Overview

Engagingly written and richly illustrated, Putting Meat on the American Table explains how America became a meat-eating nation-from the colonial period to the present. It examines the relationships between consumer preference and meat processing-looking closely at the production of beef, pork, chicken, and hot dogs. Roger Horowitz argues that a series of new technologies have transformed American meat. He draws on detailed consumption surveys that shed new light on America's eating preferences-especially differences associated with income, rural versus urban areas, and race and ethnicity. Putting Meat on the American Table will captivate general readers and interest all students of the history of food, technology, business, and American culture.

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9780801882418

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Reviews

An intriguing overview of the culture and processes of producing and consuming meat in America. The author addresses the rituals, technology, business, labor, selling, and innovations that have enabled Americans to enjoy their chickens, steaks, and hot dogs. An interesting course book for foodways scholars, business and labor historians, historians of technology, and students of material culture. - Susan R. Williams, Fitchburg State College

A lively study which will also earn a place on the college bookshelf for its scholarly side. -- Diane Donovan California Bookwatch 2006 The best book on the subject I've seen since I read The Jungle. -- John Goodspeed Easton Star Democrat 2006 A compact, clearly written volume. -- Timothy B. Spears Business History Review 2006 For anyone interested in the food production or consumption, this book is indispensable. -- Gabriella M. Petrick Enterprise and Society 2006 An unusually engaging piece of scholarship and a fascinating introduction to the topic. -- Mark R. Finlay History: Reviews of New Books 2006 A story superbly told with wisdom and wit, richly written and beautifully illustrated with early photographs and print advertisements. -- Donald D. Stull Register of the Kentucky Historical Society 2006 Horowitz covers a broad swath of food history in a short and accessible book. -- Deborah Fink American Historical Review 2006 It is not a particularly pretty story, but it is one that Horowitz tells well. -- Harvey Levenstein Journal of American History 2006 An important work of historical scholarship. -- Andrew P. Haley Southern Quarterly 2007 Horowitz's study is a solid, well-researched, and nuanced piece of work. -- Coll Thrush Food, Culture, and Society 2007 A vitally important contribution... Should be read by anyone interested in food, technology, consumption, and American history in general. -- Steve Striffler Agricultural History 2008

Author Information

Roger Horowitz is associate director of the Center for the History of Business, Technology, and Society at the Hagley Museum and Library, Greenville, Delaware.

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