5 comments about The Potato: How the Humble Spud Rescued the Western World.

1. With a lively literary style, journalist Larry Zuckerman explains the history and importance of the lowly tuber, from its thirteen-thousand-year origin on the high Andean plateaus to its sixteenth-century discovery by Spaniards down to the beginning of World War I. Zuckerman chronicles just four countries in his treatise about the spud, but these countries: France, England, Ireland, and the United States are, he says, representative of the Western world.

   Despite the potato's vital nutrients, it soon became known as the food of the poor and remained out of favor among the gentry. Even the peasants did not appreciate the strange plant that formed odd tubers which sprouted, which they declared to be of the Devil. But by the end of the seventeenth century, the potato as a staple food for Ireland's poor had become widely known. At the same time in England, the potato had yet to become a table food. Farmers fed them to their livestock. Within a hundred years, the potato had "nosed its way into English life." In France, where the fear of nightshades was even greater than in England, the potato caught on because the wet summers did not affect this hardy plant as they did grain.

   Zuckerman traces the tuber's history from its beginnings through the horrific Potato Famine of Ireland to farm staple in a post-Civil War U.S. The potato represented a food whose ease of preparation lightened the burden for the average American farm wife. In chapters titled Potatoes and Population, A Passion for Thrift, Women's Work, The Good Companions, and Good Breeding (showing the evolution of the tuber from exotic and fearsome to low class, to beneath notice), Zuckerman educates and entertains, and at the same time shows us that having read the history of the lowly spud, we can never regard it in the same way. Perhaps the humble potato did rescue the Western world.




2. This title is an eminently readable social history of the potato's influence in Western Europe and the United States. It's full of fascinating facts, e.g. innante prejudice about food sources that came out of the ground delaying acceptance of the potato in Europe.

   The book's greatest strength is the lengthy and sympathetic description of the Irish Great Famine of the 1840's. I am somewhat familiar with the secondary historical literature of the period and can confidently say that Zuckerman has thorough grounding in the sources and has fairly presented them.

   There are some problems: the book could have been better organized, it skips too lightly over the origin of the potato in South America and although it cites sources, a more traditional footnoting style would have been helpful.

   Mr.Zuckerman, I am now your fan and look forward to reading your next book.




3. Don't let the corny (ouch!) title put you off: this is a serious look at the historical place of the potato in England, Ireland, France and the United States. And if you are concerned that 271 pages on the "humble spud" might put you into a stupor, you might breathe easier when you know that Mr. Zuckerman uses the potato as a starting point to examine lots of other stuff: class distinctions; agricultural landlords and tenant farmers; urbanization; women and domestic drudgery; the role of bread (ouch again!) vs. the role of the potato, etc. Mr. Zuckerman even finds the time, near the end of the book, to incorporate some philosophical musings on the positive and negative aspects of "fast-food" and its relationship to our "hurry-up society." To me, one of the best things about the book was the multi-cultural approach: it was interesting to see how much more quickly the potato caught-on in the United States than it did in France, England and Ireland (where the centuries-old custom of strict reliance on bread had to be overcome). Another interesting thing to read about was the amazement of foreign visitors concerning the variety of the American diet. We tend to forget that in Europe, in the period this book primarily deals with (1700-1900), the average person lived on bread, porridge, and soup. (One of the many interesting facts presented in this book is that up until almost 1900 most French peasants had a morning bowl of soup rather than a cup of coffee.) You were indeed fortunate if you had meat, milk, butter, eggs, coffee, etc. Even if a peasant farmer owned a cow, pig, or chicken, quite often the food products the animals supplied had to be sold, to provide some much-needed cash. The book provides a very nice combination of scholarly data(economic and sociological information) and anecdotal material. To be honest, the book was a "heavier" read than I anticipated, but the interesting "factoids" helped to lighten and liven things up. Some examples: soup was so prevalent in 19th century France that in one district it is documented that some people had wooden tables with rounded depressions carved into them. As Mr. Zuckerman writes, this "removed the need for plates and [also] any doubt about the menu."; soup was also used as a "bread-softener." Due to poor quality grain and inefficient ovens, the crust of bread was often as hard as a rock. Some people couldn't cut the bread with a knife- they had to use a saw; finally, in 19th century London a common sight was the "baked 'tato man," who sold his product from a cart on the sidewalk- similar to today's hot dog, pretzel, and chestnut vendors. But the interesting thing about the "baked 'tato man" was that, in the cold weather, he would suggest to the gentleman-half of a passing couple that he buy a baked potato to keep his sweetheart warm. The author writes, "This advice was often taken, and the potato placed inside her muff." Food for warmth, and this fine book provides much food for thought, as well.



