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30 pages 1 hour read

Sweetness and Power

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1985

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Book Brief

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Sidney W. Mintz

Sweetness and Power

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1985
Book Details
Pages

274

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Publication Year

1985

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

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.

Informative

Contemplative

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.1

2,984 ratings

66%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

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.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Sweetness and Power?

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.

4.1

2,984 ratings

66%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

274

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Publication Year

1985

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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