Originally posted on 1 year 9 months 18 days. This blog is no longer being updated - you should come check out my new blog: Too Short To Be A Storm Trooper 
The cover of Cod by Mark Kurlansky
So what’s a vegetarian doing reading a book that has a huge number of codfish recipes and the history of a fish based on the public desire to eat it?
Because for the most part the story is bloody interesting!
Mark Kurlansky writes about the history of Codfish and how it has shaped industry and whole countries throughout the ages. It’s a fascinating look at how the simple codfish became a commodity and how we have managed or maybe that’s mismanaged this resource.
To be fair there were whole parts of the book that I didn’t read as they were historical recipes for codfish and after I’d read one or two quaint reprinting of a 100 year old recipe that by today’s standard would be laughed at or treasured the remainder held no real interest for me.
As with the Mark Kurlansky books I’ve read the idea of the book sounds like it’s going to be dull but Kurlansky manages to inject enough life into the subject that especially at the start you find yourself flipping through the pages with great relish. I have the attention span of a goldfish so in non-fiction books I do start to feel a little weighed down by the same subject towards the end but fortunately these are written well enough that I’m more than pleased to make it through.
Cod feels like a long book but it actually isn’t which despite my attention span issues is a real shame because there were topics lightly touched upon that I really wanted to delve deeper into. I was especially interested in the stories of the fishermen and their family in today’s market. I think there is almost a whole book in them alone.
If you are looking to read something that is just plain interesting despite what you’d expect then I’m happy to recommend Cod, if you happen to be a fan of cooking and eating the codfish I think you’ll actually get even more out of it!
Rating: 
Cod: a Biography of the Fish That Changed the World is available from Fishpond.com.au
For some strange reason I had the song “Tulips From Amsterdam” by Max Bygraves running through my head as I read this!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lips,_or_Almighty_Cod
I listened the to The Shipping News soundtrack the entire time whilst reading it
Now I understand what the Goodies were making fun of
U-huh.
Fush.
With the ‘umble spud in the form of a chippie.
Nom nom nom nom nom nom
You should check out Jayne´s last post… July 31 On This Day In History with poultry gossip and substance references
I saw a book once in a bookshop about the history of canning food. And how the ability to put perishable food in tins was basically responsible for the explosion in civilisation.
I didn’t buy it.
I’ve always regretted that.
You should check out Dan´s last post… Rockin’ and a’ Rollin’
I did the same with a book about pigeons.
Will find this book. Sounds interesting.
You should check out Mike Johnston´s last post… Master Planned Community in Tallahassee by a Florida Home Builder
More than happy to recommend it if it sounds like something you’d be interested in!
injecting life..in a story about dead fish
Now I want some, hope I can get around to visit the market on saturday..
You should check out Arjan´s last post… Interpol -- Lights
This is definitely on my list. Thanks for the review.
I dig ‘small history’ books. I’ve read “Around the world in six glasses” twice (it’s world history through the creation and popularization of beer, wine, coffee, tea, spirits and Coca-Cola. And Reay Tannahill’s sort-of-but-not-really two volume opus “Sex in History” and “Food in History” sit proudly on our shelves.
@Dan: just go find a copy of the James Burke TV series “Connections 1″. In one of the episodes he explains the whole thing;)
You should check out Arkonbey´s last post… more USCG-ish stuff