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Duncan Hines: How a Traveling Salesman Became the Most Trusted Name in Food
by Louis HatchettThis delightful biography &“offers conclusive proof that Hines was not only a real human being, but an American culinary hero&” (The Weekly Standard). Duncan Hines may be best known for the cake mixes, baked goods, and bread products that bear his name, but many people don&’t know that he was a real person and not just a fictitious figure invented for the brand. America's pioneer restaurant critic, Hines discovered his passion while working as a traveling salesman during the 1920s and 1930s—a time when food standards were poorly enforced and food safety was a constant concern. He traveled across America discovering restaurants and offering his recommendations to readers in his bestselling compilation Adventures in Good Eating—and the success of this work and his subsequent publications led Hines to manufacture the extremely popular food products that we still enjoy today. In this biography, Louis Hatchett explores the story of the man, from his humble beginnings in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to his lucrative licensing deal with Procter & Gamble. Following the successful debut of his restaurant guide, Hines published his first cookbook at age fifty-nine and followed it with The Dessert Book—culinary classics including recipes from establishments he visited on his travels, favorites handed down through his family for generations, and new dishes that contained unusual ingredients for the era. Many of the recipes served as inspiration for mixes that eventually became available under the Duncan Hines brand. This is a comprehensive account of the life and legacy of a savvy businessman and an often-overlooked culinary pioneer whose love of good food led to his name becoming a grocery shelf favorite.
The Narc Series Volume One: Narc, Death of a Courier, and The Death List (The Narc Series)
by Marc OldenThree hard-boiled mysteries featuring a tough as nails narcotics agent from &“a master of intrigue and adventure&” (New York Times–bestselling author Clive Cussler). John Bolt is the best narcotics agent in D-3—the Department of Dangerous Drugs—and with his Colt .45, he&’s out to make dangerous criminals pay, dead or alive . . . Narc: Bolt is out to stop New York City&’s toughest drug dealer from scoring one thousand pounds of uncut heroin from Cuba. It will be the biggest shipment in history, and everyone&’s dying to get their hands on it . . . Death of a Courier: Bolt&’s ex-partner is now a mafia enforcer. Known as Apache, he&’s working his way up the mob ladder by taking down D-3 agents—and he&’s about to have a bloody reunion with Bolt . . . The Death List: John Bolt is after a dying drug kingpin&’s little black book. Finding it would be the greatest bust of his career—but it means going up against a fearsome gang of corrupt cops.
Weird Dinosaurs: The Strange New Fossils Challenging Everything We Thought We Knew
by John Pickrell&“A tour de force…highlights the odd reptiles that roamed all corners of the earth millions of years ago.&”—Sydney Morning Herald From the outback of Australia to the Gobi Desert of Mongolia and the savanna of Madagascar, the award-winning science writer and dinosaur enthusiast John Pickrell embarks on a world tour of new finds, meeting the fossil hunters who work at the frontier of discovery. He reveals the dwarf dinosaurs unearthed by an eccentric Transylvanian baron; an aquatic, crocodile-snouted carnivore bigger than T. rex that once lurked in North African waterways; a Chinese dinosaur with wings like a bat; and a Patagonian sauropod so enormous it weighed more than two commercial jet airliners. Other surprising discoveries hail from Alaska, Siberia, Canada, Burma, and South Africa. Why did dinosaurs grow so huge? How did they spread across the world? Did they all have feathers? What do sauropods have in common with 1950s vacuum cleaners? The stuff of adventure movies and scientific revolutions, Weird Dinosaurs examines the latest breakthroughs and new technologies that are radically transforming our understanding of the distant past. &“This history of the discovery of some of the most outlandish creatures that ever lived, and the excitement of paleontological research, will be sure to both entertain and instruct.&”—Spencer Lucas, author of Dinosaurs: The Textbook, Sixth Edition &“Fascinating.... Readers learn of beautiful opalised dinosaur bones from Australia and a crested dinosaur found approximately 13,000 feet up Antarctica's Mt. Kirkpatrick, demonstrating that dinosaurs were widely distributed across the globe.&”—Publishers Weekly
