Seed to Civilization: The Story of Food
Charles Heiser
Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
AbeBooks Seller since 24 March 2009
Used - Soft cover
Condition: Used - Very good
Ships within U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketSold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
AbeBooks Seller since 24 March 2009
Condition: Used - Very good
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketMay have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.
Seller Inventory # G0674796829I4N00
This is not a book about hunger. Rather it concerns mostly the plants and animals that stand between us and starvation. The subject can be called ethnobiology, the study of plants and animals in relation to humans. Ecology, the study of organisms in relation to their environment, is another of our concerns. In this case we are the organisms and the part of the environment of interest to us is the plants and animals that provide our food.
In this book I begin with some consideration of the origin of agriculture and why plants and animals were domesticated. The bulk of the book is concerned with basic food plants and animals, and covers where and when they were first domesticated as well as why and how they are used. I have, however, not hesitated to stray from the principal subjects from time to time when I have felt that the digression would be of general interest to my readers. There is, for example, some mention of the uses of plants and animals for purposes other than food. In this edition I have extensively revised several chapters, completely rewritten the last two, and increased the number of plants treated. In addition, I have incorporated some new photographs.
Only one chapter is given to the discussion of animals and its focus is on those most important as food. As I am a botanist, some may think that I have neglected animals in favor of plants, but in defense I can point out that we get all of our carbohydrates and nearly three-fourths of our protein from plant sources. Moreover, nearly all of the food we get from animals is in turn derived from plants. After all, life depends on photosynthesis; chlorophyll has been referred to as the green blood of the earth. The last chapter concerns current and future food problems and, perhaps, some controversial topics ..
The book has been written with the general reader in mind and no particular background in biology should be necessary Jor understanding most of the topics. I had once assumed that the readers of a book such as this would have an elementary knowledge of human nutrition, but, judging from recent news releases, that assumption was unjustifiable, for malnutrition is not confined to the poor and uneducated but extends to the affluent and "educated" as well. Therefore, a brief treatment of nutrition is given (Chapter 3). Although I have not tried to include all of my sources, there is a fairly extensive and updated bibliography at the end of the book. This is included primarily for those readers who would like to pursue any subject in greater detail. Although I expect the same plants and animals to continue to serve as our principal foods for a long time to come, our detailed knowledge concerning them will change as research makes more information available. Perhaps this is nowhere more true than in the realm of prehistory, for the next archaeological investigation may uncover new information regarding the "invention" of agriculture and the earliest domesticated plants and animals.
There are a number of individuals to whom I am indebted for their advice. My thanks to all of them, particularly Gregory Anderson, Virginia Flack, Gunder Hefta, Jorge Soria, and my wife, Dorothy. Thanks also to those who supplied the illustrations.
Preface to the 1990 Edition
1. In the Beginning
2. Seeds, Sex, and Sacrifice
3. Eating to Live
4. Meat: The Luxury Food
5. Grasses: The Staff of Life
6. Sugar
7. Legumes: The Meat of the Poor
8. The Starchy Staples
9. Coconut: The Tree of Life
10. Oils: Sunflower and Cotton
11. To Complete the Meal
12. Multiplier of the Harvest
13. Let Them Eat Cake?
Bibliography
Index
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described
on the Abebooks website. If you're dissatisfied with your
purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the
order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30
days of the estimated delivery date. If you've changed your
mind about a book that you've ordered, please use the "Ask
bookseller a question link to contact us" and we'll respond
as soon as possible.
If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION
Statutory Right to cancel
You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, Motor City Books, Motor City Books, 20509 Sibley Road, 48193, Brownstown, Michigan, U.S.A., +1 253-275-2251, of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.
Effects of cancellation
If you cancel this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or Motor City Books, Motor City Books ATTN: Returns, 2337 Centerline Industrial Dr, 63146, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A., +1 253-275-2251, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of cancellation
The right of cancellation does not apply to:
Model withdrawal form
(complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract)
To: (Motor City Books, Motor City Books, 20509 Sibley Road, 48193, Brownstown, Michigan, U.S.A., +1 253-275-2251)
I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),
Ordered on (*)/received on (*)
Name of consumer(s)
Address of consumer(s)
Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)
Date
* Delete as appropriate.
All domestic Standard and Expedited shipments are distributed from our warehouses by OSM, then handed off to the USPS for final delivery.
2-Day Shipping is delivered by FedEx, which does not deliver to PO boxes.
International shipments are tendered to the local postal service in the destination country for final delivery – we do not use courier services for international deliveries.
| Order quantity | 4 to 8 business days | 4 to 8 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 0.00 | £ 0.00 |
Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.