This is the case with sidney mintzs thesis in sweetness and power. The place of sugar in modern history, a book that i keep coming back to. Mintz presents an interesting, unique topic along with the ideas associated with it, and quite well. Sweetness and power by sidney mintz 873 words bartleby. Although sweetness and power in 1985 seemed the culmination of sidney mintzs academic life, it can now be seen as a kind of midpoint to mintzs academic. Mintz argues that sugarhas been one of the massive demographic forces in world history. In sweetness and power mintz developed an argument about the directional flow of ideas, commodities, and labor patterns from the colonies to the metropole, refuting the analytic assumption that had limited anthropological and historical work for decades, that culture and social form flowed from europe to the colonies. Mintz 2017, mp3 cd, unabridged at the best online prices at ebay.
A fascinating persuasive history of how sugar has shaped the world, from european colonies to our modern diets in this eyeopening study, sidney mintz shows how europeans and americans transformed sugar from a rare foreign luxury to a. His book seems to simply present information and data to support whatever thought he is currently on, almost as if the author is rambling. For an analysis of the role of sugar in the rise of capitalism, there is probably no better source than sidney w. Pdf sweetness and power download full pdf book download. In this book the author shows how europeans and americans transformed sugar from a rare foreign luxury to a commonplace necessity of modern life, and how it changed the history of capitalism and industry. He discusses the production and consumption of sugar, and reveals how closely interwoven are sugars origins as a slave crop grown in europes tropical colonies with its use first as an. What is the summary for the book sweetness and power.
This is the case with sidney mintzs thesis in sweetness and. He makes a compelling argument on the role of sugar and the sugar industry in the development of modern capitalism. Mintz s sweetness and power situates economic analysis in consumption rather than production. The place of sugar in modern history some of the most brilliant minds have made many unorthodox suggestions. Amy butler greenfield mentioned that at a recent bookstore chat, kurlansky who had recently written a book on salt was asked whether hed next be writing one on sugar.
The place of sugar in modern history is a nonfiction book originally published in 1985 by sidney wilfred mintz november 16, 1922december 27, 2015. Sidney wilfred mintz november 16, 1922 december 27, 2015 was an american anthropologist best known for his studies of the caribbean, creolization, and the anthropology of food. Mintz 2017, cd, unabridged at the best online prices at ebay. Food and diaspora, professor sidney mintz, soas university of london. Sweetness and power, sidney mintz illuminates and discusses the social and economic history of sugar production and consumption in europe and its colonies, particularly focusing on england. Mintz s sweetness and power, i can but conclude that mr mintz is obviously knowledgable in the material, but lacks a small number of vital abilities with writing.
Mintzs sweetness and power, i can but conclude that mr mintz is obviously knowledgable in the material, but lacks a small number of vital abilities with writing. If youve read these, sweetness and power is an interesting and useful complement, but even as historicanthropological analysis, it seems incomplete. In the process of telling the story of sugar, sidney mintz masterfully draws in the. The place of sugar in modern history, a new genre got under way. Sugar has had a large impact on society and the economy that is not noticeable unless thoroughly studied. Sweetness and power the place of sugar in modern history. Central to this is the idea that rational choice leads liberal individuals to. We take the name of our series from sidney mintzs sweetness and power. Jan 01, 2020 mintzs sweetness and power is a wellwritten and well thought out piece of work. The place of sugar in modern history written by sidney wilfred mintz is an ambitious publication that encompasses many issues related to sugar production, distribution and consumption. Sweetness and power quotes showing 12 of 2 most of us, most of the time, act within plays the lines of which were written long ago, the images of which require recognition, not invention. Mintz in his attempt to enlighten the educated layperson. Mintz, the author sets out to uncover the meaning and place of sugar in the modern world specifically england and how it came to be.
The place of sugar in modern history 9780140092332 by mintz, sidney w. The frogs and birds that once sprang out of hot pies are no more. Recent books such as those by gary taubes and robert lustig have put sugar in a new perspective. Sweetness and power sugar mintz chapter, sample of term papers. The author believes that a producers labor and exploitation is not enough to understand the exploitation of production. Mintz received his phd at columbia university in 1951 and conducted his primary fieldwork among sugarcane workers in puerto rico. With it, mintzs accomplishments went far beyond launching a new mode of history writing. Food and diaspora, professor sidney mintz, soas university of london duration. Across different societies, the world over, even when the staple in thehousehold consumption basket varies from rice to wheat. Mark kurlansky has become the doyen of histories of small things that have changed the world. Sidney mintzs classic work, had as its goal to examine anthropologist sidney mintzs 1985 book sweetness and power.
How do we get from one childs sweet tooth to the history of slavery, of war, and of. Dec 25, 2018 mintzs sweetness and power is a wellwritten and well thought out piece of work. A fascinating persuasive history of how sugar has shaped the world, from european colonies to our modern diets in this eyeopening study, sidney mintz shows how europeans and americans transformed sugar from a rare foreign luxury to a commonplace necessity of modern life, and how it changed the history of capitalism and industry. Then comes sweetness and power pdf, sweetness and power summary, sweetness and power pdf download, surely search suggestions brought to us by tuitionstrapped students. Sweetness and power sugar mintz chapter, sample of term. Mintzs sweetness and power situates economic analysis in consumption rather than production.
Sweetness and power sanjaya baru sweetness and power. The place of sugar in modern history by mintz, sidney w. It attempts an anthropological social history of sucrose consumption in the western world beginning with the earliest periods of significant availability after the founding of sugar plantations through the present day. Sweetness and power paperback the place of sugar in modern history. In this eyeopening study, sidney mintz shows how europeans and americans transformed sugar from a rare foreign luxury to a commonplace necessity of modern life, and how it changed the history of. Sweetness and power is a historical study of sugar and its affect on society and economy since it was first discovered. He substantiates his ideas very well by including many sources, including both primary and secondary information, spanning the entire globe and throughout time. A fascinating persuasive history of how sugar has shaped the world, from european colonies to our modern diets in this eyeopening study, sidney mintz. Before there was a long list of onewordtitled, bestselling histories about globeshaping commodities, there was sidney mintzs ur text of the ur commodity of the modern world, sweetness and power. Sweetness and power is a book with a very broad scope. Sidney mintz shows how europeans and americans transformed sugar from a rare foreign luxury to a commonplace necessity of modern life, and how it changed the history of capitalism and industry.
This book is a must read for anyone interested in the historical development of capitalism, its structures, and capitalist labor. The story of sugar since 1985 could well provide material for another book. The place of sugar in modern history 9780140092332. The place of sugar in modern history by sidney w mintz.
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