... one of the most delightful history books of the season ... William Alexander has done for his favorite subject what Edward Gibbon did for the Roman Empire. By the time you finish his book, you’ll marvel at how much he managed to squeeze into 300 pages ... The writer is at his most captivating (and that is saying a lot, since there is not a boring moment in this book) when he launches his own mission to discover how Naples took some flatbread, cheese, and tomatoes and thus invented the world’s first global snack ... Alexander sprinkles charm on his anecdotes as easily as you might shake pepper flakes on a slice.
This spirit of curiosity proves an asset to Ten Tomatoes That Changed the World—the writer’s reactions and discoveries often seem to be simultaneous with those of the reader. Mr. Alexander holds forth with the goofy charm of a high-school math teacher—just swap out the trapezoid jokes for tomato puns—keeping his lessons droll, not dull ... I don’t know if even the most delicious summer tomato can explain our place on the planet. But knowing more about its improbable history makes every bite that much sweeter.
Written in a lighthearted style, this engaging book includes historical photos and illustrations, and is packed with fascinating factoids. This is the type of book where readers will find themselves spouting historical tidbits to everyone in their orbit ... A fun book that both instructs and entertains on every page.
Alexander’s playful sense of humor...makes Ten Tomatoes a delight to read. It’s this humor that takes a range of disparate and unexpected topics ... Ten Tomatoes isn’t just filled with tidbits that will help readers dominate at pub trivia night ... More broadly, the book proves that food history isn’t a niche topic. Through entertaining stories and fun facts, Alexander shows how culinary decisions have often been made based on the politics or business interests of the day, rather than anything to do with flavor or health. Taken all together, this book about the history of this beloved fruit (or vegetable—it’s debatable!) is endlessly surprising.
A thrilling history ... Alexander’s narrative delivers a story that’s as informative as it is funny and filled with awe ... Food lovers will savor every bit.
An engaging look at the humble fruit ... Rollicking ... he narrative is insightful and great fun, though the book’s title is a bit misleading—unless you consider the 1949 creation of the Big Boy hybrid to be an earthshaking event ... Eccentric, informative, and thoroughly enjoyable.
