Author of the forthcoming What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women and the Food That Tells Their Stories (Summer 2017)In this captivating blend of culinary history and popular culture; the award-winning author of Perfection Salad shows us what happened when the food industry elbowed its way into the kitchen after World War II; brandishing canned hamburgers; frozen baked beans; and instant piecrusts. Big Business waged an all-out campaign to win the allegiance of American housewives; but most women were suspicious of the new foods—and the make-believe cooking they entailed. With sharp insight and good humor; Laura Shapiro shows how the ensuing battle helped shape the way we eat today; and how the clash in the kitchen reverberated elsewhere in the house as women struggled with marriage; work; and domesticity. This unconventional history overturns our notions about the ’50s and offers new thinking on some of its fascinating figures; including Poppy Cannon; Shirley Jackson; Julia Child; and Betty Friedan.
#46658 in Books Laura Shapiro 2005-03-29 2005-03-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.70 x .92 x 5.00l; .49 #File Name: 014303491X336 pagesSomething from the Oven Reinventing Dinner in 1950 s America
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Very Interesting History BookBy K. MillerFor serious history lovers; especially those interested in social history; this book is excellent. Very detailed; and for me it explained why my mother cooked the way she did. (All convenience foods!).0 of 3 people found the following review helpful. FUN!By L. MuirIf you like RETRO; come along back to the time when we were young; happy; and the Folks did all the work and worrying!Linda Muir7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Not what I thought it was going to be.By Nathaniel C. WomackI felt guilty giving any less than 3 stars; tho I can't say I enjoyed the book (it is an easy/quick read). It's not really about what I thought it would be about; that's not the fault of the book being advertised. Thought it would be mostly about food trends and how people ate in America through the decades. It's far less about that (tho that is in there; to a lesser degree). It's more of a social treastie on womens "place in the kitchen" through the years; and how it evolved by the food industry; and the introduction of convenience foods; to social pioneers like Julia Child and Poppy Cannon. it almost at times reads like a college doctorate on women's social issues and how they were reflected in the home and kitchen..