4. Riding on the wave of single-ingredient books, this one is a poorly edited but mildly interesting book, mostly about Irish peasantry and how the potato was viewed by its various classes, a subject that the author is so fascinated by that he repeats himself more than once. And other than that, the choice of what to write about and what to just ignore seems to have been made in the most idiosyncratic manner. The history of the potato won't be found, nor its geographical spread and importance in various places around even the western world. As for the Andes, where's that? It must be in the east. As for the premise in the title, it's just a title with nothing to show for it in the book. I wouldn't criticise the author on readability, though. The book is quite readable, just not something to be read otherwise than casually (if you're into reading about Ireland), with the knowledge that the author has points of view that he's pushing. This can't be plain-potato reading. Since the author holds strong views which he pushes here, one needs to read sprinkling the facts and choice of sources with a touch of salt.



5. If, like me, you mostly read at night in bed, don't choose this book. No-one should go to sleep in an irritable mood, having painfully re-read pages to ascertain what the author is trying to say, disentangling the contorted lines of thought and timelines. Although crammed with information, much of it seems contrived, anecdotal and you have to expend too much energy digging deep to get to the core of the history of the spud. When you do, it is indeed interesting. But don't labour over this book - read COD instead for easy-read insight into how single food sources make and break entire populations.

5 comments about Growing Great Garlic: The Definitive Guide for Organic Gardeners and Small Farmers.

1. I cannot comment on the end results yet, since harvest is still 10 months away. This book introduces the types of garlic and recommends several organic methods of soil preparation. The greatest revelation was when to plant. All the local home garden supply stores stock garlic for spring planting. The author recommends fall, something subsequently confirmed by a local commercial grower. Hopefully with the fertilizing and time of planting tips, my results won't be quite so dismal.



2. If you finish this book, unless you're already a garlic farmer, you'll have been endowed with about 10 times the amount of information that you'll ever need. This book needs a major edit as the information is jumbled and unclear. I got the impression that the author definitely knows his stuff but was unable for some reason to convey it in any coherent way.
   
   I read the book in its entirety and all I really wanted to know was WHEN to plant and harvest my garlic -- I THINK I know now but I had to go back and re-check what Engeland said on this topic. So, if you just want to know the simple things about growing garlic, just check the internet. This book would definitely be helpful if you were planning to grow garlic as a source of income.
   
   Maybe a revised version will come out soon, which would surely be an improvement.



3. I'd recommend this book no matter where you live as the author gives instruction for all weather conditions. My home here in the Southern Hemisphere is quite cold and snows in winter but is dry and warm in summer - so I now know what I can grow and have found a great organic site that I can buy my garlic bulbs from. Bliss!



4. I'm a gardener who loves to cook, and I love my kitchen herb garden best of all. When I decided to try growing garlic this book was recommended by the seed (bulb) supplier as a great place to start, and they were right! It's well-written, complete, and a great reference. Highly recommended!



5. Type in growing galic in your search engine and 9 out of 10 will tell you it is a snap.
   This author has at least 40 reasons why your crop will fail.
   I don't recommend this book... too negative and too disorganized.

5 comments about 1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die.

1. To cover 1001 Gardens in 960 pages is an almost impossible mission, yet Rae Spencer-Jones and his 70 contributors accomplished it.
   
   Every garden listed in "1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die" follows a standard listing format of designers, owners, garden style, size, climate, location and a brief description of the garden. Some of the gardens listed have half-page size color photographs. This book is very useful for you to gain a rough idea of the gardens nearby when you visit a city, it'll let you know about the existence of a garden and help you decide whether to visit it or not. To this end, I think "1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die" is successful.
   
