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Cooked
- A Natural History of Transformation
- Narrated by: Michael Pollan
- Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins
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Cooked
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Summary
Fire, water, air, earth - our most trusted food expert recounts the story of his culinary education
In Cooked, Michael Pollan explores the previously uncharted territory of his own kitchen. Here, he discovers the enduring power of the four classical elements - fire, water, air, and earth - to transform the stuff of nature into delicious things to eat and drink. Apprenticing himself to a succession of culinary masters, Pollan learns how to grill with fire, cook with liquid, bake bread, and ferment everything from cheese to beer. In the course of his journey, he discovers that the cook occupies a special place in the world, standing squarely between nature and culture. Both realms are transformed by cooking, and so, in the process, is the cook.
Each section of Cooked tracks Pollan's effort to master a single classic recipe using one of the four elements. A North Carolina barbecue pit master tutors him in the primal magic of fire; a Chez Panisse - trained cook schools him in the art of braising; a celebrated baker teaches him how air transforms grain and water into a fragrant loaf of bread; and finally, several mad-genius "fermentos" (a tribe that includes brewers, cheese makers, and all kinds of picklers) reveal how fungi and bacteria can perform the most amazing alchemies of all. The listener learns alongside Pollan, but the lessons move beyond the practical to become an investigation of how cooking involves us in a web of social and ecological relationships: with plants and animals, the soil, farmers, our history and culture, and, of course, the people our cooking nourishes and delights. Cooking, above all, connects us.
The effects of not cooking are similarly far reaching. Relying upon corporations to process our food means we consume huge quantities of fat, sugar, and salt; disrupt an essential link to the natural world; and weaken our relationships with family and friends. In fact, Cooked argues, taking back control of cooking may be the single most important step anyone can take to help make the American food system healthier and more sustainable. Reclaiming cooking as an act of enjoyment and self-reliance, learning to perform the magic of these everyday transformations, opens the door to a more nourishing life.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.
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Critic reviews
"Pollan narrates his book in a conversational style filled with conviction and eagerness that drive the listener to join his evolutionary quest." (AudioFile)
What listeners say about Cooked
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- OB
- 28-04-16
Wonderful book
A great book for everyone, not just those interested in cooking. Michael is extremely talented writer (and researcher). I think I will come back to this book again. There is so much content that one read is not enough.
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- Codi
- 25-02-16
Excellent!
Excellent read, changes your perspectives on cooking, science and humanity. Thoroughly enjoyable and educational. Will read again soon :)
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- Amazon Customer
- 28-05-21
A feast of a book!
I really loved this book. Thoroughly engaging, loads of interesting detail told through rich stories and really well delivered by the author. An absolute must read for foodies.
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- Peter Jahns
- 06-12-22
Must read for anyone who eats!
Michael Polans writing is engaging and a great listen too. Anyone who eats anything would benefit from reading this great book and learn from a curious writers perspective about how we nourish ourselves.
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- JohnB
- 10-04-16
Great Book
I can listen to this book over and over and keep enjoying it and learning from it
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- David Brady
- 21-10-17
This book was delicious!
By far one of the best listens I've had. This book improved my cooking and I see food in a whole new light now
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- Rene Neumann
- 30-05-17
always interesting
Michal Pollan's Omnivores Dilemma and Cooked are entertaining and informal. I'd love to see more books of him on Audible.
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- Ian Kendall
- 13-06-16
Great book, brilliant narration
Pollan did a great job writing and narrating "Cooked" and I would recommend this to anyone looking to learn about the more philosophical side of food!
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- Mila T
- 14-01-23
Fantastic book about so much more than cooking
I really love the cosmopolitan, philosophical, sociological, cultural and historical aspects exposed and unfolded in this book! Thank you Michael Pollen!
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