How Carrots Won the Trojan War: Curious (but True) Stories of Common Vegetables

I love the way this book is written and the information about the history of vegetable cultivation is well researched and presented in a very readable way. I had read BLUE CORN AND SQUARE TOMATOES by Rebecca Rupp and this book seems like an expanded version of that book. I can't recall what information was repeated, but definitely some of it... but it's much more detailed that the older book. Warning for this book: ****SKIP THE INTRODUCTION.**** This book is generously researched, and the sources are listed in the back as one would expect. However, the author clearly facies herself an expert on nutrition, which one would after writing children's books... I guess. She makes several assertions about nutrition in the introduction that are not supported by sources, and none are cited. As she is not a nutritionist, these are opinions. (For example, eggs are not considered a nutritional "gold standard." They aren't even legally allowed to be marketed as healthy or nutritious because they are not.) Some of the sources used in the rest of the book even refute the statements she makes in this part of the book. It comes across as propaganda, and it makes me question what the point of the section was (i.e., publishers with monetary interests). If you skip that bit of rubbish, the overall the book is great. And fun to read. Maybe the author could stay in her lane if she writes future nonfiction books.

I am giving this book a four star rating because it is so much fun to read. There is lots of interesting facts about vegetables that are presented. Along with these facts, the stories make for a really fun read. I read the book from cover to cover in almost one sitting. The facts are presented in one joyful rush that makes it fun to read. Now, i could argue that the book and the facts, could be laid out in neat little sections, and this would be the proper and organized thing to do. However, to do so would have taken the joy out of the reading.The words come out in almost a rush, like a torrent, and you are carried along with the flow. For a subject as prosaic as vegetables, this way of presenting them brings them to life, and makes the book wonderful. And, a pleasure to read.Great piece of writing!

Delightful book, Well written and filled with wonderful anecdotes about common vegetables, I enjoyed the read thoroghly, and recommend it highly.

What an interesting collection of stories about vegetables. I loved the many discoveries I made in this book. Do you know why Boston is called "Bean Town?" This book will tell you. Do you know how a common misconception about carrots helped the British survive the Battle of Britain? This book will tell you. Do you know why peppers and onions make those spicy flavors that sting your eyes and tongue? This book will tell you. Do you know why people were afraid to eat tomatoes for years? This book will tell you. It is a treasure trove of hundreds of delightful stories about foods we eat all the time. And there is also a good deal of science in here as well as the origins and properties of the different vegetables are discussed. All in all, this book accomplished exactly what it said it would. Good read.

There's an awful lot of interesting trivia in this book, but it's all thrown together. I think part of the problem is that when they ported it to kindle, something went wrong. I'm guessing that there are inset bits of text in the book, but in the kindle version, they just got shoved into the main text. So you'll be reading along in a small narrative about a piece of the history of the turnip, then bam, it cuts to another anecdote, and swaps back to the first when it's done.So i learned a lot of interesting things, like why tomatoes are self-fertile, but i always had to push myself to get back to the book after my reading was interrupted by life. There's no coherent anything, really. It's a bunch of interesting trivia strung together.And if what you really want to know is how carrots won the trojan war, i'll save you a few dollars: the soldiers in the Trojan Horse are reputed to have eaten carrots while waiting. There you go, all done. That's about the depth of any of the stories in this book.

It was not what I expected, but that is OK! I have enjoyed reading the origin and evolution of common vegetables, as well as the sometimes very strange properties that have been attributed to them over time!

I have been enjoying reading this book !!! It is really easy to read!!! You can start reading it without follow the order of the chapters. The author poses a talent to use entertainment facts with curious details of the human history associated with the vegetables; Also she gives interesting and simple scientific explanations about the most important chemicals for which the vegetables has been famous or infamous according with the mood of the times... and she also mentioned a little bit of the natural history of the vegetables, letting us know where the vegetables were domesticated first and how the present descents have been change from its wild relatives... I just love that book... it is like knowing the secrets associated with the vegetables and our heroes, pirates, kings, queens, presidents... facts that you were not find easily in one book !!!

I thought this was a quick and enjoyable read about the history of our most common vegetables. I bought the Kindle version and read it on a trip. Each story is short so it's easy to read a bit at a time.You wouldn't think that would be interesting but Rebecca Rupp has done a great job with balancing the facts and the stories. As a serious cook I liked knowing more about my ingredients.A good book for the foodie in you, and perhaps it will help you to eat your vegetables. Maybe it will even make vegetables more interesting to the kids!

Came across this by chance when looking for something completely different and was hooked from the first page. Rebecca Rupp has the light touch and witty style I like so much about Bill Bryson with his painstaking research into subjects you take for granted but which have a long and fascinating history. A highly entertaining and informative book.

This book is so quirky and so wonderful - it will make a great gift for any gardener who has even a slight knowledge of world history - and they'll be using the info inside to keep the conversation going at dinner parties for years to come! It's brilliantly witty and informative. I highly recommend it for anyone who has an innate curiosity as it will answer questions they didn't even know they had!

I am about half-way through this book and I love it. Each chapter focuses of a different fruit or vegetable, covering the evolution and origins of the plant as well as its uses throughout history. The book isn't too technical or scientific, so it can appeal to all audiences. If you enjoy gardening, botany, or just plain out of the ordinary books, then this is for you.

A must read for any gardener or just a love for veggies with some history

Was given as a gift