   All the gardens are arranged by geographical locations, including North America, Europe, Asia, Central and South America, Africa, New Zealand and Australia. I find the "Climate Classification System," "Useful Address," "Garden Directory" at the end of the book very helpful.
   
   "1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die" has 960 pages and color interior photographs and is a useful quick reference for garden tour!
   
   Gang Chen, Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated." LEED AP, AIA
   
   
   



2. This very thick book has beautiful pictures that inspires one to plant a garden & travel the world.



3. For garden-lovers a 1,000 page book crammed chockfull with gardens the world over is an enticing prospect - though the suggestion you must all see them before you die is a bit fanciful, and symptomatic of the depersonalized, random consumerism of today's "must-see", "must-have" and "must-do" lists. Unfortunately, the book itself is not quite what it could have been. Quantity decidedly triumphed over quality. Photographs are mostly small, often quite crude and grainy, and as often unnaturally, even luridly colored. Many hardly give an impression of a garden at all, but instead focus on detail or architecture. Descriptive entries are brief and superficial. Entries are arranged geographically, from north to south and from west to east, with remarkably confusing results. The accent is very strongly on Europe, the whole of China being despatched in less pages than the Netherlands. If you are looking for a gazetteer to guide you to interesting gardens while planning a travel itinerary, this book might just give you a useful handle. If you are looking for pleasing garden images or indepth information, look elsewhere.



4. This was a great Mother's Day gift any gardener would love. Beautiful pictures of gardens around the world.



5. This a great resource book. However DO NOT attempt to use this book as a travel guide...if you want to see the gardens in this book I urge you to do lots of advance planning before you leave home. I bought this book before a trip to Spain 1 1/2 years ago. I went to the tourist information centers in the cities I visited in order to find out where these gardens were. In many cases, these were private gardens not open to the public or the visiting hours were so limited that it was virtually impossible to visit them. One garden in Granada I was steered to correctly. However, when I got there, I discovered it was closed the entire month of August! (I did peer in through the gates). I wish the tourist information had told me that before I ventured out there.
   
   On a recent trip to Rio de Janeiro, I had a similar experience with one of the gardens listed. I did find someone who was familiar with it, but it wasn't open to the casual visitor.
   
   In conclusion, many of the gardens in this book are not open to the casual visitor, so use it with caution. If you do have your heart set on seeing some of these gardens, plan in advance before leaving home.

5 comments about You Grow Girl: The Groundbreaking Guide to Gardening.

1. This book is great for people who know absolutely nothing about gardening, but want to grow a window flower box garden or want to start a backyard herb and vegetable garden. Takes you through the details of gardening in an informative and easy-going way and answers all your questions.



2. This is such a nice book to keep on the shelf and reference. She explains a lot about gardening, indoor and outdoor.
   
   I had originally checked it out of my local library, after reading it, I knew I had to own a copy. I've never regretted this purchase.
   
   Enjoy the book!



3. I love this book! It is full of information that is in a humorous and easy-to-read format. I have been through the whole book once and now go back almost daily to look specific things up. I live in a downtown loft and have a beautiful container garden on my rooftop thanks to this book!



4. I checked this book out so many times from my local library that I finally just bought it. It's fun to read, and a great reference book. I am such a newbie when it comes to gardening, but this book really helped me understand the basics, and at the same time encouraged me and got me excited about gardening! I would recommend it to anyone who has the urge to plant but just doesn't quite know how.



5. What can I say? This book is amazing. Gayla breathes fun and life into gardening in a way I haven't found anywhere else. I was a beginning gardener looking for a book that was fun, hip, easy, and full of useful information. This book DELIVERED and then some. It's been an incredible reference again and again. I surf her site regularly for updates but this book has really been my teacher. My garden is looking a million times better. Some things readers will love: organic fertilizer and pesticide recipes that are easy, simple projects like growing your own herbal tea garden and making a foot scrub, and start-to-finish instructions on how to grow any kind of garden (container, community, urban, etc). THANK YOU GAYLA!!

5 comments about Building Your Own Greenhouse (Greenhouse Basics).