A Magical Course in Tarot: Reading the Cards in a Whole New Way
by Michele MorganThe professional psychic and author of Simple Wicca offers a practical guide to the ancient art of Tarot with illustrated, card-by-card explanations. In A Magical Course in Tarot, Michele Morgan shares her deep understanding of this centuries-old mystical tool for communicating with the Divine. Appealing to both novice and experienced Tarot readers, Morgan's method taps into the psychic energies that are inherent in everyone. Morgan's strategy, which can be applied to any of the various Tarot decks, allows the reader to begin reading cards after the first chapter. Accompanied by 78 beautifully penned original illustrations, this guide is divided into three sections, including how to follow one's instincts, traditional and historical meanings of the cards, and a detailed analysis on the interactions among the cards. "With a highly readable, hip writing style, Ms. Morgan unveils the rich and magical process of how to read the cards." -James Wanless, Ph.D., author of Voyager Tarot and Way of the Great Oracle
Shots in the Dark: The Saga Of Rocco Balliro
by Daniel Zimmerman&“The fascinating story of the 1963 deaths of Boston mobster Rocco Balliro&’s girlfriend and her son in a police shootout . . . a real page-turner.&”—Dennis N. Griffin, bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of a &“Casino&” Mobster On a frigid winter night in early 1963, Rocco Anthony Balliro and a pair of associates stormed a darkened apartment on the outskirts of Boston and were immediately embroiled in a deadly shootout with several unseen assailants. Unbeknownst to Rocco at the time, the men who returned his fire were several Boston police officers, waiting in ambush for him. It was, as Rocco later described it, a hastily planned rescue mission that went downhill in a hurry. In the aftermath, his beloved girlfriend and her toddler son lay dead. &“Author Daniel Zimmerman, the woman&’s nephew, was granted exclusive access to Balliro in prison and met with him over the course of 2 years to hear his side of the story. This book, which chronicles the events of that night, Balliro&’s trial, and his attempt to clear his name is a true crime story with a local twist.&”—Patch
Essays After Eighty
by Donald HallThe former U.S. Poet Laureate contemplates life, death, and the view from his window in these &“alternately lyrical and laugh-out-loud funny&” essays (The New York Times). From an early age, Donald Hall dedicated his life to the written word. In his long and celebrated career, he was an accomplished poet, essayist, memoirist, dramatist, and children&’s author. Now, in the &“unknown, unanticipated galaxy&” of very old age, his essays continue to startle, move, and delight. In Essays After Eighty, Hall ruminates on his past: &“thirty was terrifying, forty I never noticed because I was drunk, fifty was best with a total change of life, sixty extended the bliss of fifty . . .&” He also addresses his present: &“When I turned eighty and rubbed testosterone on my chest, my beard roared like a lion and gained four inches.&” Most memorably, Hall writes about his enduring love affair with his ancestral Eagle Pond Farm and with the writing life that sustains him every day: &“Yesterday my first nap was at 9:30 a.m., but when I awoke I wrote again.&” &“Deliciously readable…Donald Hall, if abandoned by the muse of poetry, has wrought his prose to a keen autumnal edge.&” —The Wall Street Journal
Wilderness Essays
by John MuirThis series celebrates the tradition of literary naturalists—writers who embrace the natural world as the setting for some of our most euphoric and serious experiences. These books map the intimate connections between the human and the natural world. Literary naturalists transcend political boundaries, social concerns, and historical milieus; they speak for what Henry Beston called the “other nations” of the planet. Their message acquires more weight and urgency as wild places become increasingly scarce.
