Okay, I have been busy recently and have not had time to post some of the books that I have been reading. So, before I take this load back to the library, here they are:
- Satch, Dizzy, and Rapid Robert: The Wild Saga of Interracial Baseball Before Jackie Robinson – While Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, interracial baseball had a long (and storied) history prior to that event. In this book, historian Timothy M. Gay tells a great story about barnstorming, race relations, huge crowds, rivalry, and the backroom dealings of players, promoters, and other powerful men to bring the best baseball possible to the largest crowds. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in baseball, early twentieth-century history, or race relations in the United States.
- Foods of the Americas: Native Recipes and Traditions – Part food history and part cookbook, this is an excellent resource for those interested in re-discovering native American foods. While I am admittedly one of the few that reads cookbooks from cover-to-cover, because of the history included in this volume, it is more enjoyable to read than many other cookbooks. Plus, it is full of interesting contemporary and historic images.
- Beer in America: The Early Years, 1587-1840: Beer’s Role in the Settling of America and the Birth of a Nation – An interesting history book, very similar in its approach to both Salt and Cod, this book examines America’s Colonial and early Nationhood through a pair of beer goggles! Focusing on brewing, beer, and its place in life, Gregg Smith creates a convincing argument for the central importance of beer as a major player in early American history. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it is a great history for bed-time reading!
- Beer for Dummies – Got this from the library as a reference for my class at the Washington Wine Academy and went through it as a refresher on all things beer. While it is a decent volume for explaining the brewing process and the various ingredients that are involved, it is incredibly out-of-date for everything else! The facts are nearly 20 years old, as are the recommendations, and that makes a large portion of the volume useless. I would not recommend it … there are much better resources available online.