1. This is simply a magnificent book on how to construct your own hobby greenhouse as well as other gardening structures such as simple cold frames or installing a bay window with a nice ledge in your home. The main advantage of building your own greenhouse is cost-savings; manufactured greenhouses are very expensive to buy and even more expensive to have assembled. And you don't need to be a handyman to put one together - in most cases you'll be building a frame to hold plastic sheeting to keep out the cold and let in the sun's rays. So what if it's a little crooked here or there? Chances are neither you nor anyone else will notice, but the flowering assortment of vegetables, fruits, and specimen plants will grab everyone's attention!
   
   The author, Mark Freeman, shares his own experiences as well as the experiences of others in building greenhouse structures. First he explains how greenhouses work. Then he shows you every step toward the completion of your own hobby greenhouse. The rest of the chapters are 'Site Selection and Laying a Foundation', 'Framing', 'Glazing', 'Ventilation' (a very important chapter because successful greenhouse gardening hinges on this), 'Supplemental Heating, Insulation, and Heat Sinks', 'Plumbing and Wiring', and 'Shutters and Shades'. Sources for suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors are also listed in appendices. In conclusion, he shares designs for eleven different DIY greenhouse structures including a hoop house. Another design is called Mary's Madhouse (an attached second-floor solar greenhouse built lean-to fashion over top of an adjoining shed) and Alwin's Plumber's Friend is a greenhouse made from PVC pipe. Mark Freeman's greenhouse is attached to his home and includes a hot tub nestled among his seedlings and houseplants.
   
   In short, this is a great resource for the home gardener who has thought about building his or her first little greenhouse because you will no doubt experience success without too much fuss.



2. Pretty simple to follow instructions and drawings. Not the most exciting book of its kind I have read recently, but some good information and alternative building ideas.



3. This book was well written and offered many interesting greenhouse plans. I built a 22x40 foot model from the plans and have been very happy with the results.



4. It made a giant leap into a small step: From a gardener to a greenhouse operator.
   
   Buy the book and enjoy transformation and success!



5. Want to build your own greenhouse. Books addresses some problems associated with air circulation, temperature control, building materials etc...

5 comments about Designing the New Kitchen Garden: An American Potager Handbook.

1. This book is filled with beautiful pictures and explanations that inspire and educate. Ms. Bartley has her own garden and I felt that I benefited from her own experience. After reading this book, I was ready to place a potager's garden in my own back yard.



2. I bought this book as a gift for my friend Ellen, who loves gardening. She was thrilled!!



3. As a horticulture student, I bought this on a field trip at Pennsylvania's Longwood Gardens. And though I had to truck it with me across 5 states and 2 countries, it's defiantly worth the buy. Not only does Bartley discuss the history of the potager, but she offers insight into both traditional and American gardens as well as helpful hints for the beginning designer. A must have for any kitchen gardener.



4. Like other "potager" books (formal, French-style kitchen gardens), this has beautiful photos of gardens artistically planted in geometric designs, which are unrealistic for those of us without at least fairly large properties and larger bank accounts. It also has the best-researched history, which is interesting in itself and will give you fodder for entertaining conversation. The unexpected bonus that sets this one apart from the others is that it's useful, too, because there are many detailed how-to charts, designs, and lists. These are particularly for those who live in the Midwest (Zone 5 and adjacent), as the author does. East Coasters can benefit, too, but those of us in California will have to adapt her when-to-plant info, for instance. Even so, this is one of the most interesting and useful books of many that I've read or skimmed lately on all variations and topics of vegetable gardening. I actually READ most of this one.



5. I recently purchased a used volume of Designing the New Kitchen Garden: An American Potager Handbook. The page views were very helpful in helping me decide the content was what I was looking for to help me redesign my current garden. The photos and description of the condition of the book ( which was very accurate)also aided in helping make my decision.
   The book arrived in the described condition and in a timely manner. I was extremely pleased with this transaction and the book has indeed met my expectations for the information I was hoping to obtain.

5 comments about The Cannabis Breeder's Bible: The Definitive Guide to Marijuana Genetics, Cannabis Botany and Creating Strains for the Seed Market.

