The Food of a Younger Land: A Portrait of American Food---Before the National Highway System, Before Chain Restaurants, and Before Frozen Food, When the Nation's Food Was Seasonal, Regional, and Traditional---from the Lost WPA Files Audiobook

" An interesting anthropological read. I especially liked the amusing chapter that gave the translations of restaurant/line cook lingo like the origins of the term "86." I made a chess pie which was a popular dish from my home state of VA. It's a dish that's made with only a few ingredients, staples that you already have in your pantry. I had only eaten before in the Amish country. Surprisingly, it turned out pretty good. It's a shame that the volume was never published b/c of WWII. At times it was choppy b/c some regions weren't as well represented. But still a good picture of that period in time before American fast food. "

" I had high hopes for this book, given my love of local and homemade food, but I was fairly disappointed. It seemed reasonably clear why these pieces had never been published back when they were created. Most are not that well written, and although it was interesting to read about the different foods, they were almost entirely bereft of characters--which, interestingly, is also a criticism I just read of Kurlansky's own new fiction work. "

" I love the idea of this book. An abandoned WPA project discovered and researched by Kurlansky, then published virtually untouched with essays added by Kurlansky himself. And it is interesting to see how regional foods came into their own. But the book becomes dry at times, due in large part, I think, to the fact that these essays were published in their original form, which in the best case were hastily completed and, at worst, simply a listing of ingredients. But I feel the book's true merit lies in Kurlansky's research and commitment to the project. And for that, I encourage readers to pick this up, read a bit, and discover the true roots of your favorite food. "

" I really enjoyed reading the WPA food stories. It is a slow read because it is just one of those books you pick up on occasion to read a chapter or two. Not as compelling as Twain's Feast but interesting!. "

" Good, but would have liked more interpretation and depth. Pity the book that all this research covers was never written. "

" I listened to this on audio and really didn't care for the narrator who sounded like a 1940's radio announcer (which may have been appropriate given the subject matter). It significantly impacted my impression of the book. I had really looked forward to reading to this, but I could barely get through listening to it. "

" Trolled an old public works project and assembled essays about foods in several regions in America. "

" A fascinating glimpse into an earlier era. "

" Interesting to read not only what people in different parts of the country eat, but also what they ate in the early/mid part of the 20th century. Kurlansky's supporting materials were also great. "

" Wow, this was a good book...the introduction should be read in history classes and sociology classes in both high schools and colleges. "

" Enjoyable, and I think the author did a good job of using the notes and letting the WPA speak for itself. I'm not a "foodie" but those interested in America/ American history should find it worth a read. "

" I'm a fan of Mark Kurlansky's books and he's put together a very interesting collection of WPA food writing here. Amazing to see what people ate and how they ate. Also of note: people complaining about the industrial food system. In the 1930s. "

" I never finished. It's one of those non-fiction books that failed to hold my interest. I will probably thumb through it some more, but I don't think I'll ever finish it. "

" This book really made me think about how our country as given up so much of it's true food community in favor of fast, prepackaged and shelf stable food. "

" I enjoyed this book but I think that it would be a far better book to read rather than listen to. "

" I LOVED the introduction to this book. I would have enjoyed an entire book written from this perspective about the WPA. I found the actual content of the book marginally interesting. Perhaps a different format would have made the material more accessible? "

" I should probably mention at the outset that I have a culinary degree and love to read about all things food. This book made me want to go back in time when people ate real food with a huge sense of community. I don't know that a non-foodie would have enjoyed this book as much as a foodie would. "

" If you have any interest in cooking and/or american history, read this book! "

" Best part of the book is the extended introduction. Just skimmed the rest. "

" more of a recipe book than history of food in the USA. boring. "

" Interesting to read not only what people in different parts of the country eat, but also what they ate in the early/mid part of the 20th century. Kurlansky's supporting materials were also great. "

" The period writing is abysmal but a nice concentration of anthropological tidbits about turn of the century eating in the us. "

" Really fascinating--I learned a lot from this book, and am rather wistful for a time when roadside food meant home cooked biscuits instead of the golden arches! "

" Interesting history but it did not grab me the way I had hoped it would. "

" I should probably mention at the outset that I have a culinary degree and love to read about all things food. This book made me want to go back in time when people ate real food with a huge sense of community. I don't know that a non-foodie would have enjoyed this book as much as a foodie would. "

" Kurlansky mostly adds a few comments on top of the existing manuscripts. His comments and editorializing are valuable, but maybe not as significant an analysis of the material as might have been hoped. Maybe that's not the point, though. "

" the fact that i found this book incredibly interesting might prove that i should have been a history major. that or born in the early 1900s. "