Kentucky Book of the Dead
by Keven McQueenThis illustrated compendium by the author of Horror in the Heartland reveals macabre tales of death, hauntings and unexplained events in Kentucky&’s past. Author Keven McQueen specializes in uncovering local legends, strange-but-true incidents, and outright hoaxes that newspapers of the past found fit to print. In his Kentucky Book of the Dead, McQueen resurrects creepy stories of life and death in the Bluegrass State, each presented with commentary as well as line drawing by illustrator Kyle McQueen. In these pages, readers will discover the Grim Reaper's creative side, meet the disgusting ghosts of Louisville, and find out more than they to know about old-fashioned embalming techniques. Kentucky Book of the Dead is by turns spine-tingling and entertaining, engrossing and just plain gross
She Be Damned: A Heloise Chancey Mystery (The Heloise Chancey Mysteries #1)
by M. J. TjiaA serial killer draws the Victorian courtesan and professional sleuth into 19th century London&’s criminal underground in this historical mystery.London, 1863. Women in Waterloo are turning up dead, their sexual organs removed and mutilated. When a girl goes missing and the search proves fruitless, fears grow that the killer may have claimed another victim. With the police at a total loss, it falls to courtesan and professional detective, Heloise Chancey, to investigate. With the assistance of her friend and maid, Amah Li Leen, Heloise inches closer to the truth. But when Amah is implicated in the brutal plot, Heloise begins to question who she can trust. In times like these, even a woman acquainted with London&’s dark side must be wary of what lurks in the shadows.
Urgent Message from Mother: Gather the Women, Save the World
by Jean Shinoda Bolen&“This is the most inspiring and optimistic book I&’ve read in years. It tells how women working together can bring us peace and save the planet.&”—Isabel Allende Jean Shinoda Bolen&’s unique combination of visionary thinking and practical how-to seeks to galvanize the power of women acting together in order to save our world. Bolen outlines the lessons we can learn from the women&’s movement, draws on Jungian psychology and the sacred feminine, and gives powerful examples of women coming together all over the globe to make a significant impact. Her life&’s work—which includes her Jungian-inspired insights in The Tao of Psychology, her bestseller Goddesses in Every Woman, Crones Don&’t Whine, and The Millionth Circle—culminates in this timely book, Urgent Message from Mother. &“A book whose time has come. Our earth home and all forms of life in it are at grave risk. We men have had our turn and made a proper mess of things. We need women to save us. I pray that many will read Bolen&’s work and be inspired then to act appropriately. Time is running out.&”—Desmond Tutu &“Always urging us into circle and into peace, the healing power of Jean Shinoda Bolen&’s work and thought transforms all who will allow encounter. Jean never tires of wanting, and working for, our freedom, our healing and our health.&”—Alice Walker &“Jean Shinoda Bolen shows us how the cult of masculinity is endangering us all. Women and men are equally human and fallible but at least women don&’t have our masculinity to prove—and that alone may make us the main saviors of this fragile Spaceship Earth.&”—Gloria Steinem
Silence (An Otto Penzler Book #9)
by Thomas Perry&“An ingeniously plotted and tightly written novel of taut psychological suspense&” from the New York Times bestselling author of the Butcher&’s Boy novels (Nelson DeMille). Six years ago, private investigator Jack Till helped Wendy Harper disappear. But now her ex-boyfriend and former business partner is being framed for her presumed murder in an effort to smoke her out, and Till must find her before tango-dancing assassins Paul and Sylvie Turner do. The Turners are merely hired to do a job, though, and prefer to remain anonymous. When they find that a middleman has let the true employer know their identities, finishing the job is no longer enough. Their fee just went up. Full of masterful plotting and unnerving psychological insight, Silence is a mesmerizing thrill ride. &“Ingenious.&”—George Pelecanos &“Brilliant.&”—Robert B. Parker &“Mr. Perry spins an elaborate web of cat-and-mouse machinations . . . driven as much by the characters&’ fears and neuroses as by ordinary motives . . . Expertly wrought.&”—The New York Times &“As good as [Perry] gets . . . Silence entertains until the very last page.&”—New York Daily News &“Another intelligent, literate thriller . . . As always, Perry excels at the procedural details, keeps up the pace throughout and will have readers guessing until the end.&”—Publishers Weekly
American Trivia: What We Should All Know About U.S. History, Culture & Geography
by Richard Lederer Caroline McCullaghLearn fascinating facts about the history, culture, leaders, and heroes of our great nation in this comprehensive volume of U.S. trivia.This land is your land—so you should know a thing or two about it. American Trivia is chock full of fascinating facts, historical riddles, and puzzling quizzes about the people, places, and events that make this nation great. Divided into sections on national origins, presidents, historical figures, and more, this book offers a crash course in essential Americana. In these pages, you will learn the origin of the national anthem, stories about national monuments such as the Liberty Bell and Statue of Liberty, fascinating information about the country&’s heroes and inventors, and more. As co-authors Richard Lederer and Caroline McCullagh demonstrate, American trivia is anything but trivial.