1. To have gone through this book and come out the other side is a profound experience, like some sort of a futuristic biology class that specialized in the stuff that gets you best baked. I would not hesitate to force any kind of plant lover to gravitate towards this book like it was about a rose bush or an apple tree. It is a progressively deeper and meaningful insight into the world of plants and the humans who care for them. On one page we are getting an illustrated history of the evolution of the cannabis plant and on the next page how to use materials to enhance the genes that make flowers big like they where back in the prehistoric ages. It is unparalleled in the way its advanced scientific information is brought out in a practical and applicable manner to your grow. The best part is that we can have it all now. The fact that Greg Green is a cotemporary makes now the best time to repeat what he is advising because you can do it the same way with the same stuff. The evidence is in the book. Nowhere else, anywhere else, has anything, even remotely addressed the kind of topics in this book, let alone experiment and produce consistent results with them. This kind of detail is avant-garde marijuana research. It is influencing and changing the way cannabis cultivation is done on daily bases.
   
   Chapter 1: Overview of the Cannabis Strain Market
   Chapter 2: Basic Breeding
   Chapter 3: Donor Parents, Pollination and Seeds
   Chapter 4: Compatible Breeding Models
   Chapter 5: Plant Cells, Growth and Hormones
   Chapter 6: The Code of Life
   Chapter 7: Evolution and Mutations
   Chapter 8: Tissue Culture
   Chapter 9: What the Market Wants
   Chapter 10: Quarantining Foreign Cuttings
   Chapter 11: Breeding Talk
   Chapter 12: How to Protect Your Work
   Chapter 13: The Breeding lab
   Chapter 14: Product Testing and Dealing with the Consumer
   Chapter 15: Seed Gender, Plant Gender and Sex-Inherited Traits
   Chapter 16: The Effects of Chromosome Modifications In Cannabis
   Chapter 17: The Evolutionary Conduit of Dioecious Cannabis Plants on the Outcome of Inbreeding Depression with Cannabis
   Chapter 18: Cannabis Plant Morphology and Breeding Traits
   Chapter 19: Advanced Floral Traits
   Chapter 20: Advanced Breeding Principles
   Chapter 21: The Basics of Cannabis Photosynthesis Chemistry
   Chapter 22: The Scientific Classification of Cannabis, Cannabinoids and Cannabinoid Receptors
   Chapter 23: Force Flowering Concepts and a Correct Approach to Calyx Development
   
   It is thanks to fresh new invigorating material like this that we are finally going to get a pause in the factory pumped out marijuana cultivation articles that get rehashed every year. For anybody who wants to be blown away by a Marijuana book, be blown away by Greg Green.



2. I Lightly read part of this book when i first began to read about cannabis. Boy oh boy was it a handful. This is a very advanced book. If you are simply a toker then i wouldn't suggest this book, but if you are an advanced grower/breeder this is for you.
   
   I would suggest reading other grow material and particularly greens grow bible before diving into this book.
   
   I will have to read it again now that i am a little more knowledgable.



3. This is an excellent resource on cannabis genetic's and how cannabis genetic characteristic's are utilized from the male and female plants.. IT IS NOT FOR THE BEGINNER wanting to learn how to grown cannabis, it is for experienced growers and designed for the advanced grower or anyone interested in cannabis genetic's to create their own variety of cannabis. If you do not have the time to understand how genetic's work nor do not understand basic chemistry about genetic's, this book is not for you. Verl McCown, GG



4. I bought this book with the hopes of learning something about genetics, and I learned that the author should devote some time to reading "marijuana botany" by Robert Connell Clarke. Unfortunately "The Cannabis Breeders Bible" is not a "definitive guide to marijuana genetics" the book is more like recycled garbage from a bunch of other grow books. It does nothing to explain the real deal with breeding like identifying strains that are compatible and in turn can breed. He puts it in a manner saying all you have to do is find a male and find a female and voila you have seeds. Any good cannabis breeder knows this is not the truth. Anyone looking at this book should just buy "Marijuana Botany" and leave it at that. The Cannabis breeders bible did nothing more than waste my time.



5. I think this is a really good book for people who understand horticulture and have been growing for a long time and want to expand. It is however no good for the first time or novice who may get confused with the scientific nature of the book.

5 comments about Complete Book of Cacti & Succulents.

