Synopses & Reviews
Why do we eat toast for breakfast, and then toast to good health at dinner? What does the turkey we eat on Thanksgiving have to do with the country on the eastern Mediterranean? Can you figure out how much your dinner will cost by counting the words on the menu?
Review
"A model of rigor and readability... weave[s] together the journey food makes through culture with the journey its name makes through language." Peter Sokolowski
Review
"Writing with knowledge and wit, Dan Jurafsky shows that the language of food reflects our desires and aspirations, whether it's on a fancy French menu or a bag of potato chips." New York Times Book Review
Review
"Delightful. The distinguished linguist Dan Jurafsky brings a battery of skills to reveal the far-flung links of many of our dishes, to reveal how potato chip advertisements work, and to give an insider's guide to reading menus. I couldn't put this book down." Bee Wilson, author of Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat
Review
"Fresh and insightful... The complexities of language, intertwined with the endless combinations of ingredients and the rich history of eating, make for a rich and rewarding read." Rachel Laudan, author of Cuisine and Empire: Cooking in World History
Synopsis
"Eye-opening, insightful, and huge fun to read."--Bee Wilson, author of
Synopsis
2015 James Beard Award Nominee: Writing and Literature category "Eye-opening, insightful, and huge fun to read."--Bee Wilson, author of
About the Author
Dan Jurafsky is the recipient of a MacArthur "Genius Grant" and a professor of linguistics at Stanford University. He and his wife live in San Francisco.