30 pages • 1 hour read
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Sweetness and Power by Sidney W. Mintz explores the history of Caribbean sugar production and its impact on the global market and industrial capitalism. Mintz examines how sugar has held different meanings for various social classes over time, from an exotic status symbol to a daily necessity. The book highlights sugar's role in transforming food practices, the mercantile relationships between England and its colonies, and the societal shifts driven by industrial capitalism. Topics of forced labor and colonial exploitation are present.
Sidney W. Mintz's Sweetness and Power is widely praised for its meticulous research and insightful analysis of sugar's social and economic impact. Readers appreciate Mintz's engaging writing and interdisciplinary approach. However, some found the text dense and occasionally repetitive. Overall, it's a compelling examination of a commodity that shaped global history.
Sweetness and Power by Sidney W. Mintz appeals to readers interested in anthropology, global trade, and the historical impact of commodities. Comparable to Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel and Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma, it is ideal for those curious about how sugar shaped economics, culture, and society.
Anthropology
Food
Education
Life/Time: The Past
Natural World: Food
Society: Colonialism
Education
Anthropology