Salt

Written by Mark Kurlansky

Discover how salt shaped civilizations, sparked wars, and built empires.

3.8 Goodreads · 80,687 ratings

484 pages· 1260L

$19.00Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Explore the surprising history of salt, a humble mineral that has influenced trade, sparked wars, and built empires. From ancient currency to modern staple, uncover the secrets of this essential rock and its impact on human civilization. Dive into a world where salt's value transcends its simplicity, revealing colorful characters and pivotal moments that shaped our world.

From the publisher

“Kurlansky finds the world in a grain of salt.” - New York Times Book Review An unlikely world history from the bestselling author of Cod and The Basque History of the World Best-selling author Mark Kurlansky turns his attention to a common household item with a long and intriguing history: salt. The only rock we eat, salt has shaped civilization from the very beginning, and its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of humankind. A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt has influenced the establishment of trade routes and cities, provoked and financed wars, secured empires, and inspired revolutions. Populated by colorful characters and filled with an unending series of fascinating details, Salt is a supremely entertaining, multi-layered masterpiece.

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