Lägg till bokmärke
"A gripping biological detective story that uncovers the myth, mystery, and endangered fate of the worlds most humble fruit."
A gripping detective... (show more)
Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
A gripping biological detective story that uncovers the myth, mystery, and endangered fate of the worlds most humble fruit
To most people, a banana is a banana: a simple yellow fruit. Americans eat more bananas than apples and oranges combined. In others parts of the world, bananas are what keep millions of people alive. But for all its ubiquity, the banana is surprisingly mysterious; nobody knows how bananas evolved or exactly where they originated. Rich cultural lore surrounds the fru... (show more)
A gripping biological detective story that uncovers the myth, mystery, and endangered fate of the worlds most humble fruit
To most people, a banana is a banana: a simple yellow fruit. Americans eat more bananas than apples and oranges combined. In others parts of the world, bananas are what keep millions of people alive. But for all its ubiquity, the banana is surprisingly mysterious; nobody knows how bananas evolved or exactly where they originated. Rich cultural lore surrounds the fruit: In ancient translations of the Bible, the apple consumed by Eve is actually a banana (it makes sense, doesnt it?). Entire Central American nations have been said to rise and fall over the banana.
But the biggest mystery about the banana today is whether it will survive. A seedless fruit with a unique reproductive system, every banana is a genetic duplicate of the next, and therefore susceptible to the same blights. Todays yellow banana, the Cavendish, is increasingly threatened by such a blightand theres no cure in sight.
Banana combines a pop-science journey around the globe, a fascinating tale of an iconic American business enterprise, and a look into the alternately tragic and hilarious banana subculture (one does exist)ultimately taking us to the high-tech labs where new bananas are literally being built in test tubes, in a race to save the worlds most beloved fruit. (show less)
Related Media
Photo Gallery
Reviews (See all 61) Write a reviewfor this
It's a hit!
No, it's a flop!
I need to re-read this in about a year. I had a hard time getting through it, for some reason. There is a structural problem with the narrative, ... (show more)
I need to re-read this in about a year. I had a hard time getting through it, for some reason. There is a structural problem with the narrative, but I can't quite figure out what would make the book better.
Learned a lot anyhow. Am now on a mission to taste many, many other kinds of bananas. (show less)
More Reviews
-
I don't think there has been a time when I've seen any toddler without a banana at snacktime or breakfast. An easily portable, very nutritious snack, the banana is one fruit many people cannot live without. Yet, at some point, they may have to.
Bananas are unlike other fruits in that they have no seeds. They are clones of each other. (Actually, there are some varieties of bananas in Africa, India, and Asia that have seeds, but our good old Cavendish banana with its sugary goodness is b... (show more)
I don't think there has been a time when I've seen any toddler without a banana at snacktime or breakfast. An easily portable, very nutritious snack, the banana is one fruit many people cannot live without. Yet, at some point, they may have to.
Bananas are unlike other fruits in that they have no seeds. They are clones of each other. (Actually, there are some varieties of bananas in Africa, India, and Asia that have seeds, but our good old Cavendish banana with its sugary goodness is barren.) So, what that means is that when disease hits, it strikes them all. The banana as we know it (and we haven't known it for very long--a little over one hundred years in North America or Europe) will soon be no more. That is, unless the researchers fervently trying to hybridize a new variety of banana that is disease resistant AND tasty can be found. Biotechnologists are trying their hardest to keep your cereal from losing its best friend. You don't mind some fish DNA in your morning snack, do you?
In reading Dan Koeppel's book Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World, I was introduced to much more than just banana trivia, although there was plenty of that, too. (Quiz: who actually coined the term banana republic?) In fact, if Shakepeare had bananas during his time, he might have truly written a tragedy about them! Wars, suicides, corruption, manipulation of a species--you name it, the world of the banana has it all.
So, the next time you peel that little yellow beauty, savor its goodness. Consider the people that have been killed in the name of it and the scientists working hard to create new fruits. Then picture the colorful gal with the fruit on her head singing I'm a chiquita banana and I've come to say, Bananas have to ripen in a certain way, When they are fleck'd with brown and have a golden hue...
Book
Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
9781594630385 (show less)Already read
-
A book about bananas may not sound quite appeeling (pun intended), but this book is as sweet and enjoyable as the soon-to-be extinct cavendish that Americans enjoy. A delightful juant that examined the biologic history, as well as corporate history of the fine fruit that helped to cause war (in South America) and peace (in Africa). Written in easy narrative this book was a terrific insight into the facinating history of the everyday and mundane fruit we all enjoy.
Already read
- See all reviews
Advertisement
Lists
This book has been added to these lists:
-
-
-
Food, Gastronomics, Connoisseurs and Edible Indulgences contains 23 items created by Facebook-användare
More Stuff
About Us
LivingSocial.com is a social discovery and cataloging network that allows people to review and share their favorite movies, books, games, music, restaurants and beer