For the Love of Pie: Sweet and Savory Recipes
by Lynn Marie Hulsman Felipa Lopez Cheryl PerryJoin the owners of Brooklyn&’s Pie Corps to create the finest-quality, handmade, soul-satisfying, savory and sweet pies. Cheryl Perry and Felipa Lopez, owners of Brooklyn&’s Pie Corps, share their pie-making expertise and delicious recipes in their first cookbook. For the Love of Pie boasts sophisticated and contemporary flavors in pies made using traditional techniques. Perry and Lopez explain the science and art behind baking a perfect piecrust while offering a variety of crust recipes, from all butter to chocolate crumb. Paired with the crusts are recipes for dessert pies, pot pies, hand pies, meat pies, and tarts. Several of the Pie Corps&’ signature recipes, such as Apple Crumb Pie with Rosemary-Caramel Sauce and Buttermilk-Fried Chicken Pie with Buttermilk Gravy and Sautéed Greens, are in the cookbook along with other mouth-watering options like Lemon Thyme Blackberry Mini Tartlets, Picadillo Hand Pies, and Honey-Lavender Custard Pie. Why pie? It&’s the essence of handmade. Once you learn the basics of making crusts and fillings, you&’re there—anything locally available to you is potentially pie. What could be better than that?
Murmuration
by Robert LockThis poetic novel follows lives and struggles across generations under the constant dance of the sea birds in the English resort town of Blackpool. The old Victorian pier of Blackpool has stood the test of time, carrying each generation over a cold and relentless sea. As the starlings swoop and glide in mesmerizing patterns over the stalwart structure, they watch the lives of those who pass beneath: people absorbed in their human dramas, following their own arcs of striving and despair. From the mid-1800s to the present day, Robert Lock&’s Murmuration follows two scandalous comedians born a century apart; a seemingly ageless deckchair attendant; a fortune-teller who believes no one can see the future; as well as others who&’ve been drawn to the possibilities of this seaside town. But here, too, is a man who knows that the only way to stop history from repeating itself is to solve a mystery as old as the pier.
