Bittersweet: The Story of Sugar

Rating:
Summary: Read This Book, Then....
Review: FIGHT FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM

Professor Ignacio Chapela courageously spoke out
against the UC $25 million research agreement with
the biotechnology giant Novartis. He published an
article demonstrating that native corn in Mexico had
been contaminated by genetically engineered corn.
Being a prominent critic of the university's ties to
the biotech industry, Dr. Chapela had his tenure
denied despite overwhelming support by his peers at UC
Berkeley and experts around the world.

The implications that these actions have on academic
freedom are frightening. They threaten scientists in
the future from working to seek truth in different
forums without undue influence. Scientists will no
longer be able to ask questions that might seem
uncomfortable even for the university to pose, such as
those in pursuit of precautionary science or in
opposition to corporate control over the university
research agenda.

You can get involved:
1. Call, email or write the UC Berkeley Chancellor
Birgeneau and the Academic Senate.
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Snail Mail: Office of the Chancellor, 200 California
Hall # 1500, Berkeley, California, 94720-1500
(Academic Senate = PHONE: [phone]; FAX:
510-642-8920; E-MAIL: [e-mail]

2. Visit www.tenurejustice.org or write
[e-mail]




Rating:
Summary: Bittersweet History
Review: Macinnis has written the exhaustive history of sugar cultivation and trade. I doubt anyone could do the job as well. His blend of fact and humour make for fascinating reading that rarely bogs down. Definitely a book to read, even for diabetics like myself!

Rating:
Summary: Well researched
Review: This book is well researched and takes a careful look at the history of sugar throughout the ages. Unfortunately the writer gets sidetracked into detailing the history of slavery as well and, while admitting that the development and success of sugar plantations in the West Indies is inextricably linked with slavery, the book would have been better if it had been more tightly focussed on the primary topic.

The most interesting aspect of the book to me was that it was Australia-centric, rather than having a mind-set based on either American or English history. It's good to be reminded once in a while that there are other countries publishing books.

Rating:
Summary: Lively and engrossing history of the social impact of sugar
Review: This is a wonderfully interesting and engrossing history of a major food crop filled with interesting details concerning people and events. Although Peter Macinnis traces the story of sugar from its origins in New Guinea through to the 20th century, he does so in a very entertaining rather than comprehensive way. As such, this is a good introduction, but will leave the reader with many questions unanswered.

The subtitle, The Story of Sugar could really have been The Story of Sugar and Slavery since, according to the author, this form of forced labor has been so integral to the success of the crop. In fact I am sure that the "Bitter" half of the title is a reference to slavery. Macinnis states that not only the institution of slavery, but also the global politics of Colonialism, has its foundation in the global production of sugar.

So as you can see, the world as we know it has to a large extent been molded by the story of sugar. Thus this book, or some other like it, is important reading for a good understanding of modern world history. Being an Australian gives the author just enough distance from the European and American sugar empires to tell the story with a balanced and somewhat objective point of view.

The book is illustrated with black-and-white maps and each chapter ends with a historic sugar recipe. There is a two page glossary of terms related to sugar production as well as a seven page bibliography of further readings. There are no footnotes to break the narrative.
This is a great introduction to the story of one of the most important cash crops in world history.


Rating:
Summary: Bittersweet is missing something
Review: This is decent popular social history. However, I find it amazing that Macinnis has failed to acknowledge or reference the brilliant 1985 work on this same subject by anthropologist Sidney Mintz: Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History. How could he have missed this book in doing his research?

Rating:
Summary: Bittersweet is missing something
Review: This is decent popular social history. However, I find it amazing that Macinnis has failed to acknowledge or reference the brilliant 1985 work on this same subject by anthropologist Sidney Mintz: Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History. How could he have missed this book in doing his research?