This cultural, political, and social history of tea presents a " fascinating picture of tea's impact on the lives of millions of people around the world." ( Publishers Weekly)From Darjeeling to Lapsang Souchon, from India to Japan—a fresh, concise, world-encompassing exploration of the way tea has shaped politics, culture, and the environment throughout history. From the fourth century BC in China, where it was used as an aid in Buddhist m...

Who went into the Black Hole of Calcutta? Who came out alive? And does it matter anyway? Historically not at all, but it is perhaps important to try to understand why such an event (of which the known facts are so at variance with the legend) ever assumed such significance and became one of the few things that anyone knows about India. In The Black Hole (originally published in 1975), Iris Macfarlane tries to answer these questions.The author aims to fill the gap between t...

This is a book on the life and times of Robert Chambers, founder of W. & R. Chambers publishers. Although there are now books based on some of his letters and on the impact of one of his books, The Vestiges of Natural Creation, there are no books on the whole man and his life. Written by Iris Macfarlane with Alan Macfarlane, the book weaves together three strands. At one level, it is a biography of Chambers and his family; the portrait of a rise from absolute poverty to great weal...

Apart from water, tea is more widely consumed than any other food or drink. Tens of billions of cups are drunk every day. How and why has tea conquered the world? Tea was the first global product. It altered life-styles, religions, etiquette and aesthetics. It raised nations and shattered empires.Economies were changed out of all recognition. Diseases were thwarted by the magical drink and cities founded on it.The industrial revolution was fuelled by tea, sealing the fate of...

JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNER • IACP AWARD WINNER • An “informative, enriching, and delicious” (Yotam Ottolenghi) guide to baking that combines easy-to-follow, science-based advice with 100 reliable recipes for both novices and more experienced bakers, from the renowned pastry chef behind the Kitchen Projects newsletter.“Sift is a marvel of completeness, sound advice, encouragement, and joy. We’re so lucky to have this book!”—Dorie Greenspan,

What you'd need to know if you time-traveled to Ancient Rome—from local customs to clothing to religion to housing to food.Imagine you were transported back in time to Ancient Rome and you had to start a new life there. How would you fit in? Where would you live? What would you eat? Where would you go to have your hair done? Who would you go to if you got ill, or if you were mugged in the street?All these questions, and many more, are answered in this new how...

An archaeologist examines humanity's last major source of food from the wild, and how it enabled and shaped the growth of civilization.In this history of fishing—not as sport but as sustenance—archaeologist and best-selling author Brian Fagan argues that fishing was an indispensable and often overlooked element in the growth of civilization. It sustainably provided enough food to allow cities, nations, and empires to grow, but it did so with a different emphasis. W...

"Every teacher, every student of history, every citizen should read this book. It is both a refreshing antidote to what has passed for history in our educational system and a one-volume education in itself."—Howard ZinnA new edition of the national bestseller and American Book Award winner, with a new preface by the authorSince its first publication in 1995, Lies My Teacher Told Me has become one of the most important—and su...

A descriptive compendium of just about everything we eat and how we cook it—selected as "one of the greatest cookbooks of all time" ( Waitrose Food Illustrated).Arranged alphabetically from Abalone to Zampone, Cook's Encyclopedia covers the majority of foods and processes used in cooking. Hundreds of ingredients are described, with English and foreign synonyms and scientific names; recipes are given in many cases to illustrate the use of the foods...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In her first cookbook, social media star and baker Betül Tunç of Turkuaz Kitchen shares 85 recipes for sweet and savory doughs and the dishes to make with them.Betül Tunç's love affair with dough began when she was just eight years old in Erzurum, a city nestled in northeastern Turkey known for its long and snowy winters. During the dark, frosty days, she found solace baking Turkish breads and desserts with her mother and sister...

WASHINGTON POST BEST COOKBOOKS OF 2025NPR BOOKS WE LOVE 2025EPICURIOUS STANDOUT COOKBOOK FOR FALL 2025READWORTHY BEST NEW COOKBOOKS 2025From beloved James Beard Award–winning and New York Times bestselling author Dorie Greenspan—a vibrantly illustrated collection of recipes for simple yet most-memorable cakesOver the years, Dorie has created thousands of excellent recipes. And out of ...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Something from Nothing is Alison Roman’s latest book featuring over 100 deceptively simple, casually stylish, impossibly delicious recipes that make the most of your pantry.A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, THE ECONOMIST, LIT HUB • A BON APPÉTIT BEST COOKBOOK OF THE YEARIn Something from Nothing, bestselling author Alison Roman gives you a collection of simple, sm...