James Beard Foundation Book Award WinnerFrom the author of the acclaimed 97 Orchard and her husband; a culinary historian; an in-depth exploration of the greatest food crisis the nation has ever faced—the Great Depression—and how it transformed America’s culinary culture.The decade-long Great Depression; a period of shifts in the country’s political and social landscape; forever changed the way America eats. Before 1929; America’s relationship with food was defined by abundance. But the collapse of the economy; in both urban and rural America; left a quarter of all Americans out of work and undernourished—shattering long-held assumptions about the limitlessness of the national larder.In 1933; as women struggled to feed their families; President Roosevelt reversed long-standing biases toward government-sponsored “food charity.†For the first time in American history; the federal government assumed; for a while; responsibility for feeding its citizens. The effects were widespread. Championed by Eleanor Roosevelt; “home economists†who had long fought to bring science into the kitchen rose to national stature.Tapping into America’s long-standing ambivalence toward culinary enjoyment; they imposed their vision of a sturdy; utilitarian cuisine on the American dinner table. Through the Bureau of Home Economics; these women led a sweeping campaign to instill dietary recommendations; the forerunners of today’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans.At the same time; rising food conglomerates introduced packaged and processed foods that gave rise to a new American cuisine based on speed and convenience. This movement toward a homogenized national cuisine sparked a revival of American regional cooking. In the ensuing decades; the tension between local traditions and culinary science has defined our national cuisine—a battle that continues today. A Square Meal examines the impact of economic contraction and environmental disaster on how Americans ate then—and the lessons and insights those experiences may hold for us today.A Square Meal features 25 black-and-white photographs.
#90718 in Books HarperCollins Christian Pub. 2011-11-01 2011-11-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .76 x 5.31l; .55 #File Name: 0062118854292 pagesWilliam Morrow Paperbacks
Review
416 of 423 people found the following review helpful. Comparing to UnbrokenBy UnclebettyI had read Unbroken first; then received Devil At My Heals as a gift on my IPAD. I decided to go ahead and read this version and was struck by how the first half of both books were basically identical; though more "first person experiences" with Devil than Unbroken. What became more striking with Devil is that the experience in war as a prisoner was really just prologue for his ultimate life's work which was his service to God. You do not get that sense with the Unbroken version. He never claimed to be a hero; claiming rather to be a survivor who got a lot of press. His tale of survival was amazing and his commitment to God after his post war trauma is equally admirable as his ability to survive the war. I would recommend the Devil version over the Unbroken version because it seemed more of a personal story as opposed to just a survival story.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Was aware of Mr. Zamparini; from what I ...By antyemWas aware of Mr. Zamparini; from what I had seen on TV. However; the strength of these men who were held captive by the Japanese was impressive. Just surviving the crash at sea of their plane was a victory in itself. Then to survive the prison camps was another. Yet another personal look into the impossible odds of war.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. ... live near Zamperini Field in Torrance and I'm SO glad I read his own account of his lifeBy Brian from los angelesI live near Zamperini Field in Torrance and I'm SO glad I read his own account of his life! Like many real-life heroes he downplays his feats and Louis is frank about his bad-boy childhood. A great American story.