All the Art That's Fit to Print (And Some That Wasn't): Inside The New York Times Op-Ed Page
by Jerelle KrausFrom the New York Times&’s former Op-Ed art director, the true story of the world&’s first Op-Ed page, a public platform that prefigured the blogosphere. Jerelle Kraus, whose thirteen-year tenure as Op-Ed art director far exceeds that of any other art director or editor, unveils a riveting account of working at the Times. Her insider anecdotes include the reasons why artist Saul Steinberg hated the Times, why editor Howell Raines stopped the presses to kill a feature by Doonesbury&’s Garry Trudeau, and why reporter Syd Schanburg—whose story was told in the movie The Killing Fields—stated that he would travel anywhere to see Kissinger hanged, as well as Kraus&’s tale of surviving two and a half hours alone with the dethroned outlaw, Richard Nixon. All the Art features a satiric portrayal of John McCain, a classic cartoon of Barack Obama by Jules Feiffer, and a drawing of Hillary Clinton and Obama by Barry Blitt. But when Frank Rich wrote a column discussing Hillary Clinton exclusively, the Times refused to allow Blitt to portray her. Nearly any notion is palatable in prose, yet editors perceive pictures as a far greater threat. Confucius underestimated the number of words an image is worth; the thousand-fold power of a picture is also its curse . . . Features 142 artists from thirty nations and five continents, and 324 pictures—gleaned from a total of 30,000—that stir our cultural-political pot. &“To discover what really goes on inside the belly of the media beast, read this book.&” —Bill Maher &“In this overflowing treasure chest of ideas, politics and cultural critiques, Kraus proves that &“art is dangerous&” and sometimes necessarily so.&” —Publishers Weekly
Flatbread: Toppings, Dips, and Drizzles
by Anni DaulterThe author of Sacred Pregnancy and The Organic Family Cookbook offers 60 savory, sweet, and easy-to-eat recipes featuring delectable flatbreads. In Flatbread, timeless staples from around the world meet innovative flavor combinations. With Anni Daulter fresh approach to traditional recipes, various types of flatbreads—including sourdough, sweet dough, and gluten-free—are enhanced with dips, drizzles, and creative toppings to make appetizers, main courses, and desserts. Artichoke and Truffle Dip, Tamarind Chutney, Fiery Balsamic Glaze, and Calendula Infused Truffle Oil are just some of the dips and drizzles that combine with topping recipes like Good Morning Sunshine, Eden&’s Delight, Honeyed Marrakech Lamb, Mexican Street Fair, Cherry Love, and Blueberry Sunrise.
Cosmic Conversations: Dialogues on the Nature of the Universe and the Search for Reality
by Stephan Martin&“Some of the most compelling, cutting-edge ideas about who we are and what kind of world we live in. This is a daring book—and a great read!&”—Glenn Hartelius, PhD, coeditor of the International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered &“What is the universe?&” In this lively and engaging collection of interviews, astronomer Stephan Martin talks with some of today&’s most innovative and cutting-edge thinkers on the nature of the universe and our relationship to it. Scientists, mystics, indigenous elders, and cultural creatives all share their unique voices on the nature of reality, the interplay of science and religion, the future of humanity, and the role of each person in a mysterious and evolving universe. Filled with rich insight, dynamic discussion, and penetrating wisdom, Cosmic Conversations asks the fundamental questions about the universe many of us have wondered about, yet few have explored in-depth, questions such as: Do time, space, and matter really exist? Can the universe be inside us, outside us, or both? Is the universe alive, conscious, and intelligent? Where are we in the cosmic evolutionary picture? A compelling journey from the farthest reaches of outer space to the innermost realms of the human heart, Cosmic Conversations will change the way you look at the universe (and yourself) forever. &“An excellent contribution to the philosophical revival that is taking place in the marketplace of ideas. Stephan&’s searching and heartfelt questions bring out the best of the authors he interviews.&”—Steve McIntosh, author of The Presence of the Infinite
This Child's Gonna Live (Contemporary Classics by Women)
