Sourdough Culture: A History of Bread Making from Ancient to Modern Bakers

Very good mixing bowls, they are well made and good value for the money

If you love bread (and who doesn't!), this is the book for you. It takes the reader on a journey through the incredibly human history of bread-making, while the author simultaneously tries to track down the origins of his own sourdough starter, dating from the Gold Rush era. The book successfully kneads together historical and the personal accounts, that are by turns fascinating and amusing, producing an enticing book that will keep you turning page after page. Throughout the book, there are various recipes to try at home. I found myself digging out my old starter from the back of fridge and baking all over again!

Pallant traces sourdough's history back to its earliest records. This is a book about bread and its history, rather than a recipe book (although some recipes are included). It's also a personal story about one man's search for a connection with that history.It's sometimes a bit too American (from my Canadian perspective), but given the author's background, that fits and doesn't interfere with the importance of its historical content.

This book is a smooth and enjoyable read despite being packed full of research and historical facts. The history centers on real people and lived experiences in a way that feels very personal and relatable. Just when the dates and facts start to pile up, Pallant expertly balances it all out with a witty quip or humorous anecdote. The recipes at the end of each chapter beg for a weekend of attention with delicious reward. Perhaps the greatest aspect of this book is that Pallant clearly values curiosity over conclusions. His writing manages to invite reflection on parallels of our past and current politics and society, yet Pallant trusts his readers' perspectives and refrains from drawing and stating conclusions. That means I keep thinking about this book long after I've set it down. I'm pondering historical trajectories, social values, and the millions of bakers that have marched through time and change and will continue to do so into the future. And, of course, I'm also dreaming of tastes and textures of bread shaped by place, culture, and history.

The finest book on Sourdough history, a must read. Loved the book from start to end! Its a tough subject to write on., very well done Eric.

I have been baking bread for decades, but Eric Pallant's scholarship and storytelling opened my eyes to the importance of bread--and sourdough, in particular--in the history of human culture. He makes the history fascinating and the science accessible as he takes the reader on a 6000 year exploration of human beings' discovery and relationship to this basic food. He anchors the exploration on the story of his own sourdough starter, which he thought may have had its origins in the California Gold Rush.He provides detailed examination of how the industrial revolution changed bread making--particularly through the creation of shelf-stable yeast and mechanized processes--and he celebrates the resurgence of a more traditional, artisan bread culture. In one of the final chapters, he explores the emerging science detailing the health benefits in the use of sourdough cultures for bread making. Whether you are a baker or not, Pallant offers a fun and fascinating read.

In my view, author shapes history in a way matches his personal tastes and preferences. There was/is more than French bread in Europe. Keep traveling. Long unnecessary descriptions off topic. I never thought that as a sourdough baker I would not be able to finish the book. I gave up at about 60%.