Explore the history of food and its impact on humanity. Cooked ...in 30 minutes is the essential guide to quickly understanding the evolution of food and how the four elements-fire, water, air, and earth-transform raw ingredients into delicious meals and drinks. Understand the key ideas of Cooked in a fraction of the time, using this guide's: Concise synopsis, which examines the principles of Cooked In-depth analysis of key concepts, such as "Cooking as a Cultural Mirror" and the "Problems with Corporate Cooking" Practical applications and techniques gleaned from cooking masters Insightful background on Michael Pollan, best-selling author of Cooked, The Omnivore's Dilemma, and The Botany of Desire Extensive glossary, recommended reading list, and bibliography In Cooked, best-selling author and award-winning journalist Michael Pollan examines how the discovery of controlled fire altered human development in physical, mental, and cultural ways. Through extensive research, travel, interviews, and hands-on preparation, Pollan investigates the dietary shifts in society from the earliest humans to the present domination of food production. With a focus on cooking-what gets cooked and how-Pollan is interested in the process of transformation that happens when meat, fruit, vegetables, and grains meet fire, water, air, and earth. Using the classical elements, Pollan investigates four types of food: barbecue for fire, braising for water, bread for air, and beer, kimchi, and sauerkraut for earth. A journey into the world of food, Cooked eloquently draws a line from primitive man's experiments with roasting meat to the fine art of modern cuisine. A compelling narrative with a strong argument for home cooking, Cooked reveals the deep relationships between food and humanity, and its development through the lens of sociology and technology. About the 30 Minute Expert Series The 30 Minute Expert Series is designed for busy individuals interested in exploring a book's ideas, history, application, and critical reception. The series offers detailed analyses, critical presentations of key ideas and their application, extensive reading lists for additional information, and contextual understanding of the work of leading authors. Designed as companions to the original works, the 30 Minute Expert Series enables readers to develop expert knowledge of important works ...in 30 minutes. As with all books in the 30 Minute Expert Series, this book is intended to be purchased alongside the reviewed title, Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation.