Rating: 
Summary: Offbeat Masterpiece.
Review: In many ways, the story of `Cod' is the story of America. In this beautifully written little essay, Mark Kurlansky explains how the early settlement and wealth of America revolved around this fish. But this book is no dry academic fare; rather, it is full with curiousities and odd bits of history and yes recipes. Kurlansky, a fellow freemason of the sea, does a magic trick. He makes the book highly accessible, informative, and useful (recipes). Given that we have fished it to commercial extinction, it is a vital read for anyone concerned with our relation to Nature.I highly recommend it if you are taking holidays anywhere in New England, the Martimes, Portugal, Spain, the southwest coast of England or my place - Newfoundland. I gave it to my father, who is a commercial fisherman, and he really liked it: "Felt like reading about yourself." Enough said.
Rating: 
Summary: A second serving please . . .
Review: I have always enjoyed books about obscure, or less than obvious, historical subjects, so when I heard about "Cod", I knew I had to check it out. And I was not disappointed! The book is marvelously informative and entertaining at the same time. (I gave it only 4 stars, however, due to the lack of endnotes or footnotes which limits its scholarly value.) Mr. Kurlansky succeeds in covering an epic subject in a relatively limited space, and he does a good job of presenting both sides of what has recently become a rather contentious issue, overfishing. Although Mr. Kurlansky does not make a particular point of it, reading between the lines reveals a rather interesting fact: much of the fishing in the world today is driven by government subsidies. As he points out, Canada spends 3 dollars in subsidies for every 1 dollar the fishing industry produces, while Japan has extended $19 billion in credit to its fishing fleet. I smell a promising book about governmental responsibility for environmental damage. I look forward to reading Mr. Kurlansky's new book on the Basques, but I hope he will revisit the subject of fishing in the future. A similar book about salmon or tuna would probably be just as interesting.
Rating:
Summary: excellent read......
Review: I was initially very amused to come across this small book whilst looking for vacation books for my Maine sailing trip last year. This seemed the perfect choice, and was, indeed. It is at times light and funny. It is very informative and the history is fascinating. But the overall conservation message is so important. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A Fascinating Fun Odd Little Book
Review: Talk about esoteric! "Cod, the autobiography of the fish that changed the world" has to be at the top of the list for obscure subject matter, yet, it's charming, funny, dramatic and never dull. This is one of those little gems that comes along every once in awhile that finds an audience. Read "Cod" and see why everyone who has read it loves it.
Rating:
Summary: An Awesome Account of History Wrapped Around the Cod Fishery
Review: One of the most interesting and entertaining books I have read in a very long time! "Truth is TRULY stranger than fiction..." This is the kind of history lesson that could engage and interest even elementary school students. Without hesitation - Two Thumbs Up! -mpm
Rating:
Summary: A terrific book by a first rate journalist
Review: There are a handful of books on food and history that should be on all bookshelves and this is one of them. This slim volume by a first rate journalist is hard to classify: part history, part ecological and political cautionary tale, part cook book [a James Beard award winner!]. Several individual chapters alone are worth the price of this book: the description how cod have been caught and processed; the characterization of the cod's historical role in world trade; the authors' take on how the economic origins of the American Revolution (from the cod point-of-view of course). All in all, this exceptionally readable book is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful premise
Review: I loved this book. It is history, ichthyology anthropology, everything in one wonderful book. Fascinating, well done.
Rating:
Summary: Read this book along with "The Perfect Storm"
Review: I read this book right after reading "The Perfect Storm" on vacation, and together they give a clear, vivid picture of fishermen's lives and their historical perspective. They also describe in awesome detail the character of the sea. I'll never look at Gloucester and the ocean quite the same way again.
Rating:
Summary: Market economics caused an immense disaster.
Review: Darwinian science declared that cod - for centuries a basic global food source - could never become extinct. But predictable and preventable market response made rather quick work of a once indispensable species. Kurlansky's scrupulous and almost impassioned explanation should be obligatory reading for citizens young and old, and certainly for teachers and people aspiring to public office. Almost incidentally he rewrites the history of the American revolution. I have to admit, though, that parts of the account decreased my appetite for codfish cakes.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent and entertaining book.
Review: Mark Kurlanksy packs this unlikely book with tons of interesting facts and stories about the cod. It makes for a very good read. I recommend this book to everyone.
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