Sourdough Culture: A History of Bread Making from Ancient to Modern Bakers

This book is a smooth and enjoyable read despite being packed full of research and historical facts. The history centers on real people and lived experiences in a way that feels very personal and relatable. Just when the dates and facts start to pile up, Pallant expertly balances it all out with a witty quip or humorous anecdote. The recipes at the end of each chapter beg for a weekend of attention with delicious reward. Perhaps the greatest aspect of this book is that Pallant clearly values curiosity over conclusions. His writing manages to invite reflection on parallels of our past and current politics and society, yet Pallant trusts his readers' perspectives and refrains from drawing and stating conclusions. That means I keep thinking about this book long after I've set it down. I'm pondering historical trajectories, social values, and the millions of bakers that have marched through time and change and will continue to do so into the future. And, of course, I'm also dreaming of tastes and textures of bread shaped by place, culture, and history.

I have been baking bread for decades, but Eric Pallant's scholarship and storytelling opened my eyes to the importance of bread--and sourdough, in particular--in the history of human culture. He makes the history fascinating and the science accessible as he takes the reader on a 6000 year exploration of human beings' discovery and relationship to this basic food. He anchors the exploration on the story of his own sourdough starter, which he thought may have had its origins in the California Gold Rush.He provides detailed examination of how the industrial revolution changed bread making--particularly through the creation of shelf-stable yeast and mechanized processes--and he celebrates the resurgence of a more traditional, artisan bread culture. In one of the final chapters, he explores the emerging science detailing the health benefits in the use of sourdough cultures for bread making. Whether you are a baker or not, Pallant offers a fun and fascinating read.

What's mankind's greatest invention? Is it the alphabet? The printing press? The light bulb? Eric Pallant's wonderful book makes the provocative case that it may be the humble sourdough. This book is putatively a brief history of breadmaking, amusingly told and engaging in its scope. On another level, though, it's a history of civilization: of the selective breeding of grasses that yielded the grass we know as wheat; of the centuries of refinement of techniques of baking and the microbiologic advent of yeast cultivation; of mass production and free enterprise and specialization. It's a broadly told, expansive view of our world, told with sly wit and woven with humor, that's left me fascinated by lunch and tantalized by the wonder of the world. I recommend it in the highest terms. It's fun and fascinating, witty and wonderful, and altogether surprising in its scope.

I'm very picky about the non-fiction I read. Honestly, I usually find a lot of non-fiction books to be too dull to keep my interest. This is NOT one of those books. With the author's personal stories and humor peppered in throughout the history of bread, it makes it a very enjoyable read. Even if bread isn't your "thing," I think this is still an engaging read. To learn how bread has shaped human history is utterly fascinating. So - buy one and get one for all your friends!

Eric writes an interesting story. The sourdough history and the history of bread is very interesting. I do not find his research to be exhaustive. He makes a few assumptions in his story-telling that make you wonder about the rest of his story. How much did he assume? I love this book, but I would not quote Eric Pallant in an argument.

Eric does a great job pulling you in and getting one excited for the history and mystery of sourdough! I cannot emphasize how enjoyable this read has been. Get the book, read it, get baking.

A fun way to learn the history of bread and appreciate the story with a light touch and great writing style.This would make a great gift for anyone bitten by the bread bug.

I have not finished this book yet. (maybe tomorrow!) Dr. Pallant has such an unbelievable wealth of knowledge. He shares so willingly and at a level that we all can understand. He is one of two friends who have been culture keepers for years. They each have their own stories. I haven't joined the Culture Club.... but I love following theirs. Buy this book.

Pallant traces sourdough's history back to its earliest records. This is a book about bread and its history, rather than a recipe book (although some recipes are included). It's also a personal story about one man's search for a connection with that history.It's sometimes a bit too American (from my Canadian perspective), but given the author's background, that fits and doesn't interfere with the importance of its historical content.

The finest book on Sourdough history, a must read. Loved the book from start to end! Its a tough subject to write on., very well done Eric.

In my view, author shapes history in a way matches his personal tastes and preferences. There was/is more than French bread in Europe. Keep traveling. Long unnecessary descriptions off topic. I never thought that as a sourdough baker I would not be able to finish the book. I gave up at about 60%.