Decoder Ring

How Books About Things That Changed the World… Changed the World

19 snips
Mar 26, 2025
Nicola Twilley, co-host of Gastropod and author of 'Frostbite', discusses how refrigeration revolutionized our food systems and even geopolitical dynamics. She highlights its critical role in the food supply chain and connections to historical events like Irish independence. The conversation also critiques the trend of microhistories, exploring how ordinary objects, like refrigeration, have unexpectedly changed the world, and why understanding these narratives is essential for grasping our modern complexities.
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ANECDOTE

Mauve's Origin

  • Simon Garfield's son's book inspired him to write Mauve.
  • The book details Perkin's accidental discovery of mauve dye.
INSIGHT

World-Changing Books

  • Many history books claim their specific subject "changed the world."
  • Examples include books about potatoes, soccer, and even sand.
ANECDOTE

Longitude's Impact

  • Dava Sobel's Longitude tells of John Harrison's invention of the marine chronometer.
  • This solved the problem of determining longitude at sea and transformed navigation.
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