by Sarah E. Wright&“[An] exploration of the black experience from a woman&’s perspective, anticipating fiction by writers like Toni Morrison and Alice Walker.&”—The New York Times Originally published in 1969 to broad critical acclaim, This Child&’s Gonna Live is an unsurpassed testament to human endurance in the face of poverty, racism, and despair. Set in a fishing village on Maryland&’s Eastern Shore in the 1930s, this story has as its main character the unforgettable Mariah Upshur, a hard-working, sensual, resilient woman, full of hope, and determination despite living in a society that conspires to keep her down. In her mind, she carries on a conversation with Jesus, who, like Mariah herself, is passionate and compassionate, at times funny and resolutely resilient to fatalism. Often compared to Zora Neale Hurston for her lyrical and sure-handed use of local dialect, Wright, like Hurston, powerfully depicts the predicament of poor African American women, who confront the multiple oppressions of class, race, and gender.&“In every respect, an impressive achievement. The canon of American folk-epic is enriched by this small masterpiece.&”—The New York Times Book Review &“It has always been my contention that the Black woman in America will write the greatest of the American novels. For it is the Black woman, forced to survive at the bottom rung of American society . . . who is compelled to survey, by the very extremity of her existence, the depths of the American soul. In reading Sarah Wright&’s searing novel, I am convinced that my assessment was correct.&”—Rosa Guy, author of The Friends
Dr. Futurity
by Philip K. DickFrom the author of Solar Lottery, in a future where death is embraced, a time-traveling doctor is the only one who can save a wounded resistance leader. When Dr. Jim Parsons wakes up from a car accident, he finds himself in a future populated almost entirely by the young. But to keep the world run by the young, death is fetishized, and those who survive to old age are put down. In such a world, Parsons—with his innate desire to save lives—is a criminal and outcast. But for one revolutionary group, he may be just the savior they need to heal and revive their cryogenically frozen leader. And when he and the group journey to 1500s California, what they find causes them to question what they know about history and the underpinnings of their society. With the jarring immediacy of a car crash, Philip K. Dick throws both the reader and protagonist of Dr. Futurity into a bizarre future where healing is a crime and youth rules.
A Phenomenological Interpretation of Schizophrenia: Subjectivation, Framework and Perspective
by Pierluigi ParisiIn this book the author develops a novel, philosophically-psychopathologically founded theory of schizophrenia and its basic disorder. After the introduction with the presentation of the basic concept, the further study is divided into five chapters, each of which first gives a conceptual overview, then includes and analyzes clinical phenomena and research results in detail. The originality and creativity of the work essentially consists in using the terms mentioned as “passe-partout”, as it were, which allow the most diverse, often disparate phenomena and symptoms of schizophrenia to be viewed from an integrating point of view. The method used is phenomenological, descriptive, and interpretative, drawing on a wealth of empirical research results, but at the same time being re-viewed and reorganized in the subjective-perspective framework concept.
Empathetic Policy Design: Emotional Engagement, Inclusive Space, and Empowered Deliberation
by Piyapong BoossabongThis book sets out to develop a policy design process that is more inclusive by creating space for emotions and feelings. Rather than focus solely on expert knowledge, it places the fears and hopes of citizens at the heart of policy design, to facilitate meaningful interactions between policymakers and the citizens they serve. Focusing particularly on evidence from Thailand, but drawing on case studies from around the world, the book argues that empathetic policy design is crucial to foster social learning and better-informed policies. It also focuses on how emotions can be incorporated into policy design, and how policymakers of the future might use these design processes to create and implement policies that will benefit all. The book will appeal to all those interested in public policy and policy design.
Vampires Are Us: Understanding Our Love Affair with the Immortal Dark Side
by Margot AdlerThe author of Drawing Down the Moon offers a "literate, imaginative, and just plain fascinating&” exploration of the enduring allure of vampires (Whitley Strieber, author of The Hunger). Author and NPR correspondent Margot Adler found herself newly drawn to vampire novels while sitting vigil at her dying husband&’s bedside. Intrigued by the way this ever-evolving myth lets us contemplate mortality, she embarked on a years-long journey of reading hundreds vampire novels—from teen to adult, from gothic to modern, from detective to comic. She began to see just how each era creates the vampires it needs. Dracula, an Eastern European monster, was the perfect vehicle for 19th-century England&’s fear of outsiders and of disease seeping in through its large ports. In 1960s America, the television show Dark Shadows gave us the morally conflicted vampire struggling against his own predatory nature, who still enthralls us today. From Bram Stoker to Ann Rice; from vampire detective thrillers to lesbian vampire fiction; and from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Twilight and True Blood, Vampires Are Us explores the issues of power, politics, morality, identity, and even the fate of the planet that show up in vampire novels today. Perhaps, Adler suggests, our blood is oil, perhaps our prey is the planet. Perhaps vampires are us.
