Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky is a book that I just happened to spot at my local library and I knew I had to give it a try since I'm interested in microhistories. Honestly, I wouldn't have expected a book about cod to be so interesting! I was definitely the most interested in the history of the fish during middle ages, but it was fascinating seeing how important they are still in modern times. There were even some recipes to check out here too.

Interesting read. Not as interesting as it would have been if it were about a single fish that changed the world, which is what one might expect from the title. Instead, this little volume traces the impact of this species of fish throughout history.

As I read, I quickly discovered that I had underestimated these creatures. You will no doubt be surprised to learn that they have had a huge economic, social, and political impact. In fact, three wars have been fought over who had the right to catch and sell them. Look it up. In my estimation, the first Cod War should have been enough. But apparently, two more were required to settle the matter.

One more interesting historical fact will, I think, demonstrate the pivotal role of cod in our history books. Apparently, it is quite possible that the Basque people discovered America before Columbus, but since their interests were commercial, they did not plant flags or make national announcements. They just wanted to fish. In that day, finding cod was like finding a gold mine. So while explorers vainly searched for treasure in the storied cities of gold, the Basque fisherman were quietly harvesting theirs from the sea.

Kurlansky is an excellent writer. You kind of have to be to get your fish history book published. If you love history and or if you love fish (which would be strange, I think), I'm sure you'll enjoy this book. It's a reminder that even the smallest things can have a far-reaching impact on our world.

Great book! I wondered if I would like it , but I was surprised to really enjoy it. Kurlansky does a great and fascinating job in telling the story of Atlantic Cod fishing over the past 1000 years, tying it to world history and politics in general.

It definitely make me worried about over-fishing and has made me reconsider my fish-eating unless I can be assured that the fish I ate were either farmed or fished in sustainable conditions-- I think a difficult task! As a Portuguese gal now living near Cape Cod, was great to read about this fish that is a mainstay of the Azorean diet & which used to be central to the Massachusetts economy. Sad bottom line: our Atlantic cod is disappearing due to political mismanagement & overfishing.

A bit fishy...

(I couldn't resist)

Figure 1. The majestic seafaring cod.


Figure 2. The majestic cod as us landlubbers know it.

Cod - one of the most common fish in the sea - provided food for millions. What started as simple fishing boats has ballooned into enormous trawlers that were capable of draining the see of a once limitless population. Invention and innovation led to decimation of the natural cod population.

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Figure 3. A fishing trawler - capable of obtaining thousands of fish in a single swoop.

Overall, a very interesting book (if not a riveting one). I enjoyed following the history of cod - who knew such a common fish held such a deep and dark history. We traveled from cod's humble origins to the multi-million dollar startups that so successfully destroyed their population.

Ironically, nearly every chapter there was a recipe for cod. They all sounded delicious.

n  If cod and haddock and other species cannot survive because man kills them, something more adaptable will take their place. Nature, the ultimate pragmatist, doggedly searches for something that works. But as the cockroach demonstrates, what works best in nature does not always appeal to us.n

The 2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge - A microhistory

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In 2001, I was on vacation with my wife in Sydney, Australia. I decided that I was entitled to buy a new book to read while travelling. We went into one of Sydney's best book stores, and after much thought, I chose this book. My wife looked at it and remarked, "You chose the most boring book in the store." After that, I read her all the interesting parts of the book until she was finally forced to admit that maybe it was not the most boring book in the store after all. That's faint praise, of course. It's a great book.

سيرة سمكة!