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Erie Reader Book Club: March 2026
Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
2 hours ago
Penguin Books
SUNDAY, MAR. 29
The Erie Reader Book Club will be reading and discussing Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky in conjunction with the Erie Reader Food issue.
Each March, the Reader takes a deep dive into all things food in the Erie area, so it's only natural that a book about food would be selected. But Kurlansky's Salt is much more than the typical food read. His fifth work of nonfiction, Salt takes on the task of viewing the historical timeline through the shifting history of the rock – the only one that humans eat – and how it has shaped both human history and civilization.
The now common household item holds a rich history: from its use as currency to its influence on wars and trade routes, salt has achieved many statuses over time that other food subgroups can only hope to achieve.
In this thought-provoking and well-researched telling, Kurlansky takes an item sitting unassumingly in many kitchens across the world and flips the story, shifting our perspective on the mineral and the lens through which we view it – after finishing Salt, you may have a newfound respect for what's in the shaker before you use it on your next meal.
1 p.m. // Werner Books and Coffee, 2608 Liberty St. // Free to join, cost of book not included // For more info: wernerbooks.com