1. I've read this book from cover to cover a number of times, always exposing more useful information. Particularly of interest are the many excellent photographs, which help us longtime cactus fans who've bought various cacti through the years without knowing what we've bought, or purchasing packets of mixed seeds, stand a chance of identifying these plants. Even in the photos that suggest planting possibilities, the plants are identified. Perhaps the most useful suggestion is the purchase of an inexpensive moisture meter (I picked one up at a ubiquitous discount chain for less than $5 that is a marvel of invention), which showed me that my watering habits needed rethinking. The book is printed on heavy stock, loaded with luscious photographs and details concerning the needs of any particular group of cacti/succulents - yes, there are omissions - the book covers; also there are planting tips, information on growing medium, fertilizing, etc.. Overall, this is a very worthwhile and valuable book for the cactii/succulent enthusiast.



2. Good book for suculent lovers. Doesn't show every type but shows families. Great instructions for replanting and other care.



3. First off, I have a great addiction for succulents. I love learning as much about them as i possibly can (especially since i work in a plant store) and i was really happy when i purchased this book. Another reviewer was right, it does not have EVERY succulent/cacti in here, which you cannot blame since there are thousands of different kinds. There is a section, on light requirments, soil conditions, potting, propagation, container ideas as well as tons of beautiful/information pictures. My favorite part about this book is that terry hewitt provides the height and width for the next 5 and 10 year span, for each of her plants listed. Its really nice to know how big some of my lovely succulents will be! If you love succulents too, and want very good info, get this book, you'll b happy :)



4. well written, covers the basics and easy descriptions for growing, maintaining and keeping C&S alive and happy



5. This is a nice book to have for the more experienced cactus and succulent growers. I do have to say this book has very colorful pictures of cactus and succulents, however, the specific growing needs for each species is rather short and limited. A beginner to this hobby may experience some difficulties with providing the specific growing conditions with this book for each species. I would certainly consider purchasing this book as a gift for the upcoming holidays, as it would make a nice gift.

2 comments about Robert A. M. Stern: Houses and Gardens.

1. This book on Robert Stern, the latest in a series, is very well executed. Mr. Stern really has a knack for anachronistic grand homes, they are a throw back to another time, but with all the modern luxuries money can buy. Stern has a real feel for the kind of gardens that complement each type of home, and the interaction between the two is often quite breathtaking. The images in this book are first rate and the homes are amazing. If you appreciate excellent photography, elegant architecture, and spectacular homes and gardens then you will love this book



2. I thoroughly loved his first residential book "Houses." With the amount of work he has done I expected this book to focus on new work but many of the same projects and pictures from the first book were used in this one.

1 comments about Plant Seed, Pull Weed: Nurturing the Garden of Your Life.

1. Geri Larkin's life has taken her from the heights of American business to the simplicity of Buddhist practice. She began her career as a jet-setting business consultant -- and is ending it as a sort of free-lance teacher and landscape consultant living in a tiny home in the Pacific Northwest.
   
   In fact, in this new book she writes that when she volunteers at an emergency food bank -- it's impossible to tell her and the other folks running the program from the clients in need of the emergency food.
   
   It's a wonderful journey, which Geri has laid out for readers in a series of books that are half spiritual memoir and half Zen advice about everything from personal relations to -- in this new book -- cooking up the dandelions you've pulled from your front yard.
   
   Around the time her previous book, "The Chocolate Cake Sutra," was published, I invited a group of high school students to spend time interviewing Geri for a documentary film on prayer and meditation. Geri was heading back to southeast Michigan for a few days from her new home in the Pacific Northwest, and I told the students that the cost of a seat with Geri was reading her book.
   
   If you know anything about the busy lives of teenagers, the idea of reading a book on Buddhism sounds like an impossible challenge. But, on the day of the interview, an eager little crowd of students pulled couches up around Geri's own easy chair. They pulled out these beautifully well-thumbed copies of her book -- their pages sprouting bookmarks, sticky notes and slips of paper with questions scribbled to ask Geri.
   
   That's the best way I can convey the excitement of her spiritual voice. It can hook and hold a busy teenager -- or a busy middle-aged writer like myself.
   
   These are books not to be missed, because they leave you with a hopeful smile on your face -- and a fistful of good ideas to make sure that smile is shared with someone else.
   
   They're great for small groups -- easy reading, but deep provocative wisdom in each chapter.