Delicious - by Rob Dunn & Monica Sanchez

About the Book

"A savory account of how the pursuit of delicious foods shaped human evolution"--

Book Synopsis

A savory account of how the pursuit of delicious foods shaped human evolution

Nature, it has been said, invites us to eat by appetite and rewards by flavor. But what exactly are flavors? Why are some so pleasing while others are not? Delicious is a supremely entertaining foray into the heart of such questions.

With generous helpings of warmth and wit, Rob Dunn and Monica Sanchez offer bold new perspectives on why food is enjoyable and how the pursuit of delicious flavors has guided the course of human history. They consider the role that flavor may have played in the invention of the first tools, the extinction of giant mammals, the evolution of the world's most delicious and fatty fruits, the creation of beer, and our own sociality. Along the way, you will learn about the taste receptors you didn't even know you had, the best way to ferment a mastodon, the relationship between Paleolithic art and cheese, and much more.

Blending irresistible storytelling with the latest science, Delicious is a deep history of flavor that will transform the way you think about human evolution and the gustatory pleasures of the foods we eat.

Review Quotes

"The authors Rob Dunn, an ecologist, and Monica Sanchez, a medical anthropologist, write in a lively, informative, and sometimes humorous style that blends the science of taste and aromas with stories of discovery, and personal memoirs of their journey to uncover what flavor means in terms of food choice in prehistory and evolution."---Darna L. Dufour, American Journal of Human Biology

"Written with an entertaining mix of anecdotes from the authors' culinary travels as well as findings from the latest research, Dunn and Sanchez stir together a rich variety of ingredients to create a highly satisfying and indeed flavoursome narrative."---P.D. Smith, The Guardian

"[Dunn and Sanchez] draw from anthropology, ecology, food science, chemistry, biology, and other fields to create a compelling perspective on how flavor has driven diets and food choices in the past and continues to do so now. . . . An insightful narrative spiced with witty asides and relatable notes."---M. H. Albro, Choice

"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year"

"A New Scientist Book of the Year"

"An engaging trip through time, science, and food."---Amy Halloran, Times Union

"An eye-opening and mouth-watering new book."---Bill Thompson, Post and Courier

"Dunn and Sanchez are indeed the perfect hosts, guiding readers, with humor and expertise, through a feast of entertaining anecdotes in fields such as ecology, agriculture, psychology, art and chemistry."---Grace Rajendran, Shelf Awareness

"Dunn and Sanchez are scrupulous in the way they present their evidence and arguments. . . . a charming book."---Simon Ings, New Scientist

"Engrossing and novel. . . . [A] fascinating and fact-filled book."---Marc Bekoff, Psychology Today

"Fascinating, unusual and truly 'delicious' (in more than one sense)"---Vitali Vitaliev, Engineering and Technology

"One of New Scientist's best science books to read in 2021"

"Our hosts at this empirical dinner party envision a new future for the study of flavor, with seats for the curious of every stripe. . . . A persuasive, entertaining argument about how our avid pursuit of deliciousness helped shape our evolutionary path."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

About the Author

Rob Dunn is professor of applied ecology at North Carolina State University and in the Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics at the University of Copenhagen. His books include Never Home Alone. Twitter @RRobDunn Monica Sanchez is a medical anthropologist who studies the cultural aspects of health and well-being. Rob and Monica live in Raleigh, North Carolina.