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Micro Histories: A Book List for History Buffs

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This lens is dedicated to the type of book that is about the history of some particular thing. The genre is perhaps best personified Mark Kurlansky's excellent book "Salt".

For history buffs, this is a refreshing and entertaining way to get a fix.

If he didn't invent this genre he at least put it on the map

I've read all of these, but my favorite is "Salt."

Vegetables

Fruits

Fish- Natural and Gastronomic Histories

Beverages

More on Drinks

Food-Related Biographies

For Dessert...

Plants

Birds

Spices

Natural History

Utensil or Tool Related

Military

Colors

Medicinal and Medical

Mathematical

Things We Do

Disasters

Obscure Places

Voyages

Uhhh...Unmentionables?

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JeffreyTymczak Dec 27, 2010 @ 8:28 pm | delete

Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to your next lens, I will definitely be rating this UP!!! ;)

Jeff

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Joan4 Oct 7, 2008 @ 2:34 pm | delete

Great list! I had not thought of the term "microhistories" and that is exactly what they are - how very interesting! Great lens idea!

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Rebecca Jun 29, 2008 @ 10:38 am | delete

Thank you for your list. This genre seems to encompass a variety of topics near and dear to small groups of people, but that have a wide impact on the bigger culture. Genealogy, food history, inventions, curiosities, regional history...

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jr Oct 12, 2007 @ 11:10 am | delete

There was a book called The Devil's Feast or something; it was about dangerous foods, like absinthe and the corsican cheese with fly larvae in it. It might belong in this list.

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Azuki Jul 31, 2007 @ 3:08 pm | delete

May I also suggest Liquid Jade: The Story of Tea from East to West by Beatrice Hohenegger. I think it worths all 5 stars it got on Amazon!
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