Much Depends on Dinner

The Extraordinary History and Mythology, Allure and Obsessions, Perils and Taboos of an Ordinary Meal

By: Margaret Visser

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

Winning unanimous praise on its publication and now available in paperback from Grove Press, Much Depends on Dinner is a delightful and intelligent history of the food we eat. Presented as a meal, each chapter represents a different course or garnish. Borrowing from Byron's classic poem "Don Juan" for her title ("Since Eve ate apples, much depends on dinner"), writer Margaret Visser looks to the most ordinary American dinner for her subject - corn on the cob with butter and salt, roast chicken with rice, salad dressed in lemon juice and olive oil, and ice cream - submerging herself in the story behind each food.

In this indulgent and perceptive guide we hear the history of Corn Flakes, why canned California olives are so unsatisfactory (they're picked green, chemically blackened, then sterilized), and the fact that in Africa, citrus fruit is eaten rind and all. For food lovers of all kinds, this unexpectedly funny and serious book is a treasure of information, shedding light on one of our most favorite pastimes.

©1999 Margaret Visser (P)2007 Recorded Books, LLC

Excellent, fascinating.

What did you love best about Much Depends on Dinner?

Wonderful. Margaret Visser posits a dinner (corn, butter, rice, chicken, ice cream, salad with olive oil and lemon) and then provides a sweeping historical and anthropological view of each component. She not only provides a fascinating, even enthralling, history, but also explores the mythological significance of each food and its role in politics and even war.

What did you like best about this story?

It is so fact-rich that with another author, it might sink under its own weight, but Visser’s charming, open style pulls you along. Ice cream is not just ice cream; it’s a history of thermodynamics. Rice is not just rice, it’s the story of political organization. Corn is not just corn; it’s the rise of industrial food.

What does Suzanne Toren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Toren was the perfect narrator for this. She took what might have been a fact-heavy book and turned it into a fascinating story, pulling you along from fact to fact as if each tidbit was a revelation. She was wonderful.

Any additional comments?

Published in 1985, it’s slightly dated and should be read in conjunction with Michael Pollan’s “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” which takes the history and anthropology and adds a moral core. Absolutely wonderful and highly recommended.

Title doesn't say it.

In 1988 I bought the hard cover version of this book for myself as a birthday gift (original dust cover -- 1987 first edition). I never read it but put it instead on my shelf along other food essay type books which I knew I would want to read some day. But whenever I picked up this book the denseness and tiny print put me off. I am spoiled and must listen to all prose or I just plain fall asleep.

So when I picked it up last week and wished I could finally dive into it, since many books from that time period are just not available as audiobooks, I was downhearted. I am quite addicted to audiobooks and listen constantly as I do my chores and projects, on my iPhone, bluetooth speakers and car bluetooth adaptor. I have been an audible member for many years and have hundreds of books in my Audible library and dozens in my wish list. It takes me a long long time to decide on using a precious credit. But when I saw this book on Audible, in three breaths I bought it.

It was not what I expected but better. The mythology and history go back thousands of years right up to the eighties. I was totally engaged after just a half hour. The first chapter: Corn -- put me in mind of Michael Pollan -- ancient corn but then right up through thousands of years of culture and history. I was worried because since the book was published in 1987, the current catastrophe with corn would be lost. But as it was, enough had gone wrong by that time and Visser had it all there.

Corn, Salt, Butter, Chicken, Rice, Lettuce, Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Ice Cream. Each chapter full of, like it says, "Extraordinary History and Mythology, Allure and Obsessions, Perils and Taboos"

Note: I have chickens and I was impressed with her details about the science and care of hens. I even bookmarked my hardcopy. But, sadly of course, it is all downhill for chickens and big business. And then too, I felt a little left out because my chickens are safe!

I give the book four stars only because of the big gap between 1987 and today which is hardly the author's fault. But it is just a reminder that the last 33 years are missing from this still extraordinary tome.

I have been listening to a lot of non-fiction lately, but the richness of this book tops all. Of course I do love to know about food. If you do too, you will love this book.

Also, the narrator is glorious. Her musical, lyrical voice hits just the right notes.

One of my all time favorite books

I have been in love with this book since forever. It's really what started my interest in the history of food. I know some people might find the subject repetitive or boring, but I am not one of those people.

Regarding the narration, it's great.

This book isn't exactly a page-turner, but it hits every note I'm looking for.

And also, when I can't sleep, this is what I put on. It is warm and comforting, like being read to at night when I was a little kid. I own it in paperback, Kindle, and Audible.

Fascinating and detailed

Very interesting. A lot of obscure details and history about common foods. If you love detail, and history and food — this is your book.

Really informative!

What made the experience of listening to Much Depends on Dinner the most enjoyable?

You want to learn everything there is to know about the food that we eat then pick this book

What did you like best about this story?

I really liked that it went through how it is made, to the social implications to the mythology behind the food that we eat.

UGH

I like Margaret Vissers' books as a rule, but this entire package is just sad. The narrator mispronounces a lot of English food terms, although she has passable French.
The book;'s contents are simply too scholarly and the quality of the narration too poor to allow me to rate any higher. Read this book - yes, but in paper form please.