Sunday, February 22, 2009

These books have nothing in common...or do they?


What does “Salt: a world history” have to do with “The Secret Life of Lobsters”?


There are many books out there that explore the everyday life of “things”. The history of chocolate, salt, lobsters and olives are only a small example of ordinary “things” that are explored through anecdotal stories and humorous accounts of controversy, hardship and the mundane in a genre we call “microhistory”. These histories are presented in a story format, for an easy read and full of interesting information.

If you enjoy reading about the ordinary in a far from ordinary way, you’ll enjoy our collection of books that fall under the microhistory genre in our library catalogue.
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4 comments:

  1. David HansenFebruary 24, 2009 at 4:08 PM

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  2. AnonymousFebruary 25, 2009 at 1:21 PM

    I really enjoyed Rosenblum's Olives: the life and lore of a nobel fruit.

    It is a fascinating look into the complex world of olives and oil. Equally enjoyable is that the book is also a great example of armchair travel.

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  3. ValerieFebruary 25, 2009 at 1:44 PM

    ooooooh, microhistory. Thanks for posting this. I love this type of book and never figured out what to call it!

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  4. Laurel TarulliFebruary 25, 2009 at 4:43 PM

    I really enjoy these books too. It's so neat to see how books are similar, even when they first appear to have nothing in common. They're also fun to read!

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