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Birdseye: The Adventures of a Curious Man Audiobook
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(3.03) - 345 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Break out the TV dinners! From the author who gave us Cod, Salt, and other informative bestsellers, the first biography of Clarence Birdseye, the eccentric genius inventor whose fast-freezing process revolutionized the food industry and American agriculture.
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"Mark Kurlansky wrote a book-within-a-book when he put together Birdseye; the author of Salt and Cod could not resist penning a new history of an object, Ice. We learn about the role ice has played in human culture, from the dawn of civilization, through the industrial revolution, and into modern times. It slowly went from an object of awe, to a luxury good, to an everyday convenience. Along the way, religious zealots pegged ice & refrigerators as machines working against the will of God, and consumers had to be convinced that frozen food was safe & healthy to eat. This fascinating tale is framed by the story of Clarence Birdseye, the eponomous father of the frozen food industry, whose inventions (ranging from belt freezers to heat lamps) are still in wide use today. He's an inspired and inspiring explorer, and his adventurous spirit leads to many episodes which Kurlansky delights in telling. This is not a biography in the traditional sense, but a focused history, following the course of a particular frigid industry through the life of a singularly bright and warm man."
— Joe (5 out of 5 stars)
Birdseye Listener Reviews
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" What a neat book! "
— Shannon, 2/18/2014 -
" I really enjoyed Kurlansky's historical look at salt so thought this would be just as interesting. It wasn't. Not because of the writing but because of the subject matter. Clarence Birdseye was an interesting man for his time and was quite curious about things (as the title suggests). His main claim to fame was perfecting the freezing of any and all types of food and then convincing Americans to eat them. He made a LOT of money doing this. He has an interesting Canadian connection when he spent several winters in Labrador doing research. I was troubled by his hunting (read, slaughter) of land and marine animals in the quest for hides, food or trophies. Not as good as Salt. "
— Mark, 1/26/2014 -
" Birdseye was definitely an interesting fellow, and the history of food preservation is an interesting topic to a food weenie like me. I just wish the book had focused more on the person and less on the process. In the end, I find myself agreeing with earlier reviewers who have commented that there just isn't enough "there" there. "
— Andrea, 1/25/2014 -
" I liked this book, but I really was hoping to love it. The guy led a really interesting life, but I wished the writing of it was as captivating. wah waaah waaaahh "
— Tina, 1/23/2014 -
" Who knew he was such an interesting guy? "
— Jennifer, 1/12/2014 -
" I wanted to like this book, but I thought it was poorly written. "
— Jennifer, 1/7/2014 -
" Good nonfiction reads, "
— Laura, 1/4/2014 -
" A interesting little book from the author of Salt and Cod. It provides a looking into the starting days of the modern processes food industry. Everyone is painted in a favorable light even though much would be unacceptable by today's standards. Well worth the time to read. "
— Nick, 11/30/2013 -
" Not so full of style, but interesting nonetheless. I love learning about the early stages of food processing technology. Birdseye was a thinker and a doer and while I cared less about some parts of his life, I love when any creator is celebrated. "
— Kami, 10/27/2013 -
" Really enjoyed this book. All of Kurlansky's are excellently researched and good reads. "
— Aggie, 10/26/2013 -
" Fast read of an interesting guy who invented many things (around 200 patents) besides commercializing fast freezing "
— Raven, 10/8/2013 -
" not all that informative, but an entertaining, light read. forgettable but not a waste of time "
— Mary, 9/25/2013 -
" I loved the cultural and historical aspect that was explored regarding food as it relates to the man who literally invented marketable frozen food. I don't normally enjoy biographies but this one was definitely a good summer read. "
— Catherine, 7/10/2013 -
" I'm a big fan of books about random subjects but I've never understood the fuss about Kurlansky. His books are well-researched and the prose is fine but I've never actually been remotely entertained. Same thoughts about this one. "
— Seth, 4/7/2013 -
" This bio is even more interesting because of the description of people and events around the time of Clarence Birdseye's life. I really enjoyed it. "
— Rachael, 1/3/2013 -
" Easy to read; not too much science, which for me was great. An interesting topic with lots of social history background, placing things in historical context. "
— Judy, 11/24/2012 -
" Very interesting life. A good quick read about a man most people don't even know ever existed. "
— Martin, 11/10/2012 -
" Well written and interesting, seemed a bit rushed at times though "
— Luci, 7/24/2012
About Mark Kurlansky
Mark Kurlansky is the author of thirty-five books, including fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. He has received the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, Bon Appetit’s Food Writer of the Year Award, the James Beard Award, and the Glenfiddich Award.