My mom taught history, and I frequently heard her say that history could be so much more interesting than the typical high school text book. As with so many things, she was right! She would have loved the trend of social history books .... as do I. After stewing about just how to do these books I've decided to just jump in and start! (It will be an on-going trail, after all)!

Since I have always loved horses I (unknowingly) started on this book trail with Hoofbeats and Society: Studies of Human-Horse Interactions by Elizabeth Atwood Lawrence. From those who depended on the horse for their very survival to the those who see just stick horses, rocking horses, or the fancy ones on a merry-go-round, horses are still a part of our society. For city dwellers it might be watching a rodeo, or interacting with a mounted police officer, while for others it could be packing into the mountains, or clearing jumps in an arena. Published in 1985 the writing felt a bit dated when I reread some of the chapters. Just so you know. ;-)

Less scholarly, but with a description of various breeds and lots of nice pictures try Horses: Their Role in the History of Man by Elwyn Hartley Edwards. It is based on what must have been a wonderful tv series. This book also includes information on the evolution and migration of the horse as well as the horse in times of war. This is a UK publication, so there is more emphasis on the influence 'across the pond' than here (which makes it an interesting companion read to Hoofbeats).

It took a while, but these books eventually lead me to ......

Big Oyster: History On the Half Shell by Mark Kurlansky. New York was once famous for oysters. There were so many of them that it was a common food, eaten by folks and families of all income levels. Eventually pollution and over-use resulted in the death of the oyster beds (or a very bad product). Along with Kurlansky's easy to read style of writing are photos, drawings and even a few recipes.

Another book by Mark Kurlansky is Salt: a World History. Salt was once so valuable it was used as currency. It even financed a few wars. Now it's a common seasoning found in everything from breakfast cereal to cookies and soda pop, as well as being something many of us need to consume less often. It's been a while since I read this, but I have enjoyed all of the books by Kurlansky that I've read so feel comfortable including it. Look for Cod: a Biography of the Fish That Changed the World by this author, too.

What sort of history book will I find next? I almost always find something of interest on the shelves (and, I have several just waiting to be used in another post, too). :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog