Review: Pacific: Silicon Chips and Surfboards, Coral Reefs and Atom Bombs, Brutal Dictators, Fading Empires, and the Coming Collision of the World's Superpowers

Pacific: Silicon Chips and Surfboards, Coral Reefs and Atom Bombs, Brutal Dictators, Fading Empires, and the Coming Collision of the World's Superpowers by Simon Winchester
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pacific is really a set of essays by the author about historical events and people centered around the Pacific Ocean. Winchester takes us on a chronological journey starting with the testing of a-bombs at the Bikini Atoll in the 40s and 50s and ending with the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991, leaving the area defenseless at a time when China was wielding its strong arm of power. Along the way we learn about such things as the rise of Sony Corporation, the influence of surfing on island culture, the bleaching of coral reefs and how the Earth's weather patterns begin and end in Polynesian paradise. Pacific is primarily historical, but covers environmental concerns, and military/politcal events.

I enjoyed this book and the individual stories. Some peaked my interest more than others, but overall I found it to be an intriguing book.

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Review: Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World

Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great micro-history from Mark Kurlansky. This is a deep look into the history of cod. When thinking of cod most us of instantly visualize Gordon fish sticks or fish and chips, but cod has a rich history that has been the cause of wars, has inspired explorers and traders, and influenced Clarence Birdseye to develop modern freezing methods. Once plentiful, cod fishing in Europe and America is now mostly restricted to allow stock to replenish, due to the over harvesting throughout time. It is still a controversial topic to the fishing industry and politics.

What I like about these micro-histories is the look into a common item that ends up having a history that has affected life world wide. Kurlansky delivers in a well written and, at times, humorous way to keep the reader engaged and entertained. Lots of interesting recipes, too, as far back as the middle ages. Needless to say, where the recipe for roe and liver sounds intriguing, it will likely never make its way to my dinner table.

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