Albala Ken Beans

This is the story of the bean, the staple food cultivated by humans for over 10,000 years. <br/><br/>From the lentil to the soybean, every civilization on the planet has cultivated its own species of bean. The humble bean has always attracted attention - from Pythagoras'' notion that the bean hosted a human soul to St. Jerome''s indictment against bean-eating in convents (because they "tickle the genitals"), to current research into the deadly toxins contained in the most commonly eaten beans. <br/><br/>Over time, the bean has been both scorned as "poor man''s meat" and praised as health-giving, even patriotic. Attitudes to this most basic of foodstuffs have always revealed a great deal about a society. Featuring a new preface from author Ken Albala, <i>Beans: A History</i>takes the reader on a fascinating journey across cuisines and cultures.