Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
by Dan Koeppel
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Book Summary Information
Author: Dan KoeppelEdition: Hardcover
Published: 2007-12-27
ISBN: 1594630380
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: Hudson Street Press
Book Reviews of Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
Book Review: So much history with the Banana...
Summary: 4 Stars
I was amazed by this book. It begins with an introduction to the Banana and explains there is even a reference to this fruit in the Bible. Describes history and the impact the Banana has had on the world. Everyone assumes that only Cotton, Gold, and Oil impacted the world and trade & consumerism. But this book details the "hidden" history about the yellow fruit. Concerns about the future of the Banana (due to Panama Disease) are discussed. I reccomend this book to anyone interested in history or botany, or anyone just curious about this fruit!
I gave 4 stars because towards the middle the book got a little mundane and a lost interest for awhile. Overall, well written and interesting.
Summary of Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
A gripping biological detective story that uncovers the myth, mystery, and endangered fate of the world?s most humble fruitTo most people, a banana is a banana: a simple yellow fruit. Americans eat more bananas than apples and oranges combined. In others parts of the world, bananas are what keep millions of people alive. But for all its ubiquity, the banana is surprisingly mysterious; nobody knows how bananas evolved or exactly where they originated. Rich cultural lore surrounds the fruit: In ancient translations of the Bible, the ?apple? consumed by Eve is actually a banana (it makes sense, doesn?t it?). Entire Central American nations have been said to rise and fall over the banana.
But the biggest mystery about the banana today is whether it will survive. A seedless fruit with a unique reproductive system, every banana is a genetic duplicate of the next, and therefore susceptible to the same blights. Today?s yellow banana, the Cavendish, is increasingly threatened by such a blight?and there?s no cure in sight.
Banana combines a pop-science journey around the globe, a fascinating tale of an iconic American business enterprise, and a look into the alternately tragic and hilarious banana subculture (one does exist)?ultimately taking us to the high-tech labs where new bananas are literally being built in test tubes, in a race to save the world?s most beloved fruit.
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