pages to novellas and novels of around 200 pages. Despite their short length, these works are powerful examinations of the same subjects and themes that longer "great books" discuss.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
341
- By John McDougall on 2020-07-19
Written by: The Great Courses, and others
-
The American Civil War
- Written by: Gary W. Gallagher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary W. Gallagher
- Length: 24 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 79
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 70
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 70
Between 1861 and 1865, the clash of the greatest armies the Western hemisphere had ever seen turned small towns, little-known streams, and obscure meadows in the American countryside into names we will always remember. In those great battles, those streams ran red with blood-and the United States was truly born.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent and well written
- By L. on 2019-09-08
Written by: Gary W. Gallagher, and others
-
The Story of Human Language
- Written by: John McWhorter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 322
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 275
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 271
Language defines us as a species, placing humans head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators. But it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries, allowing us to ponder why different languages emerged, why there isn't simply a single language, how languages change over time and whether that's good or bad, and how languages die out and become extinct.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Pretentious, Inaccurate, and Self-Absorbed.
- By Anonymous User on 2021-03-03
Written by: John McWhorter, and others
-
The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
- Written by: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 436
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 379
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 375
Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Loved it!
- By Trent T on 2018-10-29
Written by: Robert Garland, and others
-
Ancient Civilizations of North America
- Written by: Edwin Barnhart, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Edwin Barnhart
- Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 150
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 130
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 129
For the past few hundred years, most of what we’ve been taught about the native cultures of North America came from reports authored by the conquerors and colonizers who destroyed them. Now - with the technological advances of modern archaeology and a new perspective on world history - we are finally able to piece together their compelling true stories. In Ancient Civilizations of North America, Professor Edwin Barnhart, Director of the Maya Exploration Center, will open your eyes to a fascinating world you never knew existed - even though you’ve been living right next to it, or even on top of it.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Most of Canada is left out, as usual
- By Amazon Customer on 2022-03-14
Written by: Edwin Barnhart, and others
What listeners say about Food: A Cultural Culinary History
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- ryan mcnaughton
- 2020-07-29
Well worth it!
This course did a great job at conveying the intricacies of food and how it shapes culture. Ken Abala was very engaging, with a humorous disposition,making it very easy to listen to.
Far exceeded my expectations!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Aravind Eyunni
- 2019-10-02
Is there a better audio course out there?
This isn't a lecture series. It's like the author is having a conversation with the listeners who are taken on this magnificent journey around food and in many ways world history recounted through the journey of food. As someone that has listened to a lot of the Great Courses lectures, this is perhaps as good as it gets!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- R. Ortiz Randazzo
- 2020-11-16
Fantastic course!
I am a frequent user of the Great Courses Plus and this has got to be one of my all time favourite courses. I not only found the material to be extremely fascinating (many lessons and recipes I had shared with family and friends) but also feel that this course carries many great lessons in history. I have also conversed with the professor via email and can tell you that he os a very enthusiastic and kind person who truly loves his field. If you have even a remote interest in food, this course is a must listen!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- JohnS
- 2021-04-20
A great course!
I have watched and listened to many courses from The Teaching Company, and this one is one of my top 3 favourites. The sequencing of the lectures and Professor Abala's presentation style are excellent. I learned a lot from this course. Highly recommendable.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- mokoosh
- 2023-02-06
Excellent! Informative yet fun
I loved this book. I never realized how much food and history are linked. The author/narrator has a very pleasing manner about him and he is very interesting to listen to. I learned A LOT!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2022-12-09
Great lecture series, a little US-centric.
Really enjoyed this series. The presenter was extremely knowledgeable and structured the lectures in an intuitive way. I do wish he had covered other parts of the world for the last two hundred years.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jessica McKeil
- 2020-12-07
Best audio book on food history
I've listened several times now. Get new things out each time. I would always buy his books!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2020-12-13
Excellent historical perspective.
The lecturer is passionate and lively. The material, fascinating. So many fun facts to learn and the historical narrative to reveal.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- A
- 2021-02-11
really worthwhile course !
great course that I would highly recommend. the instructor is not only extremely knowledgeable, but also accessible and engaging. food and culture are so inextricably linked that so much of the material in this course is great for general knowledge and also remains relevant to our everyday lives. definitely a good listen for people interested in history, culture, and gastronomy.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- tc
- 2018-11-17
Amazing
I absolutely adored this series and have been recommending it to anyone who will listen. Not only is it so well researched and detailed, it actually includes recipes that you can make that are thousands of years old. Ken Albala effortlessly weaves history, religion, and sociological information into his book in order to give you a greater understanding of why people ate the way they did and what that meant. He goes into dining practices, agricultural practices, and food preparation practices. I have never read anything like this book. It opened my eyes to so much and sparked many other interests in the history of food.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
14 people found this helpful