How Would You Like Your Mammoth?: 12,000 Years of Culinary History in 50 Bite-Size Essays

Uta Seeburg

May 2024 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Adi Cabral

About this audiobook

Did you know that Egyptians mummified beef ribs for their dearly departed to enjoy in the afterlife? That Roman gladiators were relegated to a vegan diet of grains and beans? That the fast-food hamburger was a result of a postwar, high-efficiency work ethic? This is not a cookbook; instead, How Would You Like Your Mammoth? is a chronological journey through the culinary history of humankind, with fifty short, snackable essays packed to the brim with juicy tidbits and cultural insights. With author Uta Seeburg as your guide, you'll learn not only which dishes are linked to key cultural moments, but also how each represents the social hierarchy and values of the civilization that invented it. Discover how and why: the Columbian exchange gave Indian curry its spicy kick; roasted swan became the centerpiece of choice in spectacle-loving 1650s high society; a Portuguese princess helped popularize tea in England; the first dish ever to be prepared live on television was an omelet; and much more. Foodies and history buffs alike will savor every amusing yet educational historical snapshot, from one of the oldest recorded recipes (lamb stew with barley and onions) to out-of-this-world food fit for astronauts (dehydrated chicken soup just like mom used to make).

About the author

Uta Seeburg worked for years as an editor for the magazine Architectural Digest. There, she reported on design and travel and wrote numerous culinary essays. Today, the PhD in literary studies and author of historical crime novels devotes herself entirely to writing books.

Adi Cabral is a classically trained actor, dialect coach, and intimacy director holding their MFA in theater performance from Arizona State University. As a professor of theater, voice, and movement, their research focuses on inclusive practices for training LGBTQ+ identified actors.

Max Miller is the author of the New York Times-bestselling cookbook Tasting History and the creator and host of the viral YouTube series Tasting History with Max Miller, where he shares his passion for culinary history and historic dishes.