Repast: The story of food

REVIEW BY CARLY JONES If there is one thing that unites the many, incredibly varied cultures that have inhabited the world throughout human history, it is that we all need to eat. Catching, cultivating, cooking, and consuming food have been key concerns for communities stretching back thousands of years. Eating is not just a source of sustenance, however. Shared meals play an important social role, forging bonds between families and communities and marking major milestones in our lives, while some foodstuffs hold a special ceremonial significance or are forbidden by dietary taboos. Food-related culture has also fired the human imagination, giving rise to an eclectic array of tools and