Denver (A Southwestern Saga #3)
by Sara OrwigUSA Today-Bestselling Author: In frontier Colorado, a woman risks her heart—and maybe her life—when she falls for an outlaw on the run… When Tigre Castillo is wrongfully accused of murder, he flees to Denver, leaving behind his outlaw past and his name. In Denver, he becomes Dan Castle, a man with dreams of a better future—and a fierce determination to have the woman his heart has always longed for. Mary O&’Malley has learned how to survive using wits and guile in a tough city ruled by men. When Dan&’s and Mary&’s paths collide, she finds herself surrendering—body and soul—to the only man with the power to destroy her… &“Sara Orwig's masterful touch will make your heart sing with joy.&”—RT Book Reviews
Superpower Illusions: How Myths and False Ideologies Led America Astray—and How to Return to Reality
by Jack F. Matlock Jr.&“This persuasive, occasionally provocative book corrects a number of pervasive myths about the Cold War&”—from the former U.S. ambassador to the USSR (Publishers Weekly).In Superpower Illusions, Jack F. Matlock refutes the enduring idea that the United States forced the collapse of the Soviet Union by applying military and economic pressure—with wide-ranging implications for U.S. foreign policy. Matlock argues that Gorbachev, not Reagan, undermined Communist Party rule in the Soviet Union and that the Cold War ended in a negotiated settlement that benefited both sides. He posits that the end of the Cold War diminished rather than enhanced American power; with the removal of the Soviet threat, allies were less willing to accept American protection and leadership that seemed increasingly to ignore their interests.Matlock shows how, during the Clinton and particularly the Bush-Cheney administrations, the belief that the United States had defeated the Soviet Union led to a conviction that it did not need allies, international organizations, or diplomacy, but could dominate and change the world by using its military power unilaterally. Superpower Illusions is &“a truly remarkable book, both wise and provocative, telling a sad yet instructive story of how the United States failed to exploit a triumph in the Cold War to build a new international order reflecting U.S. interests and principles&” (Dimitri Simes, President and CEO, The Center for the National Interest).&“A well written, clearly reasoned and thoroughly informed tour of the past half century of American diplomacy—including the roots of its successes and failures—led by a superbly qualified participant. A brilliant book.&”—Sidney Drell, Stanford University
Creamy & Crunchy: An Informal History of Peanut Butter, the All-American Food (Arts and Traditions of the Table Perspectives on Culinary History)
by Jon Krampner&“A delightful book about America&’s most popular nut butter and sandwich spread . . . well-written, fast-paced, surprising.&”—Andrew F. Smith, editor in chief, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America Americans spoon it out of the jar, eat it in sandwiches by itself or with its bread-fellow jelly, and devour it with foods ranging from celery and raisins (&“ants on a log&”) to a grilled sandwich with bacon and bananas (the classic &“Elvis&”). Peanut butter is used to flavor candy, ice cream, cookies, cereal, and other foods. It is a deeply ingrained staple of American childhood. Along with cheeseburgers, fried chicken, chocolate chip cookies (and apple pie), peanut butter is a consummate comfort food. In Creamy and Crunchy are the stories of Jif, Skippy, Peter Pan; the plight of black peanut farmers; the resurgence of natural or old-fashioned peanut butter; the reasons why Americans like peanut butter better than (almost) anyone else; the five ways that today&’s product is different from the original; the role of peanut butter in fighting Third World hunger; and the Salmonella outbreaks of 2007 and 2009, which threatened peanut butter&’s sacred place in the American cupboard. To a surprising extent, the story of peanut butter is the story of twentieth-century America, and Jon Krampner writes its first popular history, rich with anecdotes and facts culled from interviews, research, travels in the peanut-growing regions of the South, personal stories, and recipes. &“A witty, encyclopedic history of one of America&’s most iconic processed foods. It is chock-full of fun facts and surprising insights into the way we eat today.&”—Aaron Bobrow-Strain, author of White Bread: A Social History of the Store-Bought Loaf