Potato: A History Of The Propitious Esculent
You might not think a book about the potato would be that interesting, but this was a really good read. The potato has had a tremendous impact on every country it’s been introduced to. John Reader goes through the entire history of the potato and it’s journey across the planet. He spends a significant amount of time on the Irish Potato famine, and the late blight, which was its cause. Late blight is still the most significant problem with raising potatoes and Reader addresses the various methods for dealing with blight, including genetic manipulation and spraying copper based fungicides. Because the potato is relatively easy to grow in a variety of soils and climates and is a complete food when you pair it with a little fat, it has tremendous value as a food source. It also has a fascinating history, well worth the read.